Dovetail Games has released a major upgrade to the West Somerset Railway Add-on for Train Sim World 4 video game that includes a new timetable, updated scenery, and the addition of steam locomotives.

The original route between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, for Train Sim World, had just two diesel locomotives – a Class 09 shunter and a Class 47.

Since then, Dovetail Games has increased the variety of locomotives available as Add-ons to provide more variety in the trains that can be operated along the line.

The latest upgrades are based on a timetable at a steam gala on the line last year. They include new lighting and weather features, improvements to the scenery at Minehead and Watchet, and a short extension from Norton Fitzwarren to include part of the Bristol to Exeter main line.

One of the additional locomotives in the Add-on is a ‘Western’ Class 52 diesel-hydraulic that is currently undergoing restoration by the Diesel Electric Preservation Group at Williton on the West Somerset Railway.

The West Somerset Railway Add-on is available on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, and players that own both the latest game, Train Sim World 4, and that Add-on will receive the latest upgrades completely free. Note, that it may not release on all platforms at the same time of day.

Steam train services will be available for those with the additional back catalogue content in their collection.

Matt Peddlesden, Executive Producer of Train Sim World: “The West Somerset Railway is one of my favourite preserved lines and was among the first UK lines we built in Train Sim World so it’s an immense pleasure to have the opportunity to revisit it and bring it up to date with all the latest graphics and technology that have come to the simulation since then.”

The full-size West Somerset Railway is one of Somerset’s premier attractions. This year’s services start on 23rd March 2024, and it will hold a Spring Steam Spectacular over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend from Friday, 3rd to Monday, 6th May.