What can I say? I am not really one for old routes and prefer modern but this has really grown on me. Picked up both wcml over shap and also blackpool branches and love them! The sense of speed in the 87 and in the Pacer even is incredible. The ai horns are a surprise and welcome, the amount of traffic and things going on is amazing. The scenery and sounds are absolutely fantastic. The 87 is probably the most challenging thing I have driven. Not because it's the hardest loco to drive but because you have to pay attention. Then you have to look at trackside and look out for the neutral sections. At times it was really stressful lol. Also don't think this was mentioned anywhere before but I really admire the use of the quick notch up feature with the DPAD. I am using a ps5 and the ability to notch up quickly and tap back and forth is wonderful however this clashes with the reverser and at multiple points when quick tapping down it's also put the reverser handle into neutral (also can't seem to get it into reverse somehow. Yes, it does have some problems though. My first attempts at guard mode went awfully. Maybe it's just me or a bug. I am sure it's all being looked into. But this does not degrade both routes in any way. It's absolutely thrilling.. and the sense of speed like I said is amazing and also the sheer detail and amazing Easter eggs (nods to football and some of the JT team for example!). And some other puns as well I found. Also really love use of modern and semaphore signalling. Adds some unique gameplay. Overall top notch and can't wait to see what comes next. For comparison I compare their work with their attention to detail to robert eggers who does mainly period pieces in 1800s etc which has great attention to detail.
Their routes are simply the best. DTG have many good routes (SEHS being the best as far as I'm concerned), but Just Trains managed to push even further.
I also didn't realise the Pacer is dtgs own. I asked this in a stream and Tom said it was from dtg. Believe from tsc but somehow transferred to tsw
WCMLoS is without a doubt the best UK route and should set the benchmark for any future DLC, certainly in terms of overall quality. Yes there is the odd scenery glitch as reported in the feedback thread which I’m sure JT are working on. And the core game is not being kind to the route in terms of stutters and sound squelching, but that’s something DTG need to get off their hands and sort out when back at work in the New Year.
I've always thought that the 142 was from AP working with JT. only because APs 142 v2.0 was released for TSC at the same time BPO was released. JT though have made me cross over from TSC (along with the free TSW5 update) got BPO on sale in October and not been off it since. even got WCMLos on release and hardly been on it yet as I'm still having too much fun running on BPO both classics.
Agreed, both excellent routes, even if they are impacted by TSW's signature stutters, certainly the top two.
Yep had this too even on ps5 but smoothed out eventually and the head out camera flinging you down the train etc. Other than that all good
It's absolutely fantastic the route the level of detail is incredible definitely worth the money i wouldn't mind seeing them do something modern next
I remember Tom saying they had plans and had something going..I feel these will keep up with the yearly November releases.
Something slam-door and third rail would be an excellent addition. Just Trains would ace that...or another portion of the WCML with slam-door EMUs.
Would love an hst or something..I wonder if they will just stick to 80s stuff based in north West or expand. And I wonder if they will do longer stuff
They'll probably build a route that diverges either at Preston or Carlisle (except Carlisle to Glasgow, I think they've already said no to that). They'll likely not go modern, I'd say no later than 2000 at a push. They'll want to exploit the market for older eras and traction as long as viable I'd say.
I still have my hopes set on a 1980's North Wales Coast but then they're not going to want to waste the 86 (and 87) opportunity for reuse and layering. So that really means another section of the WCML, maybe south from Preston to Crewe or Stafford or perhaps less ambitious the Trent Valley from Rugby to Stafford (for extra ambition could also go via Birmingham/Bescot and Wolverhampton!).
Wolverhampton looks very different today than it did in the 1980s, so I would love to see what Just Trains would do with it. There was always a class 08 stabled opposite platform 3 ... and sometimes an 86 or 87 that had just come in from Euston, after it's coaches had been removed and taken to Oxley depot for cleaning, ready for the return journey. Please God, never let DTG touch Bescot or Wolverhampton.
Modern? We already have a ton of modern routes and more in development. Just Trains are doing fine as they are making retro UK content, that DTG themselves have forsaken.
Tbh, Manchester - Crewe & Stoke in the 90s would've been great for that, so much opportunity for layers and loco dlcs snd gameplay packs, it'd be an absolute gold mine. Not sure if the 323 would be too modern for them though.
my thinking was that AP did a separate one to the DTG one, learn something new evey day. ether way i love driving it its still just as good in TSW as it was in TSC
My money is on Preston - Crewe with the Liverpool spur (both northern via Earlestown and southern via Runcorn) as that would easily but the 87 & 86 to good use Personally I'd rather Preston - Manchester via Bolton and Wigan as I used to live adjacent to Swinton station so a route set in the 80s with JTs detail would finish me off...
My money is on Cumbrian Coast for the next JT route. The class 101 and 142 already peel off the WCML at Carnforth and rejoin at Carlisle, plus they already have the destination blinds set, and a lot of the freight services from Preston go via Carnforth too. There is also no OHLE on the Cumbrian Coast, so that is a lot less modelling work to begin with. It would fill the gap.
I honestly was surprised also. I thought they built from scratch so I guess all it needed was a few tweaks etc then good to go
I hope they stick to a similar time period or maybe even go back to the 70's. There are plenty of modern routes already and DTG next UK routes will presumably stick to the modern period. ATS are likely to make modern routes and apart from WCL (which was apparently set in the 90's), Rivets next UK route will likely to be modern. The new developer (of the Mildmay line) looks like he will also be making modern routes and if Skyhook make another that is likely to be modern. Leave something for those of us who don't want to just see modern routes.
If anything I'd like to see them venture into the mid to late 70s, certainly not moving too much later than the 80s though, that's for sure.
I generally don't have any interest in older era routes, nothing against them at all just my own personal preference, but the latest Preston to Carlisle is in my opinion by far the best route in the whole of TSW. it feels like a complete route with two major termini stations as the end points (this is what lets the ECML down, driving Peterborough to Doncaster feels like you're driving 80% of a route, whereas Peterborough to York would feel like a complete run) The scenery on Preston-Carlisle is outstanding, it's incredibly varied and immersive, and i was hesitant on the Class 87 just because i have no experience of the era, but it's great fun to drive and i've loved it so far. The timetable is class, which i feel is standard when Just Trains produce a route, they really go all out to produce a first-rate 24 hour timetable, and i'm really happy they made good use of the Class 142 pacer in this route too. One thing i don't think JT get enough credit for, is their mastery rewards. Both Blackpool Branches and now WCMLoS have excellent mastery tiles that really enhance the route.. i won't spoil it for anyone yet to unlock it but it's 100% worth it! It's another example of Just Trains taking exceptional care in their production of a route, it shows a lot of thought and innovation. If you think having a Pirate Ship being attacked by a massive Octopus is completely pointless as a mastery tile (see West Cornwall Local's mastery if you haven't already), this is the opposite of that, it's a really great addition to an already great route.. again just not enough credit goes to Just Trains on their mastery tiles! I know a lot of people on here love BR Blue routes and the nostalgia of the 80's era, which i totally get and love, but to have someone like myself who before TSW had no knowledge or experience of this era (i'm a late 90's/early 00's girl) is a huge testament to what Just Trains have achieved here. So overall, Preston-Carlisle is for me the best route in game, it's an excellent choice of WCML section (it feels like you have achieved something with this mileage and choice of logical end-points, which is what lets ECML down in terms of long-term replayability) and it's modelled immacuately, JT did a great job with their Blackpool Branches route but honestly this is next level stuff, and if DTG and Skyhook (and even Rivet) used this as a benchmark for what future route DLC's should look like, the game would be in a very healthy state. All i can add is i cannot wait for what JT have planned next regarding a new route, I didn't think they'd be able to top Blackpool Branches but genuinely Preston-Carlisle is even better.. i'd love to see Just Trains tackle something Scottish next time, maybe a part of the West Highland Line or Kyle of Lochalsh Line would be beautifully recreated by them!
Yep indeed, I echo yourself Katia in my impressions. I really don't like that era either but this route really drawn me in with the rolling stock and scenery. Truly immersive. And the layers. Always busy.
A Class 108 would be pretty much essential for that and in particular the sub allocation with bars across the door drop lights. That and a Class 25 though guessing it would be set in a similar era to the two existing routes so a bit late for the “Rats”.
Tom said on one of the JT streams that they have asked DTG about the possibility of adding the neutral sections to the track monitor which would be fantastic. Talking of the track monitor, I’m curious to know what those orange sections are which appear now and then. Haven’t quite figured out what they signify.
If hypothetically they were to do Preston to Crewe set in the same 1986 period, I wonder what the included loco would be? Given the majority of services would be 86/87 hauled and these would already exist in the game.
Probably a class 85/0 or 85/1 They were the primary AC freight locomotive on container and Railfreight Speedlink services, when the class 86 and 87 kicked them off passenger duty. Being the most powerful class of AC loco helped their popularity.
Possible, but given the 86 and 87 are already similar, they'll probably go further and give us something new. Question is, what?
Maybe they decide to hit a new area and explore the South Western Region. Maybe they cover Southampton to Bournemouth along with Salisbury like their last forst-party payware, Backdated to 1988 to include either the 411/412 or the 421/422/423 and the 442 in NSE as a train DLC?
By the late 1980s, class 47s had completely taken over the WCML (just like the class 66 has done today) so there was not a lot of locomotive variety except for classes 20, 26, 31, 37, 47, 56, 58, 85, 86 and 87. Classes 25, 27, 40, 44, 45, 46, 81, 82, 83 and 84 had all completely vanished. It would have been too early for classes 60, 90 and 92 to appear at this point. If we are going down the MU route, possible choices might be class 108, 110, 116, 117, 118, 121, 122, 127, 128, 143, 144, 150, 155, 156, 303, 304, 305, 308, 309, 310, 312. Probably missed a few, but plenty to choose from.
You wouldn't have found a class 117, 118 or 121 in the north west around that time, apart from a handful at Tyseley they were still Western region units. Not sure there were any 116's there either, there were a couple of 122 around Manchester for the Stalybridge service. Class 127 in parcels from would have been seen. Newton Heath had some class 120 units in the mid 80's some running with class 101 centre cars. If JT are going to do a first generation DMU the obvious choice is a 108 as they were very much the dominant class of the north west and had been pretty much since the early 60's.
Northwest was 108, 104, 101 with occasional 110 by the late 80s, the commuter type units such as 115 and 117 were not seen much then.
They deserve all the praise they get and they have certainly got the best out of TSW with what they have made. I’d be very happy if they continue in the same time period and also if they decide to do more of the WCML. For me, I’d like the next bit to be Preston to Crewe and also include the Liverpool branch. Obviously that would include a full recreation of the route depicted in SoS as part of it (but in the later time period of course) and I don’t know if that makes it less likely to happen or not. Whatever they make next it will be the route I am looking forward to the most.
My most played routes are Blackpool Branches and West Coast Mainline north, I love that anything can "produce" on the services, so for example a Blackpool-London service could be a NTP 47, and the next is a 45, a 101 could turn up on an Ormskirk-Blackpool service or a 142. West Coast Mainline north is the same, the only real certainty is that an 87 will appear on an Euston service, anything else is pot luck and I love that.
