According to what Jane said on the DTG YouTube live stream last night, Athena Simulations have plans to update the BR class 40 and 45 locomotives at some point. They also are working on a new unannounced TSW route, plus a mystery locomotive that has "13 or 14 livery variations." All I can say to Jane, Tim and everybody at Athena Simulations is PLEASE take your time with future releases, and don't rush them out. After buying the ECML pack after the stream last night, saying it launched in a rough state with regards to bugs would be an understatement.
Interesting. Any details on what era these are going to be reworked for, or will it just be another rail tour rework.
13/14 liveries? Such as: In Br Days: Rail Blue Large Logo GWR Green Network South East Revised Network South East Railfreight Distribution Civil Link Departmental Blue Post BR Days: LMS Coronation Red BR Two Tone Green Loadhaul Black/Orange Inter City Swallow Hanson & Hall GBRF
Morning all, thank you so much for the support last night, we really appreciate it. I really wanted to share our passion. I am grateful for issues being raised. We are logging them and we are already working on rapid fixes and discussing upgrades. As I said in the stream, we are not "fire and forget" developers. As Mike said, we will support all releases in to the long term. It is our first TSW product as a team, so please bear with us. As some have pointed out after the stream, this is a huge passion for us. To be clear, to avoid livery speculation. The variations include both livery and physical variations on our new loco. It is not a railtour pack, but a specific loco pack. I hope to announce soon. Work has been underway some time and we are pleased with results. We have also signed a major, much requested route with DTG. DTG kindly gave us custody of the Class 40 and Class 45 and we are indeed currently looking at what we can do to build on those foundations, with updates etc. I hope the community can share some ideas as what you would all like to see us do with the 40 and 45. We have started internal discussions here with the team and are excited to be able to work with these iconic locos. Mike and I are so grateful to all of you who enjoyed the livestream last night and making both of us so welcome, thank you!
Thanks for the clarification. Personally I would like to see the class 40 operate on both Liverpool to Crewe and peak forest railway. If it's not possible to incorporate into the timetable, then at least reworked loco's that fit the period. I'm only speaking for myself but I'm sure there would be some interest from other players.
In the spirit of constructive feedback Jane-ATH with regard to the Mark Ones, as you may have read there is some disappointment these were not rebuilt into the more modern build, with plastic rather than wood panelling interiors, aluminium window frames, the seats with smaller head wings, fluorescent lighting and Commonwealth or B4 bogies for 100 MPH running. These would have been more suitable for contemporary Railtours than the 90MPH stock which may not even be main line certified these days. So it would be nice if there are further plans to revisit the Mark One’s to do a more modern build, along with some additional vehicle type as previously mentioned.
The 45 needs livery designer for starters, also the lighting bug on the 40 needs sorting, also with a sound update. Named loco's would also be good. Oh and special appearances of D200 & 40 106 in their green liveries
Thank you for this post, I genuinely appreciate it. There are plans to revisit the Mk1s, especially in the light of feedback from all of yourselves here. We are not finished with the Mk1s (or other vehicle types) by a long way. Short answer, is yes we are committed to upgrades as we move forward. We aim to create a library of high quality coaching stock. This is just the beginning. I think we have shown we listen to feedback from the community, which is invaluable to us, acting on that feedback. As I type, we are investigating subbing the Mk1s in to timetables.
No worries if you can't say anything at this stage Jane, but do you expect to be able to share more on this route soon (i.e. next couple of months), or is it much further in the future?
I love those ideas thank you!. The Class 40 is really special to me, with so many operating in Yorkshire, so we want to do justice to them. One of my abiding memories is a cab ride on a parcels service from Piccadilly to Sheffield.
Well I’m sure you probably already have a copy of this, but pretty much the main reference source for all things Mark One: https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Railways-Mark-1-Coaches/dp/1899816070
Morning, we are currently in discussion with DTG on announcements and timings. I am hoping to announce our loco pack soon, followed fairly rapidly by the route. However, I honestly cannot put a time to it as discussions on announcements are only just starting now we have this pack out.
Personally I would like to see the Class 45 reworked to include Class 44 and 46 variants. Also, it would be nice if we got the Class 40 with split headcode boxes.
Excellent News ! …should do a “Class 52 style Diesel Legends’ pack for the 40 & 45 (with 4 character headcode) in Green complete with Nameplates…PLEASE !!!
To me, this is very good to hear as the Class 40 and Class 45 are both favorites of mine -- and I'm an American, just fell in love with the things on Northern Trans-Pennine. I enjoyed the live stream (though I watched it after the fact) and I'm happy y'all are doing it as your passion for the subject was evident and counts for a lot. I will echo others in saying don't rush it. It's fine, to me anyway, if it takes a little longer but comes out more polished. Though I must also say that, so far, I haven't found anything that's preventing me from enjoying the rail tour pack so far. Thanks for Isambad, I'm probably going to put a lot of miles on it. Look forward to enjoying more of your products in the future.
Would love to see the 45 backdated to BR Green with no yellow warning panels for Peak Forest. TSW is seriously in need of some more BR Green stock!
Hopefully the mystery locomotive is the Class 91. It has a lot of livery variations, and would add variety to the ECML route
Hmm something like a 172 see different physical variations but probaly no where near 15 liverys Same goes for 465/466 and 365s again it could be something like a 321 with a GEML route with addition of 322s or 320 variations. Class 317 been in quite a few liverys. Anyone trains up north I could be missing out? For me I reckon if set modern times it's a 321 on GEML but I know licensing is a an issue!!!
I quietly hope this is a BR route. Always a lot of fun in my opinion. Especially if its covering the South Western/Eastern region. Considering you are looking at reworking the 45, could a backdated MML:South come to fruition at some point in the future? You could also chuck in a 317 using AP sounds (as you have with the MK1s) as the brand new train for the route. Would be very interesting, especially as we haven't got the old StP in Train Sim (AFAIK).
I need the headcode can be scrolled class 40 and 44 central gangway usable domino headcode suspension
Class 40 and 45 both at home on the North Wales Coast line. That certainly qualifies as a much requested (UK) route. Another possibility could be Settle & Carlisle or even G&SW from Carlisle via Dumfries towards Kilmarnock as 45's worked across there regularly.
Have to say what with the traffic already in TSW, the love of the BR blue era Diesels and the work to the 40 and 45 to me the North Wales Coastline stands out as very highly requested? Would like to see that done lovingly in the BR blue era! I remember TrainSimTV talking about the Settle and Carlisle on a video or stream once and he was saying how there wasn't much traffic on there in the Diesel era and it'd be done better justice in the Steam era but I'm not overly familiar with it myself Hopefully Athena are able to pull through with the support and create some really good content and support the Railtour pack also. I like the way they've said explicitly they are not a fire and forget developer so hopefully that stands up!
Yes the S&C had a fairly sparse service for much of the classic BR Blue era, two or three passenger services in each direction a day and a handful of freight. That was the period when BR wanted to shut the line, before wiser heads prevailed.
Michael Portillo Simulator? Comes with it's own Jacket & Trousers livery creator. Sounds a winner to me
Is it confirmed that Athena Simulations are UK content only? I think to remember a post in an older topic about Athena being a new third party where its been said its not UK only. I would just like to know that as nearly everyone here only speculates about them making a UK loco or UK route. Maybe it will be UK, who knows, but as long as its not confirmed i would not be that sure. Would not be the first 3rd party to make international content either.
Thanks Jane - I shall be keeping my fingers crossed for a 91 and ECML South (KGX to PBO extension) or North (DON to NCL)!
Could always throw in a few weekend wcml engineering diversions for giggles, few 87 (and soon to come 86) drags....!!
The Peaks are a favourite of mine, especially the 46s when they would sneak down the ECML. I am sure this one is buzzing around heads already but I can't miss the opportunity of mentioning green 45s on PFR with boxes at the front! The class 45 especially is showing its age in game so some extra polishing, especially on the sounds would be a great move. I do genuinely look forward to what Athena can add to the table, Blue/grey MkIs were a great start.
The main reason I got this pack was for the mark 1 carriages, so yeah. Can't wait to see what is done in the future with rolling stock.
Hi Jane. Good to hear all your responses and that like some l won’t mention here, but everyone knows who they are, you are not going to be a fire and forget developer. lt’s good to hear that you have the passion that the whole community shares. I am sure you will get your product right.
My hunch would suggest it’s a HST ‘loco pack’ with a bunch of variations from over the BR/InterCity/early privatisation years. We only have the GWR 2016-ish version and the EMT 2018-ish version? Would be decent to get a route that it’s at home on too!
A Paxman Valenta-powered version would be very nice, and the AP sounds could be adapted for this. They were hated by spotters at the time, but loved by the public, but the cacophony of sound of a departing HST was indeed quite impressive (but you didn't admit that to your mates).
that is really kind thank you. The team and myself will always be honest too. This is our first pack, we made some mistakes. We are learning from them and taking onboard feedback from the whole community. I am really grateful for the patience and support. We are learning from feedback and growing, so I hope our acorn will grow in to a quality tree. People tell me from the livestream with Matt Ped that our passion shows through. I hope so as the passion is genuine. I live and breath my railway hobby all my life! Thank you again for such kind words. I will pass to the team.
Certainly in the case of the Class 40 the sounds of at least the sound mixing can be improved. Engine note changes with the field diverts is one thing the Class 40 doesn't seem to do. Whereas the Class 20/31/37 all do. The Class 45 also has weak sounds compared to the most recent Class 47. As far as I understand it they have similar if not the same powerplants.
This is some fantastic news and I can't wait to hear more on your route. Quick question, for the Class 40 do you reckon we could have a rendition of D213 'Andania' in her BR green Livery? Would be fab
From what I remember from a bloke named Roger giving me a tour of his Peak at the Epping Ongar Railway a few years ago, the only major difference between the engines themselves was the exhaust. It's been a while, so I might be wrong
