General description of route. Drive along the famous Portsmouth direct line and new Guildford line hauling people from London waterloo to Portsmouth harbour with fantastic rolling stock found during the 1980s. Where you'll be able to haul expresses and stopping trains over this 83-mile-long route dealing with massive crowds and delays trying to be on time. However also dealing with the fun and replayability of this route in train sim world 4 on the Portsmouth direct and New Guildford line: London waterloo to Portsmouth harbour via the new Guildford and direct line. Contents Intro pg1 Route pg1 Rolling stock pg1 Scenarios pg2 Timetable pg2 Layering pg2 DLC pg2 outro pg2 Intro Now I know the Portsmouth direct line has been suggested multiple times on this forum, but I'm suggesting this route compared to others in a way that I hope wouldn't be repetitive. I do know a lot of suggestions on this forum focus on this route being set in the present or well post British railways, but I personally felt like for this route while I love 444s, 442s etc found currently (not the 442) on this route as I feel like they should be added later on after a southern region/south of England British railways route should be made. Do note this is all in my opinion and you can criticize this if you feel like it as everyone will have their own views on this which I won't judge. Now the general description of this route should have revealed it for you, but this route will be set during the late 80s (1986 and 87 specifically). This is because I wanted this route to be able to show Networks south east's livery that was created in 1986 on the rolling stock which'll be mentioned later (due to not wanting to spoil it). This decision was because it would be the first route to show this livery in tsw (so far) without it being created on livery designer but also because I wanted a different livery to accompany the blue and grey stock that would be in this route. So sorry for waffling for the intro but now I'll be taking about this route in the next few parts hope you enjoy. The route (brief, very brief history of the lines) The Portsmouth direct line is a railway route between Woking and it forms the principal route for passengers heading to London, Guildford and Portsmouth on the line or heading to the isle of wight via ferry. Now I'll skip the origin of these lines as it is very confusing and hard to explain but what I will explain is the line got electrified to third rail in 1937 due to heavy use of the line because of the royal navy and the various locations for tourists on the line however this heavy use has dwindled a bit in present day. After the line was electrified in 1937 it had the same service patterns until 1971 when 3 trains ran per hour there of the following trains on the line there was one fast, one semi fast and one stopping trains that ran per hour on the line until the 1990s where it was changed though would change again after privatization where majority of the rolling stock found on the line was replaced by 444s and 450s which still operate on this line to date. The New Guildford line is a railway route between Surbiton and Guildford the line was electrified in 1925 not much happened with the line until 73 when first class was added to the trains for a time until being removed due to it lower capacity on the services. Currently 2 train run per hour on the line to Guildford these services are operated by one of the trains being suggested. Rolling stock Br class 421/422 4CIG/4BIG (in br blue and grey and network southeast livery) Built between 1964 and 1972 these EMUS were split into two batches or 'phases' which they were called which were 'phase 1' built between 1963-1966 for the Brighton mainline and numbered 7301-7336. The second batch or 'phase 2' were built between 1970 and 1972 these units numbered 7337-7438 are the 101 units we are focusing on that were built for the Portsmouth direct line. These units have two classifications for their class which is 4cig and 4big under southern regions classification system. I will be calling them either class 421 4cig or the later as class 422 though in my opinion they are the same class just in different formations. The class 421's formation (coach formation) was driving trailer (DT) + motor coach (MC) + trailer (T) + another driving trailer (DT) the accommodation for this class was standard so no first-class seats. Now the class 422's have a nearly identical formation to the 421's however they have a buffet car instead of a trailer in the middle which I believe doesn't deserve it being classified as a different class though that's just me. On the route these units if I'm correct would operate fast and sometimes semi fast services on the Portsmouth direct line. Br class 423 4VEP (in br blue and grey and network southeast livery) Built between 1967 and 1974 these EMUS would largely be found operating outer suburban and rural services near the south of London especially on the Portsmouth direct line where they handle stopping services on the line. The formation for these units was driving trailer composite lavatory (DTCsoL) + motor brake second open (MBSO) + tourist standard open (TSO) + driving trailer composite lavatory (DTCsoL). Now as the route is set before 1988 the units will not have their face lift but future dlc could change that if need be dlc post 1988 of course. Br class 455/7 and 455/9 (in Network southeast livery) Built between 1982 and 1985 these EMUs would largely be found operating suburban trains on the DC third rail network of south London's commuter network but also found use on the new Guildford line hauling passengers. These units have three sub classes for them which are the class 455/8, 455/7 and 455/9 the ones that were found on the route and are in this suggestion are the latter two. The latter two are currently still in service and still operate on parts of the network though being faced with inevitable replacement by newer rolling stock which is a bit why I suggest these units as I love them in their network southeast livery but also their traits which have led to them having nearly over 40 years of service. Now onto the first of the sub classes of these units that would come with the route the 455/7s. The 455/7s were built between 1984 and 1985 they had a different front compared to the 455/8s. their front had air horns relocated next to the coupler and revised headlight clusters. the formation for these units was driving trailer second open (DTSO) + motor second open (MSO) + tourist second open (TSO) + driving trailer second open (DTSO) all units of the class were in this formation though had some differences. As the class 455/8 and 455/7 had older tsos from EMUS that were transferred to areas where they didn't need to have a extra tso for their formations so they were given to the class 455 these tsos had a shorter profile compared to the rest of the formation for the 455s. Thid leads us to the 455/9s which are exactly like the 455/7s but they just had new build tsos instead of ones from another class of EMU.
Scenarios: Snow white: (difficulty 5) (br class 421 and 422) Operate a 12 car express from waterloo to Portsmouth during a heavy snowstorm watch out as you may get diverted to the new Guildford line where you'll have to slow down. This is due to the line being busy so push through the storm and get your passengers back home. Also, the line to Woking from Surbiton will actually be blocked by snow with signs saying the line has been closed. Slow down mate: (difficulty 3) (br class 423) Operate a stopping service to Woking from Portsmouth dealing with Maintenace work that is being carried on the line. Dealing with going 10mph going over bridges and having to stop at lights due to expresses being late. Lopey do: (difficulty 2) (br class 455) Get a 455 ready at Wimbledon before taking it to waterloo then operating a stopping service to Guildford via the Portsmouth direct line then head back to waterloo via the new Guildford line as you find out you're not meant to be operating this service it's to early. Timetable: Portsmouth direct line 1 fast tph 1 semi fast tph 1 slow tph New Guildford line 2 slow tph I don't know the service patterns or timetable so I'm just having the kinds of trains that run on the route until 1990s where the timetable got changed. DLC: (if you have any dlcs in mind do feel free to mention it below) 1990s DLC With class 442 in network southeast livery and class 33 with mk1s being add. Also, the route will change to match the route. modern dlc Simply with current rolling stock and change of the route to suit the era. Layering: In: The only trains that would layer in are 47 and 45s with mk2s for cross country trains. Though some trains could be added for Railtours. Outro Hope you enjoyed this suggestion any questions you have ask me. I hope DTG add this route to tsw3 as it is a great route.
driverwoods#1787 I didn't know the 4reps operated on the line I might add it as a layering option as I did make a suggestion same period with it so it could easily layer in. Now I won't add it under rolling stock as I'm trying to find out if the line had any freight operations as I don't want it to be only passenger services as people would complain. If you or anyone know if the lines and freight operation do tell me please.
Good suggestion and as long as it is done in the 80s like you have suggested it would be a brilliant route.
Good call. I agree as we could see long gone infrastructure such as the signal boxes at New Malden and Hampton Court Junction (surely others as well).
Yes would love to see this. Would love some third rail slam door stock in the sim. The class 455 would be nice too.
Proper southern electrics that could be used on Railtours on other third rail routes if any trains from this route have been used on any tours.
The only extra Southern routes I’ll tolerate are backdated ones, so it would be cool to see a 31 and classic EMUs!
