Newbie Question On The Midland Main Line Dlcs

I see there are at least 4 DLCs for the Midland Main Line that have 'Add-On' in the title.

Question: Is there a 'main' Midland Main Line that the 4 DLCs 'add-on' to or can I buy just one of the 4 DLCs (for now), drive just that portion of the route now and as I can afford the other 3 DLCs, extend the route to the entire Midland Main Line? Sorry in advance if this is a dumb question, but I am VERY new to the game and live in Arizona so I really have no idea of the line's route, but I really am looking forward to traveling through the UK via train!

Thanks for your help!

 

This is the base route and it must be this one purchased from Just Trains website NOT Steam..

https://www.justtrains.net/product/midland-main-line-sheffield-derby



The extensions will not work if you don't have the base Sheffield - Derby route.

There are standalone versions of the extensions available on JT website and Steam but they will not merge with the Sheffield - Derby route

 

Hiya, just be very careful in investing in the MML series.
Firstly if you purchase any of the Midland Main Line routes through Steam they are stand alone versions and can not be joined to make the whole MML network.
Purchase direct from Just Trains and install in this order :-

1. MML Sheffield - Derby
   https://www.justtrains.net/product/midland-main-line-sheffield-derby
   This is the base route that everything else links to.
2. Derwent Valley Line
   https://www.justtrains.net/product/midland-main-line-derwent-valley-line
   
3. Leicester - Nottingham
   https://www.justtrains.net/product/midland-main-line-derby-nottingham-leicester-extension
   
4. Erewash valley
   https://www.justtrains.net/product/midland-main-line-erewash-valley
   
5. Nottingham - Lincoln
   https://www.justtrains.net/product/midland-main-line-nottingham-lincoln-extension
   
6. Hope Valley
   https://www.justtrains.net/product/midland-main-line-hope-valley-extension
   
7. Barrow Hill - optional if you like the heritage centre experience.
   https://www.justtrains.net/product/midland-main-line-barrow-hill-roundhouse-extension

​

In my humble opinion it is one of the finest routes available to TSC.
All of the add ons numbered 2 - 7 can be purchased individually and added to the base Sheffield - Derby base route as required.
Just be careful to choose the right option when buying as you must choose the non stand alone version of each product.and also check you already own the required base route before clicking "yes"
e.g. You need to own Leicester - Nottingham before buying Erewash Valley
You need to own Leicester - Nottingham before buying Nottingham - Lincoln
Hope this helps

 

As Craigie said above, But also be aware that there is another Midland Mainline on Steam (London to Bedford), Note that this is not related to the Just Trains routes.

 

Good point Johnno
I cannot emphasise enough if you wish to experience the whole MML Network in one go.
DO NOT BUY FROM STEAM
That is in no way a knock at DTG or Steam but the versions of MML through them are purely Stand Alone and can not be linked.
The versions of the same product bought direct from JT using the links provided above form a merged complete network where you can drive a train from Lincoln - Nottingham - Leicester - Derby - Matlock - Sheffield - Manchester via the Hope Valley all in one seamless journey if you wish.
May I also add if you wish to just buy the base Sheffield - Derby route and just the Hope Valley add on that is fine.
You do not have to add all the extensions if you do not require them.

 

A bit more complicated than I had hoped, but thank you very much for the VERY thorough explanation!

 

No worries, It can appear a bit daunting at first but take it step by step you should be fine.
Just remember you do not have to go for the whole lot in one go, get yourself the base route "Derby - Sheffield" to start with, have a play with that and if you like it enough to expand just chose which direction you wish to go.
Most of all have fun.
If you need any more help don't be afraid to ask

 

Be aware that the installation order is very important due to each subsequent release updating files which may be present in the previous one.

Gone through that before...

 

Just to add my penny's worth... Isn't JT's Western Mainlines a bit like the MML...???

Like a series of routes that also makes one big route...

Eric

 

I owned routes 1-5 listed above, brought direct from JT Christmas 2021, and all merged and worked well initally.

October last year there was a JT update came through for the route, and I noticed that I suddenly had a lot of textures missing after installing the update.

Upon seeing the post above about installing the DLC in the correct order, I wondered if the update had possibly broke the merge and had led to the textures missings.

So had a few hours spare yesterday, so un-installed everything, cleared the cache, restarted computer and reinstalled in the order you mentioned above. Also treated myself to Hope Valley (number6) at the same time!

End result, is no success with sorting the textures out, and now have a problem that all the skies have disappeared (QD and in the scenarios). (will post screenshot seperately).

Just wondering if you or anyone else has any ideas what could be causing this (before i try and re-install yet again!)

 

WCR...

have you contacted JT??? In my experience of dealing with them they are most helpful...

Eric

 

Make sure Academy is installed. Seen the no sky issue and missing textures before.

 

Thanks for repsonding ntypeman and robbo13 - I did indeed send Just Trains a support ticket at midnight last night. (after hours of trying to install and uninstall)

Got a response first thing this morning from JT, and they suggested checking the Academy, which indeed I did not have installed in Steam.

Have now added the Academy to Steam, and installed all the JT Midland Mainline add ons I now own (1-6 listed above).

Pleased to report, at first glance, at a few different locations the Sky and Textures issues are now working correctly.

Looking forward to doing a single Quickdrive (with AI) from Leicester to Manchester soon to test the route fully!

Thanks again for the responses, and also to JT for there excellent prompt customer support!
(I would never of found the solution myself!)

 

What is "Academy"?

 

When loading TS, you'll notice multiple tabs along the bottom of the screen (Drive, Build etc). One option is Academy which has all the tutorials for driving steam, diesel, electric on British, German and American trains.

You can uninstall Academy through Steam, however JTs MML uses Academy for the sky and terrain textures, meaning without these you have what is shown above- it is best to always have this installed.

 

Yes. Keep it. It is the only route and assets that every TS player has. So many 3rd party routes rely on this being present.

 

Right thanks for the info! I will be getting MML soon & it would be nice for it to work without too much fuss

 

And don't forget to turn off "Procedural Flora" when playing any recent JustTrains route. They insist on placing all of the flora manually - leaving PF on can lead to strange patches of grass appearing on the tracks.

 

Just completed a very satisfying realtime Quickdrive, following the 12:45 East Midands Railway service from Nottingham to Manchester Piccadilly. (using the AP EMR Class 158)

Would really recommend all these JT Midland Mainline routes now as a merge - opens up some East to West QD service options in TSC. (all with a good selection of ready to go AI as a bonus!)

Arriving into Manchester Piccadilly, then also links in to taking the EMR 12:45 service on the last part if its journey from Piccadilly to Liverpool Lime Street using ATS Chat Moss route!

 

Well, to add my 0.02$ - The Western Mainlines are similar in concept, but in my own entirely personal opinion the MML is a much more polished product, the lines and stations feel more detailed and the landscape and vegetation looks more natural.


...And I'm saying that as someone who is more interested in former GW lines than foermer LMS lines.

So if you want to get a single JT product, I'd say the MML is their nicest British route. The other ones are not exactly up to the same standard.

 

Got to agree here. JT MML is a lovely route, and beautifully made. Well worth the money, even though getting all of them is not cheap.

 

I agree that they are not necessarily cheap, however, they are a future investment. Since we now know TSC isn’t going anywhere and that it has more ability to tinker with routes, scenarios, reskins etc compared with other expenses in life purchasing DLC in my humble opinion is well worth it!

Will be my job in retirement- full time train driver.

 

Yep can second that. It is a bit pricey, but you will be getting something good for the money. So if someone has the money, then I say: go for the Midlands Main Line.

I cannot recommend the Western Mainlines in the same way though. They are in the same general price ballpark as the MML, but the MML is of significantly higher quality and level of detail. At least in my own humble opinion.


Addendum: I do not have the Hope Valley extension to the MML. So I cannot comment on that part.

 

I have all of the product. The routes are good however some of the scenarios are not easily achievable. Some tweaking of the target percentages for stop times are in order to complete.

 

Since this thread has cleared up any confusion on MML I might have had & since the Easter sales I now have the full MML, What a route! The level of detail is amazing, the amount of scenarios it comes with is staggering too & I've just got the free scenario pack from JT & can't wait to test that out this eve

 

Having purchased this a few days ago, I would say that Hope Valley is arguably the best route in TSC - the detail is amazing. Would love JT to do the full MML down to St.Pancras - the DTG Bedford to St. Pancras is very outdated now and I do think people would be prepared to pay for an upgraded product.

 

I can only endorse what’s been said already. The MML is fantastic, and having watched the preview stream of the TSW3 ‘version’ I can only say I’m so grateful for my TSC collection!

If you want some Western Mainlines action may I suggest the Southwestern Express - Reading route (which is very much up there with MML in quality terms, and one I’d love to see them expand on, perhaps effectively rebuilding WML, taking it to Paddington, Oxford and beyond - the scope is there!) and perhaps the Truro - Penzance stand-alone.

Sadly the rest of the WML collection epitomises the bad old days of JT in my opinion. The MML could not be more different, & JT deserve all the credit in the world for dragging their quality levels literally from the doldrums to amongst the best there is.

 

My only concern with the JT MML is the unrealistic scenario times.

Respectfully

 

I think that's a great way to put it. JT moved from their early WML days (when they deserved the nicnkame "Just Trees") to a point with the MML where they release relly detailed, fun and polished products.