Route Proposal: The Palmdale Cutoff Thru Cajon Pass ( Hiland Siding - West Colton )

Discussion in 'Suggestions' started by Blacknred81, Dec 7, 2020.

  1. Blacknred81

    Blacknred81 Well-Known Member

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    So with the BNSF licensing thing being an issue (Fun fact Kuju didn't have a BNSF license when they made Cajon for Rail Simulator in 2007), but Cajon being a highly requested route, I think focusing on the Palmdale Cutoff Part of the Route from West Colton to Summit could be a good substitution. The main part of the route would be about 35 miles, from the west end of West Colton Yard to the end of Hiland siding at the top of the pass, and can be set in 2 eras, Southern Pacific (1972-1996) and Union Pacific (2008-20XX)
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The route would start off at West Colton Yard, home to one of the largest Hump and Classification Yards in the west, in which the Palmdale Cutoff line splits to the north just east of the yard. It then continues north thru neighborhoods, crossing over the Santa Fe/BNSF line near Rialto, as well as the 210 Freeway, eventually paralleling the Santa Fe track near Devore. The track then parallels the line most of the way up Cajon till Summit, where the Cutoff then heads west to Palmdale.

    -West Colton Yard
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    -East End of West Colton Yard
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    -UP 4014 Crossing over the 210 Freeway near San Bernardino
    [​IMG]

    -Approaching the bridge
    [​IMG]

    -Sullivan's Curve
    [​IMG]

    -Canyon Siding near Mormon Rocks
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    SP Sugar Beet train Hiland siding.
    [​IMG]

    Another thing with the free roam feature of TSW2, players could also go out and explore Cajon, visiting places such as Hill 582.
    [​IMG]

    2008 Crossovers

    So in 2008 BNSF added a 3rd track to Cajon Pass, this also added a crossover from the Palmdale Cutoff to the BNSF track thru the pass at Silverwood, near the summit. These could be featured in the route if it were to be set in the Union Pacific Era, but their use would be up the licensing deal with BNSF. If these could be used, then the route could possibly extend to Victorville on the BNSF line.
    [​IMG]

    Power for the Southern Pacific Era Could be the following:

    Main Power

    -EMD SD40T-2
    [​IMG]

    -GE U33C
    [​IMG]

    Other Candidates
    -C44-9W
    -AC4400CW
    -SD70M
    -SD45
    -SD45T-2

    Yard Switchers

    -EMD SD38-2 + ALCO Hump Slugs
    [​IMG]

    -EMD SW1500
    [​IMG]

    Other Candidates:
    -EMD SD39
    -ALCO C628/C630

    Union Pacific Power would be the common suggestions...

    ES44
    ET44
    SD70ACe
    SD70ACeT4
    SD70M
    GP60
    GP40-2
     
    Last edited: May 28, 2021
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  2. OldVern

    OldVern Well-Known Member

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    Gets my vote, however it would have to be really well done to go up against what 3DTS have done with their version(s) in Run 8 and the early MSTS route.
    Although I haven't got to it in Run 8 yet, the SP extension across the Alhambra Sub from West Colton into LA is supposed to be quite interesting. If you tagged that on the end too, would give more purpose.

    One thing I took from driving the route in Run 8, never realised the gradient on the BNSF section was as steep as 3.4% in some places. Obviously the UP/SP line isn't quite as challenging. Bear in mind for visual effect, the BNSF route would still have to be included where visible, even if not driveable.
     
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  3. 59321747

    59321747 Well-Known Member

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    What can I say besides supporting?
     
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  4. jedi247

    jedi247 Well-Known Member

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    I want this route. SP Power would be great. Personally, I want BNSF or ATSF. If we get steam locos and ATSF locos, I'd love to see the 4-8-4 #3751 in the game.
     
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  5. steammaster4449

    steammaster4449 Well-Known Member

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    This suggestion certainly has my support.
     
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  6. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    This has my support. 100%.
     
  7. 59321747

    59321747 Well-Known Member

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    Bakersfield to Barstow
    Extreme Pass
     
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  8. pugilist3

    pugilist3 Active Member

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    Excellent route proposal! Would really like to have this in TSW2.
     
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  9. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    Oh definitely. Up to LA and the Ports of both Los Angeles and Long Beach.
     
  10. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    And of course, UP also used the SD40-2s, SD60s, SD60Ms, SD90MACs, AC4400CWs(some still in SP paint but patched and in standard), AC6000CWs, C40-8s(Standard and widecab). And tunnel motors(both patched and standard).
     
  11. dedh98mosqueto

    dedh98mosqueto Active Member

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    Is there some kind of passenger service?
     
  12. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    Excellent idea and for the C44-9W and AC4400CW those are for Sand Patch Grade route. For this route Cajon Pass those require Reskinning from CSX paint into Burlington Northern Santa Fe Southern Pacific and Union Pacific paint for the route. If layered from SPG those CSX C44-9W & AC4400CW transcontinental rail freight East Coast Eastern Time Zone on Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific time zone Pacific Ocean. The reverse is Southern and Union Pacific locomotives appearing on Sand Patch Grade as a transcontinental Service Los Angeles Baltimore
     
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  13. Blacknred81

    Blacknred81 Well-Known Member

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    Negative, Southern Pacific built it after they gave up their passenger services to Amtrak, they never routed a passenger train on it. Only the Santa Fe/BNSF line sees Amtrak passenger trains, formerly the Desert Wind and currently the Southwest Chief. You could do a run between San Bernardino and Victorville for these, but you run into the BNSF license issue again.
     
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  14. dedh98mosqueto

    dedh98mosqueto Active Member

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    Thanks, I don't know much about this route, but was just wondering.
     
  15. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    The Desert Wind, which was the Chicago to Los Angeles section of the California Zephyr, might be making a much needed return in the future. Especially since the train served Las Vegas.
     
  16. jedi247

    jedi247 Well-Known Member

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    A Genset switcher is a possibility. I've seen a couple of UP units near Yermo and Barstow. I really want the ET44AC, SD70ACe-T4, and maybe later on, an Amtrak Genesis P42DC or Siemens ALC-42 Charger.
     
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  17. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    ET44AC SD70ACE Tier 4 can recieve reskin into CSX 3200s-3300s because those are what you see on SPG videos of post 2015 era.
     
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  18. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    Oh definitely. That was common in the 1990s. Especially on Conrail, CSX and Norfolk Southern. Usually one of their engines would be attached to the front of the train. And this would also factor in the Capitol/Metropolitan/Old Main Line route I proposed awhile back.
     
  19. Blacknred81

    Blacknred81 Well-Known Member

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    So apparently the crossover at Keenbrook wasn't from 2008, it was from the 80's, and was built in anticipation of the failed SP-SF merger.
    Learned this from a short clip from a Petrex Video thanks to Railfan Depot on Facebook: https://fb.watch/5L-KG9-BrB/
     
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  20. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    Technically, that Victorville extension could work in both the SP and UP eras with the Keenbrook crossovers.
     
  21. MetrolinkF125#916

    MetrolinkF125#916 Well-Known Member

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    Nice suggestion, this route certainly has my support. We really need a modern, western US freight route. Since DTG likes to reuse trains, we might see the GP38-2 again, or the AC4400CW, if we get this route. But I would like at least one new train with it, like an ES44 or SD70M/ACe.
     
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  22. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    ES44 or SD70M/Ace have tier 4 2015 emission standards that can fit this route and Sand Patch Grade via Reskinning. ES44 Tier 4 CSX 8900s and CSX SD70ACE Tier 4 3200s-3300s that can fit the route. Since this route has steep sections GP-38-2 & SD-40-2s have a horsepower problem situation since two of those come out to 6000 horsepower however it's going to be an easy job for double ES44 & SD70M Ace 8400 horsepower combined uphill to Victorville and Las Vegas Cajon Pass route. This is based on the problems that the Eastern Time Zone SPG has horsepower issues with double SD-40 & GP38-2
     
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  23. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    Especially with an SD60M/SD60/SD50 set of pushers from West Colton in the UP era or A tunnel motor trio in the SP era
     
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  24. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    Very helpful in a team and I'm wondering if CSX has them too if so Reskinning will turn them into Sand Patch Grade locomotives. SD50 is 3500hp two of those is 7000 horsepower enough for this climb in the west coast and possibly sufficient for the Eastern Time Zone Sand Patch Grade
     
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  25. Blacknred81

    Blacknred81 Well-Known Member

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    An SD50 would also fit in for the Southern Pacific Era as well, with them getting Rio Grande's when they bought the SP in '88.

    About 7 of the 17 were repainted into SP paint with the Speed Lettering font with DRGW sublettering. They were also identical to CSX units, as they were added on at the end of one of their orders.
    5513sl_sp-sd50-tom_fassett.jpg
     
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  26. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    CSX definitely has them..so reskinning would be a breeze.
     
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  27. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    Pretty much all the locomotives here can be given layers to SPG if reskinned to CSX making it the Freight version of HMA. That includes Special transcontinental services Colton Cajon Pass then SPG. Provided you are operating a Colton to the Port of Baltimore service. Does Colton yard have a hump section so that if players wanted a hump yard function this is the right route for them just like how SPG has Cumberland yard.
     
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  28. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    I think so. Like San Bernardino, Sacramento and Roseville Yards, West Colton has a hump.
     
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  29. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    Especially if the Moffat Sub/Joint Line ever gets considered as a route.
     
  30. csxfan#8403

    csxfan#8403 Active Member

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    And would make for great timetable and scenario modes
     
  31. Blacknred81

    Blacknred81 Well-Known Member

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    Please stop bumping my posts with repeated comments, you are risking it getting it locked...
     
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