Atomic Systems

Hi

I have come back to the world of Train sim since finding out my Railworks 2 got upgraded to TS2013
I have the following routes

London-Brighton
Portsmouth Direct Line
ECML
WCML North
Great Western Main Line

Seeing that the Steam Sale is on I would like to purchase another UK route but I am not sure which one to go for, I have my eyes on one of these

IOW
Settle to Carlise
Edinburgh- Glasgow

I don't have a really fast PC (2.4gh dual core) but it handles the sim pretty well, can share with me their views on the three above routes, or if you have another suggestion, I would love to hear it.

Many thanks

Darran.

Hi Darran

If you're interested in also downloading some freeware UK routes then I think I'm right in saying that lots and lots of them use IoW assets, so buying that route over the other two would be a good idea. Plus, of course, it's a lovely route.

If you're not that interested in freeware UK routes than I can't really offer too much of an opinion.

Cheers

Bob

Bob's too modest to say it, but the Woodhead is one of the nicest routes out there. It's not on your list. Lots of atmosphere, and lots of both freight and passenger operations.

I don't have S-C or E-G, so can't advise. Both seem to be largely end to end passenger operations, but I don't have them, as I said, so could be mistaken. The IOW is a quaint little line, but I don't run it much. E-G is optimized by putting scenery only along the ROW and is meant to be operated from the cab. The S-C seems quite scenic.

What kind of operations do you like?

It's not Steam, but the China Clay for Export route by Creatve Rail is a jewel, set in the Dover countryside.

IOW is a great route, and the scenic assets do pop up in freeware routes from time to time. The same could also be said for WCML North which you already own.

So to be different.. I'd say look at the rolling stock included, the 483 (Tube stock) is rarely used on "other" routes, and that leaves a Personnel Carrier, some 10t plank wagons, a couple of old passenger carriages and a W37 0-4-0 steamer.

Settle to Carlisle - Class 66 EWS locomotive (not the latest V2 bells and whistles version on Steam), could be used on pretty much all of your currently owned routes and not look 'odd' (Well except for ECML as it's supposed to be in the 70's), also some branded HTA Bogie Coal wagons, HAA MGR coal wagons, PCA Cement tanks (Depressed and conventional), OBA wagons, EWS branded Class 37, Class 158 DMU, LMS Jubilee 'Leander', LMS 4F Fowler and finally some Mk1 coaching stock to boot. The route itself is nicely done, but it's a bit "A to B" so once you've done the default scenarios and found more in the workshop it could feel a bit samey.

Edinburgh- Glasgow - Comes with far less rolling stock than the above, just a Class 170 DMU, Plain unbranded Red Class 37 and Grey / Silver unbranded "East Coast" Class 43 HST. The newly added Grangemouth area helps with freight operations on the route now and runs nicely on low(ish) spec computers. The bonus with the Class 170 is that it comes in a "Southern" Class 171 variety and so could be used on London to Brighton with no problem and would fit in looks wise

Have a look in the File Library / Workshop and see which items commonly appear on the ones that you wish to play, once you've seen a pattern then go for the relevant route / rolling stock.

Honestly you probably want to just bite the bullet and get this pack: http://store.steampowered.com/sub/18586/

I know it doesn't show it properly, but the price of buying that pack was already half price, so actually the total combined price of content is £224... yours for just £55 until 6pm tonight...

...and includes EVERY single route you mentioned... PLUS Woodhead... PLUS Falmouth Branch... PLUS Great Western Mainline... PLUS Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway... AND to top it off, a LOAD of Loco's & Rollingstock

There's no way of knowing if this pack will even be around for the next sale... and once the sale ends, routes go up to £25 EACH... so effectively for the price of two 'normal' price routes, you get near enough EVERYTHING UK that's available on the Steam store

We don't know what your preferences are Darran, really, do you like Steam/Diesel/Electric locos, are you into running passenger trains, or, freights, or, both, do you want to download other freeware routes and some 3rd party Payware ones, some of the German routes for example utilise the IOW assets, so, I would suggest you getting this IF you want to run other layouts, both freebies and Payware. If you aren't bothered, then I personally would suggest getting the Glasgow - Edinburgh layout of the 3 you named above. The IOW route operationally is sparse, and only covers a small area of the island, mainly passenger trains, the Settle - Carlisle route is chiefly passenger as it starts just south of Settle station in the middle of nowhere and runs up to Carlisle Citadel station, nicely built with modern electric catenary, but, the route finishes just north of there, no Kingmoor Depot, or, any freight yards, sidings, as such, the route was constructed mainly for running Steam and diesel passenger trains, all the station buildings are hand built very new and shiny and some nice scenery, Glasgow to Edinburgh has lots of nice scenery with more scope for both passenger and freight trains, built for the 1990's upwards, it has various yards, Depots, with facilities for refuelling locomotives, etc, and the new Grangemouth Oil Terminal sidings, so, I would personally recommend this layout as it offers a lot more activity than the other 2 routes, but, it's your choice, of course.

Cheerz. Transport Steve.

I'd agree with getting the complete pack, it'll mean you'll have lots more to play with for not much more money.

I'd agree the pack is good value, particularly including Woodhead.

Theres some great freeware and other routes out there. China Clay for Export is still my favorite

B

A good freeware route in the UKST library is the one that goes from Shenfield to Southminster/Southend.

Can't remember whats it called, but its a blinder.

This is another route that uses IOW dependencies.

It's called Crouch Valley 2.

rgreenrail wrote:It's called Crouch Valley 2.

Thats the one.

Thank you so much for all your replies and your recommendations, you have all made me feel very welcome . I must admit that the choice is a bit daunting, having been away from this for quite a while and it really has changed a lot since I last was here and back then I used MSTS. I have never even thought about freeware routes before and it looks like I have a whole new world to explore.

My favourite type of loco would be a Thumper but I don't think there are any for Railworks/ TS2013?. I am primarily interested in Diesel and Electric Passenger services in the 80's and 90's, Thank you for the info on the mega bundle, £55 is a good price but unfortunately money is a bit tight so I have gone for Woodhead as it looks lovely and also Edinburgh to Glasgow. I just got in before the sale ended.

Are freeware routes easy to install? and do the ones for Railworks automatically work with TS2013?

Darran

Hmm, can't remember what they are from my BR days, Class 205's, no, sorry, we don't have any of those in the game yet. You want to have a look in the UKTS library for author Dave Brindley who has done a fantastic array of freeware EMU's, namely 2HAP, EPB's, etc, see here - http://www.uktrainsim.com/filelib-searc ... hor=davveb

Of course, there are a couple of old EMU's on Steam, the Class 421 4CIG and Class 423 4VEP as Payware models, but, you'll have to move quick as the Christmas Sale finishes today.

Cheerz. Transport Steve.