With me now home from a trip to Atlanta, I'm gonna go over the details of what we know about HIS's ATSF pack that is gonna come from them in the future. For what we know, 1st and foremost, that this is a "GAMEPLAY" pack. So it's safe to bet that all the locomotives will be used from models that already exist in game (Though this doesn't apply to rolling stock) LOCOMOTIVES Given the era that the pack is supposed to be set in, it will be the "Superfleet" Era of the Santa Fe Railroad from the 1990's to their merger with the BN in 1995. (Most Likely) GE C40-8W The 1st locomotive that will probably be used in this pack, and be the headliner of it, will be a C40-8W, using the CSX model as a base. The Santa Fe had 152 of them delivered, numbered 800-951. With road numbers 927-951 being the C41-8W model with 4,135hp vs the 4000 of the C40 models. All of these are expected in the "SuperFleet" Warbonnet paint. One model change that will need to be made to the CSX model is the number board location, moving from the nose to the top of the cab. (Most Likely) EMD SD40-2 A tried and true American Workhorse, the SD40-2 is the other locomotive I expect with this is the SD40-2. As they were still seen working for the ATSF in this era. They had 187 unit's, numbered 5020-5192, and 5200-5213 Santa Fe had 2 version's of the SD40-2. The ones with 88" nose's and those with locotrol with 123" noses (Usually called Snoot noses). I only expect the shorter nose to be represented, but cover all numbers for simplicity sake. These would be in the typical Santa Fe Blue and Yellow bonnet scheme, as they weren't part of the Superfleet program, and all lost their Kodachrome paint after the failed SP-ATSF merger in 1988. (So-So) EMD GP38u Rebuilt GP38's, the ATSF had 61 of them, renumbered to 2300-2360 after the rebuilds. Would only need to make some external changes to the GP38-2 model to represent a GP38 model, plus the added stuff from the rebuild. (Unlikely) EMD GP38-2 So I did some more research, and the ATSF did have some GP38-2's. They all came from the TP&W railroad. But they only had 11 of them, so its a very small roster. The Ex-TP&W units also had no DB's. They were numbered around 2371-2380. (Unlikely) EMD SD40u In the 1980's the ATSF rebuilt their small roster of SD40's from the 60's into SD40u's renumbering them in the process. They only had 18 of them, numbered 5000-5019. These probably wont come in the pack due to their small numbers. The loco's below are all those that are somewhat similar to existing models, but would require an extensive rework to be accurate to both the model and physics of the locomotive. GE C44-9W (Off of the AC44) The Dash 9 was pretty much the DC counterpart to the AC44. The ATSF had 100 ordered and delivered before the BNSF merger, and were numbered 600-699. Like the Dash 8, they were painted in Superfleet paint. GP39-2 (Off of the GP38-2) Like pretty much every loco in the 38,39,and 40 series of EMD's GP and EMD's of the era, the GP39-2 shares the same frame as the GP38-2, with only minor external changes needed to be done to the carbody to make it a GP39-2 (Mainly the exhausts) The ATSF had 106 GP39-2's numbered 3600-3705, though 3600-3616 were sold in 1993 off the ATSF roster. ROLLING STOCK As far as rolling stock is concerned, we only have a small batch of stock that currently represents the 1990's properly, as most stock is too new for this era. However I do expect some new models to come in to correctly represent this era. ATSF branded Trailers. One positive for this pack, is proper US styled trailers for TOFC trains, the only issue I see is that most trailers are now the longer 48ft ones that started to come up in this era, and the only TOFC car we have is the 89ft flatcar, which can't fit 2 48ft trailers on it. Could potentially see a Spine Car coming, but not 100% sure. However 45ft trailers were still common in this time, not to mention UPS's trailers as well. ATSF Branded Containers Same thing like the trailers, 48ft was the standard for "Domestic" intermodal in this era. We would need a new well car, as the Husky Stack and Maxi IV's are too new for this era. Other cars that would need to be new would be Tank cars as those models are also too new for the era. TIMETABLE/SCENERIOS For the most part, this will most likely be a separate timetable for Cajon Pass from the current one, if HIS can figure that out. Outside of that, I expect a handful of scenarios that HIS usually puts together, though I dont expect nothing too fancy or special with these. Also don't expect any layering, unless HIS uses the SD40-2 from Sherman Hill, as that is the only loco with any close resemblance to the 90's we currently have in game. Also the Palmdale Cutoff would be devoid of traffic, due to no Southern Pacific stock. All in all, in time, well see how HIS tackles this project.
Interesting. Credit to HIS for grabbing the loose ball that DTG couldn't be bothered to pick up. Only question is whether this gameplay pack will appear before the end of the year. Same question concerning the route that HIS are apparently building. Might be the Saluda Grade, a 70 mile route which they have built for TSC. I hope it is an NS route somewhere in the East.
The HIS routes were built as contract work by G-TraX / GreatNorthener / Wayne Campbell - I am not sure Gary will do Gameplay packs only for TSW or if he's contracted the route builders also. I have no clue how old the boys are, Gary himself must be in his 80s?
The Roadmap article mentions Michael (GN) and Rick (G-Trax), but no Campbell. So not sure if Rick and Gary are doing the route work, or the others haven't committed yet. We also don't know anything about their route.
Im looking fwd to the HIS stuff , I also hope they bring Saluda grade route to TSW ,would playing that route with Hi Hood SD 40 2 s in SR and NS liveries could have the F7 in SR and NS C40 9 w s the CSX c40 8w could be fitted for those .
Lots of wishful thinking on your part, rolling stock i.e. freight cars are never a selling point of DLC. It is the shiny locomotives that attract customers. And knowing the workings of HIS on TSC, it will probably be a shallow pack with repaints of existing stock and some fancy scenarios. There are lots of little details specific to certain railroads, that need to be removed, altered or changed. Otherwise we'll get an ATSF loco with a CSX cab. So let's wait and be surprised, either for the good or for the bad. In any case, the Southwestern USA scene could use some new stuff, so for many it is a compulsory purchase in the trend of 'better poor stock than no stock at all'?
eh, be not surprise if at least a new rolling stock be included, much like Skyhook did for their Cargo Line packs (or Rivet with the Aggregate Pack for Arosa). And depending on how much reference they got and done, would expect reuse locos to either be at least a Dash 8 and/or an SD40 to do the mainline haul, with a GP38 if an option for local or yard switching is also included (just making guess work here). Not to mention how the timetable is gonna look as well, since it's a bit odd to layer in a UP SD40, but best to save that for a later day.
Not really? Union Pacific had their own traffic on the ATSF line to connect with their line north of Barstow to the LA Basin, and they used the Cajon Subdivision all the way down. (Since the Southern Pacific owned the Palmdale Cutoff at the time) So having the UP SD40-2 from Sherman Hill isn't that odd, since it would add a more realistic and varied traffic on that line (It would just need to pull the correct era cars) Since the Sherman Hill SD40-2 is probably the closest West Coast locomotive to the 90's with its paint and number series (The ditch lights are really the only issue, since not all of UP's SD40s had them installed at the time)
The UP AC44's does NOT have the correct paint scheme for the era, their 1st AC44's had the basic livery that SHG never bothered to include. The number series also covers locomotives that weren't either built yet or acquired (Ex-SP and Ex-CNW) The AC44's with Cane Creek are at LEAST POST 2005! Due to the Building American Scheme and the Yellow Side Sills.
So, now we have conformation of the packs content. The C40-8W and SD40-2 are the only locos for the pack. Only 3 new rolling stock will be included with the pack, 350,000-series two-bay cement covered hopper; A 36000-series 86-foot auto parts boxcar; and a ribbed-side three-bay grain hopper Meaning that the intermodal freight will most likely use anachronistic Maxi IV's and containers. Also note that the UP SD40-2 from Sherman Hill will layer onto the route.
Well, I suppose we should be relieved that the project is still alive, though I'm not overly sold on more Cajon Pass scenarios. In any case, after this amount of time in the roadmap, I expected to see more than a couple of 3D model renderings. Still it is US freight and HIS is keeping it above ground.
To be fair I'm kinda burned out on Cajon Pass at the moment, but new rolling stock is always nice. Always liked the ATSF from a historical standpoint.
Yeah I was afraid of this, especially since intermodal was (and still is) the majority of traffic on this line. They'll also probably reuse the horrible TOFC car that was released with the SD70ACe back in TSW3. At least that is a bit more period accurate I guess. Plus it's not like the route itself will change so it will have the modern signaling and the third track. But considering it's the only US freight content coming for a long time, I really can't complain too much. I mean at least we're getting some new rolling stock and not just 2 locos and a timetable.
As much as the new rolling stocks looking like its a plus for being era accurate (and model accurate), but I'm just gonna wait and see how the locos pretty much look with the liveries, if lucky, and some screenshots for how the timetable is really gonna look on the route itself.
Im wondering if the timetable will take into account the time period, as the route is set in modern times, but pre-2008 the 3rd track on Cajon wasnt there, so there was only 1 on the new grade and 1 on the old grade.
So according from HIS themself, looks like additional liveries will be added to the existing stocks in the pack as well (Note: Which rolling stocks gets reused in ATSF is another question to work with)
Bumping this tread from the OP, but HIS confirmed a few more pieces of rolling stock being repainted. So aside from the 3 new pieces of stock, a boxcar, an autorack (seen today) and a coal hopper will be repainted to ATSF liveries, with the edition of a UP coal hopper and a generic branded ribbed hopper.
So in summary that makes it at least 8 freight cars in total just for one pack. 2-Bay Cement Hopper, 3-bay Cover Hopper (in both ATSF & Unbranded), Autoparts Box, Hi-Cube Box, Autorack, Tanker (Unless part of the base route), TOFC, & Coal Open Hopper (Both in ATSF & UP, Betting it's the 100T Hoppers reused from the Dash 8 pack)
Would've been cool if they had a more variety of locomotives in this pack instead of reusing the current ones. I'd love to see a GP60M, Or a B40-8, or a F45/FP45.
but seeing as it is a gameplay pack it'll likely be not very good. (I do hope it is good and has accurate sounds)
