With 99% of routes being modern era, there's the need for more from the steam era. I suggest the Ashburton Branch Line as it served a few farms and other industries and connected the main line at Tiverton, so there's the scope for passenger, freight and shunting operations. It's now the South Devon Railway and could be done as that for the preservation era, so it's win win there. Locomotives that could be included are the 57xx and 64xx pannier tank engines for standard duties and auto fitted for push-pull work with auto trailers, the 14xx for the same reasons, the 3251 class and the 43xx for freight duties. Rolling stock could include Churchward, Collett and Hawksworth carriages, Minks, Bloaters and Siphon wagons for fish, perishables, milk and parcels and finally a breakdown crane for recovering vehicle and repair work for scenarios that could include responding to accidents. Features could include the role of the signaller, there's an option for guard work so this route could trial it out.
This is the sort of route DTG should have done to test the water with steam traction. Sadly seems little chance of it getting built unless they recant their stated policy of no more steam in TSW.
