Midland Main Line: Hope Valley Extension

Compatibility: Train Simulator Classic

This product has been released, you can find out more on the product page

This challenging route links Sheffield to Manchester via the stunning Hope Valley before passing through Stockport and the suburbs of Manchester, finally reaching Piccadilly station. The route is over 55 miles in length and is Quick Drive enabled. 27 detailed stations are included, along with numerous new custom assets along the length of the route.

Fourteen scenarios which require additional payware add-ons are provided as well as ten scenarios which only require default Train Simulator stock.

You can download the Route Guide (27.5MB) here.

This route requires that the Just Trains Midland Main Line: Sheffield-Derby route is installed for it to work correctly.

The route is also available as the Hope Valley route for Train Simulator users who do NOT have the Midland Main Line: Sheffield-Derby route installed.

STATIONS

  • Dore and Totley
  • Grindleford
  • Hathersage
  • Bamford
  • Hope
  • Edale
  • Chinley
  • New Mills Central
  • Strines
  • Marple
  • Rose Hill Marple
  • Romiley
  • Woodley
  • Bredbury
  • Brinnington
  • Reddish North
  • Ryder Brow
  • Belle Vue
  • Ashburys
  • Ardwick
  • Manchester Piccadilly
  • Levenshulme
  • Heaton Chapel
  • Stockport
  • Davenport
  • Woodsmoor
  • Hazel Grove

FEATURES TO LOOK OUT FOR ON THE ROUTE

Driving from Dore and Totley to Manchester Piccadilly via New Mills:

  • Totley Tunnel East signal box
  • Totley Tunnel
  • Grindleford signal box
  • The Round Building, Hathersage
  • Hathersage Viaduct
  • Location of former Derwent branch line
  • Hope Cement Works junction
  • Hope Cement Works
  • Earles Sidings and signal box
  • Edale signal box
  • Cowburn Tunnel
  • Chinley Triangle
  • Chinley signal box
  • Buxworth station (disused)
  • New Mills South signal box
  • New Mills South junction
  • New Mills Tunnel and former Hayfield branch line
  • Torr Vale Mill
  • New Mills Millennium Walkway
  • New Mills Central signal box
  • Goyt Cliff Viaduct
  • Marple Wharf Junction
  • Marple Aqueduct
  • Marple Viaduct
  • Romiley Junction signal box
  • Romiley Junction
  • Brinnington M60 motorway bridge
  • Reddish Vale Viaduct
  • Belle Vue Stadium
  • Ashburys East Junction
  • Network Rail Manchester Rail Operating Centre
  • Ashburys West Junction
  • Ardwick Train Maintenance Depot
  • Network Rail Square One
  • Mayfield station (disused)
  • Star & Garter pub
  • London Road Fire Station building
  • Macdonald Hotel
Driving south from Ardwick Junction to Stockport and branching off towards New Mills:

  • Longsight Train Maintenance Depot
  • Slade Lane Junction
  • McVities factory
  • Heaton Norris Junction signal box
  • Heaton Norris Junction
  • LNWR Goods Warehouse
  • Stockport Viaduct
  • Hat Works museum
  • Bus Station
  • Daw Bank Stagecoach depot
  • Edgeley Junction No.1 & No.2 signal boxes
  • Edgeley Junction
  • Stepping Hill Hospital
  • Hazel Grove chord
  • Norbury Viaduct
  • Site of Hazel Grove Midland Railway station
  • Disley Tunnel
  • Swizzels factory
  • Newtown Viaduct

SCENARIOS

14 scenarios are included which require additional payware content.

10 scenarios are included which only require default Train Simulator stock.

Here’s a list of all the add-ons required to operate those scenarios which require additional payware stock:


Just Trains

  • Class 222 Advanced 2019
  • Class 20 Advanced Collection
  • Voyager Advanced 2019
  • Midland Main Line: Erewash Valley
  • Midland Main Line: Derby-Nottingham-Leicester Extension
Steam

  • EWS Class 66 v2.0 Loco Add-On
  • Freightliner Class 66 v2.0 Loco Add-On
  • EWS Class 67 Loco Add-On
  • EWS & Freightliner Class 08s Loco Add-On
  • Freightliner Class 70 Loco Add-On
  • Network SouthEast Class 159 DMU Add-On
  • Settle to Carlisle Route Add-On
  • BR Class 150/1 DMU Add-On
  • Welsh Marches: Newport - Shrewsbury Route Add-On
  • BR Class 170 ‘Turbostar’ DMU Add-On
  • South Wales Coastal: Bristol - Swansea Route Add-On
  • Portsmouth Direct Line: London Waterloo - Portsmouth Route Add-On
  • Class 390 EMU Add-On

Armstrong Powerhouse

  • Class 43 (MTU)/Mk3 Enhancement Pack
  • Class 158 (Perkins) Enhancement Pack
  • Class 158/159 (Cummins) Enhancement Pack
  • Class 66 Enhancement Pack
  • JPA Wagon Pack
  • HIA Wagon Pack
  • Mk2D-F Coach Pack
  • Class 156 Diesel Multiple Unit Pack
  • Class 142 Diesel Multiple Unit Pack
  • Class 150/1 Enhancement Pack
  • Class 319 Electric Multiple Unit Pack Vol. 1
  • Class 150/2 Diesel Multiple Unit Pack
  • Class 175 Enhancement Pack 2.0
  • Class 350 Enhancement Pack
  • Class 67 Enhancement Pack
  • Class 43 (VP185)/Mk3 Enhancement Pack
  • BAA/BZA Wagon Pack
  • Class 168/170/171 Enhancement Pack

Alan Thomson Sim

  • Alan Thomson Simulation and Imbue Studios - Class 185 Multiple Unit Pack

Standard scenarios requiring additional payware add-ons

[HV] [SD] 6E56 06:22 Tunstead – Drax
Drive 66617 from Chinley East Junction to Sheffield working 6E56 Tunstead-Drax loaded with limestone in September 2018.
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 45 minutes

[HV] 0H08 07:26 Earles Sidings – Bredbury R.T.S.
Drive a Class 66 from Earles Sidings to Bredbury R.T.S. in preparation to work 6F33 to Runcorn later in the morning.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 60 minutes

[HV] 2H11 11:21 Hazel Grove – Manchester Piccadilly
Drive a Class 319 from Hazel Grove to Manchester Piccadilly.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 30 minutes

[HV] 5S07 Longsight – New Mills / 2S07 New Mills Central – Manchester Piccadilly
Drive 150114 from Longsight Depot to New Mills Central via Stockport on 5S07 before returning on service 2S07 to Manchester Piccadilly via Romiley in early Summer 2018.
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 70 minutes

[HV] 6H41 Tunstead – Bredbury Tilcon
Drive 6H41 Tunstead – Bredbury Tilcon from Chinley South Junction to Bredbury in Summer 2018.
Difficulty: Hard
Duration: 60 minutes

[HV][SD] 2S77 20:14 Sheffield – Manchester Piccadilly
Drive a Class 142 from Sheffield to Manchester on 2S77 20:14 Sheffield to Manchester during the summer of 2018.
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 75 minutes

[HV][SD][EVL][DNL] 6G65 09:19 Earles Sidings – Walsall
Drive a Class 66 from Earles Sidings to Toton with a loaded cement train in July 2018. The maximum permitted speed is 60 MPH.
Difficulty: Hard
Duration: 85 minutes

[HV][SD] 1L13 14:52 Liverpool Lime Street – Norwich
Drive 1L13 14:52 Liverpool – Norwich from Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield in August 2018.
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 50 minutes

[HV] [SD] [EVL] [DNL] 6M55 14:21 Trowse Yard Redland Siding – Tunstead Sidings
Drive a Freightliner Class 66 on an empty aggregates working between Syston Junction and Chinley East Curve.
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 150 minutes

[HV] [SD] 1B68 07:53 Manchester Airport – Cleethorpes
Drive a TPE Class 185 unit working 1B68 between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 55 minutes

[HV] [SD] 2S82 10:49 Manchester Piccadilly – Sheffield
Drive a Northern Class 150/2 on a stopper service to Sheffield.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 80 minutes

[HV] 2S99 18:24 Rose Hill Marple – Manchester Piccadilly
Drive a pair of Northern Pacers from Rose Hill Marple to Manchester Piccadilly working 2S99 during the evening rush hour.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 40 minutes

[HV] 2S16 13:19 Manchester Piccadilly – New Mills Central
Drive 150123 on a stopping service to New Mills Central.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 35 minutes

[HV] Hope Cement Transfer
Take control of 20168 ‘Sir George Earle', moving various rakes of wagons between the sidings and the Cement Works.
Difficulty: Hard
Duration: 55 minutes


Standard scenarios using default Train Simulator stock

[Default] [HV] [SD] 6E56 06:22 Tunstead – Drax
Drive a Class 47 from Chinley East Junction to Sheffield working 6E56 Tunstead-Drax.
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 45 minutes

[Default] [HV] 0H08 07:26 Earles Sidings – Bredbury R.T.S.
Drive a Class 47 from Earles Sidings to Bredbury R.T.S. in preparation to work 6F33 to Runcorn later in the morning.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 60 minutes

[Default] [HV] 2H11 11:21 Hazel Grove – Manchester Piccadilly
Drive a stopping service from Hazel Grove to Manchester Piccadilly.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 30 minutes

[Default] [HV] 5S07 Longsight – New Mills / 2S07 New Mills Central – Manchester Piccadilly
Drive a DMU from Longsight Depot to New Mills Central via Stockport on 5S07 before returning on service 2S07 to Manchester Piccadilly via Romiley in early Summer 2018.
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 70 minutes

[Default] [HV][SD] 2S77 20:14 Sheffield – Manchester Piccadilly
Drive a DMU from Sheffield to Manchester on 2S77 20:14 Sheffield to Manchester during the summer of 2018.
Difficulty: Medium
Duration: 75 minutes

[Default] [HV] [SD] 1B68 07:53 Manchester Airport – Cleethorpes
Drive a DMU working 1B68 between Manchester Piccadilly and Sheffield.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 55 minutes

[Default] [HV] [SD] 2S82 10:49 Manchester Piccadilly – Sheffield
Drive a stopper service to Sheffield.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 80 minutes

[Default] [HV] 2S99 18:24 Rose Hill Marple – Manchester Piccadilly
Drive a DMU from Rose Hill Marple to Manchester Piccadilly working 2S99 during the evening rush hour.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 40 minutes

[Default] [HV] 2S16 13:19 Manchester Piccadilly – New Mills Central
Drive a stopping service to New Mills Central.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 35 minutes

[Default] [HV] Hope Cement Transfer
Take control of a Class 37 transferring a rake of cement wagons from the sidings to the cement works.
Difficulty: Easy
Duration: 20 minutes


Free Roam scenario

Pick a train and explore the route!

Manchester Piccadilly Free Roam

Development Updates

19 September 2022

So we come to the end of the line (No pun intended). We're extremely excited to be bringing you the final update for the Hope Valley Extension ahead of release. It's taken a while but we're sure everyone will agree it's been worth the wait! This selection of images offers an in depth look at two of the final areas from the route - Longsight Traction Maintenance Depot and Manchester Piccadilly Station.

Manchester Piccadilly is the principal railway station situated in the heart of Manchester's City Centre. It opened originally as Store Street in 1842 but was then renamed a few years later to London Road. Eventually in 1960 the station was re-named to its current name, Manchester Piccadilly. This station boasts 14 platforms and a grand glass station canopy towering over 12 of these and the two other platforms, 13 and 14 and the through lines where services continue to destinations such as Liverpool,Scotland the Lake District to the North and Manchester Airport, London and towards Sheffield and beyond to the South and East.

Longsight Depot was erected in 1842 by the Manchester and Birmingham Railway. This facility consisted of workshops and sheds for carriages and locos. Also located here was a 12-road roundhouse which today sadly does not exist. Various train operators can be seen working out of this depot such as Northern, Avanti West Coast, Cross Country and Trans Pennine Express. This depot is a hive of activity all times.

We do hope you like these final images and to all of you who go on to purchase this extensive part of the Midland Main Line we wish you all many hours of enjoyment!


13 September 2022

As we draw closer to completion of the route, we have just a couple more dev entries to bring you before release.

This selection of images shows areas surrounding the outskirts of Manchester Piccadilly: Ardwick, Ashburys and around the station area including Mayfields disused platforms.


05 August 2022

Here's the latest development update for the Midland Main Line: Hope Valley Line.

The route is progressing nicely as we get closer to Manchester Piccadilly, with just a couple of miles of the route to be developed. This area however is very detailed and involved. These latest shots focus on locations at Levenshulme, Heaton Chapel and Heaton Norris. We hope you'll agree, it's starting to look absolutely stunning.

Enjoy these latest shots.


06 July 2022

As we reach the latter stages of the development of this part of the Midland Main Line we thought we'd share a few new screenshots.

These images show the continuation of work around Edgeley and Stockport station, along with a couple of screenshots at Heaton Norris Junction and Heaton Chapel station, all images depict work in progress areas of the Hope Valley Route.

Enjoy the shots. 

 

 


23 May 2022

This update brings you some shots of areas we've yet to feature including a number of new stations and bridges along the route. The route crosses several rivers, the River Goyt and River Tame to name a few and there are a number of viaducts and aqueducts which allow the railway to cross or pass under these waterways.

The stations on show are: Marple, Hazel Grove, Woodsmoor and Davenport. And that's not all, also included are some first-look Work In Progress shots of Stockport Station. The model itself is pretty much finished and and just requires clutter to be added. This station will be a very busy one and you'll most certainly find yourself calling there when running various scenarios.

We're not too far from completion of the main route but there will be further updates to follow pretty soon. Hope you enjoy these latest shots!

 

05 April 2022

We're glad to be able to bring you our next Development Update as progress on the route speeds up.

Below you'll see a selection of shots showing off Manchester Piccadilly Station with various views of the model and all new clutter. This task has been solely in the hands of our in-house asset developer Callum.

The content shown is as usual WIP, with surrounding scenery still to be completed and OHLE not yet placed in the area. We hope you enjoy this first look at what will be a very important focal point of the upcoming route. Enjoy the pics!


28 February 2022

Here's the latest update on the Midland Main Line: Hope Valley Line. This entry features some new areas of the route that have yet to be revealed, areas such as New Mills Central Station, New Mills South Junction Signal Box, Buxworth, Chapel Milton Viaduct, Hazel Grove Chord and Reddish North Station.

You'll also notice the final shot in this batch is a very early WIP shot depicting Manchester Piccadilly station, more from the station as it progresses. Hope you like the new bulky buffer models that have also been created for the terminating platforms. There's still a fair amount of work to go into the model such as the concourse area which we will show off soon. We hope for now this image gives you a taste of what's to come!

As usual all areas featured are still under Work In Progress and are subject to change.

            

 

26 January 2022

Here's our first Development Update on the Midland main Line Hope Valley Line for 2022.

The route is progressing nicely and the scenery has been heavily expanded across the core of the Hope Valley between New Mills Junction and Dore & Totley.

Work between New Mills Junction and Hazel Grove is close to completion too and we'll show more from that section later when we are in a better position to share images with you all.

The images you see here feature several areas such as Grindleford, Hope Earles Cement Works & Sidings, Chinley, Hathersage and more.

We do 'hope' you enjoy these latest shots.
 

 


04 November 2021

Here's a quick development update on the Midland Main Line: Hope Valley.

You'll find below a new selection of in development screenshots showing the latest progress on the route. These feature a cement train on the section between Bamford and Chinley as well as a group of images showing 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' on a railtour navigating the steep climb to Cowburn Tunnel before racing through Edale and onwards through Hope towards Grindleford.

Hope you like the shots, aim is to bring more news and new shots prior to the New Year.


23 June 2021

Here's a new selection of In Development screenshots showing work in progress sections of scenery between Ardwick and Cowburn Tunnel near Chinley,the summit of the Hope Valley Route. Enjoy the shots!


13 January 2021

So another part of our Midland Main Line network is now underway. The Hope Valley Line will prove a popular new section to the network and you can rest assured of the highest quality as per the rest of the Midland Main Line.  Just to start off here's a set of initial screenshots just to give you a taster.  Keep up to date on this page with our regular development updates that will include screenshots, videos and more. 

 


Midland Main Line: Hope Valley Extension
Train Simulator Classic