Weekend Showcase - Liverpool to Manchester - 1985 to 1987

In this showcase we feature the Liverpool to Manchester route as seen from 1985 to 1987. As can be seen in the screenshots, during this time the Class 31 was certainly the predominant traction over the route. Although BR Blue was still very much the colour of choice in the period, new build DMU's in a variety of different regional liveries were also starting to appear, giving a very colourful feel to the area.

50011 stands at Liverpool Lime Street while awaiting departure for Penzance - April 1985

43012 approaches Liverpool Lime Street with the morning service from Bristol Temple Meads - December 1986

At Edge Hill, 142017 leads 142053 on a Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Victoria service - September 1987

31311 leads an unidentified classmate through West Allerton on the final leg of it's journey from Great Yarmouth - July 1987

31461 awaits departure from Hunts Cross with a local service for Warrington - October 1987

Shortly before withdrawal, 45135 passes Warrington Central while working empty stock from Edge Hill to Longsight - 1st March 1987

37033 stands in the loop at Glazebrook East Junction with a short rake of tanks - February 1986

142005 stands at Irlam with an all stops service between Hunts Cross and Manchester Oxford Road - May 1987

31433 passes Deansgate with a Liverpool Lime Street to Sheffield service - August 1986

A year later, 47377 passes Manchester Oxford Road with a Sheffield to Liverpool Lime Street service - August 1987

87004 waits time at Manchester Piccadilly before working an evening service to London Euston - April 1986

303041 leaves Manchester Piccadilly with a service bound for Crewe - August 1987

If you have any questions about the rolling stock or repaints used above, feel free to leave a comment below.

Class 76 Number Texture Patch

I have just uploaded a number texture patch to the DPSimulation website courtesy of Richard Fletcher.

This download applies revised number textures to the Class 76 locomotive as included with the Woodhead Electric Railway in Blue route. 

This patch can be downloaded from the 'Locomotives' section of Richard's page by clicking here.

 

LNER Raven Q6 Steam Locomotive - Out Now

The LNER Raven Q6 steam locomotive from Victory Works has now been released on Steam. Priced at £11.99 and including six scenarios on the Weardale & Teesdale route, the LNER Q6 continues the excellent range of 'Pro' locomotives from the Victory Works stable and is sure to be a challenge to master.

Key Features

Raven Q6 (NER Class T2) Locomotive

NER Early Lined Livery (Small number plate)
NER Late Lined Livery (Large number plate)
LNER Black livery
LNER Wartime Black Livery
LNER Post-War Black Livery
British Railways 1948-49 Livery
British Railways 1950-56 Livery
British Railways 1956-67 Livery
Preserved NER Lined Livery
Preserved British Railways Livery

Rolling stock

BR Conflat S
NER 20 ton Hopper
NER 12 ton 6 Plank Wagon
NER 13 ton Steel Wagon
LNER/BR Brake Van

Custom sound sets inside and out
Optional parts and fittings including steam heat dial, external vacuum brake
pipe, 5 types of piston cap, overhead warning labels and more
Dynamic steam and smoke colour and quantity
Realistic boiler water gauges effected by gradient, acceleration and speed
and with blow down test
Opening windows (with rain effects) and roof hatch
Dynamic lamp setting
Cab light effects including flickering firebox glow
Atmospheric AI effects

You can access the Steam store page for this product by clicking here.

Woodhead Electric Railway in Blue - Out Now

The much anticipated 'Woodhead Electric Railway in Blue' route has now been released on Steam. Priced at a fairly reasonable £17.99, the route includes 'Pro' versions of the Class 76, Class 08 and Class 506 along with seven scenarios.

Key Features

• Late 1970s rendition of the Woodhead Electric Railway

• 43 mile route between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield Victoria
• 3 mile branch line to Reddish Depot
• 1 mile branch line to Glossop
• 14 mile branch to Wath

• Pro-Range Traction

• BR Class 08 in BR “Longsight” Corporate Blue livery
• BR Class 76 in BR Corporate Blue livery
• BR Class 506 in BR Corporate Blue livery, clean & weathered
• BR Class 506 in BR Blue & Grey livery, clean & weathered

• Rolling stock

• Ex-LNER HOP 21-ton Coal Hopper
• Ex-LNER Toad E Brake Van
• BR HAA MGR 33-ton Hopper
• BR MCV 16-ton Mineral Wagon
• BR GUV General Utility Van in BR Corporate Blue livery
• BR Mk1 Coaches in BR Blue & Grey livery

• Quick Drive Compatible

You can access the Steam store page for this product by clicking here.

Woodhead Electric Railway in Blue - Class 76

Further information and screenshots about the upcoming Woodhead Electric Railway in Blue route have appeared on the Dovetail Live website today, with a particular emphasis on showing the Class 76 locomotive that will be included.

The article (which can be viewed by clicking here) also provides some excellent information from Edward Fisk of Meshtools on how the Class 76 is driven and an explanation of the sheer amount of scripting that has gone into the locomotive. Although it does sound fairly complicated, it also seems as though it will be a very rewarding thing to drive.

 

Weekend Showcase - ECML London to Peterborough - 1988/89

In this showcase we feature the popular ECML London to Peterborough route as seen in 1988/1989. During this period the first revenue earning 'Intercity 225' services started but they were mainly seen on test before their full introduction, often with a surrogate Class 43 power car. Despite still being firmily in the era of British Rail, the East Coast Main Line still featured an array of colour schemes and liveries, not unlike the modern privatised railway we see today.

Temporarily away from it's normal duties, 37068 waits in the yard north of Peterborough with a departmental working - May 1989

At Peterborough station, 91005 sits at the rear of a Kings Cross to Leeds test train. A surrogate Class 43 power car can just be made out at the front - February 1989

43193 in attractive Intercity 'Executive' livery waits time at Peterborough before heading south to the capital - July 1988

47117 passes Huntingdon with 91009 & 91007 dead in tow following their earlier failure on a test train - June 1989

31293 leads 31134 through Hitchin on a Fen Drayton to Kings Cross sand train - October 1989

86233 races past the sidings at Welwyn Garden City with the return leg of the 'Blyth Spirit' railtour - August 1989

08873 prepares to shunt a newly repainted rake of Mk3 sleeper coaches at Bounds Green Depot - June 1988

313055 stands at Hornsey while working a service from Hertford North to Moorgate - July 1989

321408 waits at Finsbury Park during pre-delivery testing - July 1989

A sight that was seen at many stations all over the network, 08724 awaits it's next duty at Kings Cross - September 1989

43053 & 43106 stand side by side in Kings Cross while awaiting their next northbound duty - August 1989

If you have any questions about the rolling stock or repaints used above, feel free to leave a comment below.