South Western Expressways - Reading Summer Saturdays 2004 Scenario Pack

7 realistic and semi-fictional scenarios for Just Trains' South Western Expressways - Reading route.

This pack covers some of the varied loco-hauled and HST workings in the South West on Saturdays in July, August and September 2004. Booked workings, Summer additionals, railtours and the odd failure are all covered, between the 7 scenarios you'll cover nearly all of the track SWEXR has to offer.

1E99 0905 Paignton - Newcastle 80 mins
2004 marked the return of Virgin Trains loco-hauled services after the withdrawal of their 47s in 2002. The 2003 Summer season was covered by their HST sets, which were then withdrawn in September leaving a need for stock in 2004. Virgin chose to hire Mk2 coaches from Riviera Trains and 67s from EWS for additional services to Paignton.

In this scenario you drive 67001 between Exeter St Davids and Bristol Temple Meads, via Weston-super-Mare. Set on 31/07/2004.

2V89 1722 Weymouth - Bristol Temple Meads 90 mins
Wessex Trains hired Fragonset 31s and Mk2 sets for regular use between 2003 and 2005. On Saturdays they most commonly worked services to Weymouth, a much-needed capacity boost over the booked 150s.

In this scenario you drive 31128 and 454 between Castle Cary and Bristol Temple Meads. Set on 31/07/2004.

1C00 1230 Swindon Cocklebury - Taunton 80 mins
Network Rail introduced its New Measurement Train in 2003, covering most mainlines on a biweekly cycle. As it entered service (and in this scenario) the set was formed with a mix of Mk2 and Mk3 vehicles, limiting the speed to 110mph.

In this scenario you drive between Chippenham and Taunton. Set on 07/08/2004.

1C99 2351 London Paddington - Penzance 100 mins
2003/4 saw the end of First Great Western's 47/4 fleet and daytime loco-hauled services and the introduction of the 57/6s for the Night Riviera.

In this scenario you drive 57603 between Reading and Bristol Temple Meads. Set on 31/07/2004.

1Z91 0536 Guildford - Par 105 mins
Railtours to Par and the Eden Project are a regular fixture in Summer (so much so they have gained the enthusiast nickname 'Edenex'), with Pathfinder operating tours with different origins and traction every weekend. On the 24th of July it was the turn of 50031 and 50049 on 'The Eden Belle' from Guildford.

In this scenario you start at Westbury, run around the stock and head west to Exeter. Set on 24/07/2004.

1M25 1420 Newquay - Manchester Piccadilly 70 mins
For Newquay services Virgin hired in 2 HST sets, one from GNER and a second of their former stock with 43098 and 153. The latter set was a bit of a state, and on the 4th of September 43153 was failed at Newquay with a coolant leak. To assist the train over the Devon banks Virgin control got the closest loco and driver they could... EWS 37425 from Cardiff Canton! The 37 met the HST at Plymouth and took it forward (around 100 mins late) all the way to Birmingham New Street.

In this scenario you drive 37425 dragging 43098/153 between Exeter St Davids and Bristol Temple Meads. Set on 04/09/2004.

1A50 1142 Paignton - London Paddington 140 mins
This scenario is semi-fictional, in the latter years of Valentas plenty of HST powercars did suffer badly in the Summer heat, but this scenario was mostly intended to use some of the features of the new AP HST packs, like the engine isolation and temperature simulation.

Drive 43134 (with 43179 dead on the rear) from Exeter St Davids to Reading. Set on 07/08/2004.

Note
There is inevitably some compromise with this pack, vehicle numbers for the player train are realistic (bar the stock on the Night Riviera scenario) but most AI are random, based around allocations at the time. HST powercars are all facing the correct directions for the period but not necessarily with the correct partner or set. All 143 and 153 services have been substituted with 150/2s to save on requirements.

Tags: first-great-western railtour virgin-cross-country