Midland Mainline - Skyhook Feedback

Would be nice to get a service that goes end to end, not sure how many are feasible as I don’t know the area at all, but was one of the main reasons I didn’t buy the route in the first place (I really hate partial routes, unless there’s a realistic point that drivers would change).

Exciting that finally there will be a route used as a hub though, especially given the higher attention to detail on the soon to drop patch, very intriguing.

 

No Worries Jane. " The best laid plans o' mice and Men gang aft agley" As Rabbie famously said
Now As to further enhancements any additional freight workings will certainly get my vote.
Also not sure if this is viable or not But how about era specific timetables? For Instance one based on the transition from steam to diesel period, another timetable for Br blue period and a third for modern day. Depending on what era timetable was chosen then the appropriate dress codes for passengers and Various station assets could be loaded accordingly.

 

Great news on the patch coming tomorrow and it is so good to see you asking for opinions and your plans to keep developing the MML route.

Personally for me an extension to Sheffield and maybe Lincoln in the future would be great, certainly Sheffield to give us a longer run in the wonderful HST.

DLC wise a class 222 and a 156 would be lovely.

Further extension to Matlock and Newark Castle maybe with a class 153.

I echo the sentiments above that it would be nice to run some full services rather than ones which always go off map.

 

Would love a 156, tbh.
Much needed train with plenty of TOCs (less so now adays, certainly before) that could be using it in game.

And, of course, it's version of the EMT livery is just *chef's kiss* perfect.

 

Sheffield and class 222 seem to be the early front runners. Wouldn’t need to think twice about buying that.

 

Lots of people saying an extension to Sheffield and I‘ll add another vote. That would add a personal connection for me and I‘d love to see it.

 

Derby to New Street via Tamworth
Leicester to New Street via Nuneaton
Both using a 170 XC
Both have stoppers and "skippers" and would feed into a wider network

 

Extension down to St. Pancras (which may be an unrealistic ask, but I’d love to see it), and Voyagers, Class 222s. It would be great to see them!

Looking forward to getting ahold of the first patch tomorrow. :3

 

Is the update coming out tomorrow across all platforms?

 

Yes, but console users won’t get the freight addition until a little later (another patch).

 

Class 222 which has been stated previously a lot but I'd like to see the power station opened up with more intricate frieght operation.

 

Not even a UK-based player, but the modern UK content seriously needs some extra freight loco and wagons. And if it's well-made with the ability to sub onto other routes, I think that's a sure hit.

 

I would love to see route extensions.. my ideal would be from Nottingham out to Lincoln via Newark Castle alongside Matlock from Derby, so we can fully utilise the Class 158.

Or to go a little left-field, extending from Nottingham to Worksop via Mansfield would be really interesting too.

But if i have to settle on an option, i'd love to see an extension east to Lincoln via Newark and west to Matlock

 

Another one for Class 222 and Class 170
MGR into Radcliffe on Soar with a Class 60 or 56
Bedford or Luton to St Pancras with EMR Class 360 as Class 700 coming shortly could use this route too.

 

I think for me its Toton Depot should be made playable.
Would love to see as Rolling Stock. Class 56, Network Rail JNA Falcon Wagons HAA hoppers, also MXA lobster Wagons,
OBA, OCA type wagons.

Cheers

Hentis

 

If and only if there was an extension, I think extending to Kettering and possibly onto Corby makes perfect sense.

It’s not somewhere ever really represented in any Train Simulator so Skyhook could lead the way for something completely different!

 

I'm looking forward to the update(s) so a big thank-you to Jane and the whole SHG team.

As to extensions, Sheffield is cool. Is it safe to assume it would be a contiguous extension of trackage? Leicester to Birmingham to Coventry would be interesting. Cheers!


Kind regards,
Dave

 

First post on these forums after a fair while lurking on this thread! Loving all the updates jane-skyhook and exciting to hear that MML has a good future ahead of it!

One suggestion I've not seen mentioned so far is the shortened Angel HST sets with the buffered power cars, which I believe would have been running when the route was set and already have their services in the timetable I think? Might fill a nice gap and also be something different looking (and sounding with the MTU engines) to see along the route.


(https://twitter.com/martynspencer10/status/1369228317686177792)

Something different on the route side could be the section between Nottingham and Grantham, which has a few intermediate stations and runs with 156s/158s currently and I think would've for the time of the route in TSW too?
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nottingham–Grantham_line)

This section could even open the doors to further options beyond Grantham to either Norwich or Skegness, a trip to the seaside from Derby/Nottingham with a HST set or Class 20s anyone?

 

Are you suggesting a 222 is already in the works!?!?!

I've personally never been on the MML, but based on what I have seen I would like to see these trains:

GBRf Class 66 or any 66 with the different types of headlight clusters or even a new livery as long as it's not the EWS/DB one
Class 153
Class 156
Class 170 CX
Class 221/220 CX
Class 222
The HST (The buffered sets and the NMT as well would be nice!!)
If we ever go as far as Sheffield maybe some pacers

 

The Class 156 and 158 are definitely similar I believe

 

Mmm, yes please, Skeggie by a Chopper is something I'd love to do again!

 

I tend to agree with the multiple ‘requests’ about an extension to this lovely route. Obviously Skyhook has to do what’s best for their product sales, profit, of course, but the next commercial / payware product could easily be an extension with a Cl 153, 156, 222 etc

What would be even better is take ownership of Rivet’s 150/2, revamp it, and add in a Class 153 and have them running individually AND in multiple

 

May I just add I’d love to see some personal touches to the HST power cars with added names for individuality (and I second an extension of the line to Sheffield, and freight routes to Toton and Ratcliffe)

 

thank you Jane for your interesting and informative reply. I look forward to replaying the route end to end following the update. Out of interest would you say that there will be any significant outstanding issues to be subsequently addressed with the route or are we mainly talking upgrading and additions?

 

Very much looking forward to seeing this one tomorrow.

 

I know what I am doing tomorrow evening after work (and piano lesson). Looking forward to the new timetable very much.

 

I suspect route extensions are out of the question, given the earlier statements of why the power plant and depots were included now.

I'd like to see the 156, freight.

If a route extension was on the cards, however, which ever was shorter out of the 158 Matlock to (can't remember) services.

 

Not at all. It's just something I'd personally like to see

 

I haven't purchase the route yet as I was waiting for this update. Any Mods on PC to the route?

 

There are several smaller ones by rob s, adstrainsuk and jetwash. A bigger one by londonmidland and other members is planned but after the update releases so they knows what exactly to update

 

thank you for the info. looking forward to this route. looks like Sky hook has future plans for the MML which I like to see if they do similar to JT on TSC

 

Appreciate all the work you your team at Skyhook are doing to make MML and even better route the things I would like to added to the route is an extension to Sheffield to allow the HST to really stretch it's leg's 2: have the Class 222 also the 156 be added to the route 3: A new freight loco be added whether that be a Class 56,60 or 70 to make use of Toton yard and coal trains for Ratcliffe power station.

 

Been lurking here since the thread opened and I've been really impressed by the level of honesty and clear communication by you Jane well done, very excited about the patch later today!

As for wishlist well it has to be an extension to Sheffield, lived here all my life I have to see it in tsw glory! Also wouldn't mind if you threw in meadowhall there too as that's very local :p a 222 is probably 2nd in my wishlist.

 

Keep it simple jane-skyhook - Derby to Sheffield & Matlock seems very sensible to me. You’ve got the steam to AI later in at Matlock. You’ve got some nice stations to model, you’ve got Duffield where hon could layer in something AI on the Wirksworth line and the wonky spire at Chesterfield too as a landmark.
Gives the HST a chance to stretch its legs, it’s a nice variety of stations with fast and slow services. Freight is a bit more dense I think, also you have the Hope Valley joining in at Dore. I can supply photographs from the line and the stations to assist with modelling if required. I have also got a YouTube from a trip up there in 2019 which may help if you choose to look at this route.

 

I think I would join in suggesting Sheffield as the first hub extension, followed by Bedford. Nottingham to Newark/Lincoln or Grantham and Skegness would be nice, as would Derby to Crewe another route I don’t think we’ve ever seen in a sim.

A Class 222 with decent sounds would be great and could also form the basis for a 220/221 Voyager.

Anyhow if the update drops today will have to drag myself away from humping cars in Run 8 and take a look.

 

I would also like Sheffield, but only for selfish reasons.
I want to sit on an old luggage cart at the end of a platform, drinking my flask of tea and Mum made cheese sandwiches.
Was a simpler time.

 

Thank you Skyhook for your work!!! It's great that you are interested in the opinion of the community.
My personal preferences for the first stage of development:
1. Shunting work in the parks of the route and at adjacent industrial facilities.
2. Development of a freight line through Toton Park (creation of a large freight hub).
3. Extension to Sheffield.
4. BR class 222
5. Extension to Lincoln via Newark-on-Trent.
6. BR class 56 or 60
7. BR class 156

 

What time does the patch go out ?
Actually nevermind, it’s just started updating!

 

It’s out on XBox and Steam. Haven’t tried PlayStation yet.

 

Well I did noticed about the missing track switch and it’s been acknowledged, in theory:

Maybe in part 2

 

First run on the new patched route (PC Steam) and I am really enjoying the changes. Love the scenery additions especially the trunking.
Its great seeing more trains in the menu and on the route.
Thanks Jane and Skyhook Team.

 

Someone having a joke

Beeston

 

Couple of issues noticed so far - all HST carriages are letter A and there's West Midlands Railway CCTV signage across the route which I'm pretty sure there shouldn't be.

 

Thank you for this, we did fix that, so not sure what is going on. Will talk to the team now...

 

Was I wrong on thinking the Ratcliffe cooling towers would become lighter in colour?

 

Had an update this morning, but not sure if MML has been as yet? Just started a run from Nottingham and still getting extra AWS alerts, and signals like this?


So I guess not live yet.

 

just so you are all aware, I am seeing reports that some of the patch files are missing from the public release (some signalling as per above) and various other issues. These are down to incorrect files being released (and not what we sent to publishing from dev).

So a mistake has been made somewhere. I am in calls now to get the actual final files pushed to you guys.

 

So i guessing many will still be trapped in the 158 cab by a nosey rude passenger for longer time.

 

No. if Jane not fixing that then Londonmidland is.