After time in TSW, I finally expanded into TS and am really digging the Weardale/Teesdale route with the old Class 25. The transitional steam/early diesel era is really interesting to me and I like to move freight around (TS is so much better for hooking up cars and going in scenarios than TSW!) Does anyone have any suggestions similar to this route and era? Doesn't have to be UK. I just really like the late steam/early diesel vibe and moving freight around the map. I really like the "network" feel of the Weardale map too, so it's not completely linear. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
To be honest, Weardale has plenty of atmosphere but it doesn't really grab me as I am into "real" workings and the North Eastern Region freight working timetables show very few trains as most freight was run on a week-to-week locally decided basis. But to get to your question, the Netherfield area would perhaps fit the bill for you, and is on massive discount at the moment: Save 70% on Train Simulator: Netherfield: Nottingham Network Route Add-On on Steam John
Some classic US routes that should be made: -SP Peninsula Corridor: San Francisco-San Jose-Gilroy w/ FM H-24-66 Trainmaster, GP9, SD9 (all in both Black Widow and Bloody Nose liveries), and maybe a GS-Class 4-8-4 -PRR NEC with GG1s and E44s -ATSF Seligman Sub, Raton Pass, or Cajon Pass (1950s-60s) w/ Alco RSD-15, GP9, SD24, GP20, Baldwin VO1000, and FM H-12-44; also ATSF 3751, 3765, 3776, and 2900-Class 4-8-4s, 5000, 5001, and 5011-Class 2-10-4s, 3800-Class 2-10-2 Santa Fes, and 3450/3460-Class Hudsons for a steam-era ATSF route -Milwaukee Road route w/ Hiawatha consist and either an F7 Hudson, 4-4-2 Atlantic, FM Erie-Built A-B-A, E8/E9 set, or Bi-Polar or Little Joe electrics; also a few other MR diesels
Agreed, I don't think this is an ideas thread. We have an entire forum for that. And I have heard more devs have moved over to TSW, so the question is whether any will still do dev work in TSC too.
Interestingly, in the TSW part of the forum, people are guessing that the "new UK route" will be Carlisle down to Preston. Not to Newcastle, but still starting in Carlisle so thought folks might wanna check it out.
Why do they think that? ATS covered the route in TSC, if I remember correctly, not DTG. Not even available on Steam. Is that the reason? EDIT: My mistake, that was a Keith Ross route. ATS took south of Preston to Crewe and onwards. Got it confused for a moment. So I can see the reason for the guess, given it's been promoted by DTG already with the 87. In TSC, that is.
The Exeter - Kingswear 50's has a lot of features being set in Steam days - although you could use early diesels https://store.steampowered.com/app/...in_the_Fifties_Exeter__Kingswear_Route_AddOn/
Horseshoe Curve is a good transitional era route set in the mid 50s/early 60s. It's mostly diesel but there is a PRR K4 available on steam as well as a few freeware steam locos available from https://www.dsgddr.com.br/ Also, Tennessee Pass and Wasatch grade are some other US transition era routes. As for UK, if you're strictly after freight, I would recommend the Maerdy route and its add on - however you'll mostly deal with coal and the odd passenger service. Woodhead (there are 2 versions), the original, set in the 50s/60s offers both steam and electric operations, with the odd diesel as well, and the woodhead blue route, which is set in the 70s to early 80s. Netherfield network is also another steam era route focusing on the Nottingham area in the 50s/60s, with coal primarily as it's freight operations. Somerset and Dorset also has mixed freight and passenger workings as well as WLOS port road. For added realism, be sure to grab the Black 5, 8F, 7F, 4F, Steam era carriage and wagon sound packs from SSS to make your experience more realistic.
I have the TSW route Horseshoe Curve. It's kinda nice (although a bit dated, lacking some traffic and has some "interesting" glitches) How do they compare? (Besides the TSW one being modern)
The freeware GAD Dorset Coast route is really high quality, it's not really a network but there was a very decent amount of freight traffic on the line.
