DTG to produce Liverpool - Manchester via Warrington Central

[callum1122334455]

I hear the maintenance crews at Allerton have been training up and learning how to maintain it.

[rfletcher72]

All I would say about the route is that it needs some of the community's wonderful reskinners to do a Metrolink liveried Croydon Tram...

EDIT - I'll take the tram bit back, although it's got OHLE it's not been programmed as having wires, so electric stuff doesn't work...

Did someone mention the Croydon Tram?

A Metrolink version is now available via the link below, along with another item useful for the western end of the route:

http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk

Thank you to Richard Scott for allowing the reskin of his tram, and to DPS for facilitating this.

Look out for more 'useful' reskins aimed at the route in the coming days,

Regards,

[Springer6]

A sale route for me I think :/ unless a 3rd party makes scenarios from the RR era with maybe c47 hauled InterCity services or freight etc, something to pad things out from the lonely c158 ... thanks to DTG for the RR c101 gifted to all class 101 owners ... I notice that unit features destinations relevant to the Liverpool-Manchester route and the supplied scenarios for the free unit are based on that route also.

There is a viable class 185 of sorts, Finchy's model ... it was seemingly a beta but development has gone quiet, but the shape's right, the textures are kind of right also and there is a soundpack available. It was available via RW Depot or similar but a search on Google finds live DL's (mediafire) via this page - http://jakesrailworksaddons.webs.com/downloads.htm. It aliases the c166 cab. It is a beta, but not a bad one really, some may prefer it for A.I until someone comes up trumps with the real thing ...

On that subject also, I wonder who might make the c185 first ? and also maybe someone might have a crack at the new lightweight DRS locos before too long ...

I agree . Finchy's 185 is not that bad, apart from the textures requiring a few tweaks. There is also a repainted Class 360 ( using Voyager sounds {that didn't work with my own Voyager Advanced}), but although it is a "real thing" model and not a beta like Finchy's, it didn't look quite right and has no smoke. If interested, look for BH Reskins on Bluecode ..reskins.

[Crundles]

Well, despite promising myself I would wait for the next sale I ended up purchasing this route this morning. Only thing is, I can't get the ruddy thing to install

I've tried all the usual tricks, even reinstalling steam itself (kept the apps folder). Now it doesn't even let me verify integrity - just sits there stalled. Something has obviously gone awry with TS2013 itself (even though it still plays fine) Anyone else experienced this? It's looking like a complete reinstall may be necessary but I really rather not do that.

[faedundee2]

Well, despite promising myself I would wait for the next sale I ended up purchasing this route this morning. Only thing is, I can't get the ruddy thing to install

I've tried all the usual tricks, even reinstalling steam itself (kept the apps folder). Now it doesn't even let me verify integrity - just sits there stalled. Something has obviously gone awry with TS2013 itself (even though it still plays fine) Anyone else experienced this? It's looking like a complete reinstall may be necessary but I really rather not do that.

You need to go to the DLC tab in the properties window and click install from there, seems like Steam has bugged out and wouldn't auto install the route for some reason...

[thetrainfan]

From what I understand, the 319's will start running between Manchester and Liverpool via Chat Moss from this December. Or am I wrong?

Ye, that's true.

I doubt it will happen, I don't think driver training has started.

I don't think somehow that a conversion course takes 3-4 months???

[Springer6]

I was a bit doubtfull about this one. It seemed like a lot of money for a short route with no real new stock ( a 101, 158 and a 47 that I and most others already have ).

However after just one run with the 101 from Piccadilly to Lime Street, I must say I am very impressed.

Despite the few flaws others have mentioned at Piccadilly, the assets really are very realistic. Lime Street ( including the environs) and the Liverpool cuttings are fantastic. My wife, who knows nothing about Railworks, instantly recognised her childhood school commute from Penketh to Widnes i.e. Great Sankey -Widnes-Warrinton Central-Great Sankey (quickest way back was apparently via Warrington in those days).

There are lots of new assets, we even have sagging catenaries at the supports, which I don't think I have seen before ?

All the route needs is a 185. I will be using Finchy's half decent beta one until DTG or JT comes up with something better.

There is good scope to use lots of stock .The London Midland 350 and the Virgin Pendolino are good for Lime Street to South Parkway, plus an EMT 158 for the main route and of course NR 150/1, 150/2, 156 and 142s. Even an Arriva 170 to substitute for a 175 perhaps ?

So far I haven't found any real flaws. I don't normally say this , but well done DTG !

[twirlycactus]

I doubt it will happen, I don't think driver training has started.

I don't think somehow that a conversion course takes 3-4 months???

Well the OHLE isn't live at Allerton yet, so testing can't be done. Which means that driver training can't be done yet. There's the small fact that only 1 unit is at Allerton, some are at Wolverton for a tiny "refresh" and I hope a deep clean. Your probably right the course probably doesn't take 3-4 months.

[Thugsy]

Does anyone know why the working timetable has most Manchester to Liverpool trains as a class 150 and the other direction as a 142 ?

[DaveDewhurst]

Could it be that a 142 is paired with a 150 so in one direction it appears as a 150 and the other a 142, AFAIK the couplings are compatible

ala

Dave

[Thugsy]

Could it be that a 142 is paired with a 150 so in one direction it appears as a 150 and the other a 142, AFAIK the couplings are compatible

ala

3795522_acea096e.jpg

Dave

Cunning - hadn't thought of that but it makes sense.

[thetrainfan]

Unlikely - lines such as Liverpool to Manchester via Warrington don't have any set train formations (like WCML, ECML, GEML or GWML where the trains are normally in a certain order). Don't know why they've been timetabled like that, but even so it won't make that much difference for the likes of Northern where a 142/144/150/153/156/158 (not all for Liv Manc) can go on a certain route that they regular. Compared to, for example, East Coast - trains north of Edinburgh must be an HST.

Additionally, all Sprinters and Pacers' couplings are compatible; sometimes across to other models (Turbostars etc).

[749006]

Does anyone know why the working timetable has most Manchester to Liverpool trains as a class 150 and the other direction as a 142 ?

It's just the way Network Rail show the trains - the point to point times are the same for 142, 150 & 156 units.
Most trains are single 156 or 150 units on this route with extra units in the peak.

[gptech]

It's been said many times before, but a renumbered 170 passes as a decent 185 substitute.

[shaun123]

Could it be that a 142 is paired with a 150 so in one direction it appears as a 150 and the other a 142, AFAIK the couplings are compatible

ala

3795522_acea096e.jpg

Dave

It's only for timing purposes, doesn't make any difference whether it's a 142/150/156 Northern use the lot on this route.