Interesting route code - shows both Diesel Electric and Diesel Hydraulic. Any guesses as to what this might be?
Can't be, it's diesel for a start, ECML is electrified, and it's also 2011+. Has to be something like Wales, Midlands or Scotland? Could be Werry Lines, Hope Valley, Cambrian coast etc.
I would suspect the diesel electric is the class 66 which would leave the other train as the diesel hydraulic, therefore a Sprinter, Turbostar or class 185. I might be way off though.
Settle to carlisle with class 66 and class 158, you heard it here first. In all seriousness, I do expect a route with a 66 and a sprinter of some form.
I'm almost sure it would be (far) too big a route but the Chiltern route from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill uses Class 168 (diesel-hydraulic) DMUs and a Class 68 diesel-electric locomotive hauled Mk3 rake.
More likely, it could be the Marshlink line Ashford Intl - Ore (or Eastbourne) with a Class 171 and a Class 66 for nuclear flask trains out of Dungeness. EDIT: Or actually a DRS Class 37 would be more likely for nuclear flask trains - a more interesting drive than the 66 I'd say.
North Wales Coast route? I dunno, I know very little about what runs where, so I can leave it for the experts to tell me if it fits.
I'm going to go rouge and suggest something like the 769 Bi-Modal. Or maybe the 755's and 158s on the Norwich to Brecklands line
158s operate long distance services on TfW 170s operate local services around Cardiff and Gloucester/Maesteg/Cheltenham Spa 67s operate the Premier Service between Holyhead and Cardiff A route which would include all three is Welsh Marches Line: Crewe or Chester-Cardiff, base trains: 158, 175, 170, 67 (DLC)
No clue what trains run where exactly, but both the West Highland Line and the Riviera Line are frequently suggested. Would any of these lines fit the code?
Marylebone to Banbury is 69 miles, so could potentially be possible as both the 68 and 168 run up that way. Still a very long route for their first one though.
I saw diesel hydraulic and started drooling at the prospect of a Warship over the Devon Banks or down to Kingswear, but I guess the code is for something set in the modern era.
As I just posted in the other thread, SVR with a Class 25 and a Class 42 would do very nicely thank you! Racking my brains which other UK preserved routes have hydraulics, possibly the East Lancs, not sure about the Great Central.
My first guess would be maybe Riviera line or maybe somewhere in the Midlands and as others have said will probably have a sprinter. It's a shame that it is yet another modern route though which, even though I have no clue what it is, would probably be an even better route if set 40 or 50 years ago.
maybe the nothern transpennine modern version and to york with a class 185,802 and 66 and expansion of the route to York it's possible for me or a line with a class 158
I was thinking another heritage line, been a while since we've had one of those. On the other hand, Welsh Marches: Shrewsbury - Newport would be great. TFW 158 on passenger duties and a 66 on freight. Only thing I doubt is a third party doing such a lengthy route.
Which is why I'm thinking of (and hoping for) a heritage railway. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Skyhook are a US based developer and I'm not sure if they've done anything for the UK in either TSC or TSW. So it makes sense to cut their teeth on something short, simple and mostly self contained with a preserved railway fitting the bill perfectly.
While skyhook made really good & atmospheric routes (yes i mean it), they didnt actually convince me at the rolling stock side. Too much sloppyness / mistakes at the history of all loco versions. Not happy to say, but i hope they will bring a very nice new route but with the actual stock we have now. I really dont want a great train type botched down in the name of a dev, who doesnt literally give xhit about updates and customer feedback. Skyhook, proof im wrong!
Skyhook are based in Liverpool, so somewhere local to them perhaps? North Wales Coastal with a Class 175 and Class 221 springs to mind. Was kind of hoping we would see the Merseyrail Wirral Line from them (given it's outside their front door). Diesel Hydraulic should apply to most 2nd gen DMUs, Diesel Electric could refer to a locomotive or 2XX Class multiple unit. Lots of possibilities there.
If I see yet another UK route with a bleedin’ class 66 I think I will probably end up sitting in a corner dribbling with a vacant expression. So much older stock not yet modelled that could give pleasure and also added variety to existing routes.
Studio is in Liverpool (I Think) Another modern release. When was the last BR Diesel release for TSW?
The Class 180s are diesel hydraulic, but whether the codes consider bi-mode trains to be diesel electric or something else will prove or disprove if it's the ECML.
Only because I would prefer it to yet another modern Network Rail route with modern traction, but yes at this point any dev thinking of making a heritage route should be thinking of putting a steam loco in the pack. The lesser of two evils basically.
What does the code say for SEHS? I wonder wether having a route that swaps power systems during the route might constitude a dual power setting? Or at least, I would love to see this feature
Sehs had a code with ck. C meaning dc electric (battery powered too). K meaning electric multi current. If you look up tsw route codes, every tsw2 route is on there.
I just hope they don’t bite off more than they can chew. Skyhook doesn’t really have an amazing TSW track record so far, and they haven’t done any UK content for it at all. It’s been a while since their last release, though, and I’m happy to be proven wrong!
*puts tin-foil hat on* So we know that this route will contain two types of trains - one is diesel-electric and the other is diesel-hydraulic. The route is based 2011+ and newer. The general rule for all new TSW routes is one train recycled and one train new. For that reason, I'm going with the following: Diesel-electric train: EWS Class 66 with steel wagons (this will be the recycled train) Diesel-hydraulic train: Transport for Wales Class 175. Route: Welsh Marches Line from Shrewsbury to Hereford Mileage: 50 miles
I am thinking something like north of England Manchester Victoria to Leeds City via Halifax and Bradford Interchange Calder Valley Line. Freight Class 68/70 Passenger 195 158 170 156 & 150/2 now having the working AP sounds. Another possibility is South Wales Coastal Class 68/70 freight passenger 175 150/2 TFW
A nice idea, but based on some things Matt said in the stream tonight I don't believe a Welsh route is currently on the menu