One of the things that I've pondered about is if there would be any demand for an UK route where the freight operations are the main focus rather than the passenger workings. Something like a route that centers around Westbury with its vast yard and the quarries at Whatley and Merehead not too far away, which would provide the opportunity for a new Class 59 or Class 70. Class 59/0 Colas 66 & 70 at Westbury.
I only really do freight runs nowadays, personally I prefer older freight but I would love to have the class 70 in game
I have previously suggested something like a Knottingley Hub, when the Yorkshire Coal and Power House was in full swing. For those familiar with the SIAM Aire Valley traffic game set in 1990, you will know what I mean. Class 56 and Class 60 hauled heavy coal trains thundering day and night through Sudforth Lane en route to and from Drax, Eggborough and Ferrybridge power stations. Greta might not approve but it would be magnificent.
Ipswich to Felixstowe (there's a short route) with the traverser, containers all over the place, working cranes and loadable ships
Yes I would definitely like more freight focused routes. Although I wouldn't want a pick up a loaded train from point A and drop it off at point B type of route. There would need to be more activities than just that or yard marshalling. New animations like intermodal loading and unloading and loading steel or nuclear flasks etc are a must have. I wouldn't mind a modern ish route but would prefer something in a time when the railways focused more on freight than passenger trains.
Whilst I'd probably still buy a frieght focused UK route, I'd probably only do so in a sale, since I personally much prefer passenger runs. Even on TVL I mostly stick to driving the 101 and the Class 31 hauled 101 services.
Yes, a freight only route would be cool, but then players who want passenger services will not be happy?
I'd love a UK route that has a bit more focus on freight, and a new freight loco. Not the Class 59 though, looks too much like the 66.
In the case of my Knottingley suggestion, if the route expanded to include Leeds and Selby you would get (in 1990) the hourly service from Leeds to Knottingley with two or three trains a day extending on to Selby. Usually worked by Pacers.
What? Those who like passenger routes would be unhappy to see a single freight route? That would be rather selfish, don't you think? A full 5 years ago we got the Heavy Freight Pack for NTP. Hasn't been much UK freight from DTG since then. Come to think of it, not much freight from anyplace.
To be fair are passenger services fans ever happy?, I don’t think I’ve personally seen one truly happy after a new release
The upcoming WCML Crewe - Preston Seems to have a major freight focus with the MGR services, new variants/remasters for two diesel classes plus the freight 86 variant, and new wagons. I would say there is a demand for it, the main reason it likely hasn't happened yet is that there aren't many lines in the UK that are that sizeable which are freight focused, plus licensing limitations. I personally wouldn't have a problem with it, but I can imagine for example a lot of people wouldn't want the east GEML's Harwich and Felixstowe connections to be entirely DB/EWS when in reality it is heavy Freightliner territory.
Well JT are kind of doing that with their new route which is coal orientated, albeit retro. As for modern UK freight isn’t that what the freight gaming packs are about? Having said that we desperately need a new UK freight loco, it’s getting beyond a joke and embarrassing now, what must foreign players think of a UK company that ignores its own player base to build an endless stream of German and US freight locos?
