Tsw, Na Freight, And Mountain Routes...

This is honestly one of my favorite choices for a new freight route in the game. Just a heavy freight train barreling through the empty desert at high speeds. Seeing a timelapse of this route is quite neat because you go from the big empty desert to an area filled with trees. Such a cool change in scenery. And the route still has a form of challenge by featuring grades of up to 1.4%

Also, the name given to the route in TSC is the Arizona Divide, and that name is so incredibly cool.

 

I’ve been wanting to see Donner Pass in its Southern Pacific days or it’s modern days…another thing I’d like to see for US content is more locomotive DLCs. Locos are separated and since we get a new route about once every 3-6 months it would be nice to get new US loco packs or locos in general. For example…The Amtrak P42DC can run on pretty much every US route (except a few of course) CJP (3 stops), HSC(2 stops), SPG (1 stop), and Oakville sub.
We could also get the UP SD70M…it would layer in on all UP routes same with a UP ES44AC. There’s plenty of opportunities currently for more US locos with enough routes to where you can run them on more then one route while still being prototypically accurate.
If possible I’d like to see a new loco DLC come alongside after or before a route…probably not feasible but it would keep the freshness going!

 

I think option 2 sounds interesting. But if I have to deside for one option, I choose option 1.

I think DTG should have an eye on the other 2 named options too.

I think Marceline Sub would bei a nice race track with different freight and passenger operations.

Here is a link with a nice route proposal from a forum member:

https://forums.dovetailgames.com/threads/bnsfs-marceline-sub.53438/

 

I think that Feather River Canyon would be another good add to TSW4

 

I'm not too familiar with much east of Seattle, but one thing is for sure, that line is probably the busiest in the Northwest. Pretty much every train going in or out of the Northwest goes through there, with the exception of the very few trains that would take the Oregon Trunk Sub down into Oregon or California. Multiple mains, lots of different types of trains, with a shortline interchange and UP not too far off would make for a route that would be really fun, but the timetable would take a looong time to develop.

 

When I started playing both Train Simulator 2xxx and Train Sim World, I preferred passenger runs. I loved the freight trains but didn't care for switching. Nowadays I love switching. I find enjoyment in all modes. Switching is just a different beast which I actually enjoy. For that, I find I'm spending far more time in Train Simulator as opposed to TSW.

I would absolutely LOVE to see another Canadian route though. CN or CPKC!

 

Yeah it's called "The Funnel" haha. I'm gonna do some more research and maybe put it in suggestions.

 

The problem with most Amtrak routes, aside from the NEC and to a lesser extent southern California, is that they run at most one tp per day, sometimes only 3 per week. That's not much to build a route around.

Having said that, a Charger or P42 with Superliners as a DLC to add on to existing freight routes might work.

 

I'm all for this! I'm glad you're active in here and want some good ideas to move TSW forward. I remember you saying in a stream that your goal now is to do stuff that's never been done before. Pacific Surfliner, specifically the northern route towards Ventura/Goleta that's never been done? (Since LA-San Diego has been done a minimum of 4 times before) With the new Metrolink equipment tie in? And Amtrak equipment with SC44 Chargers and proper Surfliner equipment ( plus P42s and Superliners DLC) that could be layered into another future route that's mostly freight but with the Amtrak tie in? Freight runs the entirety of the northern route while the southern route only has freight LA-Fullerton. No freight LA-San Diego. Except freight that comes from Cajon Pass and goes to San Diego. And it's only one single train. Okay, I'm done. Lol. I've talked plenty about this in other threads and don't want to hijack this one with this subject. I've said what I already wanted to say about it previously. We're talking about US freight routes here after all. That said, it would be cool to see a good freight route with passenger tie in that's never been done before.

The BNSF Seattle sub is extremely busy. There can be up to 100 trains a day. It's rather flat but would provide an incredible amount of variety for trains and different locomotives to run on it. UP also has trackage rights on a lot of it into Fife Yard in Tacoma, WA. BNSF also has a pretty big yard in Tacoma, too. So you could run both UP and BNSF on it. I doubt DTG would tackle the whole thing from Seattle to Portland as that's very long. Nearly a 4 hour running time. But part of it would be cool. It too has never been done before. Only thing close is the Stevens Pass route for TSC but that goes north out of Seattle and only covers Everett, WA to Wenatchee, WA. Has the Amtrak tie in though and includes all of the stations. Tacoma to Seattle is where the Sounder commuter train runs. And they use the Bombardier Bi-Level coaches and have two or three MP36s. They also have a large fleet of F59PHI locomotives. The F59s would have to be developed. Like Metra, it is also crewed by BNSF engineers and conductors. The Coast Starlight also runs the route from Seattle-Portland and onto Los Angeles. The Amtrak Cascades corridor trains run Seattle-Portland and onto Eugene, OR as well with SC44 Chargers and P42s.

Not saying this route has to be done but just providing it as an example of what a great US freight route would have to offer. You can run UP, BNSF, Amtrak, and Sounder on it. You can also do switching (for those that really want to) or run a road freight with big power. A perfect freight route with variety and a passenger train tie in. This is just one example and following up on what you said about the Seattle route. There are MANY other US freight routes that would offer a good experience and haven't been done before.

I feel like this could be a very productive thread.

 

Now we're talking!
But yeah, i must admit from the length wise, this full stretch isn't ideal. But probably we could cut the most interesting 60-75 miles section of that stretch and make it viable to be one of the considered route candidate.

Edit :
Milepost's version of this route having Winslow-Williams portion of the stretch, i thought it's still pretty doable. It's not like we're crawling at 25 mph for 90 miles.

 

I too would like to see a full of both a CPKC and CN routes in TSW4.

 

Is that in both TSC &TSW? For me in TSW, its because its poorly done. The game telling you to uncouple from a consist, then back up 700yards just to then tell you to couple to another consist one track over where the switch is just 100ft away makes no sense and actually makes switching in this game a chore.

Some TSC scenarios especially ones made by players do it better which i find fun.

 

If made it can give Oakville Subdivision Duluth, MN to Montreal Quebec Halifax NS Iron Ore trains via Oakville, ON. In return you get GP9M GP38-2 CN to work in MN Iron Ore routes. When DM&I and OSD are owned you get access to the Hamilton, ON Iron Ore terminal. opens up the possibility of Iron Ore freight for the European route

 

Canadian Pacific has been historically very open to the idea of train sims, from back in the MSTS days to now. They used to host a handful of Microsoft Train Simulator demos and trainsets on their website, and they commisioned Searchlight Simulations to do the SD70ACU, and worked very closely with them on the AC4400CW.

 

I chose other on the poll. While I do love doing the US freight in mountains that we have, I would also like to see more playable freight mixed into passenger routes here in US. Maybe some street running freight. This would give people wanting a shorter play of freight that option (for like short hauls of local industries) as well as expanding passenger routes in US. I'm not opposed to another mountain freight route down the road to showcase newer features but I think should try to go in a different direction with freight for a bit.

 

My big expectation is the Soldier Summit Route.
Still very much looking forward to the emergence of new Canadian routes with mixed passenger and freight traffic.

 

What about a version of that Boston and Albany route which recently released for TSC? Combines commuter and long distance passenger with a bit of freight. If set around a similar period an opportunity to get some heritage diesels (Alco’s!) and vintage rolling stock in the game.

 

Yes, +1 for Alco's!

 

I also find the RF&P
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richmond,_Fredericksburg_and_Potomac_Railroad)
fascinating. It has an amazing history and continues to be quite busy. “Linking North and South” was the company motto:


Currently, the line hosts Amtrak NE regional services, Amtrak long distance trains, VRE commuter services north of Fredericksburg, and the AutoTrain. Freight traffic is also quite busy and the timetable would be complex.

 

It looks great!

Does it have highspeed running?

 

Chicago to Byron has both Metras and freight. It is about 106 miles, rural setting away from desert, which is nice and not many hills with trees, and single line track. Well from Elgin anyway.

 

I think Donner is what is being worked on. And or Marias.

 

I just feel that not only all freight routes are the same, but all the locos that come with them. I think for me personally, I'd like to see something set further back in the past. I would like to see a route set in the 1990s or earlier. It could allow for some more diverse locomotive selection and add more variety of engines instead of the same ES44 and SD40-2. Even with the later, it could be modified to be a little different like with NS/Southern high hoods or SP tunnel motors. Or like having a Dash-8 but have it with a conventional cab or only 4-axles. I know DTG tries to only do one new loco with each route, but would it be to hard to mix it up a little?

 

So, are we stuck with modern class 1's for the time being? Is there no chance of any fallen flags or older locomotives?

 

South Shore Line would offer the chance to use existing GP38-2s in a different context and alongside passenger units from Nippon Sharyo, who haven't been represented in TSW yet...

 

Personally, i kinda hope Dash 9 GE make it's way to TSW. NS, UP, and BNSF still had a lot of them.

 

Are you referring to the ALC-42 with P42DC if yes then add them as playable Services on NEC Boston Providence Trenton as the Lake Shore LTD Boston section followed by HSC Pennsylvania OSD Maple Leaf service and Super Chief Cajon Pass

 

Even older the 800s Little Joe locomotive because they got them in the 1950s with Milwaukee RR the latter used them on their Flagship Train The Olympian Hiwatha with Skytops

 

All of Union Pacific's Dash 9's are mothballed at the moment, so you don't see them on the mainline anymore (Though 75 are getting rebuilt at some point to AC44C6Ms

 

Whoa, sad to know that just now.
Imagine a route with AC44CW and/or C44-9W in Espee livery in early 90's, gonna be awesome.

 

Wow. No wonder GE stopped building locos. The market is flooded.

They still have 30 years of life in them.

 

Both GE Transportation and Progress Rail (EMD) main income nowadays are assisting railroads to rebuild their older engines. XD

 

Not really flooded, just traffic isn't what it was in the mid 2010's. Doesn't help that coal is on a downturn as well. Not to mention the influx of ET44's.

Back then UP even got their standard cab Dash 8's back in the game (Though I don't know what happened to this loco) This was around 2015.


Now look, Union Pacific has places like this where all their older power is stored. This is full of SD60M's, SD70M's C44-9W, a few SD9043MAC's and 2 SD60's. Its probably why UP has been selling their SD9043's to NS and CP's rebuild programs, a few SD60Ms got sold to a shortline somewhere. Modern railroading just doesn't really have the variety anymore.

 

Me too. Fond memories of the Dash 9 in BNSF H2 scheme in MSTS.

 

With C40-8W & AC4400CW already exist in TSW, i'm pretty sure it's not a big job to bring the widecab Dash 9.

 

We will see in December what is in store

 

Externally (outside of various production and road specific changes such as the dynamic brake vents) the only difference between a AC44 and the Dash 9 is the inverter cabinet on the conductor side of the locomotive.