As long as JT continue throwing us BR content, I don't mind where it is! We have enough developers making modern era content, JT having been filling a gap that was criminally ignored for a long time. BR deserves the best third party dev, long may it continue!
The original Waverley route set circa 1960, before the BR blue era. This is more a suggestion than a possible next route. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waverley_Route
I did notice on the stream, they constantly kept saying 86 not 87 (slip of the tongue there?) and then at one point both the JT devs and Matt started talking about GEML and memories of it, including the interesting period late 80s where it was electrified only part way so they had to loco swap at I think Ipswich. That kinda movements and variety it 100% up JT street.
1988 the ECML was still being electrified, and even by 1989 I think they only part of the ‘new fleet’ to have seen Edinburgh was a Mark 4 on test (12200?). Think it was to test the tilting, although that wasn’t used by the time they entered service. The 89 seems to have rarely ventured north of Doncaster on the ECML, but did go to Leeds etc.
The mark 4s don’t have a tilt mechanism fitted. They just have a body profile designed to retain the possibility of a tilt mechanism being fitted at a later date. I’m not aware, therefore, that there have been any kind of tilt tests, but I could be wrong.
The difficulty with the GEML is that it’s pretty straight and flat but with a relatively low maximum line speed (100mph) which means the line speed doesn’t vary much. Once you get North of Shenfield, it’s pretty much 100mph all the way to Norwich. There are drops in line speed at a couple of the major stations, but as you’re probably stopping there anyway it doesn’t make too much difference. It doesn’t make for the most exciting driving experience. Having said that if the right era was chosen, doing loco swaps at Ipswich would be interesting, and the fact that most trains have a fair few stops would break up the lengthy stretches of 100mph running, a bit. I think the most interesting bit of the route is Liverpool St - Shenfield (having more going on, more line speed changes, and the banks at Bethnal Green and Brentwood) so it would be important to include that in any route (but that’s the most difficult bit of course, being the most complex). It would need a suitable EMU for the Liv St - Shenfield stoppers, and another one for the semi-fasts to Southend, Clacton etc, so there’d be quite a bit of new stock needed to really populate the route. If they were going for that part of the world, I wonder whether Liv St - Cambridge (WAML) in pre-electrification days might be more interesting and more practical. It has a more varying gradient and line speed profile, and had 37s and 47s on hauled sets along with DMUs on stoppers. Alternatively they could do it after electrification when it had 86s, but then they’d need a suitable EMU to accompany it.
It depends what you include. The Broads are beautiful, and so is a lot of the West Essex / East Herts landscape on the WAML. The Essex and Suffolk coast is also very attractive (including where the GEML crosses the estuary North of Manningtree. On the other hand, some of the countryside which the GEML runs through is - I grant you - a bit repetitive.
On the WAML I remember double headed 47s on the Freightliners, 37s and 31's on passenger and freight. I don't recall seeing hardly any 20s. Plenty of the rattling vibrating 101 DMUs. The last 20s I saw were on RHTT 2007. Later the 170 , which I called humboxes. I don't take much notice of the modern railway, but I do recall seeing a class 70 about 5 years ago heading towards Cambridge on a freightliner, but I've tried not to dwell on it. As mentioned above there are some Fairly steep grades on the WAML. circa 1960 would be good, but wouldn't be right with a Jubilee and 8f.....
hi all my first post on here to take it easy on me from what ive seen of JT over the past few years with derby Sheffield and all the addons on TSC and now Blackpool branches on tsw5 (which got me into it from TSW2) and now WCML PC to look forward too. im going to stick my spoon in the pot for a future route and mention Woodhead in the 70s. i recon they could do it more justice than what came out for TSC. a lot of stock already there just need a 506 and an em1. who knows.....
How about Metropolitan Line Erewash and Hope Valley Lines in fact these are their known train simulator classic roots of the recent era I wonder what else are they known for in train simulator classic?
Southern Slamdoors haven't been covered yet... CEPs, CIGs, VEPs, EPBs... If anyone was going to make them let it be JT...
The problem with JT doing anything MML related is that Skyhook slapped their route slap bang in the core middle section. Even, as it seems, they have backed off from route development there could still end up being duplication, albeit a different era though. As stated previously I believe JT’s next effort will either be: Another section of the WCML, to make more use of the 87 and presumed 86. North Wales Coast as traction wise all but stands ready to go in BR Classic era. Highland Main line as surely they don’t want to waste all the research done for the aborted TSC version. Furness Line starting at Lancaster and maybe extending to Sellafield including part of the Cumbrian Coast. I just have a feeling it won’t be anything east, south or south west.
I'm guessing Settle & Carlisle. It would give Just Trains a reason to give the DTG class 37 (and possibly 40 or 45) the same kind of rework they gave the class 47. Or maybe WCML North for the class 86 ? I'd love both.
Really hoping we get this one day. My route preference for these would be London down to Dover is that isn't too long (I suspect it might be so perhaps Sevenoaks/Tonbridge to Dover), but the trouble with that is the common trend is to build routes around hub stations in the same era and Ashford would go against that if they're ever planning a modern route from there again. Other options could be Charing Cross to Tunbridge Wells/Hastings or Waterloo to Portsmouth/Southampton.
I'd love to see their Metropolitan Line in TSW. We only have one Underground route and the Met runs an awful long way above ground through pretty countryside too. The actual rolling stock would be brand new too. But whatever it is I will buy it!
A Manchester or Liverpool Network style route, with BR-era DMU’s, EMU’s etc with the link to Preston included for Route Hopping. They’ve done branches, they’ve done intercity/high speed (now) maybe it’s time to tackle a denser urban environment?
Or they could test the water with a Bristol “local” style route similar to the one they did in TSC at the beginning. Weston through Temple Meads to Bath and Bristol Parkway plus the Severn Beach line and the freight only line from Stoke Gifford round to Avonmouth. Set in the BR era no issue with fussy GWR licencing. New train could be a Class 108 DMU.
Yes with a HST, class 50 and a class 117. I would happily pay a premium for that route but I can't see it as that would be a lot of work.
If they did that it’d be a big win. Lots of freight options too. Then they could extend the other way to Westbury for even more freight action …
If JT are to step out of the North West in the 1980's then as mentioned by others, I'd like to see some Southern Slamdoor's, again in the BR Blue era - would love to see Making Tracks MSTS London & South East re-created for TSW at some point and who better than JT
Was looking at the Mk3 coaches tonight and thinking they’d be useful for a HST (80s version). Developers have a habit of making use of new stock on the next route (Pacer making it into WCML North as an example). Pretty sure the next route will use the HST…
Just as long as it's not the GEML as without a class 90, it would be LOVE. Hoping for them to either do their Edinburgh to Newcastle or greatwestern expressways
Merseyrail link? If you open the map at Ormskirk on Blackpool Branches, "Merseyrail" is referenced. Might be an hint, or it might mean absolutely nothing... has me wondering though. Class 507 and 508 EMUs ???
Funnily enough I was just thinking the other day of a Merseyrail route. Let's hope so, can have AI at Ormskirk then, plus a connection to other potential future routes.
Also note that the next Just Trains 80s route would have to be somewhere that would introduce new stock as quite a lot of the BR 80s stock is layered in now. Has to be a route that would have one of: HST Class 50 Class 25 Any other suggestions. ? I think we need to think about rolling stock rather than the route, that’s where your clue is.
On another thread I suggested Manchester Victoria -Preston. It's a very interesting route in itself, but more importantly it is a "missing link" and would allow epically long services between Leeds / Blackpool and Leeds / Carlisle. You would probably have to reload routes at Manchester and Preston but you would still get the experience of driving a train over a distance around 175 miles with lots of potential stops in between. It's only about 38 miles, but it would add so much.
Carlisle to Darlington via Newcastle along the Tyne Valley Line. Why not just to Newcastle? Route hopping at Darlington to the TVL. Plus you could have the mix of regional rail along the tyne valley and inter-city from Newcastle to Darlington.
Think I might have mentioned previously, Class 26 and Highland Main Line probably early 70’s before the 47’s became more established. Or part of the West Highland with a Class 27.
that was my thoughts was on the rolling stock available which was why I put Woodhead in the 70s there a lot is available there already and take in to consideration the 86 (picc AI) and 104 may be out by that time and would fit also, if the 506 and em1 could be made no reason why it couldn't be done. downsides would be just no through passenger services it would be mainly freight with the odd foot ex and 506 to Glossop. you would lose the 142 also. Woodhead 66 would be a nice but bold option as you would need the em2 as well, but could layer in the 3 steamers on both ends and go for a full steam electric diesel mix with some reskinning. anyhow out of dream world i do think there next route will still be in the 80s for that main reason of the rolling stock. i was surprised that MML wasn't a JT product when it came out as at the time they were still working on the TSC route. then i answered my own question as to why it wasn't them in TSW. other than maybe a change having done it for the past 5 years in TSC it was also lack of stock. they wouldn't of got it at the time and even now up to the same standards they did in TSC. they risked being slated for it. for me haven't got MML myself yet for that reason. why would i as a customer reinvest in MML TSW when i have it in TSC and a lot more bells and whistles to go with it and still enjoy. think it would be the same for the south west routes they did in TSC not enough stock to do it as it stands, to do to their high standards. modern stock in TSW and its ability to layering into other routes is lacking, i can see why with licencing and all. plus the multiple units/locos you would need. its going to take a while to catch up. JT have been very smart with Blackpool (start small) and now with WCMLOS doing it in the BR blue era by upgrading/layering in existing locos and produced 2 excellent routes whilst adding one new train per release. gives diversity in them, one would think without all the major issues of licences etc etc. there doing a great job so where ever the next route is I'm sure it will be a good one
I’m all in on a Merseyrail link up. Probably only the Eastern side of the Mersey, but it could be a sort of Preston - Wigan - Lime Street (main line run) with the Southport, Ormskirk, Kirkby branches of the Northern Line - down to Central, and maybe the Wigan to Southport link, Wigan to Kirkby link. That’s a heap of work though. But I just can’t imagine doing the Merseyrail without attempting to link up the main line into Lime Street too. EDIT: Second thoughts on this, I’d love to see a first-gen EMU like the 304 or 308. If the NTP was remastered to a substantial level, a West Yorkshire suburban network with the 308 would be nice. Alternatively, some form of a trifecta of Preston - Liverpool - Manchester - Crewe with the 304 being the main loco, but with the mainline link to Preston for connectivity.
*Puts on speculation hat again* Are there any locomotives or multiple units that either ran on the Settle & Carlisle or Cumbrian Coast lines in 1986, that we do not currently have in TSW5? Looking at the current WCMLoS map, they seem like good candidates for route hopping, and Just Trains likes giving us a lovely new loco or multiple-units with their DLC routes. And you get so many bonus points for mentioning the class 304.
Did the 308’s run up to Skipton from Leeds / Bradford? I think JT have put themselves firmly in 1986, although I wouldn’t complain if they slightly moved the goalposts to include some other 2nd generation DMU’s.. but of course nothing beats a slam door EMU. Still all-in on a Merseyrail link up here. The whole network would complete the JT NW trilogy!
Regional Railways had some class 308s that ran to Skipton, but I don't think the line was electrified until after 1990 ... My memory gets worse. I'm with you all the way on everything regarding first & second gen units though.
You would need a class 108 for the Cumbrian coast line. They had window bars for some of the narrow clearances.
I can't see it not being WCML based, rolling stock development takes so long for TSW that if they do a route like the Settle to Carlisle (which at the time had a very thin timetable nothing like today's service) then they have developed a lot of AC stuff with little further use. I am fairly confident Preston to Crewe or Stafford is likely or perhaps a network of lines again in that area.
They have the other side of Preston to do, so think thats the next logical route. My guess that would be a great addition to the game and should be busy. Preston down to Wigan (15 miles) and then split to Manchester (17 miles) and Liverpool (17 miles).
As jpantera noted above, the passenger service was fairly sparse back then, probably three trains in each direction with a bit of freight.
How well represented were HST’s in this area of the country, in the mid-80’s? Did they run on the WCML or go to Liverpool?
