Upcoming Route Speculation - Chocolate Factory Hint

This thread is a speculation about an upcoming route based on a small hint mentioned by DTG in a stream. There is no warranty on the accuracy of the suggested lines. Don't expect any of the suggestions to be in development, just have fun with trying to find fitting routes.

As hinted on the Semmering Preview today, an upcoming route will feature another chocolate factory. Now DTG seems pretty save with this little hint, that we won't be able to determine which route it will be from this small detail. And whilst there are multiple options, I think we can reduce the list to maybe two hand full of routes, where a chocolate factory is near the tracks and the route would make sense for TSW.
I will update this post on later findings posted in this thread:

Lines with Mars Inc. factories, based on the hints by DTG staff in this thread:
Ararat Line - Ballarat, VIC
Running from Melbourne's Southern Cross station to Ararat, this line is one of the most used in Victoria. With only 4 tpd actually running all the way to Ararat, a cut at Webdouree after 118km seems reasonable.
The factory is located besides the tracks on the western exit of Ballarat.
Suggestion by maxthum for Melbourne-Ballarat: V/Line - Ballarat Line

Milwaukee District West Line - Chicago, IL
Connecting Union Station with Big Timber Road stationin Elgin, this line would fit in the current release pattern of US commuter routes. With 40mil of track it's also right in the sweetspot for TSW routes.
The factory is right besides the line, even with its own station named "Mars". In addition there's also the Bloomer Chocolate Company in central Chicago, only half a block away rom the tracks. As the train runs in a cutout in this section, the building is only visible with free cam.
Suggestion by trainmasteraiden for this line: Route Suggestion: Millwaukee District West Line
Thanks to gerrywinzor for pointing out the Bloomer factory.

Pannoniabahn - Breitenbrunn am Neusiedler See
The Pannoniabahn is a branch line in Austria, south-east of Vienna. Electrified in 2009, the line would feature the 4124, a two voltage variant of the 4024.
The factory was now owned by Ritter, but Mars operated it for 50 years. It is located ~1km from the tracks, but with only fields and a small hill in the way. You should be able to see it in free cam mode, but not from the train.
No suggestion found in the forums.

Other factories:
Harzquerbahn - Wergona Schokoladen GmbH - Wernigerode
The Harzquerbahn is a narrow-gauge railway in the highest mountain range in northern Germany. The railway is a popular tourist destination and operates steam trains regularly.
The choco factory is situated ca. 650m away from the tracks in an industrial zone.
I've made a suggestion for this route back in 2021: Harzquerbahn (Nordhausen - Wernigerode)

Rapid Transit Remake - Delitzscher Schokoladenfabrik GmbH - Delitzsch
Rapid Transit was the first ever German route in TSW. As LIRR, this route could get a remake with some extensions. As Dessau and Markkleeberg are no longer connected by the same service (S2) this might be a reason for a new branch for this route.
The factory is situated directly at the north end of the station, only 150m from the tracks.
Suggestion by vicobzh for expanding and updating RT: Rapid Transit (and A Possible Merge!!!)

Oldenburg-Wilhelmshaven - Ulmer Schokoladen GmbH&Co. KG - Wilhelmshaven
Extending the existing Bremen-Oldenburg, this route leads to the harbour city of Wilhelmshaven, known for it's port and naval harbours. Depending on the era this route can be either diesel or electric, as electrification was just finished in late 2022.
The factory is located right next to the tracks (30m) when entering Wilhelmshaven.
Suggestion by leospielt for Bremen-Wilhelmshaven from 2021: North-Western Germany: Bremen to Wilhelmshaven

Calder Valley Line - Quality Street (Nestlé) - Halifax
Connecting Manchester and Leeds, this route is an alternative to the faster Huddersfield Line. Featuring the Class 158 and Class 195, this would be a fitting option for modern british DMUs.
The Quality Street factory is situated right next to Halifax station.
Suggestion by Lil jj for the Calder Valley Line: Calder Valley Line 2023 (Leeds/Brighouse To Manchester Victoria)
Thanks to Tom for this factory/route.

WCML South - McVitie's - Harlesden, London
Based on the TSC route. 113mil again seems too long for a route, therefore i suspect a cut at Milton Keynes. This would be a fitting route for a big release like TSW5 (sigh).
McVitie's factory is right next to the tracks west of Willesden Junction.
Suggestion by masonh for London Euston-Milton Keynes: Realistic WCML Suggestion
Thanks to josh for this factory/route.

Routes with low factors for TSW:
Ostkustbanan - Marabou AB - Upplands Väsby (new country, not highly requested)
Whilst I doubt DTG would suddenly expand to Sweden, this is still a valid option as this research is concerned. The Ostkustbanan runs for 400km from Stockholm to Sundsvall. Whilst this is obviously too long for TSW, the location of the factory hints at the southern part of the line near Stockholm.
Marabou's factory is based in Upplands Väsby, in the Stockholm metro area, only 150m away from the tracks.
Suggestion by jackmiller for the Ostkustbanan: East Coast Line (Sweden)

Harrisburg Line - The Hershey company - Hershey, PA (see this post)
Part of Norfolk Southerns Harrisburg Division, the Harrisburg Line connects Philadelphia and Harrisburg via Reading and Lebanon. Whilst the entire line would be to long for TSW, a route to reading would be viable.
The (old) Hershey factory is located right next to the tracks and even has it's own loading tracks.
Suggestion by Mevans for Reading-Harrisburg: Norfolk Southern Harrisburg Line
Thanks to fecrails for this factory/route.

I will continue my search. If you find any fitting factory/route post it in this thread and I will add it to the top post.

 

Manchester to Leeds via Halifax. Quality Street factory next to tracks at Halifax if UK based. Clutching at straws there...

 

I know it's not much, but as there are always many speculations in this forum about upcoming content without even any hint at all, I think we can have some fun with this one. At least we can base our speculation on something and can do a bit of research.

 

What did they say that hinted at an upcoming route having a chocolate factory?

 

Where is Willy Wonka’s factory located?

 

The Hershey plant is served by Norfolk Southern and has a routine switch job there.

 

The section is about the chocolate factories starts at 01:49:00 in the VOD. The actual part of the upcoming route is around 02:04:30.
(timestamps are from the Twitch VOD, they might vary on other platforms)

 

WCML South? I believe there's a chocolate biscuit factory next to the line in the Willesden Junction Area

 

Brussel-South there was the biggest chocolate factory there ! "Place Bara" It was demolished but it was clearly very very well known. And Belgium is a country about chocolate. The best chocolate is belgian !

 

Having lived in Lörrach for some time (actually in the top right corner of the image, top left blue balcony), I won't forget the sweet smell of chocolate in some places there, depending on the wind.

Suchard (now Mondolez Int.) Milka factory in Lörrach (D) near Basel (CH). Could be Freiburg - Basel with the branch from Basel Bad Bf to Lörrach (don't think it'll happen though).

 

I'll look into it, but I interpreted the hint in the stream as we'll be getting a new manufacturer. As we already got Milka I think this wouldn't be it, but I'll see if I can find a viable route there.

 

No better chocolate than the swiss made.

 

Would that be Birmingham Cadbury center???

 

It's gonna be a route out of Glasgow, home to Willy's Chocolate Experience.

 

York to Scarborough passes Nestle (was Rowntrees) on the way out of York. It wouldn’t surprise me if it was a route with York as a terminus. Its renowned for being a chocolate making City having been home to Terrys, Rowntrees, and now Nestle for a long time.

 

This made me chuckle

 

Could be any number of routes in Switzerland. I’ve lost count of the number of Chocolate factories I’ve seen from train journeys.

Unfortunately I’m not that fond of Swiss Chocolate myself.

If I had to choose a route with a chocolate factory then it would be the Lindt and Sprüngli factory just outside Zürich at Kilchberg.

 

From all of the exciting new suggestions, I would say the Rapid Transit Remaster is by far the one that is most probably.

The route is the oldest german one, and people also state quite often that they would like to see a remake of it or that the scenery wouldn't match the price tag anymore it has attached.

Apart of that, and if we speculate in the german territory, Spikee1975 old's home place is the most likely new suggestion I think. There also has been a route suggestion about it in the Forum in 2022. Plus this route already has been released for TSC which is a very good requirement for new TSW versions of it (happened so many times yet, last time well with said Semmeringbahn).

That also would fit to the hint that there is a BaWü leak somewhere in Niddertalbahn someone has told me.

The only problem is the Lidar data, which is not free for Baden-Würtemberg, yet. But maybe come up from June 2024.

 

Cadburys also at one time had a factory at Keynsham, between Bath and Bristol, so maybe we are getting a (BR era due to licensing) Avon Local route - Bath, Bristol TM, Weston SM, Severn Beach and Bristol Parkway!

 

I'd say it's more than likely that it will be a german speaking country. Lukas is the head of german TSW content. I doubt he'd talk about any projects he's not really involved in (american or UK DLCs). So let's focus on germany and austria, I'd say.

 

That Calder Valley suggestion looks very convincing - this is the view from Halifax platform 1...

 

RT redo sounds the most logical. I think DTG is noticing the remakes like DRA, WSR, upcoming SKA are being well recieved. LIRR sadly not but what can you do. RT has an amazing potential if it were up to date with the fixes people have been asking for for years. because of the lack of those and the quiet railscene I've been letting the route lay to the side. I'd love to drive some freight or a service into Leipzig Hbf. some AI on the fast line would be cool too.

 

It's Friday, it's Funday, so let's speculate away.
The best chocolate comes from here:

https://www.lindt-home-of-chocolate.com/en/

 

Ah, you beat me to it. Saw it only after my post.
But yeah, that's the route! For sure. Absolutely. You bet. No doubt about it. I'm covered by reason ...

(Ah, I miss that australian know-it-all dreamer)

 

That's a good one, Pipe. Zürich-Pfäffikon Sz could be a viable route.

 

I cycled past it last weekend and the smell of the chocolate was amazing.

 

It is already in BCC, and from what has been said here it will be a new/different chocolate factory.

 

Some moons ago I played an organ concert nearby (Aldiswil) and will never forget that sweet smell. I guess the audience took that with them (rather than my playing).

 

Isn’t there also a large Hershey plant on Cuba, served by the inter urban style electric railroad? Guess that would be a little too obscure, not to mention difficult to access for research. Would be spectacular though!

Here you go…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hershey_Electric_Railway

 

That can only mean one thing. Belgium

 

Well, Switzerland has a large amount of small chocolate factories, but the number of larger industrial factories isn't that high either. Besides, isn't Switzland traditionally Rivets territory? Of course DTG could hint at a third-party route, but it was mentioned, that the route in question will release next year. It might be a little bit early for a publisher to tease a route which probably is either in conception or in very early development, if they aren't developing it themselfs.

 

Was this loudly announced?

Or was it just a Wispa?

 

Ok, based on the very hidden clues by Matt and Jan () it may be a factory of Mars Inc.
First findings that also have a railway are:
V/Line - Ballarat, Australia - Ararat Line
Metra - Chicago, United States - Elgin Subdivision
GWR - Slough, United Kingdom - GWML
ÖBB - Breitenbrunn am Neusiedler See, Austria - Pannoniabahn (ex Mars, now Ritter factory)
From this quick search I think Metra and ÖBB seems to be the most likely candidate, but I'll look into it.

 

Don’t we already have Slough on GWE though?

 

Yes, but it's the diesel version. It could be remade in the now electrified state. So it is a possibilty, and it's the only Mars chocolate factory in the UK (at least the only one I found in my research).

 

But with that amount of chocolate you'll need some toothpaste, so it will need to be backdated to the Network South East era. We might also need a Class 50 to hoover up all the chocolate crumbs that Matt will drop.

 

But the problem is DTG had lost the GWR license, without license they can't remake it, despite they can still sale GWE.

 

I like the idea of an australian route. Well, just dreaming…

 

And who says that they might not have gotten back into an agreement with GWR? It could also be Crossrail (Elizabeth Line), which runs on the same line but isn't operated by GWR.

 

I would also love an Aussie route. And whilst I don't think it's one of the more likley options in this list, Australia seems to be one of the most requested new countries for TSW, espacially outside of Europe (I think it's only beaten by Japan).

 

This is fun!!!

I don't really have any guesses but NS Harrisburg Line from Harrisburg-Reading would actually be pretty cool. In additiom to the Hershey plant, it's a very busy freight corridor set in my particular favorite scene of "rust belt" (similar vibe to TVL for my UK friends). A lot of eastbound traffic gets split at Reading depending on whether its heading for NYC/North Jersey or Philadelphia/Wilmington/Baltimore.

Not currently relevant, but plans are in the works to restore passenger rail from Reading-Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River, stopping at Pottstown, Phoenixville, King of Prussia and maybe Norristown.
https://gosrpra.com/

Would be a very scenic ride along the river.

Maybe in TSW8 if any of us are still around lol

 

Blommer has a large chocolate factory in Chicago thats *right around the corner* from the Ogilvie Metra station

 

Chocolate = Switzerland by assonance (at least where I live) plus of course the clocks and banks.
So it would (absolutely) be time for a 1435mm gauge Swiss route (in addition to Sursee, which however is in ToD v3.5...).

 

Hold up. There are two chocolate factories on this line? Now it get's interesting...

 

McVitie's factory at Carlisle? Not really a chocolate factory but they do make chocolate biscuits

It's clearly visible from the railway line when departing northbound to Glasgow. It would also suit the upcoming Class 380 nicely for the suburban services closer to Glasgow