Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7285 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: First Class Simulations
• Released on: 2006-10-26
• Platform: Windows XP

Manufacturer's Description
Two complete years in production, 'Great Eastern' runs from London Liverpool Street to Ipswich, a distance of approximately 80 miles, and will then also include the following branch lines: Southend Victoria, Southminster, Sudbury, Clacton, Walton-on-Naze and Harwich Town. (approximate distance 75 miles).

Great Eastern is set at the turn of the 1980s, just at the turn of Blue Grey into the Network Southeast 'toothpaste' livery. The general period will cover the years 1988-1992 This wider period allows a greater choice of stock i.e. Multiple units to run along side Loco hauled trains, into the impressive recently modernised London Liverpool Street Terminus.

Featuring a wide selection of classic AC multiple units and their more modern replacements in a selection of Blue Grey, Jaffacake and Network SouthEast liveries and wide selection of mainline diesel and AC Electric locomotives.

From single track diesel only branch lines to high speed non stop express, Great Eastern covers it all in a level of detail that has to been seen to be believed.

For this route, as well as the team behind London Southeast, we have recruited well known route builder Kerr McIntosh (builder of the fabulous freeware Scottish Central route) to aid and assist in this project.

With contributions from some of the best there is in the Trainsim world, the rolling stock is outstanding.

Customer Reviews

Amazing!
I have to strongly disagree with one of the reviewers. I found this add-on truly amazing. Having worked over these routes for most of my working life (now retired) as a Fireman in the 60s, a Guard in the 70s/80s and a Driver for 17 years, I found it all to be very realistic. The acceleration of the electric units is about right, taking in consideration of the gradients etc. Bridges are where they should be; a Driver needs to know were he is by looking at the landmarks like bridges. Gradients are also where they should be and require power on or power off just as you would in the real world. Braking is also about right. I can only assume that the reviewer who thinks the acceleration is not right has not tried the real thing! Trust me if there is a climb out of a station (not always noticed in the simulation but has been allowed for) the acceleration will seem slow. Station areas and sidings are also very realistic. I can only recommend this add-on to any Train simmer or enthusiast, as it is first class.

What a Masterpiece!!!
I've bought many a MSTS add-on in the time the sim has been around but nothing as yet has come as close to the realism this route has.

The route itself is magnificent with just so much detail. I thought that with this much detail the sim would be jerky & slow but my 3 year old PC (Athlon 3000+ XP (2.16GHz) with 1Gig RAM & Geforce 5600 ultra Grafix card) still runs it with the graphic levels set to highest / next highest settings.

The stock included with the route is amazing and very very realistic. I think it can be safely said it is the best quality stock i have found in an add-on yet.

The route also comes complete with enough activities to keep you occupied for a good few weeks at least!!!

Making Tracks have also released a couple of patches to the route which include a further section of branchline to run along with another extra section of route due to be added in the near future.

All in all this really has to be a 'must have' add-on for any MSTS fan.

Excellent and faithful recreation
The Train Simulator scene has been one where all manner of add-on routes have cropped up. Some good, some not so good.

One shining light in all of this though has been Making Tracks, who previously released London & South East (which centered on the routes out of London Bridge and Cannon Street).

This time they take to the Great Eastern, the primarily commuter line out of Liverpool Street which heads out towards Southend, Southminster, Harwich, Ipswich, Clacton and the like - it's a huge network of tracks with a wide variety of trains.

I've commuted on the line between Liverpool Street and Romford for many years, and it's quite spooky to drive a train on the route - I was watching where I was going and could actually place myself on the route accurately just by looking out of the driver's window. The approaches to Liverpool Street, Ilford and Stratford being particularly good from a personal point of view as I know the area well.

It's a demanding route PC-wise so you need quite a high-end machine to run (in my opinion). If you have a modern PC from the last year to 18 months you should do just fine with this simulation.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!