Hello, today I'd like to suggest a new route for Train SIM World from Englands.far north, the Tyne Valley Line more from Carlisle to Newcastle. The Route The route takes around 1 hour 30 to complete as you take in the scenery of Northumberland and Cumbria. The two main stations on the route are Carlisle and Newcastle built in 1847 and 1850 respectively with Carlisle being Grade 2 listed and Newcastle Grade One Listed the history of the track is evident. Services Northern operate a 1tph frequency along the line from Carlisle to destinations like Newcastle, Morpeth, Middlesbrough and Whitby. With an additional 2tph from Hexham towards similar areas with one of these being an all stops service as of the May 24 timetable. Trains Class 156 (NT) Class 158 (NT) Some freight services are operated by class 66 units including GBRF. Layers Class 801 Azuma - Layers at Newcastle for ECML and scenarios as the line is used as an ECML diversion. Class 390 Pendelino - Layers at Carlisle for WCML services. Class 158 and 156 can layer potentially onto ECML and Glossop Line as AI. As always please let me know your thoughts and if you can think of anything I've done wrong or may have missed let me know so I can change it.
This would be a great route for TSW, linking two large rail centres and bringing both into the game. Actually quite a scenic route but sadly neglected over the years sim wise in favour of its next door big brother, the S&C.
Would love to see it. I should remind some that there have been a lot of routes in the Midlands and North West lately. London and the South East is clearly also popular. DTG know what sells and that's where they go for releases. I wouldn't rule out a route like this though as it's end-to-end and has good scenery.
Also very much scope to build as a BR Classic route. The Class 101 DMU's were the most widely used type on the line. Class 47 on freight, maybe not so much 31, though a good reason to bring a Class 25 into the game. Depending on period, you would miss AC electrics at Carlisle but as these would only be on screen for a few minutes, as with BPO could probably be left out. Later on the Class 142 Pacers could also be seen on the route.
Definitely a good route option, similar to the Settle and Carlisle line but actually going between two major terminuses within a reasonable route mileage and drive time. Maybe we could get the Class 158 in the rarer 3-car configuration to provide something extra?
One of the most scenic lines I have travelled on, the views of the Tyne, the Pennines and the lush vegetation are memorable.
A BR blue era version opens up scope for lots of additional branches if you look on Wikipedia with the Class 101s generally. However I feel modern day gives more variety.
Alston branch although that closed in 1976 I believe. An earlier era does bring more variety in terms of freight. If the SIAM Carlisle 1973 traffic sim is to be believed, there were a couple of trip workings and also coal flows to the power station just outside Carlisle city centre. But any era would be welcome to get the route in TSW, just give us old thrash heads a few Railtours to keep us quiet!
A small portion of the Alston branch is now a narrow guage railway but only the far end between Alston and Slaggyford. If added though you would have the Lambley Viaduct. There were a few freight branches to power stations nearer to Newcastle if I remember what I read.
Great suggestion! Love this route! New Northern route, new 156 unit. Maybe, like they did with FCL, Skyhook could make a Northern version of 158. Maybe, they could create it using Pacers? It should be backdated to 2018/19, at least! Oh, and you forgot the Flying Scotsman! Some heritage diesel/steam services would be nice. I know there are some.
Lots of scope for rail tours I have to agree. I agree that the pacer is a great idea but by backdating the route DTG would have to go to the DfT for a different licence whereas they have the current NORTHERN licence already from Glossop line. If we got it back to Serco Abellio era then I might be more interested as they looked different to the current trains unlike Arriva.
I would love to see this honestly, and since the West Coast Mainline has been revealed we now have 390s layering onto carlisle, so even better. An interesting loco pack for this would probably be the 68 nuclear flask trains that run from Torness in Dunbar and Seaton or Loco hauled 68's with DRS MK2's if they ever ran at some point. Anyway, would definitely Love this as i frequently spent some time at wylam as a kid and once also Hexham and the metrocentre area.
I think they might be referring to having the 390 layer at Carlisle on the suggested Tyne Valley Line which I will also update the original post with.
I like the idea and they're more frequent in rush hour makes Carlisle feel more lively. Could perhaps use 158 as a stand in.
Another option with Just Trains upcoming WCML Preston to Carlisle set in the 1980s is to add the route but backdated to BR blue era to allow route hopping. Pluss by adding this if you really wanted to you could drive Blackpool to Newcastle across the 3 routes. I know lots of people love BR era so I'm sure they'd be happy with it that way as opposed to the preferred modern era.
If there is going to be a Newcastle route, my thinking is that it will come from a Third party provider rather than DTG.
Just trains I'd like since they have good attention to detail and quality so I wouldn't mind them doing it.
Brilliant suggestion, a line I really do love having a trip over. Would be excellent to see it in game, and could act as a nice way to use the existing 2nd gen DMUs whilst bringing a 156 in too. For what it is worth I prefer the scenery on this line to the S&C.
Would be a good route, do Scotrail 156s still go to Newcastle via Carlisle from Glasgow, I know they used. There would also be great AI opportunities at Carlisle and Newcastle.
If I were you do it as the 1980s what way you can route hop to WCML over Shap the new JT route including Kingmoor for freight
Would be a great route, pendolinos at one end and azumas at the other. As well as finally getting our hands on a 156
Being from Newcastle this is one of the main lines I would like to see & also Newcastle to York because it surprises me DTG hasn't done this as it was one of the first lines in TS Classic formerly Railworks, so they should already have the likes of Tyne Bridges, Central Station etc modelled to be upgraded to TSW. The Class 156 would be a great unit for this route as well as Class 142 (layer).
Imagine the TSW5 route hopping potential of going all the way from Newcastle to Blackpool via Carlisle and Preston (And of future route connections like an ECML link to Edinburgh, or a Newcastle-York connection adding a Tees Valley Line link. Or other wishlisted routes like the Tyne & Wear Metro or Northumberland Line)
Looks like a nice line to be added, going through countryside and hills. It's about time DTG adds another northern route.
I agree with everyone's comments, I am from Newcastle and having this route in TSW would be amazing, and the entrance to Newcastle Central across the King Edward Bridge or even the loop around onto the High Level Bridge must be one of the best entrances to a station in the country. Let's hope this is on DTG's list
I like this suggestion as it finally gets Newcastle in the game - another station hub to build off - especially with Route Hopping. NCL -> YRK, NCL -> EDB, TW Metro just to name a few. The problem is though that the Tyne Valley Line is not electrified. 801 diverts would make a cool scenario, but IRL they do things like an 800 5 car coupled to an 801 5 car. Can't remember if they had 800 9 cars on it last time - they probably did. 801s in isolation wouldn't work due to no electrification.
The point about them as available layers would be mostly having AI services running into and out of Newcastle station, visible in the station and on the bridges, like the Great Western services on Bakerloo. Services would share track around the high level bridge approach to Newcastle
Yes, you'd also have them on the KEB too - but what I am saying is that it wouldn't work for the second part of the suggestion, diverts.
