Hopefully a full-blown extension to Cathcart Circle will come in due course as with the new Glasgow Central traffic, it would be wonderful to have another line out of there, but until then an idea for a route enhancement where a little bit of track addition could give plenty more game-play. My idea is for a small route enhancement, one that by extending the route by just under 2 miles, could add 3 stations and a depot, offering a bundle of short drives and scenario possibilities. First off, model Crossmyloof properly and bring into the game and timetable mode. Like many people, I am looking forward to the 158 coming out. Now, while the 156 would be the correct traction here - and I'm sure it's coming it in the not-too-distant future - I'd love to be able to drive the 158 in Cathcart on a timetabled service. While Crossmyloof to Central (or vice versa) is only about 8 or so minutes, I am sure people would like the opportunity to drive some timetabled trains. I love what I call micro-services. Ideal for when I want to jump in TSW but only have a few minutes. When Fife Circle came out and I wanted to jump into TSW but was pushed for time, I used to run one of the short Haymarket-Waverley 385 trips. Since the 380 timetable came out, when I'm pushed for time but want a quick drive, I do one of the ECS workings. Crossmyloof wouldn't be hard to model, there's generic passenger shelters, one on each platform. Perhaps the walkway up to the road bridge would be the only custom model needed. As seen from many pics on groups, people are already exploring the line in free roam, so why not make it official? The second enhancement would need a little work, but under 2 miles of track and scope for 2 stations and a depot. For those who on the forum who don't know the area, if you were to carry on past Shields Road and Dumbreck stations, about another mile and a half down the line is Corkerhill CSMD, otherwise known as Corkerhill Carriage Servicing Maintenance Depot. This is where all the 156s and half of the 158 fleet are maintained, which opens up more opportunities for ECS moves and even scenario ideas as the depot is used for refuelling DMUs. As well as that, a lot of EMUs are cleaned and stabled there as well. Just say down the line (no pun intended) we get a 156 and/or the East Kilbride/Barrhead lines - modelled in the era that Cathcart is set or even one of the other routes that was not electrified at the time, Corkerhill would be a must, so why not get it in there now? Corkerhill ECS runs would be a lot easier than Shields Road as no turnback siding needed (although there is one at Corkerhill). If you add in Corkerhill CSMD, that brings into play two new stations. Dumbreck - which is in route as a skeleton model but not accessible - and Corkerhill itself as the turnback siding for the depot uses the old platform 2. By bringing in these stations you offer some 10-minute services for those folk who want something different than the circle they've driven so many times. Plus, should you ever extend in the future out West towards Paisley Gilmour Street and beyond, you could throw in the rest of the Paisley Canal line as you've done a lot of the work already. The single-track Paisley Canal line on its own would never be a seller, but bundle it in with an extension out West and you'd have a winner. Like Crossmyloof, the stations at Dumbreck and Corkerhill are very basic, generic shelter jobs, only Corkerhill CSMD might need some custom models, although DTG might already have very similar assets they can use from elsewhere. Anyhow, that's my idea. I think if DTG were ever serious about extending the Cathcart Circle route into something more, this would an ideal stop-gap measure to keep people interested in it and keep sales up. Make it free and get rewarded in sales when a proper extension ever comes along. Hope you like the suggestion and to finish, if anyone from DTG has got this far, two bits of feedback. 1) Please remove the waiting passengers from Platform 2 at Neilston. No services to Glasgow ever start there. It's been like that since the route first came out. 2) Update the PIS boards, you've got some services out west showing Paisley Canal (terminus) as a stop, when it should be Paisley Gilmour Street. Thanks!
Just to note for any pedants that in real life the Class 158s can't operate services to Barrhead and East Kilbride (route clearance), but it would still be nice to have one running to Crossmyloof in the game. And when the days comes that a 156 is made, we can substitute it in!
I also think that they should add services to Newton that go via Cambuslang and it would add another micro service from Newton to Rutherglen, or maybe even to Glasgow Central Low Level
Would love that, but that would be a full blown extension. This is just a minor enhancement that could act as a stop gap to give more services/scenarios until such an extension happened.
Having seen that the Class 158 AI services also stop at Crossmyloof, even if the doors don't open, it's convinced me that this idea is a real possibility and I hope DTG can see the potential for extra gameplay with only a little bit of work.
