This is my suggestion for a TSW DLC of the Marston Vale Line, the 16.5 mile (27 km) long line between Bedford and Bletchley. The Marston Vale Line the surviving part of the Varsity line which previously connected the university cities of Oxford and Cambridge. It's a short, but scenic route somewhat similar to the Island line. Route Info Distance: 16.5 miles (27 km) Operators: London Northwestern Railway Stations: Bedford - Bedford st. Johns - Kempston Hardwick - Stewartby - Millbrook - Lidlington - Ridgmont - Apsley Guise - Woburn Sands - Bow Brickhill - Fenny Stratford - Bletchley Route Map Rolling stock: (2019-2022) Vivarail Class 230 D-Train The Class 230 previously served the London Underground as the D78 stock, before being converted into battery powered or diesel electric multiple units by Vivarail. The LNWR owned units were taken out of service in 2022 due to Vivarail going into administration. (Pre-2019 and post-2022) Class 150 Sprinter The class 150 Sprinters were built between 1984 to 1987 by BREL and were made for regional services. They exist in 2 or 3-car units and are used in many areas of the UK. For this DLC they would be painted in the older London Midland livery (LNWR or removed logos) which they used until they were replaced by the 230s, or the new proposed LNWR livery which will be worn by three sprinter units after the 230s were withdrawn. Future DLC Class 153 Super Sprinter The class 153 Super Sprinter is a railcar, converted from class 155 2-car units. These were operated by London Midland alongside the class 150 before the class 230 replaced them. AI trains Thameslink Class 700s can be seen at Bedford station and the station sidings as well as EMT HSTs passing through the station. Why should this route be added to TSW? I think that this is a great idea for a filler route inbetween big releases. It's a short route, and both trains already exist in the game (class 230 and iow 484 are nearly identical) and would only need few changes, and licensing shouldn't be a big issue as LNWR is part of West Midland Trains which also owns WMR (which is already in the game). It's not the biggest or most popular, but neither is the Glossop line, which seems to be doing well so far.
If you wait until the Varsity Line from Oxford and Aylesbury is recommissioned, then you would have a longer service operated by the new Class 196 DMU's.
I think this would be a nice little route to have similar to the Glossop or IOW lines. Personally I would love to see it supplied with the class 121 bubble cars which operated the line in the 1990's, I would love to see one of those in the sim.
Even better the Cravens DMUs which worked the line in the 70s and early 80s. A nice little project for one of the third party associates to have a go at.
Yes even better, would love a rattly Cravens unit in the sim. It could layer in on NTP. Plus on WCL to sit alongside the class 40 to increase the realism of that route!
If I may give my input if this route where too come chances are rivet would make it rather than DTG given that rivet made the 2022 IOW route which in many ways is similar to the Marston Vale line.
I like this and 'theorganist' suggestions for 1st generation DMUs. Although the Class 101 made it to most parts of the country, there were many other types to be found (around 30 classes i believe),some of which were more fitting in specific areas than the 101. We need a flurry of 1st generation dmu dlcs,especially as the vast majority featured the same or very similar running gear with only the body design being different due to alternative manufacturers design trends of the time. Therefore, much of the physics will barely change between types.
Cravens mainly in Eastern England ( ECML South and East Anglia) and a few in South Yorkshire plus Scotland on the former GNOSR network. Plus the London Division of the LMR where they were used on North Woolwich, St Albans Abbey and Bletchley to Bedford St Johns.
There were quite a few sets in the Manchester area in the early 1980's. Tyseley had a few vehicles too which were often made up into some unusual hybrid formations.
Primarily the Western then, that never really had them. IIRC in the DMBSO, the exhaust pipe went up through the brake van area?
Yes I think that is correct. An old neighbour of mine was guard based at Tyseley and he commented on how uncomfortable the Cravens vehicles were to ride on, they vibrated a lot apparently. Still would love to see one in the sim. Maybe on an East Anglian rural route with something like a J15 or Brush type 2 for freight duties.
