Like the NTP, this route is now really starting to show it's age and could really do with a remaster. Things that need upgrading are the scenery and lighting and the sounds on the model of the class 101 to match that of the model from WCMLoS. There are also several services that don't exist: - Middlesborough to Carlisle - Middlesborough to Newcastle - Middlesborough to Nunthorpe - Middlesborough ECS moves - Middlesborough to Whitby (Ai only) - Saltburn & Redcar to York & Liverpool - ECS moves with 3car 101 and 31 with a 101 - ECML Ai at Darlington - Potash services to Boulby Potash Mine (could be represented with Class 20 and PGA hoppers) and a couple others All those services to and from Middlesborough could be used with a Class 101 The locos from the NTP wouldn't be suitable because the class 45s weren't operational by 1989 and the class 47 and 40 would require high intensity headlights, therefore wouldn't be historically accurate. Timetable Layers: New timetable layers can use motive power and rolling stock from Blackpool Branches, WCMLoS, the Class 86/2 and MK2f pack and Crewe - Preston. The Class 47 from either of those routes with a rake of MK2a and MK2f coaches and provide ECML Ai at Darlington. The Class 142 pacer from the Blackpool route could sub-in for a Class 101 on passenger services. The TEA tankers from Blackpool Branches can add fuel trains to Thornaby. The Class 20s from Crewe - Preston can sub-in on the services from the original 20 add-on. Also from Crewe - Preston, the Class 47/3 and HAA hoppers could sub-in to coal trains. Thornaby Depot and Tees Yard: The current depiction of Thornaby depot is borderline empty, there is hardly anything there. And there are only 3 services in the timetable going in or out of the depot, 2 for the Class 08 and 1 for the Class 20, and all of them are only 1 side of the depot. For the Class 101, there are only 4 empty stock moves between Thornaby and Darlington, and all 4 are with the 2car variant, nothing with the 3car or the Class 31 dragging a 2car. Extra services at Thornaby need to be light loco shunts around the depot, shunting of dead locos in need of maintenance and wagons to the wagon repair sidings. Tees Yard is almost deserted with only 8 of the a lot more than sidings ever occupied, this drops to literally none occupied when the 08 has finished it's 4 shunting services, 2 of the 08's services are light engine shunts from Thornaby to the yard, which takes less than 5 minutes. The 08 has no services anywhere else, even thought there's a static 08 at Redcar Ore terminal, it has no services there, not to mention Lackenby steel works. *Hint* the 08 needs more services. Making two more areas accessible: Between Tees Yard and Middlesborough, see Middlesborough goods yard which seems like it was supposed to be accessible originally because the sidings are labelled on the 2d map. You could see shunting services there as well as cement and aggregate trains. Opposite Lackenby steel works is Tees Dock which would see steel trains, potash trains (could be used with 20s and PGA hoppers), whatever else got exported out of Tees Dock in the late 80s. Like Middlesborough goods, the dock already has it's sidings labelled on the 2d map so it feels like an area that was supposed to be accessible but was never made to be. Locos: Given that some of the services for the 37 are the same as the Class 20, and that the TVL 37 isn't compatible with the livery editor, that redstripe railfreight should be added as well as the light blue livery worn by 37 501 "Teesside Steelmaster". The railfreight livery should also be added to the Class 31 as it can be seen on a 31 on a youtube video at Thornaby in 1988. Recap: - New timetable layers for Class 47, 142 and reworked 20 - Upgrades to scenery and lighting - New livery for the Class 37 and 31 - More services for everything - Making Middlesborough Goods and Tees Dock accessible as track is already layed and sidings labelled
A remaster and extension would be ideal. The freight line to Boulby, around the coast to Hartlepool or Sunderland plus Bishop Auckland. Paid for by making a Class 56 add on for the route.
The only reason I would support this route being remastered ahead of North TransPennine is because there currently isn't a 56 available, the one thing that was very regular on freight jobs over the pennines. That said, I'd still want NTP doing first Though to be fair, TVL probably would get done first as it's a lot shorter route so a quicker turnaround in theory.
