Atomic Systems

Made up, finally a line local to me!

Would have preferred the Chat Moss line via Rainhill more freight variety, but still pleased all the same!

What I would have really liked would be the Liverpool & Manchester in 1830; completely different to anything else that's been produced!

Looking at the current spiel from DTG about the route there hasn't actually been any mention specifically of Manchester "Piccadilly" just a general "Manchester" , Unless I've missed it ?
The Liverpool end of the route has plenty of potential , There's freight traffic for the dock's some of which still runs round at Edge hill , The Virgin depot , Reopened Allerton depot and its resident 319 , Hunts cross and the end of the Merseyrail route with the dual running section of OHLE and third rail .
Given how close Garston Freightliner terminal is to South Parkway we may see that added to boost up the mileage of the route ?

eldomtom4 wrote:What I would have really liked would be the Liverpool & Manchester in 1830; completely different to anything else that's been produced!

YES!

Totally agree. Was almost my first thought too.

I've said it in the past: I'd love to see a route of the real pioneer era of the railways. Or perhaps the victorian age.

I once saw a route of the first Dutch railway, Amsterdam - Haarlem, for Trainz. I don't know if it still exists, it didn't run well on my computer at the time so I never really explored it.

But that was the only thing ever getting close.

It would be just so great if we had this route set in 1830s.

Would have required an amazing number of custom assets though, a lot of research, and probably quite a bit of artistic license


Cheers,

--Tim

rfletcher72 wrote:

749006 wrote:The loco hauled Liverpool - Manchester - Newcastle service used to run via Earlestown to Victoria

Until the late 80's when these were diverted through Piccadilly and therefore ran via (and called at) Warrington Central.

Regards,

I remember as well the Liverpool - Sheffield service which also went thru Warrington Central mainly using Class 31's

749006 wrote:I remember as well the Liverpool - Sheffield service which also went thru Warrington Central mainly using Class 31's

Me too Peter

Regards,

Again another modern route from DTG why can't they roll back the clock a few decades, the main problem I have with modern lines no matter how well done they are is that they are by they're nature now very very stripped back to the bone of anything that for me makes the route an engaging drive for me you would have two drives 1 where you stop all shacks 2 where you have a non stop run, it just seams like were overun with modern or steam nothing much in the middle, again this is no refection on this route itself just they way modern routes are in their very nature, sorry old man moaning alert

It might have something to do with the facebook crowd that make the most noise about what they want being young. And they want modern stuff so DTG will make what they feel is going to get the most sales. I remember going on the GEML behind a BR Blue diesel before the wires went up so it would be nice to see more BR era routes.

31160 wrote:Again another modern route from DTG why can't they roll back the clock a few decades, the main problem I have with modern lines no matter how well done they are is that they are by they're nature now very very stripped back to the bone of anything that for me makes the route an engaging drive for me you would have two drives 1 where you stop all shacks 2 where you have a non stop run, it just seams like were overun with modern or steam nothing much in the middle, again this is no refection on this route itself just they way modern routes are in their very nature, sorry old man moaning alert

I know exactly what you mean with modern mainlines, I have had scenarios where looking at the map I know there will be no signal changes ahead and no need to alter speed anytime soon so I've just left the program running and went downstairs to start cooking some food, come back 10 minutes later and everything is fine.

I'm not a fan of modern railways at all, I'm firmly a BR blue era man but that said I do rather prefer modern up to date routes in the sim. The reasons being are several, firstly I am quite easily able to stretch the imagination enough to run BR locos on modern routes. Much of the routes are unchanged since the 1980's, certainly once you get out in the sticks anyway. Trains today are running on the exact same lines as they were in 1985 minus some of the old yards and some signalling changes.
Secondly, by setting a route in the modern day it makes scenery more easily identifiable. As much as I loved the 1980's and would love to go back, I can't remember exactly what specific scenery was where at that time.
Thirdly, a modern route puts more pressure on the route builder to get it right and not cut corners and as a result we get a better product. If a route builder dares to miss out something iconic or obvious then they'll be torn to shreds. Setting a route deep in the past gives the route builder a lot of artistic license to fill the world with generic rather than specific scenery which is not good in my book.

A good example is the recent Riviera Line. RSC set it in the modern day yet forgot to include the iconic Spey Point 'island'. This stood out like a sore thumb and sure enough they were forced to correct it pretty sharpish. If however they'd set the route in Brunels broad gauge era, then there's no blighter alive who could remember what was there at the time so RSC can then get away with a bland approximation of the route.

AllYourKitty wrote:I know exactly what you mean with modern mainlines, I have had scenarios where looking at the map I know there will be no signal changes ahead and no need to alter speed anytime soon so I've just left the program running and went downstairs to start cooking some food, come back 10 minutes later and everything is fine.

That's a fair point! Some of RSC's London based routes, as well as the old Newcastle to York, are so boring in places that I'm nodding off within 10 minutes of driving. It really does make me wonder how real drivers cope with the boredom of being cocooned in the sterile and quiet cab of a plastic unit with naff all to do for dozens of miles but stare at empty track and flat scenery.

If I was going to be a real world driver then I'd much prefer to work a route like the Welsh Valleys or the West Highland Line where you've got constant changes of gradient, constant twisting and turning and lots of stations to keep you on your toes. This would obviously be made better still if you were strapped into the pilots seat of a growling 37 with all that noise to entertain you and a secondman making the brews on the hotplate. Far more fun and engaging than being sat on your own in a Voyager for example, with only the hum of aircon for company.

Merlin75 wrote:It might have something to do with the facebook crowd that make the most noise about what they want being young. And they want modern stuff so DTG will make what they feel is going to get the most sales. I remember going on the GEML behind a BR Blue diesel before the wires went up so it would be nice to see more BR era routes.

Stratford 47's, always so beautifully looked after, resplendent with their silver roof, up and down the GEML. Those were the days

jimmyshand wrote:

AllYourKitty wrote:I know exactly what you mean with modern mainlines, I have had scenarios where looking at the map I know there will be no signal changes ahead and no need to alter speed anytime soon so I've just left the program running and went downstairs to start cooking some food, come back 10 minutes later and everything is fine.

That's a fair point! Some of RSC's London based routes, as well as the old Newcastle to York, are so boring in places that I'm nodding off within 10 minutes of driving. It really does make me wonder how real drivers cope with the boredom of being cocooned in the sterile and quiet cab of a plastic unit with naff all to do for dozens of miles but stare at empty track and flat scenery.

Which is why modern trains have a Vigilance device to keep the driver alert.

There is a scenario on the L2B route where you are non-stop L2B but you are following other services which keep you on you toes - and the AWS button
Not sure of the name but it's to do with a Football event in Hove?

749006 wrote:Which is why modern trains have a Vigilance device to keep the driver alert.

I recently read a fascinating incident report where the driver of a class 92 freight at night going up the WCML, fell asleep and rolled backwards about 5 miles down Shap! The most worrying part of the report was that the driver was instinctively cancelling all vigilance alarms as the train rolled backwards down the hill. No harm was done in the end as the driver eventually snapped out of it and stopped the train. However can you just imagine if there was a Pendolino packed with passengers close behind the freight train? Shudder.

All RAIB reports are viewable for free on the internet, well worth a read for an insight into accidents and incidents on the railways.

749006 wrote:There does seem to be some confusion about this route.

Have a look at this map
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20d ... %20Map.pdf
The lower of the two routes via Warrington Central, table 89, is what DTG are making.

The loco hauled Liverpool - Manchester - Newcastle service used to run via Earlestown to Victoria - it still does with a 185.

What about the services to Hull?