Buy Train Simulator Classic Train Simulator: BR Class 150/1 DMU Add-On PC key

Train Simulator Classic Train Simulator: BR Class 150/1 DMU Add-On adds the British Rail Class 150/1 diesel multiple unit to Train Simulator. You can drive the unit using its recreated controls and cab features.

The Class 150

The Class 150/1 was the first production variant of the Sprinter DMU, developed to replace ageing diesel multiple units on Britain’s rural and unelectrified rail network. Its design was based on the Mk3 bodyshell and was nearly identical to the Class 150 prototypes, but without their intermediate car. British Rail ordered 50 Class 150/1 units for Regional Railways, and they entered service in 1986, mainly around Manchester and Birmingham.

The Class 150 prototypes, 150001 and 150002, were built by BREL in York in 1984 as three-car units to test different engines and transmissions. 150001 used a Cummins engine with Voith hydraulic transmission; 150002 had a Rolls Royce, later Perkins, engine and self-changing mechanical transmission. After testing at Derby’s Railway Technical Centre, they began preliminary services on the Matlock branch and were tested around Britain, including in Manchester, Birmingham, Aberystwyth, the Welsh Valleys, Glasgow and Inverness. 150001 was also displayed at St. Pancras. It proved more reliable than 150002, which was reclassified as Class 154 and modified for work developing the Class 158 Express Sprinter before later returning to Class 150 specification. Both prototypes continued to run on Reading shuttle services.

Service and liveries

Angel Trains took ownership of the Class 150/1 fleet when rail franchises began, leasing units to operators including Silverlink, North Western Trains and Central Trains. Today, Northern operates 28 units, Great Western Railway 17 and London Midland 3. GWR uses its Class 150/1s on West of England services from Cardiff through Bristol and Exeter, and the units can be coupled with one another and other BSI-equipped units. They usually operate alone, but may run in pairs during peak hours and busier periods, particularly in coastal areas. Their lack of inter-unit gangways can restrict passenger movement between units and leave a guard cut off from one half of a train. GWR’s Class 150/1s retain the ‘Plain Blue’ livery; the prototype 150001 is the only Class 150 without a gangway that has been refurbished following the First Great Western to Great Western Railway rebrand.

The Class 150 bodyshell has also served other rail purposes. Network Rail used the gangway-less design as the basis for a Class 950 track assessment unit, fitted with testing and measuring equipment. The same bodyshell was used for Northern Ireland Railways’ Class 450, built for the network’s 5ft 3in (1600mm) gauge.

Scenarios

The add-on includes three career scenarios for the South Wales Coastal: Bristol - Swansea route:

• 2U06 -0737 Weston-super-Mare to Cardiff Central: drive the 0737 service from Weston-super-Mare to Cardiff Central.
• 2C85 – 1700 Cardiff Central to Taunton: drive the 1700 service from Cardiff Central to Taunton.
• 1F30 – 1723 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central: drive the 1723 service from Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central.

Included features

• Bonus ex-Silverlink London Overground livery.
• DMS and DMSL vehicles.
• AWS, DRS, wiper and independent headlight controls.
• Acceleration and braking characteristics matched to the prototype.
• Quick Drive compatibility.