West Coast Main Line: Crewe - Preston follows on from Just Trains’ highly acclaimed
West Coast Main Line: Preston - Carlisle and
Blackpool Branches: Preston - Blackpool & Ormskirk route add-ons and further expands our network in this area of the UK. It’s full speed north as this route departs from the historic railway town of Crewe and runs through detailed and highly immersive scenery to the hub of Preston. Along with the option to drive the non-electrified lines to Fiddler’s Ferry power station, the Haydock branch and the line to Bickershaw Colliery, you have over 60 miles to drive!
Set in the late 1980s, the route features the electrified core of the West Coast Main Line from Crewe to Preston, but you can also operate coal trains from the colliery at Bickershaw through to Fiddler’s Ferry power station, where you will become part of the merry-go-round coal delivery operation. You can also take the branch line to the Haydock fuel terminal.
Developed with period route maps and accurate elevation data, the route boasts a wide variety of iconic signal box designs and an interesting mix of conventional UK colour light and upper-quadrant semaphore signalling in conjunction with electrified and non-electrified dual-line operations that include neutral sections for you to handle.
The route includes ten detailed stations, all with a plethora of period-correct clutter and signage to provide the correct late-1980s atmosphere.
A great variety of route-specific custom assets such as bridges, buildings and track-side features provide an immersive environment and ensure that the route is fully recognisable to those who are familiar with it.
The signal boxes at Arpley Junction and Fiddler’s Ferry have accurately modelled interiors from which you can watch the various services drive past.
There is a wealth of content for you to enjoy, such as the impressive and complex Class 86/4, BR Mk.1 and BR Mk.2 coaches, and the HAA and HEA coal wagons. The Class 86/4 loco is 100 MPH-rated and provided power for mixed services on the West Coast Main Line. It will look right at home as it storms along the line.
Also included with this route are tutorials which cover the basic operations of the Class 86/4, Class 08, Class 20 and Class 47/3, five scenarios, a set of Collectables for you to find, two Mastery challenges, three Achievements to gain and 24-hour Journeys mode. You can also layer-in other compatible Train Sim World add-ons that you own, making West Coast Main Line: Crewe - Preston a unique driving experience and a true visual treat.
See the Detailed Description below for full details of the route and the included rolling stock.
The PDF manual is included with the software and you can download it here. A printer-friendly version is also available.
KEY FEATURES
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60-mile network of lines in the North-West of England
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Includes the high speed main line between Preston and Crewe
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Based in 1986/7
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Ten highly detailed stations
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Class 86/4 (five liveries)
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Class 47/3 diesel locomotive (two liveries)
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Class 08 ‘Gronk’ (six liveries)
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Class 20 (two liveries)
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Mk.1 NEA coaches (two liveries)
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Mk.1 RBR coach (one livery)
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Mk.2d BFK coach (one livery)
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Mk.2d FK coaches (two liveries)
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Mk.2e coaches (two liveries)
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HAA hopper wagons
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HEA hopper wagons
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Training modules covering basic operations for the Class 86/4, Class 08, Class 20 and Class 47/3 plus tutorials on Slow Speed Control and loading and unloading operations
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Five varied scenarios
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Collectables in varied locations for you to find
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Three Mastery challenges
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Conductor Mode - choose whether you want to drive the train or be the guard
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Intra-Route Hopping - gives you the ability to travel along different points on the route
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Inter-Route Hopping - lets you cross to a different route at the same location. For West Coast Main Line Crewe-Preston you will be able to route hop to West Coast Main Line: Preston - Carlisle, Blackpool Branches, West Coast Main Line Birmingham to Crewe and West Coast Main Line Crewe to Milton Keynes if you have them installed.
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24-hour Journey Mode
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Many unique landmarks and buildings along the route
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Signal boxes at Warrington Arpley and Fiddler's Ferry have modelled interiors you can enter
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Extensive, true-to-life, real-world 24-hour timetable with many hundreds of driveable services and numerous AI workings
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A mix of conventional UK colour light and upper-quadrant semaphore signalling in conjunction with dual-line operations
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Powered by Dovetail Games’ proprietary SimuGraph vehicle dynamics engine and Unreal Engine 4 technology
STATIONS
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Crewe
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Winsford
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Hartford
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Acton Bridge
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Warrington Bank Quay
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Earlestown
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Newton-le-Willows
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Wigan North Western
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Leyland
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Preston
LOCOMOTIVES
Class 86/4
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Class 86/4 BR Blue
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Class 86/4 Electric Blue
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Class 86/4 InterCity Executive
Class 47/3
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Class 47/3 BR Blue
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Class 47/3 Railfreight Grey
Class 08
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Class 08 BR Blue Type A
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Class 08 BR Blue Type B
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Class 08 BR Blue Type C
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Class 08 BR Blue Type C (weathered)
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Class 08 BR Blue Type D
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Class 08 08744 – Wigan TMD
Class 20
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Class 20 Blue
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Class 20 Railfreight Grey
ROLLING STOCK
Mk.1 NEA coach
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BR Blue/Grey
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BR InterCity
Mk.1 RBR coach
Mk.2D coach
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Mk.2D FK (First Class Compartment passenger coach)
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Mk.2D BFK (Brake First Class Corridor passenger coach)
Mk.2E coaches
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Mk.2e TSO (Tourist Second Open passenger coach)
HAA coal wagon
HEA wagons
SCENARIOS
Five exciting and varied scenarios are included.
TIMETABLE
This spreadsheet provides a Working Timetable overview of the Preston to Crewe and Fiddlers Ferry route; whilst it doesn't show absolutely every train, it should give you a good idea of what to expect, and when!
LAYERING
If you have any of the add-ons listed below in your Steam library, the West Coast Main Line: Crewe - Preston route timetable will call on the appropriate locomotives and rolling stock from it to allow you to enjoy a fuller timetable experience.
Note: These additional add-ons are not required for the West Coast Main Line: Crewe - Preston
route to operate; they are optional add-ons which, if you own them, will give you a more authentic experience.
Compatible add-ons as of May 2026:
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Tees Valley Line: Darlington – Saltburn-by-the-Sea Route Add-On (for the Class 37 ‘Tractor’ diesel locomotive)
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West Cornwall Local: Penzance - St Austell & St Ives Route Add-On (for the Seacow and Turbot wagons)
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Spirit of Steam: Liverpool Lime Street - Crewe Route Add-On (for the 16t mineral wagon and 20t brake van)
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BR Heavy Freight Pack Loco Add-On (for the Class 40 diesel locomotive and 12t van)
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BR Class 20 ‘Chopper’ Loco Add-On (for the PGA wagon)
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BR Class 31 Loco Add-On (for the Class 31 diesel locomotive and PCA-V cement tank wagon)
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Blackpool Branches: Preston - Blackpool & Ormskirk (for the Class 142 ‘Pacer’ Diesel Multiple Unit and TEA wagon)
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Northern Trans-Pennine: Manchester - Leeds Route Add-On (for the Class 45 ‘Peak’ diesel locomotive)
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West Coast Main Line: Preston – Carlisle (for the Class 87 electric locomotive, Class 47/4 diesel locomotive, BBA wagon, Mk3a coaches, Mk2a coaches and Mk1 BG coaches)
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BR Class 86/2 & Mk2F Coaches (for the Class 86/2 electric locomotive, Mk2F coaches and Mk1 RMB coach)
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Peak Forest Railway: Ambergate - Chinley & Buxton Route Add-On (for the ICI hopper wagon)
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Cargo Line Vol. 5 - Nuclear (for the FNA wagon)
TRAINING MODULES
To help you master the included trains and locomotives, a set of training modules is available to take you through the basics. We have included training tutorials for the Class 86/4, Class 20, Class 08 and Class 47.
ROUTE HOPPING
In West Coast Main Line: Crewe - Preston, Route Hopping lets you cross to a different route at the same location in the following routes as long as you have those routes installed:
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Blackpool Branches: Preston - Blackpool & Ormskirk
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West Coast Main Line: Preston - Carlisle
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West Coast Main Line: Birmingham - Crewe
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West Coast Main Line: Crewe - Milton Keynes
This feature is available at Preston and Crewe Stations only.