Blackpool Branches New Timetable

We’ll be able to compare the timetables once Crewe-Preston is released. It might be that all the services are still there but with different locos, the new 47 and 20 from that route. Perhaps the other locos will be able to sub back in once they are there with the new locos as standard or perhaps not if Dr. Optimisation has prevented it.

 

I had done some modifications to make subbing more suitable for the Class 31, 45 and 37 as I felt the substitution values were way too high on them but as the patch included an absolute ton of higher priority things they got lost in the shuffle.

 

The 31's and 45's would have appeared. I'm surprised they have been left out, especially the class 31

 

T

Thank you, hopefully we see them back soon.

 

I hope so too as it really adds to the variety.

 

Quick someone get DTG on speed dial /j

 

Great to hear.

 

so will the 20 from the new route replace the tees 20 in this new timetable?

 

Feedback so far is I'm loving seeing the 86 and 87 on this route at last and I'm so happy they decided to add in loco swaps, giving me chance to use this locos on short loco swaps. Nice that when I'm bouncing into Preston on a Pacer, there's some AC traction.

Definitely missing the 31 and 45... not so fussed about the 40 not being there!

And that leads me on to the only negative. I was doing some loco swaps at Preston and I saw a fair few AI trains, but every single one of them - bar a solitary pacer - were 47 hauled. I know they were everywhere back then, but it felt a little overkill. Didn't even see an 86 or 87 in that timespan.

Thanks for the new timetable and keeping it separate from the original. Happy to be playing this route again.

 

It does on the Railtour

 

Can't wait to try it tonight and again after purchasing the Crewe route tomorrow. I'm actually almost as excited about this timetable as the new route. Blackpool is a route I keep going back too and it will be an even better experience with a more representative timetable.

I do love what JT are doing, bring on Cumbrian coast.

 

I love seeing the Electrics as AI at Preston now when coming off the branchlines. Great immersion.

Hope to see the other Classes of diesels back soon though.

 

JT, will the 45 and 31 be added later by you in a later patch or will that be on DTG (but honestly I don’t think removing the 40 would be a bad idea since it would be unrealistic to have them in 1986)

Btw can not wait for the Crewe Preston tomorrow it’s gonna be a blast

 

I loved seeing and hearing the occasional 40 despite the slight anachronism. Maybe it could be possible to make it selectable for those who don't want it.

 

Shame the new timetable is light on locos towards Blackpool. The whole point is to get some 86s and 87s on the current timetable to make it more realistic

 

It was in selectable on the original Blackpool timetable. But on Shap you have to remove the entire heavy freight layer and therefore some services disappeared. For me it just appears too much on Shap. If it was likely to appear once at the most I wouldn't mind but seeing it three times was too much, although that only happened on a couple of occasions.

 

I'd be quite happy if it took the place of all the 47s to be honest.

 

What’s everyone’s favourite loco to play on BPO?
31 for me

 

Probably the 101 or if strictly a loco then the 47 with the suspension. It would be the 31 if it had suspension.

 

One further comment to add. Love that there's station announcements but they shouldn't sound automated. Wrong era.

 

Yes being a railway Telecomms engineer of 37 years and still going I can confirm that automated PA systems didn’t come into use till the early to mid 90s. (Both the old and new PA systems were maintained and faulted by us guys) And even once installed at large stations they were only run alongside the human announcers rather than fully replacing them.

 

Reminds me I'll have to get back to and used to the Class 101 driving style and gear changing in anticipation of the much wanted Class 108, so will be doing some practice runs on the new diverse timetable! Also will be so nice to see BPO upto modern standards with the timetable.

Personally before I go back to BPO I'll buy Preston to Crewe tomorrow and then let the stock from that also layer on so I get diversity I need. At the moment I'm not fussed about the 31/45 as I'm sure they'll make a appearance in a future update (and obviously on a reduced scale).

But I'll be enjoying the AC electrics at Preston as AI, and the coffin style Mk2s making an appearance on BPO.

So excited for both! Phenomenal times for BR enthusiasts and this is without the summer announcements yet... Possibly more stuff that can layer on? Maybe the 31 or 45 will be updated to modern standards with a future route hence the hold back... Who knows? (Speculation obviously).

As I've said previously I'm just as excited for this timetable as I am for Crewe to Preston being released tomorrow.

 

We tried to get it sounding less automated but when sounds are done in segments on the announcement system it's very difficult to do.