Traffic Control: Steam Era (DOS)

Gold Series: Ashford 1958 - The simulation starts at 6 am and runs to 10 pm, set in the year between introduction of the Hastings diesels and the start of the Kent Coast electrification. Almost all main line services are steam-hauled, and they include many boat trains at higher difficulty levels. Freights serve the three yards and several other sidings, as well as the locomotive and wagon works. Some freight shunting is included. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the rostered type or from the correct depot, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty #####) Price £40

Silver Series: Bath Green Park 1961 - Steam again, and how! Try to sort out the confusion as expresses between Bournemouth and the Midlands reverse and change engines in only two platforms. Many southbound workings need a pilot over the hills, and your job includes control of the five miles of single track south of Bath to Midford. Definitely not easy! (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Silver Series: Brighton 1956 - After many requests, our first Southern Electric simulation. Not just electrics, though; at this time there were still steam services on all lines, including holiday trains from the Midlands and North via Redhill, continuing to Hastings after a change of engine, as well as the western coast route to Bournemouth, Plymouth and Cardiff. Local steam services operate to Horsham via Steyning, and to Tonbridge or Victoria via Lewes. (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Gold Series: Cambridge 1952 - This station is famous for its single long through platform, with bays at either end. Cambridge used to be much busier than you would dream from seeing it today, with through expresses from London to Kings Lynn and Norwich as well as the Kings Cross route and several branch lines. At times you may wish for several more platforms! Freight traffic includes through services between Whitemoor and Temple Mills, as well as arrivals and departures at the three yards. (Difficulty #####) Price £40

Platinum Series: Carlisle 1957 - Covering the full 24 hour day, this is set in the summer of 1957. Diesels have begun to make their mark on local services and in the yards, but most traffic is still powered by steam. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two very different simulations. Passenger services often require an engine change at Citadel station, and some will need a pilot over Shap or Beattock bank. Freights serve several local yards, with a lot of trip working, as this was before the development of the Kingmoor yards. You have three sheds to manage: Upperby (12A), Kingmoor (68A), and Canal (68E); in addition, motive power off the Settle & Carlisle and Tyne Valley lines often has to be serviced in what is left of the former depots at Petteril Bridge and London Road. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type and depot, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty ######) Price £50

Cromer Beach 1952 - Cromer Beach was a secondary terminus of the M&GN system, served also by trains on the former Great Eastern Railway, whose principal Cromer station was Cromer High. The single track screen includes a small goods yard and two platforms, as well as a number of carriage sidings and a small engine shed. The station is not very busy, but does have an interesting mix of traffic. Though this is not Silver Series, due to the simple layout and small volume of traffic, it does include several Silver Series features, including a choice of day and of difficulty level. (Difficulty ##) Price £20.

Silver Series: Euston 1958 - Much requested, and one of the most difficult in this series. Apart from the Watford DC line and occasional appearances by the early main-line diesels, all services are steam-hauled, with locos provided on request by Camden shed or arriving with empty stock from Willesden. You have to manage the station and up and down carriage sheds, striving to return visiting engines to their homes and to keep the traffic moving. Your period of duty includes morning and evening peaks. (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Platinum Series: Exeter 1955 - Covering the full 24-hour period, this is set in the summer of 1955. Everything is steam, and your control area covers the whole of the Exeter area from just north of Cowley Bridge Junction to just south of City Basin Junction on the Western and to Exmouth Junction on the Southern - eleven screens in all. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two rather different simulations. A major feature on Saturdays is the congestion at St Davids, where the heavy holiday traffic has to be handled in just five through platforms. Most Southern trains need banking from St Davids up to Central, and in both directions an engine change is normally necessary at either Central Station or Exmouth Junction Yard. Freight marshalling is split between Riverside and Exmouth Junction Yards, with local traffic handled at sidings in the St Davids area and at Central and Alphington Road Yards. In addition, there are a power station and gas works at City Basin and a Concrete Works and Wagon Works at Exmouth Junction, each generating traffic. There are two engine sheds to manage, the major Southern one at Exmouth Junction (72A) and the smaller Western one (83C). As usual bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty #####) Price £50

Gold Series Line Control - Great North of Scotland Railway - Running from 6.45 am to 11 pm, this simulation is set on a summer weekday in 1922. You have to control all traffic over the GNoSR system, covering no less than nine route screens, with particular attention to giving appropriate priority on the many single line sections. Bonus points are available for running scheduled services on time. (Difficulty ###) Price £40

Halwill Junction 1955 - Covering the 5 am to 9 pm period to cover almost all traffic, this is set in the summer of 1955. Everything is steam. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two very different simulations. Passenger services include several on which Bude and Wadebridge portions join or separate; freights serve the small yard, and some exchange portions to provide both local and through service. There are a few services on the Torrington branch, including an occasional cattle extra at higher difficulty levels. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty ##) Price £20

Gold Series Line Control - Highland Railway - Running from 6 am to 11.30 pm, this simulation is set on a summer weekday in your choice of date: 1930 or 1951. You have to control all traffic over your chosen part, or the whole, of the Highland Railway system, covering no less than eleven route screens, with particular attention to giving appropriate priority on the many single line sections. Bonus points are available for running scheduled services on time. (Difficulty ###) Price £40

Hunstanton 1952 - Another fairly simple steam era simulation to get you started - just one track screen. Those with more experience may also find it a challenge, though: four schedules are provided, ranging from a quiet autumn Sunday to a busy summer Saturday. The local shed is included, used mainly for servicing engines off visiting excursions. (Difficulty ##) Price £20.

Silver Series: Inverness 1954 - Strictly speaking this is a "Silver-Gilt" program. It has most of the features of the Gold Series, but only enough traffic to justify the Silver label. Apart from a seasonal through train in each direction between Glasgow and Wick, all trains terminate at Inverness, which is operated as two stations side by side, one for the north and one for the south and east. Freight traffic included is substantial, particularly on the Perth main line. You have a full 24 hour shift to operate, though it gets quiet at times. New features include double-heading when necessary on all lines, the need to keep a serviceable shunter in each yard, and occasional locos for repair at Lochgorm Works. Not our hardest, but plenty to think about. (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Kings Cross 1954 - back to steam days, with the old track layout, and through workings over the Metropolitan line. You choose motive power from that available at Top Shed: A4s, A3s, A2s, A1s, V2s, B1s, and plenty of N2s and L1s for suburban and empty stock workings. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Platinum Series - Lincoln 1952 - This has eight track screens, and includes both Central and St Marks stations, and both the ER and LMR locomotive depots. There are several freight yards and industrial sidings, and no less than seven routes into the Lincoln area. Many of the through freights on the GN/GE Joint Line require an engine change at Lincoln. (Difficulty ######) Price £50

Platinum Series: Llandudno 1958 - The simulation starts at 6 am and runs to 10 pm, and is set in 1958 before the arrival of any main line diesels in the area. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two very different simulations. All main line services are steam-hauled, and they include many excursions and reliefs at higher difficulty levels. Freights serve the yards and other sidings. As in our Ashford 1958 simulation, more detailed freight shunting is included. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos from the correct depot, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty #####) Price £50

Platinum Series - March 1952 - Covering the usual 6 am to 10 pm period, this is set in 1952 before the arrival of any BR standard locos or diesels in the area. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two very different simulations. All services are steam-hauled, and they include a number of excursions and reliefs at higher difficulty levels. Freights serve the yards, including the large Whitemoor Up and Down hump yards, where many trains terminate or originate. As in other recent simulation, more detailed freight shunting is included where appropriate, and your area includes the wayside stations of Wimblington, Manea and Stonea on the St Ives and Ely lines. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos from the correct depot and of the correct type, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty #####) Price £50

Silver Series - Melton Constable 1952 - Though there is only one track screen, it includes two routes in each direction, as well as 32G engine shed. Melton Constable was the hub of the M&GN system, and most freight traffic has to be remarshalled here. You have to shunt terminating and originating passenger and freight services, as well as some through trains of which portions split or join. Each platform can handle two local trains at busy times. This is harder than it looks! (Difficulty ###) Price £30.

Gold Series Line Control - Midland & Great Northern line 1939 - Running from 6.45 am to midnight, this simulation is set in the summer of 1939. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two very different simulations. You have to control all traffic over the entire M&GN system, covering no less than six route screens, with particular attention to giving appropriate priority on the many single line sections. Bonus points are available for running scheduled services on time. (Difficulty ###) Price £40

Silver Series: Newton Abbot 1955 - Another in our "Summer Saturdays in the West" series, at this busy junction of the Plymouth main line and the "main-line branch" to Torquay, Paignton and Kingswear. Most services on the Paddington - Plymouth main line need pilots adding or removing for the South Devon banks. Due to the lack of a turntable or refuelling facilities in the Paignton area, you also have to change engines on many Torbay services, and plan ahead to provide locos for up services from Paignton. You select appropriate motive power from that available in Newton Abbot depot (83A), which you manage in detail. (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Gold Series - Nuneaton 1958 - Covering the usual 6 am to 10 pm period, this is set in the summer of 1958. Diesel units have taken over most of the Birmingham - Leicester services, but apart from the LMS and SR main line units diesels are otherwise yet to appear. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two very different simulations. Passenger services include a busy main line service and locals on all routes except the freight-only line to Ashby and Burton; there are a number of excursions and reliefs at higher difficulty levels. Freights serve the yards, including the Up and Down Trent Valley yards, where many trains terminate or originate, as well as the Abbey Street yard. There are many trip freights serving local collieries, with power supplied by the Nuneaton depot 2B. As in other recent simulation, more detailed freight shunting is included where appropriate. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos from the correct depot and of the correct type, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty ####) Price £40

Silver Series: Okehampton 1955 - Covering the full 24 hour day, this is set in the summer of 1955. Everything is steam. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two very different simulations. Passenger services include one or two on which Plymouth and North Cornwall portions join or separate; some other passenger services originate or terminate at Okehampton. Freights serve the yard, some terminating or originating there. Meldon Quarry is served by both scheduled and extra services, some being staged at Okehampton in one direction or the other. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty ###) Price £30

Gold Series: Oxford 1954 (weekday) - For many years the GWR wanted to rebuild this station, turning the two main platforms into islands. Try to operate it and you will see why! The station was often busy, with several services arriving or departing in quick succession. Apart from the main through platform in each direction, you have only one southbound arrival bay (also available for northbound departures) and one northbound departure bay. Freight traffic includes through services between Woodford and Banbury to the north and Didcot and Reading to the south, as well as locals and long distance services on the other routes and arrivals and departures at the five yards. Locomotives of all four pre-nationalisation companies can be seen: LNER from Woodford and Cambridge, LMS from Bletchley and Southern from Bournemouth via Reading, as well of course as the host Great Western. (Difficulty #####) Price £40

Gold Series - Oxford 1959 (summer Saturday) - If you thought Oxford station was busy on a weekday, try it on this summer Saturday, with many through holiday services from the Midlands and North to the South Coast! We were surprised to see how much freight traffic still ran on a Saturday, mostly early and late. The contrast with our weekday 1954 version is interesting. (Difficulty #####) Price £40.

Paddington 1959 - back to steam days, before the 1967 remodelling. The arrival and departure sides still had separate signal boxes, and most services had balancing empty stock workings. Most express locos were serviced at Old Oak Common, but some were dealt with at Ranelagh Bridge yard, which is included in the area under your control. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Penzance 1932 - more steam interest! Similar to Penzance 1955, but set in 1932 before the 1939 remodelling of Penzance station. Attempt to handle summer Saturday traffic in only two platforms, with locomotives of the period. (Difficulty ##) Price £20

Penzance 1955 - experience again the fascination of steam. Includes managing the shed (83G) and preparing and selecting the right locomotive for each train, as well as planning the use of platforms. (Difficulty ##) Price £20

Silver Series: Plymouth North Road 1955 - First of a planned set featuring "Summer Saturdays in the West". Back to the glorious days of steam, on one of those notorious summer Saturdays. Handle through services on the Paddington to Penzance and Waterloo to Plymouth Friary routes, as well as local services to Saltash and Tavistock. Most services need their engines changing, and many need pilots adding or removing to provide assistance over the South Devon banks; you select appropriate motive power from that available in Laira depot (83D). (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Platinum Series - Reading 1954 - Promised for some time, this has ten track screens, and includes West, General and South stations, and both the WR (81D) and SR (70E) locomotive depots. There are seven freight yards, and as well as the former GWR main line from London to Didcot for Swindon and Reading there are the Berks and Hants line towards Newbury and Westbury, the line to the Southern at Basingstoke, and the Southern Region lines from South Station to Waterloo and to Guildford and Redhill. Transfer freights between WR and SR require an engine change at Reading, as do some main line services. At level 5 it is occasionally Race Day at Newbury. (Difficulty ######) Price £50

Silver Series: Salisbury 1950 - A different viewpoint on "Summer Saturdays in the West", at this busy junction of the South-Western main line and the busy cross-country route from Bristol and Cardiff to Portsmouth. Nothing but steam! Handle through services on the Waterloo to Exeter and Bristol to Portsmouth routes, as well as local services to Bournemouth and on the main lines. All services to or from the WR need their engines changing; you select appropriate motive power from that available in Salisbury depot (72B). (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Silver Series: Scarborough 1960 - By popular request, something far removed from the Great Western! At this time much holiday travel was still by train, and in addition there were frequent day excursions to the seaside from many parts of Yorkshire and Lancashire, and sometimes further afield. Scarborough had an interesting station layout, with a separate excursion station as well as the main terminus, and carriage sidings "offstage" at Gallows Close. You have to manage the station and shed, striving to return visiting engines to their homes and to keep the holiday traffic moving. By 1960 most local services were dieselised, but all main line trains are still steam-powered. (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Sheringham 1952 - Sheringham was a principal passing station on the secondary line to Cromer Beach on the M&GN system; it was served also by trains via Cromer Junction on the former Great Eastern Railway. The single track screen includes a small goods yard and two platforms. The station has an interesting mix of traffic, including terminating passenger and freight workings. Though this is not Silver Series, due to the simple layout and low volume of traffic, it does include several Silver Series features, including a choice of day and of difficulty level. (Difficulty ##) Price £20.

Line Control - Somerset & Dorset Joint Line, 1957 - A line control simulation covering this busy line between Bath and Poole, with a mixture of passenger and freight services; both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided. The Highbridge branch is included, and this and parts of the main line are single track. This simulation gives you a chance to see how hard this line was to operate to schedule, particularly on a summer Saturday. Some trains shunt off the main line, or terminate, at various points along the line. No details of motive power are given, as this is control at a broader level. There are two track screens. Our testers say this too is harder than it looks! (Difficulty ###) Price £20.

Silver Series: South Lynn 1952 - There are two track screens, covering separate up and down shunting yards as well as a local goods yard, three platforms, and 31D engine shed. Most freight traffic has to be shunted here, with trip workings to Kings Lynn yard and harbour. As well as through passenger services on the main and Kings Lynn lines, there is a frequent push-pull shuttle service between South Lynn and Kings Lynn. (Difficulty ###) Price £30

Gold Series Line Control - Southern Railway - Running from 6.45 am to 11 pm, this simulation is set on a summer weekday in 1936. You have to control all traffic over the western end of the Southern system, covering eight route screens, with particular attention to giving appropriate priority on the many single line sections. You’ll see how a single train from Waterloo would split into portions or connect with other services for each branch. Bonus points are available for running scheduled services on time. (Difficulty ###) Price £40

Sutton Bridge 1952 - Sutton Bridge was a principal junction and passing station on the M&GN system, at the convergence of the Spalding and Peterborough lines. The single track screen includes a small goods yard and three platforms. The station has an interesting mix of traffic, including terminating passenger, parcels and freight workings. Though this is not Silver Series, due to the simple layout and low volume of traffic, it does include several Silver Series features, including a choice of day and of difficulty level. (Difficulty ##) Price £20

Gold Series: Torbay 1955 - Covering the period from 3.30 am to midnight to cover almost all traffic, this is set in the summer of 1955. Everything is steam, and your control area covers the whole of the line from the terminus at Kingswear to just short of Aller Junction, including the Brixham branch - seven screens in all. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two rather different simulations. A major feature on Saturdays is the congestion at Paignton, where the heavy holiday traffic has to be handled in just two platforms and with limited siding space; to add further interest, some heavier trains need banking from Torquay up to Torre. At this period the gas works at Torquay was supplied with coal by sea, delivered to the docks at Kingswear, so you may need to handle extra weekday coal trains at higher difficulty levels. As usual bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty ###) Price £40

Gold Series - Weymouth 1955 - The simulation starts at 6 am and runs to 10 pm, and is set in 1955 before the arrival of any BR diesels in the area. Both weekday and Saturday schedules are provided; effectively this gives you two very different simulations. All main line services are steam-hauled, and they include a number of excursions and reliefs at higher difficulty levels. Freights serve the yard and branches. As in other recent simulation, more detailed freight shunting is included. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos from the correct depot and of the correct type, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty ####) Price £40

Whitby Town 1914 - Small but interesting, set in NER days, with choice of day MondaySaturday. Two screens, Whitby Town (including shed) and Bog Hall Junction. Includes services to Saltburn & Scarborough as well as those via Grosmont to Malton and Battersby. Many local services are push-pull using BTP class tanks. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type and shed, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Whitby Town 1935 - Small but interesting, set in LNER days, with choice of day MondaySaturday. Two screens, Whitby Town (including shed) and Bog Hall Junction. Includes services to Saltburn & Scarborough as well as those via Grosmont to Malton and Battersby. Many local services are operated by Sentinel steam railcars. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type and shed, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Whitby Town 1954 - Small but interesting, set in BR days, before diesels arrived, with choice of day MondaySaturday. Two screens, Whitby Town (including shed) and Bog Hall Junction. Includes services to Saltburn & Scarborough as well as those via Grosmont to Malton and Battersby. All services are loco-hauled, most using class A8 tanks. Bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type and shed, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Yarmouth Beach 1952 - Yarmouth Beach was the principal terminus of the M&GN system, though as well as the main line there is a branch to Lowestoft. The single track screen includes a small goods yard and three platforms, as well as a number of carriage sidings and the small 32F engine shed. The station is fairly quiet on weekdays, but comes to life on a summer Saturday, when holiday trains and extras run. Though this is not Silver Series, due to the simple layout and small volume of traffic, it does include several Silver Series features, including a choice of day and of difficulty level. (Difficulty ##) Price £20.