Traffic Control: Early Diesel/Electric Era (1964-1985) (Windows)

Liverpool Lime Street 1972 - Early post-steam days at this busy terminus on two main routes, with local and long-distance passenger and parcels services. This one has a single track screen, though of the larger size possible with Windows, covering the station and approaches. The track layout is significantly different from 1958, with both fast lines on the south side and the slow lines on the north, which minimises conflicts. Local services are provided by DMU or EMU, sometimes joining or splitting in the platform, and others needing to visit Allerton for fuel. Some engines will need fuel or servicing at Edge Hill, while others will have an outward working within a few hours. At this time stock for many long-distance services was still cleaned at Downhill Sidings, not in the station, so there are empty stock workings, and also a few light engines to and from Edge Hill. Schedules are provided for weekday, Saturday and Sunday; the rush hour is quite a challenge, and probably busier than in steam days! (Difficulty ###) Price £30

 

Silver Series: Penzance 1964 - Covering the whole working day, this is set in the summer of 1964, by which time steam had been eliminated from Cornwall and all loco-hauled traffic was in the hands of diesel hydraulics. Your control area covers first couple of miles of the ex-GWR main line from Penzance as far as Marazion – just two screens, but still quite enough when it gets busy. You can choose between increasing difficulty levels, also a choice of Sunday, weekday or Saturday schedules. There is still a fair bit of local and through goods traffic, and substantial daily through passenger traffic, particularly on Saturdays. Keeping the traffic moving is not easy on ordinary days, but becomes close to impossible on a Summer Saturday with holiday extras, especially if at harder levels you find yourself dealing with heavy delays to arriving trains due to congestion east of Plymouth. You have control of the much-reduced shed at Penzance, and have to ensure engines and units receive fuel as necessary. As usual bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty###) Price £30

 

Silver Series: Shrewsbury 1971- Set in the summer of 1971, in this still busy crossroads, with weekday, Saturday and Sunday schedules, this covers the whole Shrewsbury area, including the main yards at Coton Hill and smaller ones at Crewe Bank and Coleham. Since electrification there are few long-distance through passenger services except on Saturdays, but there are DMU services every hour or two between Cardiff and Crewe and between Wolverhampton and Chester, and additional stopping services to Wolverhampton. There are also occasional trains on the Central Wales line to Swansea and the former Cambrian line to Aberystwyth. Freight traffic is less than in 1959, but still enough to keep you busy at times. (Difficulty ###) Price £30
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Platinum Series: West Cornwall 1964 - Covering the whole working day, this is set in the summer of 1964, by which time steam had been eliminated from Cornwall and all loco-hauled traffic was in the hands of diesel hydraulics. Your control area covers the ex-GWR main line from Penzance to Truro, including the St Ives, Helston and Falmouth branches – no less than thirteen screens in all. You can choose between increasing difficulty levels, also a choice of Sunday, weekday or Saturday schedules. There is still a fair bit of local and through goods traffic, and substantial daily through passenger traffic, particularly on Saturdays. Keeping the traffic moving is not easy on ordinary days, but becomes close to impossible on a Summer Saturday with holiday extras, especially if at harder levels you find yourself dealing with heavy delays to arriving trains due to congestion east of Plymouth. You have control of the much-reduced sheds at Penzance and Truro, and have to ensure engines and units receive fuel as necessary. As usual bonus points are available for allocation of locos of the correct type, and for correct placement of incoming freight. (Difficulty#####) Price £50