Today I would like to suggest a route (or a pair of routes if necessary on memory or mileage grounds) which although largely already exists as GWE, would be entirely different in the form I am proposing. Set in around 1935-39 and starting at London Paddington we would have the mainline as far as Reading. The mainline would be very different to todays version. After leaving Paddington, the line passes Westbourne Park Station and Old Oak Common where the first branch departs the mainline at the west end of the depot and ventures past Greenford, Northolt and West Ruislip to Denham to include the line to Uxbridge High Street Station. Back with the mainline, the next branch is the West Ealing to Greenford route which still exists today. Continuing west we reach Southall and have the branch to Brentford Docks. Further west we reach West Drayton (and Yiewsley) where we find the lines north to Uxbridge Vine Street and south to Staines West. If a split were necessary, this might be the best break point. Further west we reach Slough and the branch to Windsor and Eton Central and the multiple platforms there during this time. Next mainline departure is from Maidenhead to High Wycombe and Marlow via Bourne End. Further west still, we have the branch from Twyford to Henley on Thames which also had multiple platforms at this time. Lastly we could have the line from Reading to Basingstoke. As far as stock, I can imagine various GWR steam classes/types and matching coaches as well as potentially having the GWR diesel railcars. With the many sidings and possible routes during this era I can see vast amounts of playability.
