In 1983, BR introduced ‘The European’, a loco hauled boat train out of Harwich Parkeston Quay which ran until 1988. You will oversee one of its last workings in its entirety.

Since the previous summer (‘87), this service worked as cross-country services hauled by class 86s from Harwich. After being assisted by diesel traction along the NLL, it would head up along the WCML to destinations such as Birmingham, Manchester, Blackpool, Glasgow, and Edinburgh. 1S85 was the morning service to the two latter destinations catching the overnight boat passengers from Esbjerg and Hoek van Holland. After little success and a complicated route, ‘The European’ was axed from the end of May of 1988, with new 156s taking over with services to Blackpool via Peterborough from the summer of that year.

This journey is split into six legs spanning across different routes to take you on the journey departing Harwich Parkeston Quay at 07:50 and arriving at Glasgow Central at 17:05. Due to this service waiting for boat arrivals at Parkeston Quay, delays and low priority across the network is common. This working typically consists of six Glasgow coaches (including restaurant) and five Edinburgh coaches splitting at Carstairs. These were mostly hauled by class 86s and is here in the hands of vintage liveried 86426 celebrating 21 years of InterCity services in 1987.

1st leg: Harwich PQ – Stratford (GEML+Mayflower Line)
2nd leg: Stratford – Camden Road (NLL BR/NSE v4)
3rd leg: Camden Road – Watford Junction (NLL BR/NSE v4)
4th leg: Watford Junction – Birmingham (WCML South)
5th leg: Birmingham – Preston (Missing Link)
6th leg: Preston – Glasgow (WCML NW&S merge)

Welcome to the 5th leg of The European!

Here at New Street, you will wait for 1M09 ex-Paddington to couple up to an 87 on p7 and follow it north. At Stafford, you will be let on to the DF following two services from the Trent Valley. At Crewe, you will see 90001 about to perform some initial test runs. Lots of traffic on the WCML this afternoon!

One 130-minute scenario for the ATS WCML Midlands & North West v4 route. Weather: Fair cloud. Feedback is much appreciated. Hope you enjoy! 😊

Requirements (for this leg only):
(* means it has its own requirements)
AP
• Weather EP V2
• Signal EP
• Class 150/2
• Class 317 vol 1
• Class 37 vol 2
• Class 50
• Class 87
• Class 90+DVT
• Class 150/1 EP*
• Class 31 EP*
• Class 43 Valenta EP*
• Class 86 EP*
• Class 101/117/121 SP* (discontinued)
• Class 303 SP* (discontinued)
• Mk1 Coach Pack vol.1
• Mk2a-c Coach Pack
• Mk2d-f Coach Pack
• Mk3a-b Coach Pack
• FSA/FTA Wagon Pack
DTG
• WCML over Shap
• BR Blue Diesel Electric Pack
• North Somerset Railway
Backdated Trainsim
• Class 85 v1.10
Vulcan Productions
• Class 86 426 / E3195 BR Retro Blue
• Class 303 Blue and Grey, Orange and Brown Pack
• Blue/Grey Class 117/118