Southern Pacific Mainline over Donner Pass splits at Rocklin, rejoins temporary south of Auburn, then splits again till Bowman, Also there are plenty of US Mainlines that are single trackage, with passing sidings installed along the mainline.
There's a mixture here in America. The line over Donner Pass is technically a double track mainline, even when the tracks are separated by a distance. On other mainlines in America, the only "double-track" you see are the various spurs and sidings along the line, like the mainline between Cheyenne, Wyoming and Denver, Colorado once it splits from the other two tracks that ultimately bypass the 1.5% grades of Sherman Hill for an easier 0.8% climb over the hill to Laramie. And then there are other mainlines which are either triple or even quadruple track, but those aren't as numerous. If memory serves correctly, I think it was the Southern Pacific that had a double track mainline where the tracks were sometimes separated by miles. So ultimately, it's a variety of different number tracks when it comes to all the various different main lines that've formed across the nation. There are some mainlines that were once quadruple tracked, but due to loss of revenue and traffic drops, were reduced to double track lines, with the New York Central's Water Level Route sticking out in my mind the most when typing that out. And to respond to the trains going in opposite directions part, that's generally how things work with mainlines that have more then one track.
A Southern Pacific Mixed Merchandise train heads east towards Kansas City, passing a Union Pacific Empty Coal Train bound for the Power River Basin, meeting in front of the Lawrence Depot, on Union Pacific's Marysville Subdivision. Route: Granger Heartland: Kansas City to Topeka Locomotive: EMD SD45T-2, EMD SD9043MAC
Route: Midland Line, New Zealand A group of Eo's head a down mixed good train to Otira. They are seen here exiting the southern portal and passing the former powerhouse for the tunnel electrification. (It was made redundant when connected to the power grid in 1941).
Route: Midland Line, New Zealand A group of Eo's head a down mixed good train to Otira. The grade down from Arthurs Pass is a harsh 1:33 most of the way, so needless to say, the dynamic brake gets a work out!
Amtrak Regional on the NEC, en-route to Baltimore. Route: NEC Baltimore-Washington Equipment: Amtrak ACS-64
Metro North Hudson and New Haven line trains on the main line before going on their respective routes. Virtual photo taken just south of Mott Haven WYE. Route: Hudson Line Equipment: Metro North M7A EMU & Metro North M8 EMU
Some brilliant screenshots of Main Lines, well done all. This weeks winner is cscarpenter with this lovely shot of Class 86 409 on the WCML North. Congratulations. Hope everyone has a great weekend Next Weeks Contest : https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/ts21-screenshot-contest-week-5-february-2021.34910/
Thanks guys for your kind comments. Must admit I was pleasantly surprised to be selected as the winner. I was up against some seriously good competition. Thanks again.
Hi Jamie, just wondering when my screenshot will go live? Can't wait to see it on my loading screen. TIA
Thanks inversnecky, much appreciated. Must admit patience was never my strong point and after waiting months to get a winner I am dying to see it when loading a Scenario.