From their Newsletter "We are very pleased to announce that we are extending our MML: London to Bedford Enhancement Pack. Running from Bedford to Corby, stopping at Wellingborough and Kettering on the way, this extension offers 30 miles along a fascinating piece of railway with its split-level slow and fast lines. One minute the fasts are higher than the slows, and the next, vice versa! Set in the same era as the London to Bedford section, 2011 to 2019, this characterful route is captured before the arrival of the overheard wires. All of those lovely old Midland Railway bridges are still in place and the views of the charming English countryside are uninterrupted. The perfect stomping ground for our recently released HST packs. Also, apart from the adding of a single slow line between Wellingborough & Kettering in 2009, the route had remained largely unchanged since resignalling in 1987, which gives plenty of scope for scenarios in different eras. A bonus 5 miles are also included from Bedford St Johns to Stewartby on the Bedford to Bletchley line. As well as offering a short stretch of class 150 action, this also provides interesting freight opportunities to Forders sidings, which for many years received binliner trains from Cricklewood and engineers traffic. The main scenery is largely finished apart from Corby station which remains to be modelled. It will then be a case of making sure the signalling is up to scratch, adding authentic ambient audio, placing wonky mileposts, and generally ensuring everything is up to scratch." I think it would have been better if they had gone to Leicester. The extra 16 miles would have given more opportunities for scenarios. The fast service from St Pancras to Sheffield are non-stop between London & Leicester.
This sounds good. Worth noting though it's another 25 miles to Leicester from Kettering North Junction, not 16, so not an insignificant amount. If it's anything like the London to Bedford enhancement pack, the quality of the route building far surpasses the normal DTG standard too, so every mile will take much longer than it would a 'normal' route. Hopefully a further extension takes us all the way to Leicester one day.
Grateful for any new AP content but seems odd not to extend to Leicester for scenario and HST potential. Even more odd to do the Corby stretch pre-electrification ruling out 360 runs.
To be honest, they directly address that in the newsletter. Pre-electrification looks nicer and provides scenario opportunities for a wide number of eras. Also matches the era of the London to Bedford stretch which makes sense to provide a cohesive experience. Personally too, 360s are absolutely dull as dish water so doesn't bother me.
Yes i agree would like it wired to Corby maybe some one will eventually but still looking forward to the extension
The original from AP had a line going to Kettering already. Guess they have now made this active in their ‘working’ route.
There is of course already an excellent free version of this route that goes St Pancras - Leicester on steam workshop. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3041981673 Having spent my train spotting days (sorry enthusiast) in the late 80's at WelIingborough and commuting for 4 years down to London I would highly recommend the free version of the route!
i made a post about the MML before, but i was stupid to say sheffield when i meant to say leicester. But yea, still no london to leicester... fantastic
I presume you are asking why the change in track levels? The Slow lines were laid with less steep gradients for the heavy unfitted coal trains that used to run on the lines. The Fast lines were laid for speed. Gradients on the Main (Fast) Lines The gradients for the main lines (often referred to as 'Fast' lines) are notably steep for a principal railway route: Southbound (Up direction towards London): Trains face a sustained ascent of approximately 3.5 miles at a ruling gradient of 1 in 120 towards the summit. Northbound (Down direction away from London): The gradient on the fast lines is 1 in 119 for about 4 miles, descending from the summit towards Sharnbrook signal box and beyond. The summit itself is located near Sharnbrook, at approximately 59 miles from London St Pancras, where the line levels off for about 200 yards. Gradients on the Goods (Slow) Lines To alleviate the challenge posed by the steep gradients, the line was quadrupled around 1880, with dedicated goods/slow lines built on a different, less severe alignment. The gradients on the slow lines are more manageable: The goods lines generally ascend/descend at a gradient of 1 in 200 in the up direction. These lines run separately through the 1,860-yard-long Sharnbrook Tunnel , and fall at a gradient of 1 in 160 on the other side. These gradients have historically made the section a stiff test for locomotives.
It hardly takes a genius to work out that if they have only have a specific restriction for one product, it's probably because they want to do the extension themselves. This extension announcement being a strong indication of that. Is that really so unreasonable? Engage brain is recommended from time to time.
ou buts it’s ok for AP to prohibit others from doing stuff by mentioning no one else is allowed to extend it. But when Thomson interactive done the same years ago with work they did all hell broke loose. Funny that isn’t it. and i have a brain clearly yku need to engage yours. Or you would have remembered the outcry when Thomson interactive done the same years ago surely an expert like you would have remembered that…….
AP only introduced this restriction after someone who had made a MML Brighton merge asked for permission to release it. I'd be surprised if Richard decided to merge the routes and release it, but it would be a pleasant surprise.
I remember the MML - Brighton merge that Danny did but that was all DTG stuff Did somebody else do a merge with the current AP version of MML?
The message preceding yours was harsh but not lacking in tact. However, this remark is exactly the kind of thing I find incorrect (on discussion forums and elsewhere).
There's a difference between Thomson's wholesale approach and one restriction on a single product where it seems AP intend to do what is being requested permission for anyway. Time will tell I suppose but hardly worth the hot air being expelled on here over it. Still, there will always be a strange hardcore who leap on anything remotely negative they deem AP as doing and exaggerate it to oblivion. I heard the request was someone wanting to merge the Workshop London - Leicester route. Exactly what AP seem to be working towards...
Ah so the last part then that makes perfect sense and I don’t blame AP to prohibit somene doing that.
