Train Sim World 3 Oxted Line: East Croydon To Uckfield And East Grinstead - Southern 171 Dmus, Tl 700s + Heritage Rail

Good Morning,

My next route recommendation for TSW 3 is the Oxted Line located in South East England - please don't stop reading because of such, this route suggestion I think is very interesting, and a whole lot different to previous Southern routes as it comprises Class 171 DMUs, non-electrified single-track and two heritage railways with diesel and steam locos!

All photos taken by myself; please note these only depict the rolling stock, not the route itself

Southern Class 171s ply services on just two of its non-electrified routes: the Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line and the Marshlink Line

For context, most of Southern's network today is almost entirely electrified and thus served by its large fleet of Class 377s. However, what's very unique is that there are still two lines which are non-electrified - one of these is the Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line (the other if you are wondering is the Marshlink Line between Ore and Ashford) which are both served by Class 171 Turbostars.

Firstly, it's important to learn a brief overview about the Oxted Line; the route technically begins after diverging away from the Brighton Main Line south of South Croydon. The Oxted Line eventually splits into two branches later on: one of these is the shorter, wholly electrified branch which goes to East Grinstead; the other, much longer branch goes to Uckfield and is unique because it's completely non-electrified and mostly single-track too. Consequently, you'll have both Southern DMU and EMU services from London Bridge and London Victoria, respectively, while Thameslink with the highly-popular Class 700 operates limited peak time-only services to East Grinstead from Bedford.

Finally, one other very unique feature of the Oxted Line is that it shares not one, but two stations with two different heritage railways! Since 2013, the Bluebell Railway was extended up to East Grinstead (pretty cool to see steam engines next to Class 377s!) while Eridge - on the Uckfield branch - is a terminus for the Spa Valley Railway (meaning seeing both steam and iconic diesels - like the Class 33 - for example alongside 171s!). While such would provide some great AI-only traffic at these stations in the TSW route for those who own routes with relevant appropriate-era rolling stock, it could also mean a railtour too. For example, the Flying Scotsman visited the Bluebell Railway back in 2017 which arrived via the Oxted Line to East Grinstead, so in TSW you could have some unique railtours to represent such. If the Oxted Line ever came to TSW, it could also provide a reason to have the Bluebell Railway and Spa Valley Railway as separate, full-length routes later on like that of WSR.

Timeframe = 2019-present

Route Length = 44.3 miles (71.2 kilometers)
This length in track miles was calculated by combining the distance from East Croydon to Uckfield (35.7 miles/57.4 kilometers) and Hurst Green - where the Oxted Line splits into two branches - to East Grinstead (8.6 miles/13.8 kilometers).

Locos = - Southern Class 171/7s and /8s: these are two- and four-car examples, respectively and can form an array of different formations to Uckfield including 2-, 6-, 8- and 10-car depending on time of day
- Thameslink Class 700/0: With the 8-car /0 already coming to TSW, this will suffice although more common to see the 12-car /1 in reality to East Grinstaed
- Southern Class 377/1s and 4s to East Grinstead


Southern also uses the Class 377 on the Oxted Line which only serves the electrified East Grinstead branch of the route

Stations =
1 - East Croydon (Brighton Main Line)
2 - South Croydon (Brighton Main Line)
3 - Sanderstead (now part of the Oxted Line after diverging away from the BML)
4 - Riddlesdown
5 - Upper Warlingham
6 - Woldingham
7 - Oxted
8 - Hurst Green (after here, the Oxted Line then branches into two directions bound for East Grinstead and Uckfield)

Stations on East Grinstead branch (like all previous stations - numbered 1-8 listed so far, this branch is also fully electrified)
9 - Lingfield
10 - Dormans
11 - East Grinstead (terminus and also has Bluebell Railway station)

Stations on Uckfield branch which follow on from Hurst Green (see number 8 above)
12 - Edenbridge Town
13 - Hever (the route becomes completely non-electrified and mostly single-track from here onwards)
14 - Cowden
15 - Ashurst (this station has a passing loop)
16 - Eridge (also has a station for the Spa Valley Railway)
17 - Crowborough (briefly double-track from here to Buxted)
18 - Buxted (return of single-track)
19 - Uckfield (terminus)

Playable Services (route, TOC/rolling stock, duration, frequency)
- London Bridge to Uckfield; playable between East Croydon and Uckfield; Southern Class 171/7 and /8; Duration = Approx 1hr; 1 train-per-hour (however, during the morning peak between 7-8am it briefly becomes 2 trains-per-hour in the London-direction only thanks to an additional 0703hrs departure which complements the usual hourly '33 departure from Uckfield to London Bridge
- London Victoria to East Grinstead; playable between East Croydon and East Grinstead; Southern Class 377/1 and /4; Duration = Approx 40mins; 2 trains-per-hour (although during off-peak around either side of midday it reduces briefly to 1 train-per-hour)
- Bedford to East Grinstead; playable between East Croydon and East Grinstead; Thameslink Class 700/0; Duration = Approx 30-40mins (depending on stopping pattern); Limited peak-time-only with 3 return services each both in the early morning and evening
- Plus any bonus steam and diesel railtours


The highly-anticipated Thameslink Class 700 also serves the Oxted Line, albeit only with a handful of early morning/evening peak services to East Grinstead from Bedford

AI-only Services
- All Southern, Thameslink and freight services from the Brighton Main Line between East Croydon and South Croydon
- Steam and diesel at East Grinstead and Eridge

LAMP Process
Licensing
With Southern and the 377 already featured in TSW as well as Thameslink with the Class 700 coming soon too, there shouldn't be any issues. However, as there is a new train with the Class 171 Turbostar, this would require a licence for such.
Anticipation
While this may initially seem another similar Southern region third-rail route, it isn't, and would offer brand-new gameplay in a region (London and the South East) which is already very popular and well-known. This would be the first such route in the region to feature a Southern DMU - and with the Turbostar already being a much-requested and ubiquitous loco for TSW, it could be used for a lot of future UK routes elsewhere. Meanwhile, while only a handful of services, any route featuring the Thameslink Class 700 - one of TSW's most highly-anticipated locos ever - means it's bound to be popular. Thus, with a variety of services plied by the 171, 700 and 377, it means more interesting gameplay with three different locos! Finally, one of the most exciting features is that while it's a modern-day timeframe, with the route next to a pair of heritage railways, it means a chance for including both steam and diesels too which is fantastic.
Mix
Regarding gameplay, while a lot has already been mentioned above, with the Oxted Line having two branches - which are different in comparison thanks to single vs double-track - means more varied and long-term, non-linear gameplay instead of just a boring A-to-B end-to-end route. Additionally, while two branches is already a positive, with each being electrified and non-electrified means further valued and varied gameplay with both EMUs and DMUs unlike anything previous in TSW. The Oxted Line might also be a popular choice thanks to the many who still love and play similar content like London Commuter. Elsewhere, while DTG have stated they want a break from Southern region EMUs, I'd say the Oxted Line is worthy of inclusion thanks to the Southern 171 DMU. One final thing with another South East route is that it won't be empty of traffic thanks to the already plethora of existing locos to make stations like East Croydon already busy regarding AI traffic etc. It's also worth noting that with the Southern Class 171 it could be added to the timetable for multiple routes including ECW to represent services from Ashford as well as AI-only services at East Croydon for London Commuter which are another nice extra gameplay elements.
Prominence
The route should have a global appeal due to its proximity with London - and those who are already familiar with the area thanks to some of TSW's most popular routes like London Commuter and SEHS. Regarding rolling stock, the community has long-requested more UK DMUs, with the Turbostar one of the most popular while the much-anticipated Class 700 would have major appeal from players regardless, as well as steam and older-era diesels.


While London Bridge sees trains such as the Class 465, 700 and 377, the station is also the terminus for Southern's Class 171 services from Uckfield


With the introduction of the Class 171 and the Oxted Line, it would bring completely brand-new gameplay compared with previous Southern region routes already in TSW

Thanks for reading!

 

I like the suggestion I think it would be included as a remake

 

Bring it on and I see this route being merged into a reworked BML which will allow us to play Victoria to East Grinstead trips in a single run

 

I think this could be more interesting in the Thumper era, especially if set prior to closure of the Tunbridge Wells to Eridge link as a BR route and singling of the line plus relocation of Uckfield station. Class 205 and Class 207 DEMU’s with Class 33 hauled Mark Ones on the Uckfield peak services.

 

Took the words out my mouth. This would interest me whereas the suggested modern version wouldn't really.

 

I completely agree this would be a great route but I have a few tweeks, I think the route should start at London Bridge which would only bring the route to about 60 miles which is do able and then you would have the full length of most of the services and about the commuters with Cromptons as far as I know these were the times in the morning’s of the summer of 1981 0725 East Grinsted-London bridge, 0729 East Croydon-East Grinstead, 0801 East Grinstead-London Bridge, 0825 East Grinsted-London Bridge and in the evening 1720 London Bridge-Uckfield, 1734 London Bridge-East Grinsted, 1750 London Bridge-East Grinsted & 1910 Uckfield-East Croydon.

 

While I'd always prefer modern as that's my preference, a BR-era version doesn't sound too bad either. However, one potential factor for DTG to consider in TSW overall is how they choose what should be modern vs older content; for example, in my opinion it would feel a bit strange having a modern-day BML with London Commuter, then having the Oxted Line in the 70s or 80s etc or vice versa. I like the idea of a modular network of routes in the same era so that there's already plenty of existing rolling stock to avoid empty routes, limited timetables etc. Thus, if you had a BR-era Oxted Line, maybe they could have a backdated BML and vice versa.

 

YES PLEASE!

80s/90s era with Thumpers on this line would be perfect!!