Description
This pack has been researched using archive Working Timetables, rolling stock allocation and livery records, photographic records, and other source materials. What you see is hopefully a realistic representation of the Midland Main Line through the East Midlands and into South Yorkshire during the early years of privatisation.
The Midland Main Line TOC commenced operation with a fleet of HSTs running a basic hourly service from both Nottingham and Sheffield to London St. Pancras, with some peak time additional services. They soon placed an order for 2-car class 170 DMUs, built locally at Litchurch Lane Works in Derby. When delivered, the amount of services doubled with the 170s covering the majority of intermediate stops and allowing the acceleration of the HSTs by removing some stops. The 170s were overtaken by HSTs at Leicester, allowing passengers to transfer from the slow service to the faster one, or allowing them to make their connection for intermediate stations. The 170s also saw new markets tapped with through services to/from Burton-on-Trent, Matlock, and Barnsley commencing.
Between Sheffield and Derby these trains shared the tracks with Virgin’s Cross Country services linking the North East of England with destinations across the South West, South Coast, and South Wales. Largely operated by HSTs, there are some services formed of mark 2 stock hauled by class 47s.
Local services were in the hands of Central Trains, who also placed an order for class 170s to complement their fleet of class 150s, 153s, 156s, and 158s. Central Trains also inherited the Regional Railways ‘Alphaline’ services operating in this area, such as Norwich to Liverpool, Nottingham to Cardiff, and Birmingham to Stansted Airport.
The area was a hotbed for freight traffic, dominated by merry-go-round coal traffic to and from Ratcliffe Power Station. The massive Toton complex provided for various different flows, and the EWS locomotive depot there serviced the locomotives in use across the patch.
FEATURES:
There are 17 scenarios, featuring accurate A.I. traffic and designed to represent some of the situations encountered by real-life drivers.
Key features include:
* Drive classes 37/0, 37/7, 43 (HST), 56, 150/1, 153, 156, 158, and 170.
* A mixture of fast and stopping passenger services, empty stock, and freight workings.
* Variations in weather
* Operational requirements such as locomotive run-rounds, shunting, and train preparation and disposal.
* Temporary and emergency speed restrictions.
* Accurate A.I. traffic reflecting the appropriate timetable, with realistic stock allocations and liveries
INSTALLATION:
Once you have downloaded the .zip file, extract the contents to a convenient place. Copy the enclosed ‘Content’ folder, and paste it into your RailWorks folder – Generally found here, unless installed on a different drive:
C:Program Files (x86) SteamsteamappscommonRailWorks
In the simulator all scenarios will be found in the ‘Standard’ scenario menu, and are prefixed:
[WTT] SP12 – xxxxxxxxxxx
SCENARIO NOTES:
As this route is set in more recent times, there are some differences in the layout of track and stations from the period in which these scenarios are set. We have managed the compromises as best we feel we can, but for completeness the main differences are as follows:
* Line speeds for HSTs have been increased in certain areas, mostly south of Derby. Scenarios which involve driving HSTs over these sections are set to use the lower permissible speeds, which have been checked against a 2002 Sectional Appendix.
* Nottingham station has been re-modelled in recent times. Platform 4 used to be one continuous platform, but has been divided into separate platforms 4 and 5. Platforming of trains has been arranged as if the old layout was still in place, and as the old layout was more restrictive it has no adverse effect on train running.
* Derby station, like Nottingham, has been re-modelled recently and the former bay platform at the south end of the station has been eliminated. There are also changes to the possible routes at the south end of the station, which are now slightly more restrictive. Platforming again has been arranged as closely as possible to the old layout.
* East Midlands Parkway and Ilkeston stations had not been constructed at the time these scenarios are set. Unfortunately we have to ask you to turn a blind eye to their appearance on the runs.
SCENARIO DETAILS:
1B57 17.37 York to London St. Pancras
Traction: 170105 + 170105
Duration: 80 minutes Year: 2000
Route covered: Sheffield – Nottingham – Leicester
Midland Main Line operate services to and from York at weekends. On a fine Sunday evening in May, drive a southbound service that started in York, between Sheffield and Leicester via the Erewash Valley, and Nottingham. You will be calling at Chesterfield, Alfreton, Langley Mill, Nottingham, Beeston, and Leicester. At Nottingham you will need to change direction. Maximum speed is 100mph.
1C10 08.00 Nottingham to London St. Pancras
Traction: 43075 + 43048
Duration: 35 minutes Year: 1997
Route covered: Nottingham – Leicester
On a freezing cold November morning, drive the first leg of this service as far as Leicester. This train is popular with daytrippers to London as off-peak fares are available. Once underway you will call at Beeston (pick-up only), Loughborough, and Leicester. The repainting program for Midland Main Line’s HST sets is underway, but this set retains Intercity livery. You have VP185-engined 43075 leading, with Valenta-engined 43048 at the rear.
1D15 10.17 Birmingham New Street to Nottingham /
1G02 11.42 Nottingham to Birmingham New Street
Traction: 158854 + 150202 + 150127
Duration: 60 minutes Year: 1997
Route covered: Derby – Nottingham – Derby
It’s a cold Saturday morning in November, and today Birmingham City football club are playing away to Nottingham Forest. Central Trains have arranged for this service from Birmingham to be strengthened to 6 carriages. The British Transport Police have sectioned off the class 158 and the class 150/2 (as they are both gangwayed) for the travelling fans, allowing other passengers to use the class 150/1. You will be calling at Derby, Long Eaton, and Nottingham. On arrival, the 2 150s will be detached and left in order to strengthen returning trains after the game. You will then drive the return working as far as Derby, calling at Long Eaton.
1D16 09.55 London St. Pancras to Nottingham
Traction: 43060 + 43053
Duration: 40 minutes Year: 2000
Route covered: Leicester – Nottingham
Following a good run from London this fine April morning you begin on the move approaching Leicester under caution. You will be calling at Leicester, Loughborough, and Nottingham. This HST set earlier formed “The Robin Hood”, the 06.40 from Sheffield to St. Pancras via Nottingham.
1D67 19.30 London St. Pancras to Nottingham /
5D67 21+38 Nottingham to Derby Etches Park Carriage Sidings
Traction: 43050 + 43054
Duration: 90 minutes Year: 1998
Route covered: Leicester – Nottingham – Loughborough – Derby
It’s a Friday evening in May and you join this run in Leicester. This train is running approximately 7 minutes late. It is a very popular service as it runs after peak time ticket restrictions are lifted, and on Fridays is even more popular which accounts for the delays at stations. Once underway you will be calling at Beeston, and Nottingham. You will then take the set ECS to Derby. On Fridays, the ECS is booked to reverse at Loughborough to turn the set ready for tomorrow’s workings.
1F03 06.05 London St. Pancras to Sheffield /
5F03 08+59 Sheffield to Derby Etches Park Carriage Sidings
Traction: 170109
Duration: 120 minutes Year: 1999
Route covered: Leicester – Derby – Sheffield – Derby
On a fine October morning, relieve this service at Leicester. This is the first northbound Midland Main Line service of the day. Once underway you will be calling at Loughborough, Long Eaton, Derby, Belper, Chesterfield, and Sheffield. As this unit worked a late night service to London last night and stabled in St. Pancras, it is booked to run empty to Etches Park depot in Derby for servicing before resuming duties later today. Maximum speed is 100mph. There is a 50mph emergency speed restriction between Chesterfield and Dronfield in the northbound direction only.
1M22 11.45 Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street
Traction: 158848 + 170502
Duration: 65 minutes Year: 1999
Route covered: Nottingham – Attenborough – Alfreton – Sheffield
On a Winter Sunday afternoon, drive this busy service between Nottingham and Sheffield. 170502 has just arrived from Norwich. You have brought 158848 off the depot and will attach it to the service in order to enhance capacity – Sunday afternoons are extremely busy on these services. On departure from Nottingham you will call at Langley Mill, Alfreton, Chesterfield, and Sheffield. In order to maintain route knowledge, this Sunday afternoon train is booked to run via the Attenborourgh Curve and Toton, rather than the normal route via Radford Junction. There is a points failure on the Fast lines at Toton North Junction so you will stay on the Slow lines as far as Trowell Junction. Maximum speed is 90mph.
1M58 13.50 Norwich to Liverpool Lime Street
Traction: 158784
Duration: 95 minutes Year: 1998
Route covered: Syston North Jn – Nottingham – Derby – Sheffield
Whilst most services between East Anglia and Liverpool run via Grantham, there are two per day that run via Melton Mowbray and serve Loughborough. You are in charge of one of these services as far Sheffield on a very wet April afternoon. You will call at Loughborough, Nottingham, Chesterfield, and Sheffield where you will be relieved. It has already been reported that the Erewash Valley line is closed in the northbound direction due to flooding, so you will be diverted via Derby.
1V72 10.40 Newcastle to Swansea
Traction: 43013 + 43158
Duration: 60 minutes Year: 2000
Route covered: Sheffield – Toton – Derby
This Spring timetable period has booked Sunday diversions over the Erewash Valley line until early afternoon due to engineering works on the direct route between Chesterfield and Derby via Ambergate. This is the last southbound Virgin Cross Country service of the day booked to run via the Erewash Valley. At this time there is one Virgin service per day to and from Swansea. Once underway you will call at Chesterfield, and Derby. You are booked to follow the 12.55 Sheffield to St. Pancras HST all the way to Derby, and it is starting late awaiting a connection.
2A55 05.12 Nottingham to Crewe /
5F02 05+42 Derby to Matlock /
2F02 06.13 Matlock to Derby
Traction: 153354 + 153325
Duration: 95 minutes Year: 1998
Route covered: Nottingham – Derby – Matlock – Derby
The first train of the day on the Matlock branch is booked to run empty from Nottingham. For operational convenience however, it often runs coupled with the first train to Crewe as far as Derby. This is the case this morning. You will drive the combined trains to Derby, detach the leading unit then run empty to Matlock before forming the first passenger train back to Derby.
2D48 16.20 Leicester to Loughborough /
2F48 16.45 Loughborough to Leicester
Traction: 156416
Duration: 50 minutes Year: 1997
Route covered: Leicester – Loughborough – Leicester
On a fine October afternoon drive one round trip on the stopping service that links Leicester and Loughborough. You will call at all stations to Loughborough, then after a short turnaround head back to Leicester also calling at all stations. This service is normally worked by a class 153 unit, but following the failure of 153320 earlier today you have one of Tyseley’s class 156 units.
2F50 05.50 Nottingham to Leicester
Traction: 170518
Duration: 50 minutes Year: 2000
Route covered: Nottingham – Leicester
On a miserable March morning drive a stopping service between Nottingham and Leicester. You will be calling at Loughborough, Barrow-upon-Soar, Sileby, Syston, and Leicester. This service is normally worked by a class 153, which then works the ‘Ivanhoe’ stopping trains for the day. Yesterday there was service disruption and Nottingham ended up with one less 153, and one too many 170s. In these situations Control will endeavour to swap things back around ASAP. A class 153 has been sent from Tyseley to Leicester on the diagram that normally works the 06.45 to Birmingham. This class 170 will form that train, and the 153 will pick-up this diagram. There is a 20mph emergency speed restriction on the Up Slow between Trent and Loughborough.
5Z70 11+50 Derby Litchurch Lane to Norwich Crown Point
Traction: 170206
Duration: 45 minutes Year: 1999
Route covered: Derby – Syston North Jn
On a clear early October day you are in charge of delivering newly-built unit 170206 from the Adtranz factory in Derby to its owners Anglia Railways. Following the famous 999-day hiatus in new train building for UK operations, the class 170 DMU built by Adtranz began to roll off the production line in late-1998. This unit is one of eight from an order for Anglia Railways and you are in charge of delivering it to Norwich. Get yourself set-up and when you get the signal proceed into Derby station. Then change ends and head south towards Leicester. You will be turning-off at Syston North Jn and await your path towards Peterborough and onwards to Norwich.
6T91 Toton / Chaddesden / Mountsorrel Trip – Part 1
Traction: 37042 + 37698
Duration: 20 minutes Year: 1999
Route covered: Toton TMD – Toton Sidings
On a cold November morning you are booking on for the T91 trip diagram at Toton. This diagram works as required in the local area transporting materials for the permanent way operations. In part 1, you will prepare two class 37s from cold and trip them across to the Up sidings where your first train is waiting.
6T91 Toton / Chaddesden / Mountsorrel Trip – Part 2
Traction: 37042 + 37698
Duration: 50 minutes Year: 1999
Route covered: Toton Sidings – Chaddesden Sidings
Having prepared your locos in part 1 you will be taking a train of spent ballast, removed during recent engineering works, to Chaddesden Sidings in Derby for disposal. On arrival, 37698 will be left behind in order to work a train to Bescot this afternoon. You will then continue your duties with 37042 in part 3.
6T91 Toton / Chaddesden / Mountsorrel Trip – Part 3
Traction: 37042
Duration: 90 minutes Year: 1999
Route covered: Chaddesden Sidings – Humberstone Road Sidings – Mountsorrel.
With 37698 and the train you brought from Toton now stabled, it’s time to head off to Mountsorrel with a train of empties. Get yourself set-up and draw up to the stop board. There is no access to Mountsorrel from the north, so you will need to drive through to Humberstone Road sidings in Leicester, run-round, then head back north. Maximum speed is 60mph.
- Please note – as you approach Humberstone Road there is a signal which doesn’t appear on the HUD, which will be Red but you should receive the subsidiary signal on approach.
7G25 07.30 Oxcroft Colliery to Ratcliffe Power Station
Traction: 56100 / 37899
Duration: 80 minutes Year: 1997
Route covered: Chesterfield – Toton Sidings – Ratcliffe Power Stn
On a crisp December morning you are in charge of a loaded merry-go-round working supplying coal for Ratcliffe Power Station’s insatiable appetite. You begin a few miles into your journey and are just approaching a 20mph temporary speed restriction. You will be running via the Erewash Valley line. Your class 56 loco is low on fuel and will need to be taken onto Toton depot to allow it to be serviced. To help keep things moving for the customer, you may be required to swap turns during the shift. With peak Winter demand for coal traffic, there is pressure on Toton’s fleet of class 5 power. Maximum speed is 45mph.
- This is a ‘Timetabled’ scenario which will appear in your ‘Standard’ scenario list, however may not be found by using the search facility within the Standard scenario TAB. You may need to scroll down in order to locate it on the list.
REQUIREMENTS:
In order to enjoy these scenarios, you will require the following add-ons:
JUST TRAINS:
- Midland Main Line Derby to Sheffield route, plus Derwent Valley, Derby – Nottingham – Leicester, and Erewash Valley extensions.
- Class 60 Advanced
- Class 153 Advanced
- YGB Seacow PlusPak Advanced
STEAM:
- West Coast Main Line Over Shap route
- East Coast Main Line South London to Peterborough route
- European Loco & Asset Pack (included with early versions of TS)
- EWS and Freightliner Class 08 Loco
- BR General Class 08 add-on livery (TS Marketplace)
- BR Class 58 Loco
- EWS Class 58 add-on livery (TS Marketplace)
- BDA 80t Bogie Bolster Wagons (TS Marketplace)
- EWS ZCA ‘Sea Urchin’ Wagons (TS Marketplace)
- YLA ‘Mullet’ Wagons (TS Marketplace)
- YQA ‘Parr’ Wagons (TS Marketplace)
ARMSTRONG POWERHOUSE:
- Class 31 Enhancement Pack #
- Class 37 locomotive pack volume 1
- Class 37 locomotive pack volume 2
- Class 43/MK3 (Valenta) Enhancement Pack #
- Class 43/MK3 (VP185) Enhancement Pack #
- Class 56 Enhancement Pack #
- Class 66 Enhancement Pack #
- Class 142 DMU pack
- Class 150/1 Enhancement Pack #
- Class 150/2 DMU pack
- Class 156 DMU pack
- Class 158 (Cummins) Enhancement Pack #
- Class 158 (Perkins) Enhancement Pack #
- Class 170 Enhancement Pack #
- Mark 1 Coach Pack Volume 1
- Mark 2D – 2F Coach Pack
- BAA/BZA Wagon Pack
- HAA (MGR) Wagon Pack
- TDA Wagon Pack
- Sky & Weather Enhancement Pack
KEY:
# Note that these products have their own individual requirements.
UPDATE LOG:
- V1.1 08/03/2021. Corrected folder structure within download folder. 7G25
scenario modified due to changes to the core route in version 1.06 (Barrow Hill
preparatory work) which affected the original – note, Barrow Hill extension is
not required, just v1.06 of Derby – Sheffield. - V1.2 13/02/2023. 1D67/5D67 scenario updated due to issue caused by the extension to Lincoln.
CREDITS:
Huge thanks to the whole ATS team for their help, for hosting on www.alanthomsonsim.com , and for allowing the inclusion of TSR/ESR assets within this scenario pack. Thanks also to Dom Cazaux and Daniel Sandow for their help with testing the scenarios.
Thank you to all the developers whose creations have made these scenarios possible.
We do hope that you enjoy these scenarios as much as we enjoy making them!
Matt Carroll and Josh Thorpe,
WTT Scenarios