Joining two of the north of England’s major cities, The original route between the cities ran between Liverpool Central (High Level) Station and Manchester Central, and was opened in 1873 by the Cheshire Lines Committee. Although both stations have since been demolished and replaced by Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly, it still remains an important route for passenger and freight traffic. The locos: The British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit passenger train (or DMU), built specifically for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs. The Class 159 DMUs are almost identical to the Class 158s, having been converted from Class 158 to Class 159 in two The British Rail Class 47 or Brush Type 4 is a class of diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. A total of 512 Class 47s were built at Brush's Falcon Works in Loughborough and at British Railways' Crewe Works between 1962 and 1968, which made them the most numerous class of British mainline diesel locomotive. So what’s included? 40 mile route between Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Piccadilly Well known landmarks such as Manchester International Freight Terminal, the River Mersey, Manchester Ship Canal and Liverpool Edge Hill Stations including Manchester Oxford Road, Warrington Central, Liverpool South Parkway and Widnes Regional Railways Class 158 DMU BR Railfreight Grey Class 47 diesel locomotive
Just so you know, the TS version is actually set in 2013-2014, but with 1990's rolling stock because they were unable to get the licensing for Northern Rail. Liverpool South Parkway station didn't exist until the early 2000's for example. I would instead suggest the Chat Moss line, which goes via Newton-le-Willows to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Victoria (please don't say merging with NTP, it's not practical unless they are set in the same era) with the branch to Warrington Central, and featuring the new Class 195/331 units, possibly the Trans Pennine Class 802 as well. Why? This is the proper historic route, notable for being the first intercity railway in the world, and the second standard gauge railway after the Stockton and Darlington line. It would be far more interesting than a bland copy of the TS route in my opinion.
