North Wales Coast Or Marches Line?

[NorthernWarrior]

Okay guys, which one should I plump for first?
Both look enticing but NWC wins out on length being all the way from Crewe to Holyhead, but the Marches is probably the more scenic line and has more challenging gradients.

[haverfordwest]

Both, hahahahahaha. Marches all day long for me Vern.

If you own SWC, Swansea - Bristol. There is a merge on the Steam Workshop, by danny.

Mike.

[NorthernWarrior]

If I can be patient until the (possible) sale later this month, may pick them both up.

Appreciate the tip about the merge.

[haverfordwest]

You know you want to Vern.

No idea which version they are selling now. But there are two versions of the merge.

One for branded and one for unbranded Marches.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2190398797

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1929208113

Not sure if you can view the links Vern, as i had to login to Steam, to search.

Mike.

[NorthernWarrior]

Have a feeling both are now in TfW era colours.

Out of interest Mike, have you got the Bossman Black Fives? I got round to reinstalling the JT Kyle Line last night and was actually thinking that might be my next purchase, go back to the 50’s thrashing them up to Raven’s Rock and Achnasheen!

[haverfordwest]

Oh so the merge will not work with the latest Marches release then, i presume Vern.

Yes Vern, i have the Black 5's by BG. Stanier loco's ex-GWR engineer. So they are allowed into my little insular world.

I have a lot of loco's from Caledonian Works and Digital Traction. But my fave steam is from Victory Works.

Black 5's would be good on the Kyle Line. Also on the West Highland Line, there is a merge for that as well. But it includes Glasgow Suburban which is modern era. But you can drive all the way to Mallaig, with a run around at FT William.

Mike.

[NorthernWarrior]

Oh so the merge will not work with the latest Marches release then, i presume Vern.


Black 5's would be good on the Kyle Line. Also on the West Highland Line, there is a merge for that as well. But it includes Glasgow Suburban which is modern era. But you can drive all the way to Mallaig, with a run around at FT William.

Mike.

I have all three so might try that!

[haverfordwest]

Nice long run, i have only ever done it in a 156 on the merged route.

Goes off on a branch to somewhere else as well, way to the south of the route.

Cannot for the life of me, remember where though.

Mike.

[ex-railwayman]

Okay guys, which one should I plump for first?
Both look enticing but NWC wins out on length being all the way from Crewe to Holyhead, but the Marches is probably the more scenic line and has more challenging gradients.

The problem for me is that they are both modern-ish, nothing industrial of any great note. I play on the SLANC v5 route for the authentic Crewe area, with the yards and depots, the DTG offering for North Wales is OK if you want a-b passenger train running, but, there is no coal mine at Point of Ayr near Prestatyn, or, anything of note on Holyhead, so, freight train running are virtually nothing. Marches Line is very nice, I run my Class 40s down to Hereford and East Usk Yard with assorted trains from Ellesmere Port/Stanlow and BSC Shotton/Dee Marsh, but, again it's more passenger train orientated, but, with some imagination you have a more varied interest of trains north and south, I would suggest get the Marches first and NWC in a sale.

Cheerz. Steve.

[NorthernWarrior]

Thanks Steve. Of course my experience with NWC other than last travelling up there in about 1985, is the MSTS route.

Marches will add the scenarios for Clan Line so yes I will go for that first.

Bossman Black Fives are awesome. Been doing one of the S&C scenarios as I CBA to faff about with RETB on the Mallaig Line without doing a diesel refresh first.