I appreciate this is going to get a bit of hate as there are already a few Great Western routes however, I believe this route will offer alot in terms of scenery and possible rolling stock. ##Long read, simple notes at the bottom## The route itself would consist of both the mainline running between Exeter and Plymouth (Riviera line) and the commuter service running between Exmouth and Paignton (Avocet line). Me personally would love to be able to drive along the dawlish sea wall and soak up the scenes as well as in the rain with the water lashing up the sides of the track. The route between Exeter and Plymouth would take approx 1h to complete on a intercity service and is around 36 miles.Travelling from Exmouth to Paignton, it would take approx 1hr 30mins and covers about 14 miles. Starting at Exeter St David's. -its a big station with 95% of services stopping there -it has a depot for the slower commuter units -its a Brunel built station. -its the part of the route where services reverse to go back towards Exmouth if coming from Paignton and vice versa. -there are sidings at the north of the station provide storage for some commuter units towards London Waterloo and some for safe storage of freight wagons and trains. The end at Plymouth -its again where most services stop -it has a intercity depot located about a mile and a bit from the station for intercity services -its a historic shipping city and as it stands ontop of a hill, it can produce rather interesting sights. Other honourable mentions -dawlish, about 50% of services stop here as it's quite a popular sea side resort. -newton abbot, 70% of services stop here and is where the main line separates from the Paignton branch. -paignton, this is where the branch line ends and has sidings at the end of the platform for storing units, more likely than not intercity units and some heritage. There is alot of potential here for services and units that we haven't seen before in the game. Services such as railtours are rather common on this stretch of track as many go to Paignton before heading back. Alot of freight trains run too as they deliver from the factories around Cornwall. The New units. - Class 802. This is a bi mode unit that runs between Penzance, Swansea, Bristol and London for GWR. The 802 was chosen as these units are owned by GWR themselves and are about to change laira depot over to be the main site for major works on these units. -Class 220/221. These units usually run together and are run by Cross Country. There are alot of 220's/221's that are stored at laira depot and run mainly from Plymouth up north via Exeter. Some of these units as well as the 802's run to Paignton on select services. These could also be layered onto other UK routes as they cover most of the UK (era dependant) -Class 143 (era dependant). The class 143 is a pacer unit that was ran by GWR until they were retired in 2020. These were often paired up to a class 150/2 to comply with later rules about disabled access. -Class 57, this would be the least likely I would imagine but the midnight riviera sleeper service runs between London Paddington and Penzance. This unit could be layered onto the existing GWE as it's in the right era. Having functional sleeper cartridges as well as a buffet car and seating cars, this would be a stand out unit. The framework realistically is there as both the MK3 coaches and class 47 (which the 57 basically is but with a new engine) are in the game and would need little modifications to get up to standard. Layered units. -Class 150/2, these are currently used on the west Cornwall local in regional railways livery. These are a very love/hate train for most (personally I think they are brilliant). Depending on the developer, it might be possible to get the livery changed for the unit just for this route. -Class 166, this unit is used on the GWE. After the introduction of the class 387's on the GWE, most of the units were pushed west, either to Bristol and westbury, or down further west to Exeter. These would not need a livery change as it's currently in GWR colours. -Class 158, this unit was recently (as of writing this) added as the unit for the mml add on. Again with the same as the 150, it would need a livery change if all good with the developers. This unit is becoming more easy to see in the area between Plymouth and Exeter as it's replacing some of the castle sets. -Class 225, this unit is a shortened class 43. These are already in game in the scenario designer. This wouldn't need a livery edit as it comes as part of the GWE and is also running GWR colours. Era dependant, this unit could be run as a full 8+2 formation as these were what the class 800/802's replaced on intercity services. The station list follows Exmouth to Paignton. - Exmouth, Lympstone Village, Lympstone Commando, Exton, Topsham, Newcourt, Digby & Souton, Polsoe Bridge, St James' Park, Exeter Central, Exeter St David's, Exeter St Thomas, StarCross, Dawlish Warren, Dawlish, Teignmouth, Newton Abbot, Torre, Torquay and Paignton. Exeter St David's to Plymouth -Exeter St David's, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Ivybridge and Plymouth. I appreciate this is alot and I appreciate it if you have read all of this, leave me a message below for any feedback and please add photos as I am limited to what I can add. *The short notes.* #Riviera line between Plymouth and Exeter for intercity services #Avocet line between Exmouth and Paignton for commuter services #new units, (802) (220/221) (143) (57 sleeper) #layered units, (150) (166) (225/43) (158) #Main stations, Exeter St David's, Exmouth, Newton Abbot, Paignton and Plymouth. #Depots, Exeter Riverside, Exeter New Yard, Exeter TMD, Paignton sidings and Laira depot. #Extras, All compatible with both diesel and steam rail tours, compatible with freight works and maybe ECS moves with locos out of laira depot. Thanks for reading. All photos are their respective owners.
I remember saying that this would be a nice route, how about the Paington branch to come with it? Edit: I just realised that Paington is mentioned in this suggestion, so it's still fine!
The Paignton part is what I wanted the most but I would personally love to see laira too as it's such a well established depot
Excellent write-up! My only tweak would be to see this in a different time-period, either in the 60's using diesel-hydraulic stock, or in the 80's to take control of a 50 up and down the route.
Yeah I could appreciate this as the 50s became quite the common sight in this area in the 80's/90's to my knowledge... But also the 52's. They are really only seen on the mainline on the GWE and they did run this route. I could suggest a compromise so that we could have a loco pack much like the "diesels legends of the great Western" on the GWE as then you can swap between the time periods. I feel this should be done more on many routes as then the developers are catering for a wider audience.
Something like that, I don't have access to a decent enough pc to be able to use TSC but it would include the dawlish sea wall as it's a rather iconic part of the Brunel built railway.
Great suggestion mate, but I would echo the fact it would be nice to see it in the early to mid 80s, though even modern day it would be a great route. Wonderful route in a wonderful area of the country.
Yes I realistically believe that it would be set in the 80s as that was a rather decent time for diesel's and so forth but as I previously mentioned (in a way) it would work with a loco pack that was like the diesel legends but with more modern so either way everyone could have the best of both. I personally wouldnt mind it as a 80s route but I keep leaning towards modern as I want the updated route like with the new design of the dawlish sea wall and the new depot in Exeter... Either way there is alot of potential
You know there will probably be no freight on this route due to only no yards on this route except Newton Abbot but never get used so there will be non also I would include the Exmouth and maybe the Barnstaple and Okehampton.
As I have mentioned on my original post, I have included Exmouth on this post as it would be the full advocate line. If included, then Exeter Riverside can be used which is a dedicated freight yard and is not very far from Exeter St David's. I was going to suggest the other smaller routes out of Exeter and have that as the route, all the branch lines but I was catering for everyone. In all fairness, if you are not familiar with the area, I could see why you said about the freight.
I’d love this route. The avocet line holds many fond memories for me especially. Lympstone Commando more so.
I mean there’s a couple of ECS moves that run on and off. As I’m writing this just found one on RTT Laira T.&R.S.M.D up to Stoke Gifford and also I would have a remodel and better sounding 150 and a 166 but the XC stuff might be a bit difficult getting the license. Also I’m literally 10 minutes train trip from Exeter St David’s so I know what is there and isn’t there
