Liverpool to Manchester - 2000/2001 Quick Drive

Ever since I included something similar with my ECML:NE route, i've wanted to release a range of era-specific Quick Drives for various routes but they do involve a lot of time and planning, and therefore I never got around to it. I'm therefore very happy to release version 1 of this Quick Drive on the Liverpool to Manchester route.

It's basically Quick Drive as you already know it, but providing you have a selection of the requirements installed then this particular Quick Drive will only spawn rolling stock specific to the represented era, in this case around 2000/2001.

The beauty of this system is that you don't necessarily need all of the requirements, it should function in some form no matter what you own. Despite that, the more you do own should give a better experience with much more variety.

With well over 100 consists and fragments included, it should be fairly different no matter how many times you run it although there will inevitably times where things can be duplicated. Due to the nature of how the randomisation works, some runs will have a low amount of traffic, some moderate and some quite heavy. If you are driving the full length of the route you might have a clear run or you might get stuck behind a stopper and encounter adverse signals. Driving through the central core of the route you might only see local traffic, or you might see empty stock workings or even the occasional engineering train.

Please make sure you read all of the included documentation that comes with this release before attempting to run any of the included Quick Drives.

This new Quick Drive can be downloaded from the dedicated page by following this link. 

Weekend Showcase - Settle to Carlisle - 2000-2003

In this showcase we feature the picturesque Settle to Carlisle route as seen in the period between 2000 and 2003. Although traffic is normally fairly quiet on this particular line, this time period certainly saw plenty of variation with WCML diversions being a regular feature.

66547 awaits the road at Carlisle while working a Hunterston to Drakelow loaded coal train - May 2002

142020 passes the now much reduced London Road sidings with a service from Sunderland to Carlisle - June 2002

Passing the oddly coloured signal box at Armathwaite, 156454 and 156475 depart the station with a service bound for Carlisle - August 2000

66064 approaches Langwathby with a Ayr to Milford MGR working - September 2003

With the gypsum plant in the background, 66708 awaits the road while working a trial service to Hull King George Dock - August 2002

Following the reintroduction of loco hauled services on the Settle to Carlisle line, 37408 'Loch Rannoch' departs Appleby with the 13:33 Carlisle to Leeds service - October 2003

Now a distant memory, WCML diversions over the line were fairly frequent. Here, 47854 opens up through Kirkby Stephen while working the 1M64 Carlisle to London Euston - April 2003

In the bleak surroundings of Garsdale, 33030 and 33025 work the inaugural run of the short lived 'Minimodal' service - August 2002

Held in the loop at Blea Moor while working a Carlisle to Crewe Basford Hall departmental train, the driver of 56070 has a chat with the signalman - September 2002

With Whernside dominating the background, 43100 'Blackpool Rock' crosses Ribblehead Viaduct with a diverted Edinburgh to Bournemouth service - June 2000

Departing from the very well kept station at Ribblehead, 156487 works the 12:46 from Leeds to Carlisle - July 2000

Hauling a rake of recently built HTA wagons, 66048 heads a northbound MGR working past Settle - September 2003

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

Virgin Trains 43100/101 Repaint

I have just uploaded a new repaint pack to the DPSimulation website.

Utilising the Class 43 (Valenta)/Mk3 Enhancement Pack, this pack features Virgin Trains 43100 and 43101 with their respective 'Blackpool Rock' and 'The Irish Mail' stickers. The variation of the Virgin 'Flying Lady' is also included towards the rear of each power car although I am aware that due to mapping issues they are currently reversed on one side. This will be addressed in due course.

These powercars are something I have wanted to tackle since as far back as the days of MSTS but it never happened for one reason or another, mainly due to a lack of research material. I finally plucked up the courage to try and make the two stickers from scratch and although they are not 100% perfect, they are near enough for me.

Both the European Loco & Asset pack from Steam and the Class 43 (Valenta)/Mk3 Enhancement Pack are required, otherwise this pack will not work. 

This pack can be downloaded from the 'Locomotives' section of the repaints page by following this link.

 

Weekend Showcase - WCML Trent Valley - 2001

In this showcase we feature the WCML Trent Valley as seen in 2001. With Class 390 and Class 220/221 multiple units now under construction, the traditional days of loco hauled services on the West Coast Main Line were now numbered. With future livery changes and extensive stock withdrawals, many see this as the final great era on the WCML.

87022 arrives at Rugby while working a service to Birmingham New Street - May 2001

58083 stands in the sidings at Rugby with a rake of engineering wagons - April 2001

92036 'Bertolt Brecht' approaches Rugby with a short intermodal service - April 2001

158788 waits time at Nuneaton before forming a service to Cardiff - April 2001

In the unique 'Belgium' livery, 90028 passes Nuneaton with 92029 dead in tow - October 2001

37609 passes Atherstone with a rake of empty wagons bound for Grain - June 2001

90001 storms through Tamworth with a service for Glasgow Central - May 2001

With Rugeley Power Station in the background, 58030 comes off the Walsall branch with a rake of empty MGR hoppers - June 2001

43065 leads through Rugeley Trent Valley with a service bound for London Euston - March 2001

With a livery giving a nod to the future, 90029 exits Shugborough Tunnel with a rake of mail vans headed for Willesden - August 2001

82125 leads out of Stafford with a Virgin Trains service to London Euston - September 2001

325016 leads two unidentified classmates through Stafford with a mail service bound for the capital - May 2001

37429 'Eisteddfod Genedlaethol' stands at Stafford before working a service to Holyhead - January 2001

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

Woodhead Class 08 BR Blue Repaint

I have just uploaded a new repaint to the DPSimulation website courtesy of Richard Fletcher.

Utilising the Blue Woodhead Class 08, this repaint depicts the generic BR Blue livery of the era, minus embellishments as added by Longsight Depot which the supplied DLC portrays.

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

 

Class 76 Blue 76022 Roundel Repaint

I have just uploaded a new repaint to the DPSimulation website courtesy of Richard Fletcher.

A repaint of the Blue Woodhead Class 76, it features the later British Railways 'Roundel' logo, as carried by 76022 right up until closure of the line 1981.

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

 

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.