Very good detective work. If we are getting a route featuring the WCML presumably that means not only are we getting one new AC electric but also a rake of mark 3a carriages, which seems quite an undertaking. If it was to be just Preston to Lancaster and Morecombe that would be underwhelming. The Morecombe branch offers nothing we haven't got in Blackpool branches and as said Preston to Lancaster would seem a waste. They do mention many period signal boxes which wouldn't match the WCML, although it could be the route across to Barrow. Maybe it will feature a stretch of the WCML but not actually any WCML native trains!
That may just be a diesel-only branch, such as the Morecambe branch, as part of an electrified WCML segment.
Having any part of the WCML in the game would be awesome especially with AC Electric locos in the late 80s period. That screenshot is potentially a non electrified branch off it.
Based on the tree on the left hand side of the screen shot I would place this right here. I deduce this after sun positioning, the autumnal look to the scene and a far more generous splash of outright, unfounded speculation that a curved piece of rail confirms a route. I personally look forward to driving into Hastings
Thank you Marc. The satire was in jest of the overall thread context and lack of detail for us to speculate on provided by just trains as opposed to you. Not a swipe in your direction in any capacity at all, but appreciate feedback none the less .
They do seem to match. 79 miles apparently. Your most likely right sadly… Id love to see it all. Especially when it’s a JT Route.
Indeed whatever it is I'm looking forward to it especially the stunning work they did with Blackpool branches
If it's owt like Blackpool in terms of quality and variety of traction it'll be a great route no matter what! Very good detective work in here though.
it looks very much like the curve coming out of Morecambe towards Bare Lane, the square looking building in the background looks like York Hotel, the line isnt electrified
I think Preston to Carlisle is too long so my theory is Preston to Oxenholme with both the Morecambe and Windermere branches. 54 miles of combined track
I disagree. I think we could get the whole Preston to Carlisle, it's not a built up area the route runs through so it's entirely possible. And that means one thing, a 86 or an 87... or both!
I hope we get the WCMLOS, and to top it off an APT DLC, would be sold on it one hundred percent, and fyi railmiles states Preston to Carlisle as 91 miles
Another possibility albeit slightly unlikely could be Lancaster to Morecambe then up to Carnforth and across the “Little North Western” towards Skipton. Could use the 142 and unique in that I don’t think that route has been in any train sim to date, not even as freeware. Did it once, nice scenic run; not as grand as the S&C but great in its own right. Anyhow if it is the WCML and main line ops are featured, then personally I would suggest a rake of Mark Two aircon vehicles would add future proofing rather than loco hauled Mark Threes, which tended only to be used on top link WCML services.
The Loco Hauled Mark threes could also be used for Cross Country and Railtour but yeah I'd sooner see Mark II air cons (or coffins lol).....and a Mark 1 Buffet carriage
I might be wrong but I thought most of the Anglo-Scottish services were mark 3's with mark 2's more on the West Midlands and North West services? I might be wrong though.
If it is WCML around Preston I think anything less than Preston to Carlisle will be underwhelming. It will be like Peterborough to Doncaster. None of the stations in between are major stations, well maybe Lancaster just about. Not every train stopped at every station between Preston and Carlisle. Whatever it is it will be excellently built.
Yes I agree some Aircon mark 2's would be very welcome. A proper rake of blue/grey mark 1's I think is also needed. I love the Blackpool route but the constant rakes of mark 2's with a BG on each end isn't very realistic. That isn't JT's fault or course or anyone's really.
Plus the fact, apart from the Railtour scenario the loco hauled section is only around 15 miles, so with the best will in the world it did get repetitive. Part of me really does hope it is a section of the WCML, always look forward in my TSC rotation when it comes around and I can blast an 86 or 87 over Shap or Beattock.
Well, I knew I'd be wrong haha, with it now looking very likely to be Preston northbound to... somewhere
Looking at lancaster it seems to short, while carlisle probably is too long. So my guess is it will be manchester to lancaster via preston. This hopefully merged with the blackpool - ormskirk timetable / services.
That would be an interesting route. I did wonder if it could be Leeds to Morecambe. Both would give the 142 plenty to do. I wonder what the new experience could be. I could be an AC electric but we already have the two similar German ones.
The new experience could be nuclear flask traffic to and from Heysham Power Station with animated crane. That would be something different.
The rail vehicles giving us a new experience could well point to an AC locomotive which will be required if a large section of the WCML is depicted. Alternatively, loading and unloading of parcels or other cargo.
And the tap changer on a Class 86 or 87 is slightly different to most of the German locos (apart from maybe the 110) in that you will get an overload trip if you try and tap or run up too quickly.
If this does mean an 86 or 87, I’d be over the moon. Don’t think I need to reiterate my love of vintage electric locos on the forums at this point
Yes me too but I’m going to wait and see if it is that before I start drooling. Whatever it is though it is confirmed to be in my era of nostalgia and will no doubt be top quality.
Well, as Just Trains’ next route release is the TSW event of the year as far as I’m concerned, I’m going to join in the speculation…. I note on the teaser shot that there’s a shunting signal in the bottom-left of the shot. This would fit with the suggestion that the view is from just outside Morecambe, towards Bare Lane, as a shunting signal in that position would enable a unit/loco to draw out of Morecambe, behind the shunting signal, and then be signalled back into a different platform. However, if it’s correct that this is the location, the shunting signal also helps us with era. Currently the two lines in the shot are actually not an Up and a Down line. They are operated as two single-track spurs, all the way from Bare Lane. The line on the left is used for trains terminating at Morecambe. The line on the right is used by trains going to Heysham, which are going to use the run-round loop at Morecambe. This means the shunting signal would have no purpose in that position, so would have been removed. This means the route isn’t set in the modern era (hurray!). What I don’t know is when the track layout was changed to this arrangement to give a further clue as to when the route is set. Maybe someone else does? Finally, and again assuming we’re correct with Morecambe, what does this tell us about the route to be included? For me, it makes it unlikely it’s Preston-Carlisle. If JT were doing the whole of Preston-Carlisle I’d be surprised if they were going to start adding on branch lines as well. Just doing the mainline would be a big enough task. I’d imagine including Preston is likely (it’d be odd not to take advantage of the fact they’ve already built Preston) so perhaps Preston to Morecambe and Windermere, as mentioned above? For me, that would give a slightly odd Preston-Oxenholme run with an 86/87 (you miss out on the main climb, which is beyond Oxenholme, and Oxenholme is a strange finish point). Then you’ve got a branch stuck on the end (Oxenholme-Windermere) which is unremarkable and mostly worked in the 1980s by a DMU shuttle (I think - but stand to be corrected here - that the run round loop at Windermere was removed as early as 1973). The reintroduction of through trains onto the branch came post-privatisation. So if it’s Preston-Morecambe (potentially including Heysham) but not Windermere, then what about Barrow? That sounds more interesting to me, with the chance to give the locos and hauled stock a decent run and stopping services provided by DMUs. The only question then would be, what would be the new loco/unit? An 86/87 just to run between Preston and Lancaster seems a waste. It’s not far enough, and a relatively uninteresting section of mainline (flat and straight, with no intermediate speed restrictions). I’d love it to be a class 25, but I suspect a class 156 is more likely, as these became ubiquitous on the Morecambe and Barrow lines. I’d be fine with that, providing in Timetable Mode I could run a 101 in its place on the stopping services!
Lived in Kendal for a very short period in 1977 and my parents took us to Windermere once or twice by train. All the infrastructure had gone by then including the RR loop at Windermere and the branch was worked as a long siding under the "one engine in steam" basis. Services normally provided by a Class 108 two car, occasionally a Class 105 Cravens two car. Exception was Easter Monday when a 3 car Class 101 in West Yorkshire livery turned up, presumably drafted in to strengthen the service on Bank Holday. AFAIR the branch was self contained during the day, with the first Down train of the day starting at Preston and the final Up service running back, presumably to get the set back to Newton Heath. The line is quite scenic, albeit you can't actually see the eponymous lake from it, terminating as it does up the hill more on the town outskirts.
I've only done the Windermere branch once, on an all line rover many years ago. Had a Transpennine 185 and it was absolutely hammering it down. I couldn't see a thing lol
You could also genuinely have the Class 31 and a rake of Mk2 coaches running some of the Barrow line services, if the period was right. There is an old Railscene cab ride video of the Manchester to Barrow run, which was filmed from a 31. En route passes a mixture of Class 142’s and old Class 108 DMU’s. Much as we all hanker after the WCML, realistically it would be a tall order for JT to make all that including the AC electrics and Mark 2 or Mark 3 aircon stock. Adapting the Class 31 to a 31/4 and maybe a Class 108 DMU to accompany the pack seems a more level headed proposal. Would still be a Day One purchase for me.
I was wondering whether this new thing for TSW could be a mail train with high speed pick-up/drop off. Was this still happening in the late 80s?
Think at that point mail and parcels were just being conveyed and loaded/unloaded at stations or Post Office hubs and conveyed in normal vans.
I have that cab ride. I remember Jeremy English asking if he could open the door to the engine room to hear the thrash from the engine better.
Poor old Jeremy (RIP). Great guy but he must really have got on the niggle of some of those train crew and traction inspectors with his constant waffle. Surprised he didn’t get kicked out at the next station, on some of the runs! It is noticeable how little thrash is evident in the cab so guess we should be thankful to DTG on the audio front for piping in the external or “Wired For Sound” effects when they compiled the classic diesels. Shame they can’t do that with some of the more modern traction units to enhance the entertainment.
Very familiar with the Heysham branch and all lines around the area. Picture of me walking to open the Heysham P.S ground frame having shunted the sidings in 1996 or so.
Same, it's one of my favourites, it was part 1 of a 2 part cabride, with part 2 being on a 108 (I think) Cabride up the Cumbrian coast from Barrow to Carlisle.
Yes that's right I have that too. I still have a VHS player to play them on although haven't for some years. I would love the Cumbrian coast line to be released with a class 108.
Yes I got both of those on DVD, think Cumbrian Coast actually on two discs. Class 108 DMU but very quiet so probably a power/trailer set with the non-powered car leading. Very nice run, particularly between Sellafield and Whitehaven. Had to wonder how some of those bungalows down on the shore line survive high tide or stormy weather...
Yes I've got a couple on DVD as you say they aren't really much better. I wore out my copy of Cardiff to Birmingham as I watched it every weekend for weeks hogging my parents video player.
Yes I think they were all power trailer sets from Heaton. They had been at Carlisle but they closed the depot to units in the mid 80's and they all went to Heaton. Bit of a waste taking them over the Pennines to work the Cumbrian coast I would have thought!
Would love the Morecambe, Furness and Windermere branch lines with some loco hauled stock and a 108. I'd be happy with a 156 as well. Then for JT third TSW route, they can just complete Oxenholme to Carlisle and we'd have a nice little WCML Lancashire/Cumbria with branches network.
