I know I'm not saying much on the post, I'm just absorbing it, seeing what y'all would like right now. I have to say I'm liking the ideas of Canadian Routes, Philly and Pittsburgh routes. I'm personally good with any Amtrak and CSX routes, as those trains are the ones I see in my area all the time. I'd love to do a cross-country freight run too.
I like the details you wrote in the first part. I can definitely send the suggestion over to the devs. I will make no promises about where they are or what they would want to do with that suggestion, but I'll send it up. I think you're the second or third person to mention the NEC extension, so it looks like a good line for me to do some research on.
Certain stretches of the NEC make a lot of sense, especially those that can include freight alongside high-speed Amtrak services. That mix would appeal to different types of players, and depending on the region, there could even be room for licensed commuter ops. Imo routes that offer that sort of variety tend to attract a wider audience, so I think one like this would sell really well internationally. The keystone recommendation earlier, DC-Baltimore, Baltimore-Wilmington(or maybe Philly haha), and even Philly to Trenton. All great options!
Hello! You didn't tag me, but I was keeping an eye on the post and noticed you'd asked but just to confirm: Candace is definitely a real person. We had a lovely intro chat on Teams and saw each other's human faces! Although I'd been caught out in the rain that day so didn't look particularly human. My hair inherited my Scottish genes (thanks dad) so turns into a curly blob if I just think about the rain too hard.
I would like something freight focused, old and black and white. Like trains loading ore from the mines of the Mesabi range and running them down to lake superior and actually unloading the cargo onto ships. I would like the whole u.s freight experience.
I think there's a kernel of something there though. Active feedback from DTG on the community suggestions. What ones ARE good or NOT good and why? If for example something is 100% not doable because of licensing or location or something, then it would be helpful to see that. Likewise, if something is worth considering or could use some work into something with lots of potential.... the community is willing to do a LOT of work to help. Something as simple as "yeah that could work but we don't have the timetables for that area/era".... you can almost bet SOMEONE here will know a guy who knows someone who can get them. They're railfans after all and passionate about their hobby! I can't speak for everyone else, but at some points it does feel like chucking stones into the ocean with the suggestions. We don't hear back, so we don't know if they're even really being read let alone considered. I think that's why people are so wary of someone at DTG asking for their opinions. Not used to it.
You know this is fair feedback, I'm glad to see it. I do know there are a ton of suggestions, I'm still reading through them all myself from different threads, but I'm more than willing to try to get information for the team to do unbranded routes, and fix timetables to more recent times. I will say the only thing that is a factor is time. Do they have time to do it or not? I get being wary of someone from DTG asking about stuff. I'm a bit of an odd one, since I'm coming into the community fresh, but I've been doing community work for years, and I'm also very blunt about what can and can't be done. I will answer in any way I personally can. I'm glad to see this, though. Please don't think that saying, "We've been let down in the past, so we're a little worried about talking about ideas or anything like that," means I'm not going to listen. If it's constructive feedback, I can work with it. If it's "I HATE DTG, OMG," I don't know what to do other than go "mkay" and wonder why someone is on a forum for DTG. I'm coming in kinda of blind, as I don't know everything that's happened in the last...oh 5 years?
I had to laugh about this and it also reminds me of an interview with you talking about your grandfather and the flash. I'm still searching for the tracks on google maps, can't find them. Can you point me in the right direction where to find?
I know this isnt US, but then, the more I am getting to know US railroading and US routes (at least in this game), the more I appreciate our railways here, even though they have been criminally underfunded for like at least a decade... I mean, take a look at this suggestion of mine, a trio of routes forming a triangle, Bratislava - Trnava/Galanta: https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/western-slovakia-triangle-bratislava-trnava-galanta.85935/ a small country, and an even smaller patch of land, and we have routes and rolling stock many parts of the US can only dream of even today ... and I still remember local all-stoppers taking almost an hour, nowadays even those take at most like 45mins, often less, and REX services taking around 30mins, with speeds up to 140 kph off topic diversion over ))
I came here to say Pacific Surfliner but this post says everything I was going to say. I would love to see a Canadian route, a few ideas: - a revamp of the Oakville route to go to Union Station and add the commuter services (even if they have to be unbranded green and white trains) and VIA services. A good base for all needed rolling stock already exists. - CP Kicking Horse Pass, Calgary to Field. A classic route from the MSTS days that would benefit greatly from the distant mountain technologies in TSW. CP was a partner in the past. - EXO (Montreal) commuter service from Lucien L’Allier to Vaudreuil. Much of the rolling stock is the same as NJT. It’s a busy line with freight mixed in for interesting operations. A note, if DTG hasn’t approached VIA Rail recently (or ever) for a partnership, you should. Their new CEO is very approachable and always looking for innovative ways to spread goodwill about VIA. You might have more luck now than in the past. As for GO Transit, just tell Premier Doug Ford it will make money for the province and he’ll make Metrolinx cooperate hahaha
I'd love to see something similar to the TSC Sacramento Northern DLC, for TSW. https://store.steampowered.com/app/...rthern_Suisun_Bay__San_Francisco_Route_AddOn/ Awesome unique bit of US railroading that DLC offered. I'm always looking to expand my collection with routes that add something different.
This would've worked a few years ago, especially since the owner is incredibly railfan friendly. However they just recently filed for bankruptcy again so who knows. It really is the true rock island experience, and "bankruptcy blue" is certainly still living up to its name...
That's a complication; however in a bankruptcy case the debtor-in-possession should have little difficulty getting the trustee to approve a new revenue stream.
MTA Metro-North Hudson Line. You folks already have portions of the other East-of-Hudson routes (once W.I.P NY - Stamford comes out). It’s also a very scenic route. Most of the route is spent along the beautiful scenic banks of the Hudson River. It almost reminds me of a Riviera Line.
Given they have the NJ Transit rights, it might also be worth doing the River Line from Trenton to Camden with a route hop at Pennsauken onto the Atlantic City Line.
You could also add the PATCO line into Philly, which would get the city in the game without dealing with SEPTA licensing- great views of the city from the Camden side and the ride across the Ben Franklin bridge would be unique in the game, but it's a lot of underground station modelling, which DTG has shied away from....maybe a project to keep in mind for any potential UE5-based train sim that may or may not be in development lol
