Hello Dovetail, I have got a route suggestion. Metra is really similar to Caltrain because their freight and passenger locomotives are really similar but in the same way, very different because Caltrain only owns 1 route and Metra owns around 7. I really love seeing similar routes and if this comes out I cannot wait. Other than that, let's get right in! LOCOMTIVES THAT RUN ON ALL METRA DIESEL ROUTES EMD F40PH The F40 fleet has been serving as Chicago Commuter since 1977. Back then the F40s were originally purchased by RTA and were light blue with red and dark brown stripes. From 2008-2012 Metra F40PHs No. 100-149 were converted into Dash 3 standards. The rebuild included new electronics, fewer emissions, rust repair and a few others. Metra received two former Amtrak F40s, No. 258 and 375 in 2009. In 2016, former Virginia Railway Express No. V32 was also sold to Metra. The three new F40s were rebuilt to Dash 3 standards and became Metra No. 215-217. From 2015-2020 No. 174-184 would also receive rebuilds and received the Lightning Bolt paint scheme. Metra 217 was also given the Lightning Bolt paint scheme. Manufacturer: Electro Motive Division Build date: 1975-1992 Length: 56 ft Top speed: 103-110mph Horse Power: 3,200 F40PH-2 Numbered: 150-172 F40PH-3 Numbered: 100-149, 173-184, 215-217 Classic Logo Lightning Bolt Logo Bi-Level Gallery Cars Bi-Level Gallery Cars are really similar to the ones on Peninsula Corridor, but however they have different cab interiors. The controls on the Metra cab car are mounted in front of the engineer’s seat. CAB INTERIOR SERVICES FROM THE SOUTHERN TERMINUS Passenger locomotives that run here F40PH F40PHM Loco info EMD F40PHM-3 The F40PHM-2 was similar to the traditional F40PH but has a sloped cab, nicknamed the Winnebago. This was used on Amtrak’s F69PHAC in 1989, but the F40PHM had improved aerodynamics and aesthetics. The F40PH-2 were to be rebuilt into Dash 3 standards from 2015-2020 and received the Lightning Bolt pain scheme. Manufacturer: Electro Motive Division Build date: 1991-1992 Length: 56 ft Top speed: 103-110mph Horse Power: 3,200 Numbered: 185-204, 206-214 The F40PHM-2 has the classic logo and the F40PHM-3 has the restored logo. A heritage livery can also be found on F40PHM 211. BNSF locomotives that are used for mainline freight for freight routes operating from the southern terminus are, SD70ACE SD70MAC ES44AC ET44C4 Freight Trains BNSF locomotives that are used for local freight on the Racetrack are, EMD GP60 EMD GP50 EMD GP40 EMD GP38 Some point maybe they could add BNSF mainline freight as DLC for this route. If you know how on Peninsula Corridor, the main freight operator is Union Pacific, well BNSF is the main freight operator on the Racetrack, except they have different locomotives running mainline freight and loco freight, unlike Union Pacific on Peninsula Corridor. The freight that is usually hauled on the Racetrack include Intermodal Manifest Grain Crude Oil Coal GP60 Manufacturer: Electro Motive Division Build Date: 1985-1994 Length: 59 ft Top Speed: 65mph Horsepower: 3,800 GP50 Manufacturer: Electro Motive Division Build Date: 1980-1985 Length: 59 ft Top Speed: 65mph Horsepower: 3,500-3,600 GP40 Manufacturer: Electro Motive Division Build Date: 1965-1971 Length: 59 ft Top Speed: 65mph Horsepower: 3,000 GP38 Manufacturer: Electro Motive Division Build Date: 1972-1986 Length: 59 ft Top Speed: 65mph Horsepower: 2,000 Switchers and in total SW1500: 5 GP23: 2 SW1200: 1 THE RACETRACK Route Information The Racetrack, also know as the BNSF rail line, is a line owned by BNSF, running from Chicago to Aurora. The passenger services are operated by Metra, and for the freight trains, they are owned by BNSF. The line has a total of 70mph for passenger trains and 45mph for freight trains. It's a total of 37 miles long. All Stops Union Station Cicero Berwyn Riverside Brookfield La Grange Western Springs Hinsdale Clarendon Hills Westmont Fairview Ave. Downers Grove Belmont Lisle Naperville Route 59 Aurora Passenger Trains I want to see the Racetrack Aurora - Chicago Metra route in TSW2. The reason why I wanna see this route is because, once again, routes that are similar to Peninsula Corridor would be an interest to me and I really wanna see more commuter F40s for other routes. Well I wanna see the F40PHM come with the route. And the Metra paint scheme for the F40 should be both paint schemes of the F40PH and the new one for the F40PHM-3. And the coaches, they are Nippon Sharyo Bi-Level Gallery Cars. 150 daily trains run on this line. There are 16 outbound services which don’t terminate at Aurora. 5 trains to Route 59 1 train to Naperville 1 train to Downers Grove 5 trains to Fairview Avenue 3 trains to Westmont 1 train to Brookfield Most Express trains stop at 2-6 stations. DLC that should be added sometime for a route operating from the Southern Terminus The Racetrack BNSF Mainline freight (SD70ACE, SD70MAC, ES44AC and ET44C4 come altogether (like in BR freight for Tees Valley Line) Metra Switcher Fleet (SW1500, GP23 and SW1200) Amtrak services such as The California Zephyr, The Southwest Chief and The Amtrak Midwest. Why should this route get added? I know I've said this too much but it's similar to Peninsula Corridor and similar routes are the best and I'd wanna see more Commuter F40s come to TSW2. SERVICES FROM THE NORTHERN TERMINUS Passenger locomotives that run there F40PH F59PH F59PHI MP36PH-3C Loco info MPI MP36PH-3C Manufacturer: MPI Build date: 2003 Upgraded to 3C's: 2015 Length: 60ft Horse Power: 3,600 Top Speed: 82-102mph Heritage liveries that can be found on MP36PH-3Cs are from numbers, 402 405 425 Freight trains If you know how I said in The Racetrack that BNSF locomotives are used for local and mainline freight, well I think Canadian Pacific AC4400CWs would be suitable for this route. Manufacturer: General Electric Build date: 1993-2004 Length: 73 ft Horse Power: 4,400 Top Speed: 70 mph MILWAUKEE DISTRICT: WEST LINE Route Information The Milwaukee District West Line is owned by Metra and dispatched by Canadian Pacific. The Milwaukee District West line runs from Chicago Union Station to Big Timber Road. The line has a top speed of 50-70mph for freight. The route has a total length of 40 miles. All Stops Union Station Western Avenue. Grand / Cicero. Hanson Park. Galewood. Mars. Mont Clare. Elmwood Park. River Grove Franklin Park Mannheim Bensenville Wood Dale Itasca Medinah Roselle Schaumburg Hanover Park Bartlett National Street Elgin Big Timber Road Passenger trains West line For the trains that do not terminate at Big Timber Road, 3 trains to Elgin 2 trains to Franklin Park 1 train to Barlett 1 train to National Street MILWAUKEE DISTRICT: NORTH LINE This line is again owned by Metra and dispatched by Canadian Pacific. The line has a total of 50-70mph. It's a total of 49.7 miles long. Milwaukee District North line runs from Chicago Union Station to Fox Lake. All Stops Union Station Western Avenue Healy Grayland Mayfair Forest Glen Edgebrook Morton Grove Golf Glenview Glen of North Glenview Northbrook Lake Cook Road Deerfield Lake Forest Libertyville Prairie Crossing/Libertyville Grayslake Round Lake Long Lake Ingleside Fox Lake NORTH CENTRAL SERVICE LINE This line is again owned by Metra. The line has a top speed of 50-70mph for freight. This line goes from Chicago Union Station to Antioch. It is a total of 52 miles long. This line once again owned by Metra and dispatched by Canadian Pacific. The line has a total of 70mph for passenger and 50mph for freight. All Stops Union Station Western Avenue River Grove Belmont Ave / Franklin Park Schiller Park Rosemont O'Hare Transfer Prospect Heights Wheeling Buffalo Grove Prairie View Vernon Hills Mundelein Prairie Crossing / Libertyville Washington St. / Grayslake Round Lake Beach Lake Villa Antioch North Central Services do not stop at any of the intermediate between Western Avenue and River Grove. Adding North Central services on this line would add an additional 21 services, adding up to about 79 passenger trains running on this section of the line. ROCK ISLAND DISTRICT The Rock Island District is still part of the Northern Terminus except it's Union Station is above the Union Station that I was talking about before. The line is 40 miles from Chicago to Rock Island. This line has a total of 70mph. All Stops LaSalle Street Station 35th St. - Lou Jones Gresham 95th St. - Longwood 103 St., Washington Hts Brainerd Beverly Hills - 91st Street Beverly Hills - 95th Street Beverly Hills - 99th Street Bervely Hills - 103rd Street Beverly Hills - 107th Street Morgan Park - 111th Street Morgan Park - 115th Street 119th St. 123rd St. Prairie St. Blue Island - Vermont St. Robbins Midlothain Oak Forest Tinley Park Tinley Park - 80th Ave Hickory Creek Mokena New Lenox Joilet DLC which should be added for a route terminating at the Northern Terminus include F59PH F59PHI Amtrak Empire Builder Conclusion If they add this route to the game, that would be really exiting. If this gets added I cannot wait. I'm sure that they can renew their licensing, because like I said quite a few times, Dovetail should be able to improve their stuff. The year it should be set in should be sometime between 2020-2021. In the reply box, please do not say that it can't be added because of licensing issues. Hope you enjoyed listening, have an AWSOME DAY!
Please add more details , such as route length , what year it should be set in , major stations , and more info about the rolling stock
Its not that it isn't renewed, a recent video from DTG shows BNSF as a parter for them, but they can't sell BNSF content outside the US as seen in TS1. Because of this DTG will most likely never make a route featuring BNSF unless that is ever resolved. And I believe its been stated for TSW2, that DTG won't make unbranded content for TSW2.
Cannot really tell why, but I find the Metra F40PHM to look absolutely great. Espacially the new livery.
I made a video talking about the racetrack as a route suggestion. Rather find it on my channel, or look at my forum post if you’re interested
CrazyDash I already checked it out. I'm the guy who thanked you for creating the video and stuff. I really hope they do it. Does anyone know if it's just BNSF that has the licensing issues or if it's Metra as well?
However, some enterprising modders quickly introduced the Metra logo for anyone to download. (Unofficially, of course.)
Any use of the Metra logo is prohibited currently. And DTG's policy is not to release unbranded dlc, at least on TSW.
All of the above because these will offer another route to run existing Gallery coaches to run on this time Metra paint.
The Racetrack is my choice because of BNSF. I really want the ET44C4, GP60, and Metra F40 and Cab Car.
Metra never granted DTG licensing for the 3rd Party route for TS, so that license most likely hasn't carried over to TSW as well.
Pretty sure DTG said they wont do that either. At most you would get a route with both a Freight Operator and Amtrak, with a layer for Caltrains F40's and Nippon Sharyo Gallery Cars added on to represent Metra like the Caltrain stock will be for Go Trains on Oakville Sub.
If DTG really can't get a licence for Metra, then maybe we're most likely gonna get a historic version of a Metra route. Here are some images I found.