Route recommendations ?

[rkk01]

New to RW, but former MSTS user. Have the legacy TS2012 routes / stock, but looking forwards to some more variety. WCML N & S&C have caught my eye on the RSC website - but might wait for sale time...

China Clay for Export and Bristol to Exeter are also tempting. Is CCfE up and running for TS2013? Pootling around with a 37 and some clay hoods sounds tempting, as does adding some 50s and peaks (when available)

Any other suggestions or recommendations welcomed!

[rcetank]

woodhead for me is a must have. Fantastic route with plenty of scope. IMOP
I have the other routes you mentioned but I spend more time with this one.

[DaveDewhurst]

Hi,
My opinion:
WCML-N is a must have when you're ready. The sheer size and scope allow almost endless playability.
Settle & Carlisle is nice but I hardly ever play it any more, once youve been both ways, theres not much left to do.
CCfE is another addon well worth purchasing. Its usually the first one I put back on after a verify/re-install. It also works without issue in 2013
Bristol to Exeter, I own but wouldnt notice if I didnt have it.

Endinburgh to Glasgow is quite enjoyable, even more so now with the extra section added.
Portsmouth Direct is getting on a bit now but still worth a go, especially as there is wide range of prototypical stock available.
London to Brighton is OK. again, I dont play it as much as I would have hoped to.
If you like earlier eras I would definitely wait for The Port Road.

Dave

[ashgray]

Hi

Entirely agree with the suggestions above, but would just sing the praises of some of the freeware routes available in the library here, all of which I'd unreservedly recommend and which (arguably) are at least as good if not better than some payware items.

Both of Mark Howarth's Lakeshaw routes and his Llanberwyn route:

Laneshaw Bridge [9275479 bytes] - Laneshaw BridgeV1a.zip File ID: 30095 Date: 08 Dec 2012 - 935 Downloads

Laneshaw Bridge 1980's [9957238 bytes] - Laneshaw Bridge 1980's.zip File ID: 30293 Date: 31 Dec 2012 - 692 Downloads

Llanberwyn Branch [5593877 bytes] - Llanberwyn Branch.zip File ID: 27689 Date: 24 Nov 2011 - 868 Downloads

Two routes by John Griffiths - Bromsgrove - Burton via Birmingham, and his Settle - Carlisle route, which goes as far as Skipton and Hawes:

Invalid File ID [30389]

Invalid File ID [28298]

Longbow's version of the Falmouth route, set in GWR days:

Falmouth GWR - Route [9901853 bytes] - FalmouthGWR_Route.zip File ID: 25964 Date: 04 Jul 2011 - 1930 Downloads

Many of these routes will require extensive downloads of assets from the library but it's worth it!

Whatever you choose, enjoy it!

Ash

[rkk01]

Funnily enough, I used to really enjoy the old MSTS Woodhead route, although IIRC there were a pair of signals just past one of the westbound tunnels that ALWAYS caught me out - there was a very short gap between the amber and red...

[crumplezone]

Certainly some good choices provided above, I'll 2nd woodhead and the freeware S&C because its got more trackwork than the payware version. GCR is another good freeware option to. WCML-N is a good one if your computer can handle it. The upcoming Port road is deffinately worth it if your into steam era which the route is being targetted at, though br blue for other parts of that route is also a option.

China clay is certainly a good one to just for pottering about (no puns intended) with the 37 or other classes, hm, Maerdy if you like welsh collierys and absurb gradients to.

It depends on your likes or dislikes and what stock you already have aswell, I tend to buy routes or get routes based around what stock I already have or can get fairly easy since its then easier to run more prototypical looking trains on said routes.

[david1]

My favorite payware routes are WCML(N), The Woodhead & London to Brighton all 3 have great scope for scenarios and are very good to drive on, freeware routes Wales and borders, Cresston and Settle to Carlise which runs from Skipton(prefer this to Payware version)

[rkk01]

Thanks all for your help.

I used a lot of freeware from here for my old MSTS set up, but not too familiar with TS2012/13 just yet...

Will probably go for the China Clay for Export route first, possibly followed by WCML(N).

On CCfE, I'm struggling to identify if all of the assets required for the standard scenarios are included in the base sim.... (Creative Rail website says that they are) I know that I have the 47 and 37. (haven't come across an 08 or 1st gen DMU in my travels yet...?)

What other stock is driven / AI in the six standard scenarios included in the route?

[rgreenrail]

There'll be HSTs running the mainline services to London.

[andynwt]

I keep hoping that CCFE will be available for 50% off some day

[firstborn]

You should probably be made aware, that CCfE is a very small route - especially in comparison to Woodhead & WCML-N

It also doesn't seem to have much in the way of support for scenarios, so unless you are good with the scenario editor, you won't find much in the way of things to do on it - Unlike WH & WCMLN which are both very well supported

[rkk01]

You should probably be made aware, that CCfE is a very small route - especially in comparison to Woodhead & WCML-N

I'm from that part of the world, so familiar with the territory. I'm also from a mining background, so the context appeals. On top of that, I did a lot of work in St Blazey yard in the early 90s

Bit of a toss up between CCfE and WCML(N)!

[johnrossetti]

Dont forget the Granfield Branch, was free from Steam. Have had more fun on that line than many of the expensive ones.

[sargnickfury]

My favorite free route has to be Albula v2, the landscape is stunning and never boring. I would love to see this tweaked for textures etc, and put on steam. I think I enjoy this one more then any other, but it can be finicky about your roll material as it is narrow gauge and there is no narrow gauge locos yet. I use the Re 4/4 from "SBB RT 1" add on. I have even used US deisels on it for fun.

[malcolmfhill]

If you're from a mining background, I can recommend the Maerdy Branch. A welsh valley, dirty and grimy and complete with a coal mine! Lots of scope for shunting.