I couldn't help but notice there is an ECML diesel pack in the works developed by Athena Simulation Any ideas what this could be? I personally really hope it's something freight-focused! Whatever it is, I'll be happy; being the diesel fanatic I am! What're your ideas on this?
Maybe an LNER HST? It’s a very vague description, ‘pack’ makes it sound like more than 1 train, so I’m thinking it’s not going to be a new unit. There is the potential for it to be the 800 I suppose but given it’s a new dev I think a livery is more likely, hence the HST. As above it could also be a BR Blue timetable.
Think it will be a BR Blue pack or something similar, maybe to the latest by the 90s. Great opportunity to reuse the 47, especially with the work Just Trains have done to it for their first route. 31s could appear on some workings. The 37s could also have a reappearance (hopefully DTG could touch up the model, especially if they decide to use the RIVET 37). The HSTs could make a grand appearance with the Valenta engines but this doesn't seem very likely - would be pleasantly surprised if they do though. 20s. 101s as well (found a photo of a 101 working from Peterborough to Lincoln so maybe as AI). Just for reference I just went on flickr to see what is possible for a BR Blue era or at the latest in 1990, I'm not very knowledgeable.
It’s definitely a HST but I’m also speculating a Class 180, considering a teaser for a “blue train” on GWE may be a FGW 180 could line up a layer for First Hull and Grand Central.
Lots of good shouts here... I didn't even think about the HST for some reason, the more I think of it, I do think the LNER HST definitely has a good shot at being this thing! Hopefully we'll find out more in the roadmap stream, when is it out?
If this is going to be an LNER HST then I can't see how that would work. LNER never repainted the old VTEC units and just ripped the VT logo off and put their own on. Surely the VTEC livery would not be available due to Virgin licencing.
TSC has LNER HST DLC, so presumably that isn't an issue:https://store.steampowered.com/app/...ss_43_High_Speed_Train_Remastered_Loco_AddOn/
I feel like it's probably a HST. It's a Gameplay Pack, not a Loco DLC, so I doubt it would be anything new (while the 800 is closed to the 801, it's very different) so the HST is a safe bet. I wouldn't mind it; a little change from the 801 and it could possible do some work on Fife Circle (bending the time period, with the Leven branch, though)
For me personally I'd be very happy with a LNER HST, in a weathered ex VTEC livery, or a heritage and preserved condition Deltic.
Now of course my brain instantly jumped to Deltic after being pumped up by JT's route, but thinking more realistically I reckon we're looking at a HST, which would be lovely to have added and be able to take up and down stoke bank again. That crossover period with 80xs and HSTs were absolutely brilliant.
I remember that period well. I used to work the 2200 from Kings Cross which was diagrammed as an HST. One night we went round to the platform where our set was fully expecting to find an HST. Nope, it was an Azuma - control pulled a set swap on us and none of us catering crew had worked one before. Luckily the Guard had recently done their Azuma competency but hadn’t worked one yet. That was a fun shift for sure and I’d love to see it in game.
This has to be a Deltic, it is the only true ECML diesel legend. Okay, HSTs to a degree but technically they started out on the GWML and were considered characterless.
That's what I'm hoping for.. though whatever it is, since it's diesel, I'll be getting it... (I'm hoping for a Deltic or a freight pack with a 60, or something similar)
While I would love a Deltic, I don't think this pack is it. Wouldn't it be marked as a new locomotive on the roadmap if it was? HST gameplay pack with a new timetable sounds more likely to me.
Just a wee niggling concern that it’s an unproven third-party project, would have much preferred DTG to handle this to be honest. We’ve seen the very best and the very worst of what can happen when the third-party partners get involved.
Worst case scenario, it's a Rivet level of quality product. Best case is they put in the time and effort like JT. This point makes me lean more towards this just being a livery and gameplay pack. Something less complex so that the new developer can learn the tools.
Athena is a new third party set up by Jane Whittaker, formerly of Skyhook Games, set up in July of this year according to Companies House.
I still don't understand what happened with all this Jane drama or whatever you'd call it..? Can someone maybe summarise what happened? Please?
Actually can you confirm that? I can't find an Athena Simulation on Companies House. Jane Whittaker is listed as part of Athena Worlds, but that may be an unrelated company.
Same thing, as I understand it - Worlds is the company name, Simulation is the trading name. I don't have documentation to hand but maybe we'll get some sort of confirmation in the next couple of days through the roadmap. In any case I'd find it very surprising if two different people with close links to TSW ended up creating separate companies with such similar and unusual names. Athena Worlds appears to be the company that Jane Whittaker uses for all of their personal software engineering projects (there's a LinkedIn page for them where you can find more).
I'm going to assume I will not be getting an answer about Jane.. assuming this post was intended for me?
Unless you want to find and then search through the MML feedback thread I would say you probably won't as I don't think anyone will be brave enough to explain it. A search of the name on google may give you a general idea without you needing to go through the thread. Yes, sorry were meant for you, but the quote were messing about!
Alright, time to go down the rabbit hole then... This chap (who I've hidden the identity of for privacy purposes, although you could Google him if you really wanted to find out) heads up Athena Simulation and Athena Worlds as their Chief Creative Officer, thereby establishing the link between Athena Simulations and Worlds. He also used to work at Skyhook Games (this is all public information, by the way). You can also see that Athena Worlds shares a logo with Luminaries who have been previously mentioned in an earlier roadmap as a new third party - see their website here: Luminaries (luminariesentertainment.com) Luminaries is filed under Companies House as Fantasy Park Ltd, which is one of the two companies that Jane Whittaker is a director of, the other being Athena Worlds. Ergo - I would imagine that Luminaries, Athena Simulations and Athena Worlds are effectively the same developer, all headed up by Jane Whittaker.
Class 31/4 locos used to do a lot of ECS moves around Newcastle. Class 46s used to do a lot of Kings Cross - Hull Intercity services. Both locomotives are already in TSW, so it wouldn't take much to include them in a DLC pack. Maybe throw-in the Class 33 from WSR in BR Blue livery?
Unless it's an ECML Railtour gameplay pack..? Handful for a name but I suppose it could happen - new coaches (preferably a generator coach included) and a Deltic (possibly), plus a bunch of new railtour services?
Given the experience of the developer in question, I would wager it's a modern game pack a la 323, with a rebadged 66 and 47. I wouldn't expect a brand new loco although I'm happy to be proven wrong if done well.
Given the experience of the developer in question, I'd be somewhat surprised if it even materialised!
Well, 47 401 - 47 420 were the first class 47s to get ETH conversions, and they were also based at Gateshead TMD. They were pretty common on ECML services.
I regularly frequented Gateshead shed in the early 80s, but at the time duffs were generally regarded as only slightly less undesirable than the HST on the spotters’ “what you’d like to see turn up on the next train” list. These days I appreciate the Brush type 4s a little more as there’s no longer 512 of them knocking about. HSTs were loved by the public but hated by enthusiasts because they were replacing precious loco-hauled services. I was glad to cross the last one off my list so I didn’t have to spot them anymore lol.
You're a little late. It's another 47 - isambard kingdom brunel (47848) Hate to be the bringer of madness but yeah.. another 47.
Have a look here. https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/introducing-athena-simulations-tsw5-content-releases.83885/
