Tees Valley Is Good

If we were talking extensions to TVL, I'd like to see a bit of ECML to fill out the Darlington area. Maybe Northallerton to Durham including both the ECML and the Stockton route. For the rolling stock, would a Valenta-engined HST in InterCity Swallow livery do the trick for that time period?

(Side note: I actually can't believe that DTG haven't cashed in on the appeal of the classic HST liveries yet)

Otherwise, the Boulby mine (with associated regular Class 20 workings to the docks) and Bishop Auckland extensions make a lot of sense too, and I'd like to see AI traffic through Middlesborough from Stockton and Battersby if not extended in those directions. I know it's a hot topic at the moment but I'd really like to see the route upgraded to TOD4 lighting.

There's a huge amount of potential in any case...

 

Will send and if you look at the Philadelphia Inquirer article about the Class 141 Pacer SEPTA White Blue and Red Paint it should see the year 1985. While December 1987 was the service entry of SEPTA Comet II AEM-7 2301-2307 since it was mentioned on an Allentown area morning call article.
Back to TVL why not add in Class 60 prototype to access the Boulby Potash Mine if extended.

 

Class 60 would be nice but Class 56 slightly more iconic.

 

That was actually an experimental railbus built by Wickhams using a Leyland National body called LEV-2 or something similar. I think it might still be in a museum in the USA.

 

Good point and how about adding in Class 58s Class 60 prototype to access the Boulby Potash mines. Class 56 fits here and there are two versions of them BREL and comecon Romania 001-040. Romanian version opens up Hauptstrecke Magdeburg Dessau Bitterfeld Leipzig RT Nahverkehr Dresden Tharandter Rampe DR Baureihe 119

 

The Class 58s weren't prototype Class 60s. Different manufacturers, different design, different engines. Not much in common other than very minor details.

 

Was going to get this route but the lack of a second generation DMU put me off. In the late 80s and early 90s the Pacers were dominant on this route and should have been included. All local services operated exclusively by 101 units simply is not accurate.

 

I think the business model is one new loco and some rolling stock per DLC, anything else that comes with a route is from previously released DLC such as the 101 or layers in to fill timetables. Basically for TVL the DMU was chosen as the 101 as it was already made, TVL had a 37 from scratch so that was seen as the new build for this route. In a nutshell new locos seem to be as hard to develop as new routes or it certainly feels that way otherwise I suspect we would see more new loco DLC. Pacer was rumoured for TVL as a DLC but something stopped that....

 

I’ve always wondered why they didn’t declare the year as being a few years earlier. That would have taken away the 101/Pacer argument and I doubt they have had to change anything else at all. Maybe they had in mind from the start to introduce a Pacer, so set the year accordingly, but then never did it.

 

Something stopped them, at a guess it was the BR stuff doesn't sell policy. This DLC had a good pair of additional DLC the 31 and 20s and then that was your lot.

 

Well, they couldn't do that nifty Railfreight Steel livery before '87

 

After TVL also the accuracy levels in UK DLC started to decline. The layers on WCL are ridiculous and the railtour layers with non headlight fitted traction on modern day routes (No TPWS either...) aren't much better.

 

I am very into them; as an American this game was my introduction to the BR blue diesels and I like them all, especially the 31. (of course I would go for any UK Route, even if it was Croydon trams - well maybe not)

 

BR Blue on a UK route, count me in !

 

Surely it wouldn't hurt DTG to at least test the water with another Classic Blue route, utilising the resources they already have. Doesn't even have to be something particularly long, but give the Class 31 or 40 it's own little route to bimble along.

 

I think they're probably going to wait and see what JT pull off. If the JT route is a massive success then they may be more inclined?

Although the annoying thing is we have a lot of BR blue era stock as well so the diversity issue as with other 1 train routes wouldn't be as problematic. Its mystifying tbf.

 

Indeed. Straight off the bat you could do North Wales Coast, Settle & Carlisle, Inverness to Perth or the ECML north of Edinburgh (well at least a section of those). Further south you could have the 31/33 transition era between Bristol and Salisbury, or 33's, 37's and 47's on passenger workings west of Swansea. Might need a set of blue/grey Mark Ones and a few additional vehicle types, but come on DTG you're supposed to be a professional game studio with 3D modellers and artists who should be able to turn a TSO into a SK (or put together a buffet car) in no time. It often seems to me there is a lack of direction and Train Sim World is actually a loose collection of individuals indulging their own particular interests - hence some of the rather odd route choices we have seen of late.

I did ponder if research could be an issue, but surely it would be far easier to get information about routes in the 70's and early 80's than the likes of PFR or SoS.

But please, just give BR Blue a chance with a decent new route and, once again, if you build it, we will come.

 

I'd love to see another place for the 33! Its nice to see it on railtours but I want a route for it!

North Wales coast historic would be a fantastic route! I go to University and travel down it a lot and I'd love a historic version! Whether it transition or otherwise.

If they built another, like many I'd buy it.

 

Unfortunately CoradiaChap and Voyager2022man will disagree and demand a full thrash TMS and full working ticket barriers at each station instead....

 

The other possibility that occurred to me and has been mooted before in the Suggestions forum, would be something like Newport to Crewe. Reskinned Class 33/0 on B/G Mark Ones with the occasional 47 subbing in. Class 37 on freight with maybe an occasional 40 though I don't think they were that common south of Crewe, not many Western men signed them (maybe ST Jn). Could be the ideal route on which to introduce a Class 56, as a separate DLC later. I really can't believe something like this does not fall in someone's vision at DTG and instead we get a 12 mile AC electric route in Manchester, with an EMU that sounds like a milk float.

 

ROFLOL... "But, but, you can't use the same lever to accelerate and brake. I hit the brakes doing 30 MPH into the platform and couldn't stop. Wahhhhhh..."

 

"Where's the air conditioning dial?"

 

Harsh, lol

 

Hated Pacers with a passion! While I always found the seats to be comfortable that was the only thing they had going for them in my eyes. The ride was like being on a bouncy castle in a hurricane rolling down a mountainside and they looked horrid. BUT I do miss them and if I ever have the space and money to build myself a model railway then a Pacer would have to be the first passenger unit on there. I'd also be at the front of the queue to buy a Pacer DLC 141,142 & 143 just to experience what it was like to drive that bouncy castle lol

 

What was in the recent update (on PS5 at least) for TVL as there is nothing mentioned in the 20th June patch notes in the Announcements section.

 

TheRagingPOTATO my hunch is that it is getting the route ready for a Pacer layer, which I think will be part of the JT route. Obviously I could be talking out my rear but it is the only thing I can think of.

 

My guess is that jt is working on a class 60. So this would definetly fit into tvl.

 

Possibly, but currently the hints are pointing at a pacer, unless caper is a word that JT like to squeeze into sentences of course. Obviously we could be both wrong but so far the incoming pacer layer from their route seems most likely in my view, presuming their route does include a pacer! A 60 would be lovely to have though.

 

Agree, can't really see evidence for a 60 other than wishful thinking. Certainly not much call for them between Blackpool and Preston on the assumption that's the route they are doing.

 

In 1989 60s were only just getting started. I doubt that one did much in the North East at all until 1990.

 

Indeed, the first 60's didn't enter traffic until late 1990.
https://railwaymatters.files.wordpr...el-e28093-the-brush-class-60_final-layout.pdf

 

Tees Valley has a great feel. I love the industrial areas being alive with the visible smoke/flames from the factories and plants.

Actually both the BR Blue routes (Tees Valley and NTP) do a good job of having the right "feel" for the location and era if that makes sense. Not that I lived through that time/place but it has the right look from what I've seen in TV/videos. Everything from the newspapers to the cars to the ads for the Travellers Fare posters with the sandwich ad, the CRT PIS screens...

NTP also did a good job of recreating the economic troubles/run down details of that era. Especially Ravensthorpe station which unlike a lot of TSW stations actually looks like it lived through its best days. Often TSW buildings/stations looking like they've just been built and never used.



When retro routes get done I think it is important that the little details like that, auto traffic, building styles, get recreated. That is one area where I found Clinchfield could use a little more polish.