Traffic Control: Modern Era (1986 onwards) (DOS)

The meaning of "modern" is subjective, of course. We've made an arbitrary split, and the simulations in this section are those set after we began producing simulations. This means that in most cases it was possible to do the necessary research on the spot, and not rely on historic documentation.

Silver Series: Aire Valley 1995 - Our first from Brian Hornsey, this covers the largely freight line from Knottingley to Drax power station, including Knottingley triangle, station and depot, Kellingley colliery, Sudforth Lane sidings, and the power stations at Eggborough and Drax. There are five track screens. You have to route all the merry-go-round services to and from the power stations, as well as handling a variety of other traffic. You have to provide power for services originating at Sudforth Lane, and for some light engine workings, as well as sometimes replacing locos needing fuel or other attention at the depot. (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Silver Series: Ashford 1996 - Much requested, and giving you a chance to control Channel Tunnel traffic, both passenger and freight. You can even go one up on the real thing and choose to introduce the long-awaited North-Of-London Eurostar service! On several services electric units join or divide. Another 6 am to 10 pm simulation, thus including both morning and evening commuter services, many of which originate or terminate at Ashford. (Difficulty ###) Price £30

Birmingham 1993 - Similar to the 1982 version, but with the interim Cross-City service operating - electric only north to Lichfield, with diesel units maintaining the service south to Longbridge and Redditch. More HSTs on the cross-country routes, but still plenty of loco-changing. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Bristol 1990 - Frequent Regional Railways services between Cardiff and Portsmouth compete for platform space with Inter-City services from Paddington, also between the South-West and North-East. There are also local services to Weston, Taunton and Gloucester, and occasional Regional Railways services to Southampton, Weymouth and Exeter. Substantial parcels traffic and occasional freight workings use the through lines and parcels platform, while engines and units visit Bath Road depot for servicing or refuelling. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Cardiff 1992 - Deal with frequent local services on the Valley lines, also Regional Railways services to Portsmouth and beyond, Manchester and Liverpool, and Nottingham, most of which originate or terminate at Cardiff. There are also Inter-City services to and from Paddington, some of which terminate and form return workings. You also have to cope with extensive freight traffic, while units visit Canton depot for servicing or refuelling. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Crewe 1992 - Perhaps the best known station in the country, and still busy, with cross-country services to Stoke, Shrewsbury and Chester and local services to Manchester and Liverpool, as well as through passenger and some freight services on the West Coast main line. Your task includes engine changing on some parcels workings, and sometimes on local and Holyhead services due to shortage of HSTs or multiple units. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Doncaster 1992 - Deal with frequent electric services on the East Coast main line and Inter-City cross-country services on the North-East / South-West route, also cross-country Sprinter services between Humberside and Sheffield/Manchester that must cross the main lines. Add to this terminating local services, mainly on the Lincoln and Leeds lines, and a fair amount of freight traffic, and your task is not easy. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Edinburgh 1994 - A modernised version of the 1985 version introduced last year, with mostly second generation multiple units on local services, and Inter-City 125 and 225 on long distance services, though some loco-hauled cross-country services do remain. Double use of some platforms is necessary to maintain the schedule. (Difficulty ##) Price £20.

Euston 1987 - still the busiest terminus in the country for loco-hauled trains, seen here before the introduction of DVTs reduced the number of loco movements. Warning - this one is complex and difficult; please try one of our easier games first! Not recommended for beginners!! (Difficulty ####) Price £20

Silver Series: Exeter 1990 - This has four track screens, and extends from St Thomas in the south to Cowley Bridge Junction in the north, and to Exmouth Junction in the east. It includes both St Davids and Central stations, and Riverside Yard, as well as the diesel stabling and fuelling point. There is extensive freight traffic based on Riverside Yard, with ballast workings to and from Meldon Quarry as well as Speedlink traffic and some company trains. There are trip workings to several private sidings in the Exeter area. (Difficulty ####) Price £30

Glasgow Queen Street 1987 - a busy morning in this Scottish terminus, with West Highland and Inverness services as well as Edinburgh and local traffic and holiday extras. Your task includes resolving problems caused by occasional non-availability of class 47/7 for push-pull services. (Difficulty #) Price £20

Kings Cross 1990 - quite a contrast with 1978: almost nothing loco-hauled remains, the electric suburban service is now much more frequent, and Class 91 "Electra" are appearing on Leeds services. Kings Cross is busier than ever - can you handle it? (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Leeds 1993 - This is one of the busiest stations in the north, and is the hub of a particularly intensive local service, with routes to Harrogate, Ilkley, Bradford, Sheffield, Wakefield, Doncaster and Selby, as well as several longer-distance regional services. Most of these are handled by diesel multiple units, and you are permitted to have two of these in one bay platform when necessary. The main difference from our previous Leeds 1989 version is the inclusion of holding points to allow a route to be set in two stages, easing the handling of conflicts between the various routes to and from the west. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Liverpool Lime Street 1986 - lots of action at this busy terminus on two main routes, with frequent local services and most main-line services loco-hauled. Make sure that each service gets the right engine - electric to Euston and the south, or the appropriate diesel for Trans-Pennine, North Wales or the north. (Difficulty ##) Price £20

Manchester Piccadilly 1990 - This is now one of the busiest stations in the country, with an intensive local service as well as through trains to most parts of the country. The through platforms 13 and 14 are particularly busy, with trains every few minutes including the Trans-Pennine services now diverted through Piccadilly. Most types of present-day passenger motive power appear, including units of classes 101, 108, 142, 150, 155, 156 and 304, as well as diesel and electric locomotives. Includes 1991 version, with class 158 on Trans-Pennine services! (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Newcastle 1994 - Following the 1993 remodelling, with a frequent local service between Sunderland and the Metro Centre crossing through and terminating services on the East Coast Main Line, and through freight on some routes. Through and terminating InterCity services include electrics, HSTs and loco-hauled cross-country trains; there are also Trans-Pennine class 158 services. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Norwich 2002 - After electrification and track rationalisation, manage this busy terminus on a summer weekday. There are three main traffic flows: through trains to/from London, local services on the coast lines, and through trains to the Midlands and North-West. You also have to handle empty stock working to/from Crown Point depot, and a few freight and postal workings. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Paddington 1986 - more recent operation, with Inter-City 125 and class 50, also the regular local service. Extra loco-hauled services have to be fitted in between groups of the High-Speed Trains. (Difficulty ##) Price £20

Penzance 1988 -similar to 1984, but with fewer loco-hauled services and increased local workings. (Difficulty #) Price £20

Peterborough 1988 - On the busy East Coast main line, on a weekday in late summer, with lots of HST traffic to Leeds, Newcastle and Scotland. With the wires energised to Leeds, class 91 Electras are on test, and the solitary class 89 is also to be seen. Substantial freight traffic and regular cross-country services, some using the main line to Grantham, complicate your task. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Preston 1989 - Busier than you might expect, with frequent local services to Blackpool (North and South), Manchester, York and the Liverpool area, as well as through passenger and freight services on the West Coast main line. Your task includes engine changing on main line services from Blackpool North, and between Scotland and Manchester. Style is similar to Manchester Piccadilly 1990. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Reading 1989 - still busy with through and local services, with Devon and Cornwall services diverging from the Great Western main line, as well as the reversal of Bournemouth line services to and from the north. (Difficulty ###) Price £20

Westbury 1989 - the junction of the GWR West of England main line and the cross-country route from Bristol to Salisbury and Southampton, as well as the hub of the Mendips stone traffic. More freight than in most of our simulations, with pleanty of engine changes. (Difficulty ###) Price £20