Blackpool Branches Review ~ Train Sim World 4

Just Trains are on to a winner with their first add-on in Train Sim World. This is the 'Blackpool Branches - Blackpool to Preston and Ormskirk' DLC, and it's one of only a handful of truly great TSW add-ons.
This route is set in 1986, and includes the lines from Preston to Blackpool South, Blackpool North, Burn Naze and Ormskirk. Included motive power is the Class 142 Pacer, Class 08 'Gronk' and Class 47/4 (the latter two having some improvements over the previous versions we already have in the game). There's a good amount of service variation on this line, which helps to keep it interesting.

[@KrazyKotYoutube]

21:06 “Better Call… Salwick Station” That’s fantastic script writing lmao

[@markcovington4761]

Great review the route is fantastic it shows how they haven't rushed it out and have taken there time with it the scenery is lovely i love the pacer its great to drive i hope we get more routes like this

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

Dovetail could take a leaf from Just Trains' book, and actually take time to finish their routes, instead of pulling a New York to Trenton again.

[@markcovington4761]

@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga totally agree it's shocking how they put a route out and it's unfinished i won't be buying that new German route it doesn't interest me one bit tbh

[@FoxtheRailfan-iv9ij]

Definitely one of the best TSW routes. Thank you JT.

[@maffarick]

Not only is this a great route, but your review is stellar as well!

[@leepetrak3089]

I commend you tauranga for your excellent research in producing this video. I grew up close to a station on this route so it fills me with nostalgia to see this period brought to life by justtrains. You may interested (or not) to hear that salwick station only exists to serve the workforce of the BNFL power plant. 👍

[@75jonesy]

Thanks for doing this review mate 👍

[@TB76Returns]

As a Northerner, I have definitely had my share of riding Pacers! My first memory on a train is in fact on a Class 142 on the Tees Valley Line (We lived in Teeside during my early childhood). I do however love how Just Trains did 3 versions of the Pacer, making one of the most hated train in the UK to one of the best made trains in TSW. As a matter of fact, Preston is only just under 2 hours on the bus from me, so I do often take trains around Preston when in the area. That being said, Just Trains have done a solid job on this route, and on somewhere I don't live that far to IRL (although NTP is the actual closest route to me IRL)

[@kieranstravels]

Another great review. I actually had the pleasure of seeing the very last Northern 142 in service, back in November 2020 (Although, at the time, restrictions prevented me riding said service, because even the first stop is already in the next county over, unfortunately.) I'm honestly glad I set high hopes for this route, all my expectations were blown out of the water - Genuinely my single complaint is them not setting it a year later, to include Blackpool Pleasure Beach Station, but then, some other areas of the route wouldn't have the same run down charm, so, it's understandable.

[@matthew09ify]

I used to travel the Blackpool branches in the 90's brilliant travelling through west Lancashire

[@matthew09ify]

I actually loved riding on the pacers between shaw & crompton and Manchester Victoria

[@PROTSW4]

Excellent review, the route looks down right amazing, and it definitely looks like TSG and JT are equal in making awesome products. I'll get this route (and layers) once they go on sale.

[@DKS225]

I like how enthusiasts gave all The Pacers the nickname Nodding Donkeys in that they work better on continually welded track rather than the jointed track that was still in place on large parts of Britain's secondary routes at the time of their introduction. Basically they were just buses on rails. Having said that the Intercity colours seen on The 47/4's is also known as "Raspberry Ripple". This was before The IC Swallow livery came about from 1990 until Privatisation in 1996. That and the line from Preston To Blackpool North has been electrified in recent years.

[@supersprinter1564]

Swallow livery came out in 1987 .plus the 91s came out in 1989 in full swallow livery

[@BeastyBill88]

Nice video! If you wasn't aware, ROB S on the train simulator community site has made a mod so that the 142 subs in for the 101 on both TVL & NTP.

[@gizmoblanket]

This is a good start for a potential better future for the game, providing the devs of all the studios agree to match just trains’ success

[@WMeridian]

If just trains did a WCML that would be golden

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

I wouldn't mind seeing Preston to Carlisle (plus Morecambe, Heysham and Windermere) in TSW.

[@WMeridian]

@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga that would lead to some variation of trains and knowing just trains possibly some other TOC’s

[@arianaashworth3091]

The Pacers were all built with 4 speed automatic transmissions (SCG) but they were replaced by Voith hydraulic transmissions to improve reliability, they later had their Leyland engines upgraded to Cummins to improve reliability even more. As a result they ended up being quite reliable units in the end with a higher average between technical incident than the CAF units that replaced them, no wonder so many heritage lines were quick to get one when they were withdrawn. Wensleydale even got 9 of them.

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

How can cheese take ownership of a Pacer?

[@arianaashworth3091]

​@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga Something to do with Wallace & Gromit

[@Thattrainguy4334]

Let's gooooo! Positive review!

[@userSchlonsch]

I would buy this route instantly but I still refuse to give DTG any money for TSW4

[@InsideAgameR]

Same here!

[@narskip]

YES! I've been waiting for this review. Haven't got it yet as my wallet currently compromised of lint and pennies. Love how much of a middle finger to this is to disappointment dovetail and the one we shant mention... Ps: love your reviews man keep it up!

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

Sounds like your wallet is the exact opposite of the one belonging to Mr. Krabs.

[@Gideonsmythe]

I've already played this route more than any other in TSW and I've only had it a week. Hopefully the ATS route (which apparently uses rolling stock that's already in TSW) will be similarly good and I really hope it's in East Anglia, a large area of the UK that's missing in TSW.

[@jwrailve3615]

I’ll wait for the route to be like 9-15$ before buying, does look better than most, you have the best TSW reviews, not afraid to pick it apart, that’s the biggest issue with others they review it like they are pulling punches and don’t want to say anything that could potentially keep them for a deal with DTG to get discounts in the future for pushing there products. Blackpool Tees valley line LGV france Harlem Peak Forrest Isle eight Ny-Trenton All will only get bought if I were to be gifted them or if they were heavily discounted. Within three months of playing TSW 3&4 heavy i use your channel to decide future purchases and I think I’m even more critical on it then you are, apart from I’ve never been that big on graphics on other objects trackside or anything I just want the locos to drive and feel right and for scenario/timetable to have a ton of variety, freight, switching/shunting, and passenger, Quality of the through route (how much do I enjoy the point a to point b) the amount of available locos and whether they bring in more scenarios or are just replacement for others, and the variety of the route being branch lines, industry leads, industry sidings, rail yards, etc. that’s how I grade my routes and although I’ll admit I’ve only ever given a route a bad grade once under 70% (all the routes I own are 70-96% currently but do plan to update my grading system to really vary the grades for the routes and one that I guarantee will be at the very bottom is ECML,)

[@170ScR]

And apparently it's been said that Skyhook Games and Just Trains are working on a big update for the Blackpool Branches for TSW 4

[@JoeK25301]

With the Pacers, Sprinters and Networker Turbos, when pulling away go to throttle four and / or five before releasing the brakes from step one application. Allow the engine to build power, as that allows for realistic driving style as used by British Rail drivers.

[@davidstevens4388]

i got this route yesterday on steam and did my first test drive

[@plane15]

I used to ride on Pacers a lot in the 80's and 90's in the North of England. They were a bit like being on a bus.

[@CraftyUnknown]

pacers are basically just buses on freight train wagons

[@Zugdurchfahrt311]

As a german and not really caring for british or U.S. routes I have actually considerd getting this route, because I like the concept. From what I could tell you'd recomend this route?

[@True_NOON]

After bothering on rewatch i did quick math a minute and its 1.94 people annual for salwick (700÷30 )÷12=1.94

[@ianmalcolm7782]

Better call Saul...wick... I doff my cap to you sir.

[@kovzov7969]

what are the other 'truly great tsw add-ons' that you mention in the description?

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

The only ones that come to mind are the Niddertalbahn, Vossloh G6, Boston Sprinter, East Coastway and Island Line 2022. That's just my opinion, mind. But now that I think about it, there aren't really too many good TSW add-ons.

[@samhartnett8700]

About the Class 87 and 507, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to model them anyway. Even though you couldn’t drive any of them on this route, we have Free Roam now so we could spawn and drive them on the Trainingscenter. The route would still feel lively. Especially Birmingham New Street on the Cross City Line,which doesn’t feel busy at all. What DTG should’ve done is model the Class 390, 350,220/221 or even the 170. It would make the apparently “busiest station outside London “ more realistic in TSW, while also being able to drive them in the Trainingcenter and maybe layer on to future or existing routes

[@potatoman451]

Putting all the resources and time into creating ai only locos would be a waste. Why do all that for the player to not be able to drive them at all? Or dtg could just do a very simple 3d model which is also a waste. Players would complain they were lazy. Then if a route came out, they would have to be paid for again.

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

There are routes in Train Simulator (such as U-Bahn Hamburg U1 and Sacramento Northern) that have Ai-only trains, whose models are not terrible. And, as I mentioned in the video, Rivet made the tram model for Edinburgh to Glasgow (it's still the wrong type of tram for Edinburgh, but it's better than nothing). Even if some people see it as a waste of time, having Ai-only trains on TSW routes still adds to the realism.

[@CraftyUnknown]

Hey, great vid. Which addon would you reccomend? Blackpool branches, Maintalbahn Aschaffenburg - Miltenberg or Niddertalbahn? Thanks

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

Not the Maintalbahn, but I do recommend Blackpool and the Niddertalbahn.

[@CraftyUnknown]

@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga Why not the Maintalbahn? I just want to know why

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

It's because the scenery isn't all that great, to the point where it's a big visual distraction. And I thought the BR642 wasn't fun to drive, with a throttle that's overly sensitive to keyboard inputs.

[@CraftyUnknown]

@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga Okay thanks. I just bought blackpool branches but I refunded it because I don't really like how big the distance between the stations is.

[@jeffdavid3880]

​@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga what do you think of Sand Patch Grade? Just started playing TSW4, normally I would just buy a few, but DLC for this game is pretty expensive. I want to buy a DLC for the graffiti cars in the creative hub LOL.

[@stephennoakes5079]

Hi Do you know if this was a totally bugged on PS5? I have been playing this for over a week and completed the training, then when I try to drive any routes the train won’t move. Then the cab/cockpit is in a blackout with no way to turn on the lights. Can you offer any help?

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

I haven't encountered that bug myself, because I don't play any console versions of TSW; only the PC version.

[@stephennoakes5079]

@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga thanks

[@alessandromori5243]

Hi and thank you for your great tsw reviews because are the best on web , you are not influenced by dtg “gifts” and this is the most important thing. I play tsw since the first game at d1 and i spent hundreds of euros in dlcs and every new tsw release but now i m so upset due the release of an useless tsw 4 release and all this atm operation dlcs.I think dtg hato to invest in a brand new game in line with this gen console and pcs power instead following this policy, because the game have technical issues that can’t be solved with this old graphic engine, but for them is convenient go ahead like this. A question : i want to buy one of these 2 course Blackpool Branches or Niddertalbahn (that at the moment have a 30% discount on psn) which is better for you?thank you🙏👍from Italy

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

As much as I like the Niddertalbahn, it's very short with limited service variation, so I would recommend Blackpool instead.

[@alessandromori5243]

@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga thank u !👍i’ll follow your advice man! Ps your contents are so interesting and full of passion, and watching is an interesting lesson of train history!

[@YukariAkiyamaTanks]

I got this route and my biggest complaint about it is that it is quite laggy. Its really nice but like their ts add-ons it lags.

[@nowapproachingyt]

More of a TSW issue, with it being quite badly optimised for reasons

[@twarren7996]

I am pretty happy that we actually get a good add-on in TSW, but why does it feel like we only get 1 new engine and we gotta get all the other ones from other add-ons? It feels like when they’re trying to advertise the stock like it all comes together in this one add-on? That’s really my only problem with it.

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

The 142, 47 and 08 come with the route itself. 'Tis unfortunate that you need to buy lots of other add-ons to get a busier rail scene here, but that's just how the game's business model works, sad to say.

[@potatoman451]

Also to mention that the 47 and 08 are different versions of the one we already have in tsw. They both received changes in physics, sounds, new exhaust effects, cab changes, multiple liveries, etc. There's already a lot of content by default. The 142 also got 3 different engines and 9 liveries. So it's a lot

[@arianaashworth3091]

There's a lot more that goes in to making these detailed models compared with older train simulators, and they have still at least given three powertrain variations with three liveries. Having said that the unit numbering could do with being revised as my mate said he saw 142050 on an AI and rushed to take it over only to find it had an SCG. 142050 being the only Pacer built with a Voith transmission from new and thus the only one never to have had an SCG, hence why it was missing the box for the valves that controlled the gears on each vehicle (driver's side between the engine and the driven axle).

[@floha978]

I play TSW4 on the Xbox series X and somehow I experience so many crashes (in vontrast to TSW3),especially on routes with good graphics that i dont even want to play it anymore. As an example i were never able to finish a train service on Blackpool branches at all. It sucks and i stick to TS classic on my pc until this issue is fixed…

[@jamesnicolson6833]

I’m playing on Series X but have never experienced any crashes. Not sure what’s happening to you

[@lxs1990]

Let's say it's not perfect and in many places TSW 3 worked better on XSX. I also has few crashes one when O tried play new timetable on NEC NY Trenton. BPO got some major problems with framerate on XSX but it's playable. I'm not sure if the game doesn't run worse with each add-on installed.

[@StuK323]

Im the same, my xbox is laggy and graphics don't load corrrectly for the route

[@170ScR]

I'm currently playing TSW 4 on my PS4 and I'm playing the Blackpool to Ormskirk to Preston route and I'm currently in Blackpool North in the Class 52 and I've noticed that there's no one in the station. There's no one at all. Is that normal or ????, is there supposed to be literally not even a single person!? Where are the people gone????, I mean there are people in my train yes but it's toooooo quiet. And I did notice that there are stations that are completely empty.

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

The Class 22? That's not in TSW; I'm guessing you mean the 52 or some other diesel that won't come to mind.

[@170ScR]

Yes that what I meant to say the Class 52.

[@170ScR]

​@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga And it's not just the class 52 which I've noticed that the stations are completely empty. I've also noticed the other day whilst driving the Pacer that the stations especially in Blackpool North and other stations are completely empty.

[@170ScR]

​@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga I mean I've never been outside of London apart from Norwich but I did notice that when playing Train Sim World 4 on my PS4 that in Blackpool North the stations are all empty and is not just Blackpool North, it's other stations too.

[@170ScR]

Especially when I work a service around 10am., I would understand if it was 1,2,3,4,5 in the morning of course it'll be empty but 9-10am is not a reason for it to be empty stations

[@StrikeEagle78]

Not a JT issue, but DTG's pathetic tech is on full display in your video. Those disappearing passengers are laughable. And they pop back in at such close distance. Anyhow, nice job with this video.

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

Yes, I noticed the disappearing passengers too, but I never considered it to be JT's fault. I've seen it on the Arosa Line too.

[@PlayJasch]

Yeah it is bad. You can fix it on PC. I went with viewdistance scale x600% because it is so bad stock. Poor folks on consoles.

[@Championhaulproductions3672]

Babe wake up The trainspotter from tauranga has uploaded a video

[@lukethomas.125]

I noticed the day Blackpool Branches released, or a few days after, DTG announced another route, this one being Middeltalbahn. This is the typical DTG scam strategy. Anyone new to this who is sucked into the game by the success of Blackpool Branches might fall for the trap of buying another overpriced s***show like NEC.

[@pelativeeeee190]

Actually, maintalbahn. And I agree with this. Plenty of people commented on Maintalbahn trailer that drop in the quality is visible.

[@potatoman451]

You're getting what you're buying so how is it a scam? There's nothing wrong with dtg releasing content

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

But there is something wrong with DTG frequently releasing low-quality content and rarely fixing bugs.

[@lukethomas.125]

@@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga Indeed. It's ridiculous considering what they offen charge for it compared to what they have on offer. Just Trains's Blackpool Branches route is a standalone route compared to other products on TSW because of the effor put into it, except Niddertalbahn which I love also.

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

Apart from Rivet Games' rubbish, I've noticed that third-party routes in TSW tend to be better than Dovetail's offerings, and I think that's because the 3rd-party devs have less pressure to adhere to a schedule and more time to work on their products. However, the release schedule doesn't excuse the (often) poor quality on Dovetail's part.

[@Ben-xj8ys]

How does it runs on the Xbox Series S?

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

I don't know because I do not play any console versions of TSW; only on the PC.

[@potatoman451]

They have stress tested a lot on last gen to get it running well so you're console would run it well

[@thebasilisk781]

It might be relevant that my Xbox One runs it fairly decently, except around Poulton where performance is poor. No crashes. Better than most routes

[@shadowmoderntvman]

Worth the buy ?

[@thatlittlefox.]

Yes.

[@DizNDat]

I've just got TSW4 and looking at the dlc's they are VERY expensive. £30 for 1x dlc is ridiculous. I would buy all the dlc's if they cost about £10 or £15 each. Instead i am not going to buy any.

[@theundeniedhugo]

Train sim world 4 already?

[@bagelbomb1887]

Sorry you are a little late for Train Sim World 4 Train Sim world 5 came out last week but is already outdated and all the cool kids are remortgaging their house so they can afford to pre order Train Sim World 6 😂

[@arianaashworth3091]

@@bagelbomb1887 They need to wait at least until GTA 6 comes out before they bring out TSW 5. Farming Simulator used to be every other year and yet Giants Software have decided they need to space new releases out further, albeit with more DLC in between.

[@supersprinter1564]

Not really a great value add on if you own a xbox costing £60 just to be able to play the Blackpool route .plus all the liverys added are pointless because most of us make our own liverys .

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

Not everyone has the patience to make their own liveries, like me.

[@nowapproachingyt]

I mean the main issue is that CC liveries are incredibly pixelated. Adding some high quality variety is definitely a bit more pleasing to me. And I don’t seem to understand where you got the ‘£60’ part for Xbox from?

[@jwrailve3615]

Xbox players got screwed. Seeing players on steam get dlc routes 30-70% off while we’re told “oh tsw4 delux is discounted!” Is ridiculous. I do understand it comes down to Microsoft on that but 40$ for this route even if it’s flawless isn’t worth it. Especially when I see it’s 60% off for other players. The remaining routes I don’t own only way I’d pay for them is if they were gifted or discounted 50% or more

[@potatoman451]

​@@nowapproachingytcuz you have to buy tsw4