Shoreline East

Discussion in 'Suggestions' started by Mevans193, Jul 14, 2021.

  1. Mevans193

    Mevans193 Well-Known Member

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    Hello all and welcome to modern commuting in Southeast Connecticut. This route offers scenic shoreline views as trains pass beaches and salt marshes, as well as brings an favorite operator back to the game and introduces two new ones.
    map.jpg

    Built as part of the New Haven Railroad's Shoreline Route, today this route is part of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor from Boston to Washington D.C. The Shoreline East commuter service began in 1990 to help ease traffic on the congested nearby Interstate 95 and operates local commuter service on the 51 mile section of the Northeast Corridor from New Haven to New London. For this route suggestion I am suggesting that the line either be set in the 1990s before the route was modernized, or present day after modernization. I'll include locomotive and rolling stock lists for both eras.

    Let's first take a look at the journey from New Haven to New London. The journey would begin at the CDOT Maintenance Facility where Shoreline East trains are brought into service by depot moves between New Haven Union Station and the yard. New Haven Union Station is a large four platform station serving an important role as a transfer point for commuters switching between Northeast Corridor trains and Springfield Line trains. Heading east out of the station we pass the recently built State Street station and pass Cedar Hill Yard. Cedar Hill Yard once served as a large freight classification yard for the New Haven Railroad, but today is a shadow of it's former self, only seeing a handful of trains a day. East of here we pass under the East Haven Tunnels and then begin our journey along the Connecticut Shoreline. We pass several commuter stations, some of which have a platform on only one track, not both, requiring some trains stopping there to run on the "wrong" mainline. East of Old Saybrook we run into something we haven't seen yet in Train Sim World, lift/drawbridges. While in past train simulators, drawbridges are usually permanently closed, this could be a chance to try out something new and have animated drawbridges, similar to animated level crossings. Imagine playing a scenario and trying to keep to schedule but you can't proceed because you're stuck waiting for a sailboat to pass. At New London is where Shoreline East trains turn around and head back. At night or early in the morning a depot run occurs so that New London can either be the first or last station on the trip, this means running an empty train all the way from New Haven to New London.

    Passenger Service:
    Amtrak provides the long distance service on this line with stops at New London, Old Saybrook, and New Haven. The local commuter stops are operated by CT Rail, part of the Connecticut Department of Transportation or CDOT.

    Freight Service:
    The line isn't just as a passenger mainline, many freight trains use the line to bring cargo from Northeast Connecticut and Massachusetts to New Haven or New York City. Freight service is provided by the Providence and Worcester Railroad (a Genesee and Wyoming owned company). Freight services for this route would begin in Fairview Yard along the Thames River, and continue at a fast pace to Cedar Hill Yard. To add some local switching, I suggest adding the Belle Dock Branch, a 2 mile long branch line servicing the port of New Haven with several industries along the way. The entrance for the Belle Dock Branch requires trains to cross the Northeast Corridor which can mean waiting at a signal for a long time since freight trains on this route have the lowest priority. Depot moves could also be added for freight trains as the cars and locomotives are stored in different parts of Cedar Hill Yard.
    Also having a Genesee and Wyoming license would also lead to the possibility of many railroads from around the world to be added in the future. New England Central (US) Buffalo and Pittsburgh (US) California Northern (US) Arizona Eastern (US) Georgia Central (US) Central Oregon and Pacific (US) St Lawrence and Atlantic (CA) Genesee and Wyoming Australia (AU) Freightliner (UK) to name a few.

    1990s:
    Branford 1.jpg

    Setting the route in the 1990s before the line was modernized allows for operation of several different generations of classic American diesels, and adds some history to the route as trains pass by still in use New Haven railroad signals and on some sidings still in use semaphores, and stop at original New Haven railroad stations.

    Motive Power for the 1990s:

    Bringing an American Railroading Icon to Train Sim World, Amtrak trains would be powered by the instantly recognizable EMD F40PH in Phase III livery, with matching Amfleet Coaches.
    CDOT Shoreline East trains would be powered by the EMD F7 painted in a heritage McGinnis livery to honor predecessor New Haven Railroad. Along with the F7 would be a set of CDOT Comet commuter and cab cars (same as MBTA single level cars)
    For freight would be the GE U23B in Providence and Worcester brown and orange livery. For freight cars would be stone/aggregate hoppers (same as Peninsula Corridor and Cane Creek) Stone is big business in the area, and is received on the line by a cement plant in Old Saybrook, and at a siding on the Belle Dock Branch. Some of the stone continues onto other parts of Connecticut or New York. Also included would be a tank car and coil car for usage on the Belle Dock Branch.

    Potential 1990s DLC:
    Amtrak LRC, these first attempts at a high speed North American diesel operated for two years on the line in the 1980s, but with some imagination could fit into the time period.
    Amtrak MP15DC, these end cab switchers were seen up and down line very frequently in the 1990s in preparation for modernization of the line. Included with this locomotive could be either a MOW gondola or MOW flat car used for hauling concrete ties that were replacing the wooden ones.
    CDOT GP40-2H in McGinnis livery, these were replacing the aging F7s and are continued to be used to this day. These would sub in for the F7 services.
    Providence and Worcester B23-7R "Super 7" These unique rebuilds by GE started showing up on freight trains in the late 1990s. A gondola or 2-bay cement hopper could be included with this.
    Rocky Neck 1.jpg
    Old Saybrook 1.jpg
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  2. Mevans193

    Mevans193 Well-Known Member

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    Present Day:
    ACS64.jpg

    In preparation for the Acela Express, overhead catenary was added to the line, several grade crossings removed, high level platforms were added to the stations, and new signals added to replace the aging New Haven ones.

    Motive Power:
    The ACS-64 and Amfleets from Boston to Providence route could be added as a main locomotive or as a layer.
    For Shoreline East Services would be the CDOT GP40-3H painted in CT Rail "Coke Zero" livery with Mafersa Coaches and Cab Car
    For freight would be the Providence and Worcester B39-8E in G&W Corporate livery. The freight cars would be the same as the 90s suggestion (stone/aggregate hopper, tank car, coil car)

    Potential DLC:
    Amtrak MP15DC with MOW gondola or MOW flat car is still a great option
    Amtrak GP40TC with MOW gondola or MOW flat car. These GP40s rebuilds could be used as an alternate to the MP15DC
    GMTX SD60 with gondolas, this could be a great way to add an American leaser company to the game and could sub in for the B39-8E.
    GW1.jpg
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    As always, thank you for the consideration, and let me know which era you would find more interesting.
     
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  3. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    If set in Present Day ACS-64 600-670 is layered from Boston-Providence
    New Rolling Stock will be
    Conndot P40 GP38-2 and Brookville BL20GH for Shoreline East. The end of this section New London if Boston-Providence is owned do you like to continue to Boston yes or no? No standard journey free roam scenario and main menu yes automatically boot up Boston-Providence. What you could have done was NEC New Haven Providence because New London Boston via Providence is 240 kmh (150mph) max speed for Acela and Avelia Liberty trains. Those are 10 kmh 5 mph faster than a DB BR182 MRCE BR182 and it's Austrian ÖBB equivalents 1116 and 1016 those max at 230 kmh (145 mph)
     
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  4. mrchuck

    mrchuck Well-Known Member

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    I hope shoreline east comes to train sim world 2 someday maybe as another rush hour package for TSW 2.
     
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  5. Mevans193

    Mevans193 Well-Known Member

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    The CDOT’s recently rebuilt P40BHs are another good power choice for the Shoreline East trains.

    As for building the route all the way from New Haven to Providence, it would double the length to over 100 miles, so for now we’re still a long way off from seeing a route of that length. It’d be great for the Acela as much of the Rhode Island section are long straight sections built for high speed running, but traffic wise this section sees the least amount of traffic as Amtrak is the only operator between New London and Wickford Junction.
     
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  6. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    What they can do is something like this New London Providence Amtrak Acela as standard and linked to Boston-Providence. If Operating ACS-64 600-670 and Acela Express DLC Avelia Liberty Once in Providence you have a choice of ending the gameplay which will give you return to main menu scenario Journey and free roam. On the other hand yes continue to Boston loads up downloadable content boston-providence for you.
     

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