Route Until the early 1950s the Isle of Wight had a rail network that reached a total length of 55 1⁄2 miles and spanned the entire island. This is when the route would be set, around 1951 under the operation of BR. The railways on the island primarily carried passengers, with most of the freight work being coal. The route in TSW3 would be set in 1951, meaning that the island's entire network of lines would be included. Rolling Stock LSWR O2 Under BR operation the mainstay of services were operated using LSWR O2 class tank engines that the Southern brought to the island between 1923 and 1949 (the final 2 locomotives were imported by BR). Built towards the end of the 19th century, the fleet consisted of 23 locomotives with the locos being given names corresponding to places on the island. Under BR all the locos wore the standard mixed traffic lined black livery, working services consisting of up to 6 bogie carriages across the island's entire network. The locos would be featured in BR lined black with the early BR crest. Coaching Stock The island's coaching stock was made up of ex-LB&SCR & LCDR (and various other companies that the Southern absorbed in 1923) bogie coaches, which provided a smoother and faster ride than the earlier fixed wheel carriages. All of the coaches were suburban compartment coaches without any corridor connectors, very different to anything we currently have in game. The coaches would be featured in game in southern green livery. LB&SCR E1 Four of these 0-6-0Ts were shipped to the island in the early 1930s for use on goods trains. They were also given names corresponding to locations on the island, as was tradition. Numbered W1-W4, the locos primarily operated goods trains, occasionally stepping in on passenger services if needed. They remained in service until the early 1950s, when route closures took away a lot of their work. The final example was withdrawn from the island in 1960. However, with the route set in 1951, these locos would still have been at work hauling goods services. These locos would be featured in BR unlined black with the early BR crest. Goods Vehicles The majority of the island's freight traffic consisted of coal, which was transported in 13 ton dropside high wagons from Medina Wharf to local merchants. There were also 14 'Road Vans' on the island, which were a type of brake van with doors on the side to allow them to carry light goods and parcels. The LB&SCR 10 ton goods van also saw extensive service on the island all the way up to 1966. All of these vehicles would be featured in the Southern Railway's brown and red livery without SR branding. See next message for more
Services A majority of services on the island were passenger carrying, with freight having less of a prominence. Service frequency was largely seasonal, with a large number of services in the summer holiday season but with comparatively few in the off peak winter months. On summer Saturdays it was the busiest single line junction in the country, with a train every 6 minutes. This would make good use of the game's seasonal timetable system, with lots of services in summer months and less in the winter. Service patterns in 1951 were: Ventnor - Ryde Pier Head Cowes - Ryde Pier Head Freshwater - Newport Newport - Sandown Brading - Bembridge Newport - Ventnor West With a total of 35 stations across the island, this network of routes would offer a mix of intensive steam service, great scenery, quiet branch line operations & local freight. There was also 1 named train on the island, which was also one of the island's very few express trains. Named 'The Tourist', the train ran from Ventnor through to Freshwater calling at Wroxall, Shanklin, Sandown, Newport & Yarmouth along it's route. Stations Most of the island's stations were relatively small, since they served small communities. However some standout locations, aside from places that we already have in game are the large junction station at Newport, and the station at Ventnor which was situated in a quarried out recess in the hill side. Newport Ventnor Scenario Ideas Freshwater Freight - Drive a local freight service from Newport to Freshwater, dropping off goods at stations along the way. LB&SCR E1 Winter warmer - Its a quiet winter's evening in Newport and the only loco in steam is an E1. Take a short passenger service from Newport down to Ventnor West. LB&SCR E1 Steam to School - Drive once a day the school train from Newport to Sandown, calling pick up only at all stations. LSWR O2 Early Start - Bring a loco into service at Ryde MPD, shunt onto your stock and drive ECS to Ryde Pier head. Run around your train and head for Cowes. LSWR O2 Tourist trouble - Its peak season and a very busy train has failed at Ryde St. Johns, causing severe delays. Run your loco up from Sandown and bring the train into Newport. LSWR O2 Overall This route/network of routes, would bring some incredibly unique gameplay to TSW. It would give us our first taste of suburban steam workings, but while travelling through some fabulous countryside. The route would be like nothing we have had before in TSW, and would also be one of the few opportunities to simulate an entire network in game, due to the total length of only 55 1⁄2 miles. If you would like to see this route added to the game, please consider giving this thread a like and also leave any ideas you might have below.
Now - THIS is what we need. A southern steam network. For one, it'd be one of the only networks in TSW and would be the best steam route hands down if made. Good suggestion!
Great suggestion mate, I would say the ultimate steam route would be the East Lincolnshire Line but I do have a lot of bias. Like I say great suggestion and I would buy it for sure if it were made.
Just thought of this, they could also do a DLC in a Diesel Legends type getup with a terrier and a southern livery O2, and also some 4 wheel coaches. This could be set in the late 30s with an alternative timetable, and would bring a very popular steam loco into the game in the form of the terrier.
It would be fantastic to have 1 more version of Isle of Wight but this time at its peak with maximum mileage available. There are so many long gone routes around the UK that should be modelled so that the younger generations can see what we once had as a network and for the older of us to rekindle our memory. In too many cases there is nothing left to see of these vanished routes (thanks to Beeching and Marples, with the conflict of interests of the latter). They should've closed the lines but safeguarded the land. Hindsight is 20/20.
