@Morphi As mentioned above there is the North London route, which is slow but quite varied, there is also a backdated route that is done very well, but possibly an era that doesn't interest you. Wherry lines is great and the class 37 sounds are very good, in some ways it is a little limited, but brilliant. Trent Valley is nicely done, but for me it is quite limited in that you can only really go from a to b. There is also GEML which has Inter-City, commuter and freight. This is best bought as a twin pack with the AP class 90 http://store.steampowered.com/sub/33561/. South London Network is also another commuter route with a lot of different routes http://store.steampowered.com/app/222638/. London-Brighton, although older is still a good route as well, primarily passenger, but with some freight http://store.steampowered.com/app/208280/. Chatham mainline as mentioned is another southern passenger route http://store.steampowered.com/app/376946/. There is also Edinburgh - Glasgow from Thomson, like many of their routes it is a little limited but still ok. Mainly Diesel Passenger. Best bought as a twin pack with the 08 as this adds a part of the route, although I see it no longer tells you this in the description. http://store.steampowered.com/app/222578/. The Riviera line is also a nice little passenger line http://store.steampowered.com/app/222632/ slow and fast trains. London to Faversham is a high speed commuter line, older but still good and AP are working on an enhancement pack for the Javelin, however it is also limited in some ways. There is a bundle that will give you the expansion pack and some additional EMU's that can be used on other routes http://store.steampowered.com/app/222557/?snr=1_5_9__300 . West coast mainline and WCML over shap are also good, but come with older trains, you would need to buy modern trains to run over these routes, they are however excellent although the first is a little dated now, but it will give you the HST buffers pack if you need it. http://store.steampowered.com/app/24083/ & http://store.steampowered.com/app/222613/ Midland mainline is also ok, if a little short http://store.steampowered.com/app/277760/ . Portsmouth direct is ok if you get the patch from DP Simulations http://store.steampowered.com/app/65218/ . I think that is enough for now, of course you can also drive on older routes with moder. stock as well. Even if you only use workshop scenarios you will need to buty other add-ons, and if you go outside the workshop then you will probably need need AP/Waggonz add-ons 313/32/456. If you value your ears then you will also need AP sound/enhancement packs. For re-skins/ some free scenario packs you should become familiar with DP simulations http://www.dpsimulation.org.uk/ and you should think about a subscription to UKTS even if only for a month at a time. It is well worth the money. the best strategy is to wait for steam sales and AP sales and buy strategically, maybe sound packs for add-ons you don't have but will buy because they are on sale, or a train you don't need yet but will later, I'm sure you know how it goes. JT also do some nice add-ons, but I find that their routes are not always so wonderful. Western main lines is ok, but you need a good computer and a few other add-ons https://www.justtrains.net/product/western-mainlines . Their Edinburgh-Newcastle route is ok, but not what is should be. Hopefully this is enough to get you going.
Edit: I forgot to say, I have no problems with crashes on the Bristol Swansea route. The route is ok, but not as interesting as it would have been in 1970-1980.
