Hello! I hope you have had a good first few weeks of 2025 Today I'm suggesting WCML: Preston - Crewe but in the 90s! This is sort of in theme with Just Trains' legendary routes set in 1986. The Route & Stations The route runs for approx 60 miles and takes the average train around 45 mins to complete (this could have been more in pre-Class 390) The stations are - - Crewe - Winsford - Hartford - Acton Bridge - Warrington Bank Quay - Wigan North Western - Euxton Balshaw Lane - Leyland - Preston (principal InterCity stations marked like this) I would also like to point out that Crewe is also home to the Crewe Heritage Centre from 1987 (which is still open as of Jan 2025) which has had the sole surviving APT-P on display since 1988 (APT-P on display at the CHC, dated 1990. Credit - deltrems on Flickr) Trains It's clear that Intercity Swallow was the livery of choice for IC services in the 90s, so to make it easier for me to not sound like a broken record, all trains are suggested to be in IC Swallow unless stated - BR Class 90 (Credit - www.traintesting.co.uk) - BR Class 43 HST (valenta engine) (Credit - Matt Harrison (transportdesigned.com) - DVT (and thus Mk3a) (Credit - Flickr) Layers - BR Class 87 (WCML Shap) - BR Class 86 (WCML Shap) - Could also see a IC Swallow variant for this route if possible - BR Class 101 (WCML Shap) - BR Class 142 (Blackpool Branches / WCML Shap) - BR Class 47 (all variants apart from WSR & Scotrail) - BR Class 20 (TVL) - BR Class 08 (All variants) - LMS Jubilee/8F (SoS or Peak Forest) Possible DLC a possible DLC for this route could be - - BR Class 92 (if the route is set between 1993 - 1999) Thanks for reading!
Bring it on and by the way that class 92 fits onto west coast main line south because it's the main electric Freight locomotive on that route. If you own WCML South with this route Classes 90 and 92 can operate the freight services of a class 66
The IC swallow 90 + Mk3a & DVT could also layer into WCML:S operating railtours as Locomotive Services Limited own (and operate) 90001 "Royal Scot" & 90002 "Wolf of Badenoch" well as a rake of Mk3a and a DVT all repainted into IC Swallow livery. however 001 currently is used rarely
Wonder if that 92 could be re-liveried into a branded (or unbranded) Caledonian sleeper for WCMLS too. Don't have the right coaches though
the 92 (along side the class 60) is one of the those final BR designs that were side lined by post-BR freight companies in favour of more powerful engines aka the class 66.. so alot of them have been sitting in sidings (mainly at Crewe) for around 20-30 years not doing much.
this is absolutely brilliant mate, class 90s, apt and the class 43! they are ALL my favourite "modern" day trains too!
This would be great to see. Especially as it could add some railtours to WCML South, or even additional layers onto WCML Over Shap
