DTG to produce Liverpool - Manchester via Warrington Central

[rfletcher72]

No Wigan!!!!!!!!

Close but no cigar Phil

[Iskra]

You're quite right actually. I was getting a bit carried away with the thought of Lime Street and Piccadily without fully considering the quite dull bit inbetween!

Although that said, modern operations might be somewhat boring but I'm sure this is the stretch of line where I had my one and only ever class 40 encounter on mainline BR duty in the early 80's. I had relatives that lived somewhere in the Widnes/Warrington area and I was a 10 yr old lad visiting there from my then home in Scotland. Exploring around I found the railway and when I caught sight of the class 40 I was mesmerised. I'd only ever seen class 37's by my house next to the West Highland and my initial thought on spotting the class 40 was that it must be a 37. This was a time before Internet and mass media so a child's knowledge of railway operations were limited to what they experienced where they lived. I learned that day that 37's had a bigger, meaner brother!

To me this route will provide a great opportunity for steam workshop routes. It would allow any route out of Manchester (excl Victoria), Warrington or Liverpool to be recreated, with the added advantage of having the most difficult and time-consuming parts already done (the big cities), so even if this route isn't your cup of tea, it could and should provide the basis for many more exciting/more interesting routes radiating from it. The possibilities are endless...

[VeraTheMage]

I'm a little surprised at the route choice. I sure it'll be absolutely lovely and the skyline shows it's a labour of love, but it's not a route that immediately comes to mind when I think of railways. I'm not bashing on it, just surprised!

I'm not familiar with the line though. Would anybody mind posting a quick crash course guide to it?

[david1]

Hope this comes with a class 185 as it can also be used on both sections of the WCML

[bGriff]

Extremely happy to see Liverpool - Manchester coming to TS. Would have loved to have seen both via Warrington Central and the other option via Newton-Le-Willows being made, but c'est la vie.

[749006]

I hope for a Class 185 with the route and a future add on Class 104.

The route appears to be set in the 2000's so a 104 would look a bit strange.
Not that I have any objection to a 104 - great units

Liverpool to Creed requires a serious bit of bridge building at Runcorn sadly, perhaps a Workshop extension south (or north) from Warrington on the WCML is the way to go?

Creed?
An extension to what? the WCML passes underneath this line west of Warrington Central and north of Warrington Bank Quay.

Although it may be pushing our luck a bit, it would be nice if someone could extend it up to Preston so give us more scenario scope with the WCMLoS & WCML North.

From which end Manchester or Liverpool?

[callum1122334455]

I'm sort of hoping they have done the route over Chat Moss via Newton-Le-Willows as well as via Warrington Central. I know it probably won't happen though

[scorpion71]

Extremely happy to see Liverpool - Manchester coming to TS. Would have loved to have seen both via Warrington Central and the other option via Newton-Le-Willows being made, but c'est la vie.

Same here, and we already have traction in a 319 for the route via Newton (when electrification is complete in real life of course)

[Irishrailguy]

I'd be skeptical about the appearance of a 185 for this addon. Considering that we've had routes which the 185 runs on for quite some time, if they didn't release the 185 with those routes I can't assume that it will come with this one.

Kev

[callum1122334455]

I'd be skeptical about the appearance of a 185 for this addon. Considering that we've had routes which the 185 runs on for quite some time, if they didn't release the 185 with those routes I can't assume that it will come with this one.

Kev

We can hope

[Anthony061]

I'd be skeptical about the appearance of a 185 for this addon. Considering that we've had routes which the 185 runs on for quite some time, if they didn't release the 185 with those routes I can't assume that it will come with this one.

Kev

However, the recent class 319 comes to mind...
Anthony

[Irishrailguy]

However, the recent class 319 comes to mind...

I know what you are saying, but the 319 just came out without being motivated by other DLC. In this case I'm pointing out that just because we are getting a northern route doesn't make it likely that a 185 will come with it or even soon after. The 319 is different in that it's target route was released over 2 years before it, it was done as a stop gap to make some money for RSC while other, larger projects were still in the pipeline. I'm not saying that a 185 is impossible, I just can't see why anyone would consider there to be a higher chance of it coming with this route just because it runs on it.

Kev

[Merlin75]

It's going to be interesting to see what stock they plan to add to this route. I would like a 185 as there are afew routes it could be used on but we'll just have to wait and see.

[37114]

You're quite right actually. I was getting a bit carried away with the thought of Lime Street and Piccadily without fully considering the quite dull bit inbetween!

Although that said, modern operations might be somewhat boring but I'm sure this is the stretch of line where I had my one and only ever class 40 encounter on mainline BR duty in the early 80's. I had relatives that lived somewhere in the Widnes/Warrington area and I was a 10 yr old lad visiting there from my then home in Scotland. Exploring around I found the railway and when I caught sight of the class 40 I was mesmerised. I'd only ever seen class 37's by my house next to the West Highland and my initial thought on spotting the class 40 was that it must be a 37. This was a time before Internet and mass media so a child's knowledge of railway operations were limited to what they experienced where they lived. I learned that day that 37's had a bigger, meaner brother!

Showing your age their Jimmy Get what you're saying about Lime Street. It's like something from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. A lovely warm gloopy mess at the end of the Magic Tunnel. Lime Street? Quality Street.

[37114]

I'm a little surprised at the route choice. I sure it'll be absolutely lovely and the skyline shows it's a labour of love, but it's not a route that immediately comes to mind when I think of railways. I'm not bashing on it, just surprised!

I'm not familiar with the line though. Would anybody mind posting a quick crash course guide to it?

Flat and boring with no scheduled freight through the main part of it. Home of 158's 185's and 142's. Scenario possibilities are:

1. Drive a train from Manchester to Liverpool
2. Drive a train from Liverpool to Manchester

That's it.