Train Simulator: West Somerset Railway Route (DLC) Steam
NOTICE: Requires the base
game Train Simulator in order to play. Activation key must
be used on a valid Steam account. Requires internet connection.
The longest heritage railway in the UK comes to life in the
beautiful West Somerset Railway route add-on for Train Simulator,
available now.
The origins of what is now one of the favourite preserved
railways for enthusiasts began back in the mid-1800s, when a number
of proposals were submitted for railway schemes in west Somerset;
however, none of these schemes were pursued and it was another ten
years before proposals for a railway in the county were submitted
again. Led by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, a former engineer of the
neighbouring Bristol and Exeter Railway (B&ER), a scheme to
build the West Somerset Railway was submitted.
Opening on 31 March 1862 for passenger services, the line become
an important route for holidaymakers heading to the seaside, as
well as carrying coal and iron-ore from the mines and ports of
Somerset. Passing loops and extended platforms were added over the
years to manage the increasing number of passengers and freight
operations, and the line was converted from broad gauge to standard
gauge in 1882.
However, despite a Butlins holiday camp opening at Minehead in
1962, the line was recommended for closure in the 1962 Reshaping of
British Railways report, and the last passenger service ran on 2
January 1971.
Just a month after closure, a working party was tasked with
reopening the line as a privately owned railway, such was its
importance to the tourism industry. With support from Somerset
County Council and the Minehead Railway Preservation Society, the
line reopened as a heritage railway on 28 March 1976 between
Minehead and Blue Anchor, and to Bishops Lydeard three years
later.
At 20 miles, the line is the longest standard gauge heritage
railway in the UK, running through some of Somerset’s most
picturesque landscapes. The line is also popular with enthusiasts
and rail fans due to its resident roster of GWR and S&DJR
locomotives, and regular visiting locomotives on rail tours or for
galas.
Starting out on the sea front at Minehead, the line heads south
east along the coast to Dunster and Watchet, before heading inland
to Williton where the oldest signal box on the line stands.
Climbing out of Williton along the side of the Quantock Hills –
where passengers are afforded stunning views across the Somerset
countryside – the line reaches its summit at Crowcombe Heathfield
before descending down the steep 1 in 81 decline to Bishops
Lydeard.
Included with the route are three of the railway’s most popular
locomotives – Class 7F ‘No. 88′ in Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway
livery, GWR Hall Class ‘Raveningham Hall’ and BR Green Class 33
‘D6575′. Accompanying these locomotives are appropriate BR Mk1
coaching stock and GWR/BR freight wagons.
Scenarios
Nine scenarios for the route:
More scenarios are available on Steam Workshop online and
in-game. Train Simulator’s Steam Workshop scenarios are free and
easy to download, adding many more hours of exciting gameplay. With
scenarios being added daily, why don’t you check it out now!