I've suggested this via various DTG social media over the years but, willing to have another go. The route: The Cambrian Coast Line technically runs from Machynlleth where the depot is, through Dovey Junction and all the way up the west coast of Wales and round to Pwllheli. Although if you want the option as well of a shorter Glossop length line you could add on Machynlleth via Dyfi Junction to Aberystwyth which is part of the Cambrian Line. As you go up the Cambrian Coast Line you see a variety of landscape from beaches, sea and saltmarshes on one side to hills and mountains on the other side. You go past a number of tourist favourites such as Tywyn, Barmouth, Porthmadog, Criccieth and Pwllheli as well as see things such as Barmouth Bridge (has a footpath along it if you wanted to add a walking bit alongside the track between Morfa Mawddach and Barmouth), Harlech Castle, Criccieth Castle, remnants of training bits from WW2 and if you look carefully, the motorbike racetrack at Tonfannau. Not forgetting to mention, going under the Ffestiniog Railway at Minffordd, the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (not to be confused with the Welsh Highland Railway) station alongside the line just outside the TfW station in Porthmadog, the Talyllyn railway just outside Tywyn TfW station and not forgetting the even smaller trains at Fairbourne near to the TfW station in Fairbourne. Signalling: Seemingly one of the attractions for those who play the German routes seems to be the complexity of and variety of the signalling systems. So, how about giving TSW drivers a new challenge. The Cambrian Coast Line (Machynlleth to Pwllheli) and Cambrian Line (Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury) were the guinea pigs for ERTMS in the UK. Meaning which ever train or loco you're driving there will be the added thing of using ERTMS. Locos: So, there is a variety of potential locos: - Class 158s. The current passenger DMU trains - Class 197s. Soon to replace the 158s. It will unlikely be done instantaneous so, there will be a time period with both trains running along the line. - Class 97s (Network Rail). At the moment there isn't a lot of freight moving along the line but, NR use the Class 97s to move sleepers and ballast around as well as for checking the line. If you choose to have the Machynlleth to Aberystwyth bit of the Cambrian Line as well, then there is the Log train that hauls logs from various forests in West Wales from Aberystwyth through Machynlleth and off to Chirk. Due to ERTMS signalling, both Log Trains and Charter Trains (at last count, 5 planned for next year on Cambrian Coast Line so far) have to be hauled to/from Shrewsbury by Class 97s. Meaning you get to also see Colas Rail locos as well (positioned between log wagons and Class97, ready to take the train on from Shrewsbury to Chirk) Talking of locos, As I mentioned before about the Ffestiniog Railway, Welsh Highland Heritage Railway, Talyllyn Railway and Fairbourne railway, all with lines and or stations next to the Cambrian Coast Line, there is the potential for AI narrow gauge trains moving about. People: Variety of both busy and quiet times during tourist season, school trains and out of season times. So, options to use rush hour passengers on certain occasions. Request stops: There is a mixture of both request stops and non request stops along the line. Which depending on how hard it is to programme the buzzes from the guard to indicate stop at the next station would add a new thing to TSW. If you have any questions feel free to ask as I regularly use it and have done for a while now.
