Route Route Ideas To Celebrate Usa 250th Anniversary

With the USA 250th Anniversary coming next year (2026), I think we need some new USA routes in Train Sim World 6 (also coming soon). I'd like to hear from other forum members. If you have new USA route ideas, let me know in the comments. Please include details of each route: locomotives, era, features of route, photos (if possible), etc. These routes can be tourist lines, short lines, or Class 1s. I'd also like to see some fallen flag railroad, loco, and route suggestions.

In this post, we'll go state by state in alphabetical order. I'll post five states at a time. I will also include a few suggestions of my own. I may need some help with some of the states since I'm not familiar with some of the routes. Let's begin. Today's five states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, and California.

I'm pretty familiar with Arizona and California routes, and Alaska has only two routes, so I will include those in this first post.

-Alaska Route #1: Alaska RR: Anchorage-Seward: same route as TSC; 114 miles; modern-day route; include ARR SD70MAC (both standard and flared-radiator versions), GP40-2, GP38-2, and F40PH Cab Control Unit; also include freight cars and passenger equipment and rotary snowplow for snow-clearing operations; also needed: ARR Direct Traffic Control (DTC) system

-Alaska Route #2: White Pass and Yukon RR: Skagway,-Whitehorse: narrow gauge line that runs from Alaska to Yukon Territory, Canada; 107 miles; modern-day route; include NRE NG diesel, GE Shovel Nose diesel, and Alco diesel; plus freight and passenger cars and rotary snowplow for snow-clearing operations; steam locos could also be included

-Arizona Route #1: Grand Canyon RR: The ex-ATSF branch between Williams, AZ, and the South Rim of the Grand Canyon; 64 miles long; include GCRY EMD F40PHs, Alco FPA4s/FPB4s, EMD GP7u, and their steam locos: 2-8-2 Mikado #4960 and 2-8-0 Consolidation #29

-Arizona Route #2: BNSF Seligman Subdivision (Arizona Divide): Needles, CA-Winslow, AZ: the ex-ATSF mainline through northern AZ; 293.5 miles long (so we'd probably get the section of the route included in TSC); modern-day or 1990s route; BNSF and/or ATSF locomotives (from Cajon Pass Route or some new locos: C44-9W, SD75M/I, SD70MAC, B40-8/B40-8W, GP50, GP39-2, AC4400CW, ES44AC/DC/ACH, ET44C4/ACH, GP60/M/B, etc.); ATSF #3751 needed

-California Route #1: WP Feather River Canyon: Oroville-Portola, CA: a famous section of the WP's mainline between Oakland, CA and Salt Lake City, UT; 130 miles long; 1960s-70s route; lots of bridges and tunnels; well-known locations on route, including the Keddie Wye; WP U30B, SW9, GP35, GP20, GP40/GP40-2, F7/FP7A/F7B w/ California Zephyr passenger train; GN or BN power maybe for Inside Gateway operations

-California Route #2: Pacific Surfliner: LA-San Diego: Urban areas and great views of the Pacific Ocean in Southern CA; 128 miles long; modern-day route; PS SC44 Charger w/ PS and Superliner Coaches and PS Cab Car; BNSF freight locos: C44-9W, ET44C4, ES44DC, GP60/M/B, GP38-2

 

I would vote for option number 1 in Alaska. Forest, mountains, truck traffic. What I like. And snow, which is sorely lacking.

 

For Alabama, we could get a route in the Birmingham area. Perhaps Southern RR or NS. The Southern RR would give us high-hood Geeps (GP50s and GP38-2s, maybe) and SD40-2s. For NS, we could get some of their rebuilt units: AC44C6M, SD70ACU, SD70ACC, SD60E, SD40E, SD40-2 and other Admiral Cab units, and ECO units.

For Arkansas, we could get a C&NW, MP, UP, or another midwest RR route. More routes with fallen flags would be awesome.

 

I would love to see the Alaska Railroad in TSW. Alaska is a state with awesome scenery. The only hurtle will be obtaining licensing from Alaska Railroad.

 

The ARR was ok with licensing for TSC, and that route hasn't been removed from the store, so we can assume DTG still has a relationship with it (Though they would most likely need to renegotiate with the ARR for TSW itself)


However the AAR on TSC is also a 3rd party effort, so it may be unlikely for DTG to pursue it.

 

I'd still love to see a period piece celebrating peak electrification in the US in the 30s, something like the Pennsy Baltimore-Potomac Yard route, with GG1 electric locos.


It's a bit rusted but plenty of the old catenary still runs down the branch towards the old Potomac Yard that was formerly part of the approach to the PR station prior to Union Station's construction, so there's reference material still there.

It could make a nice complement/contrast to a remastered Caltrain Peninsula Corridor route, celebrating widespread electrification making a proper comeback in the US after a century.

 

The PRR NEC route with GG1s sounds cool. PRR E44s should also be included for electrified freight services.

Now it's time for the next five states on the list. They are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, and Georgia.

-Colorado Routes:
-D&RGW Moffat Tunnel Route w/ SD40T-2, GP30, GP40(-2), SD50, and Amtrak F40PH for California Zephyr
-Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge w/ steam and diesel power
-Cumbres and Toltec Narrow Gauge w/ steam and diesel power
-D&RGW, UP, and/or Colorado & Southern/CB&Q/BN in the Denver area (maybe BNSF and/or UP); include Rice Yard

-Connecticut:
-New Haven RR in the New Haven, CT, area; with classic Alco (PA/PB, FA/FB), FM (C-Liners), Baldwin, and EMD power (1950s); or maybe an electrified section of the New Haven RR w/ EP5 "Jets," EP-3s, and E33 Rectifiers; Penn Central and/or Conrail maybe (?)

-Delaware:
-Some suggestions would be appreciated.

-Florida:
-The obvious one: Brightline/FEC: Miami-West Palm Beach/Orlando; Locos needed: Siemens Charger/Venture Coaches, FEC ES44C4 w/ LNG fuel and also both the Champion and Mexico-inspired liveries, SD40-2, GP40-2, and/or GP38-2; plus freight equipment

-Georgia:
-Atlanta area; Southern RR or NS

 

On the unlikely basis that steam returns with TSW6, I would like to see an American steam pack which would include locomotives such as 4014, 611 & 1225.
Or even the Stratsburg Railroad with a few steam locomotives & heritage coaches..

 

611 has severe licensing issues revolving around it, 1225 doesn't really have a home route to run it on.

4014 can run any UP route plus Cajon Pass, but it would have to be sold on its own, as it would require both the locomotive, UP's Passenger car fleet plus a loco that can support it for braking purposes. (Either modified existing TSW ones or a brand new one.)

 

I hear that 611's owners have copyrighted the locomotive's identity / design or did I hear wrong?

 

It was either that or they want severe royalties to anything with the N&W J-Class locomotives, so they are just a pain in the butt to deal with.

 

Yeah.. I did check the Virginia Musuem of Transport's online shop as I am a big fan of the Js and it's clear they want the world the know they have the sole-surviving N&W J Class! (they sell a wooden toy of 611 for $32!)

 

I want more steam too. UP Big Boy #4014, UP Challenger #3985, and FEF-3 #844 (for Sherman Hill), ATSF #3751 and #2926 (for Cajon Pass), and SP #4449 (for Cajon Pass too; also in BNSF and AFT liveries) should be added, along with excursion passenger cars.

 

It is that time again. Here are my next 5 states for the US 250th Anniversary route suggestions: Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and Kentucky. There are some good route ideas for some of these states.

Hawaii: The Sugarcane Train on the island of Maui is the only one I can think of. It's a tourist train.

-Idaho: Milwaukee Road electrified section with Little Joe, Bi-Polar, Boxcab, and some diesel power (maybe FM Erie-Built units, SD45s, or SD40-2s); also UP's Pocatello Sub that starts in Granger, WY; maybe something with Northern Pacific or Great Northern (or Burlington Northern)

-Iowa: C&NW, Missouri Pacific, Rock Island, etc.; someone help me with actual route ideas here, please.

-Kansas: UP or BNSF Wichita-Kansas City; include BNSF Boeing Facility operations in Wichita

-Kentucky: Again, help needed for route suggestions.

 

How about the Fitzgerald Subdivision for Georgia. Could include Rice Yard in Waycross. Also, for Florida, the Sanford Subdivision from Jacksonville to Orlando.

 

Oops! I forgot Indiana and Illinois in my last post. I guess I should add those states now. Anyone have any Indiana or Illinois route suggestions? Again, we need midwestern fallen flag railroads in game. Then we should get the Iowa Interstate RR for Iowa. Someone suggested that route in a previous post. Then we have Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Missouri. I've got some good ideas here.

-Louisiana: Part of SP's Sunset Route (now UP) to New Orleans; also NS or CSX; could we get SP E-Units for the Sunset Limited? What about finally getting Amtrak P42DCs or Siemens ALC-42 Chargers for the Amtrak Sunset Limited?

-Maine: Maine Central RR or Boston and Maine RR

-Massachusetts: Help needed here, please

-Minnesota: Duluth, Missabe, and Iron Range RR iron ore operations (steam locos please, especially 2-10-4s, 0-10-0s, and 2-8-8-4 M3/M4 Yellowstones); if not steam: SD9, SD38-2, SD39, SD18, Alco RSD-15; maybe we could see CN's operations on the ex-DM&IR w/ SD75IACC, AC44C6M, SD40T-3, and C40-8/C40-8W

-Missouri: Santa Fe or BNSF in Kansas City (to Wichita, KS); KCS/CPKC, maybe; UP (KC-Wichita), MoPac, C&NW, etc.

 

Illinois: Chicago Metra; especially the BNSF Racetrack (or maybe BN or CB&Q if we can't get Metra). Milwaukee Road Chicago-Milwaukee; South Shore Line; finally, C&NW, NS, CSX, PRR, NYC, etc. in Chicago.

 

Next states: Maryland, Mississippi (forgot those ones in the last list), Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, and New Mexico.

-Maryland: Suggestions needed

-Mississippi: Suggestions needed too

-Montana: Montana Rail Link; Northern Pacific (MRL ran on ex-NP lines, by the way; now owned by BNSF); Milwaukee Road w/ electrification and Little Joes, Bi-Polars, and Boxcabs, plus a few diesels; Great Northern/Burlington Northern/BNSF Marias Pass: Shelby-Whitefish; GN/BN/Amtrak Empire Builder included w/ this route

-Nebraska: The obvious one: UP North Platte, NE: Bailey Yard; largest freight yard in the world at 8 miles long and 2 miles wide!; include a few new UP diesels: ET44AC, ES44AC, SD70M, SD59MX, SD60/SD60M, C44-9W, C40-8/C40-8W, SD70AH-T4, SD90-43MAC, AC6000CW, GP60, SD40N, GP40N, GP38N, GP15N; also #4014, #844, and E9s for excursion trains (including passenger cars)

-New Mexico: A cool idea: Navajo Mining w/ ET44ACs; also Santa Fe Raton Pass and ATSF/BNSF Belen Cutoff; Cumbres and Toltec Narrow Gauge maybe?

 

Next states on the list: Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Oklahoma.

-Nevada: As a Las Vegas, NV, resident, I think we should get my local rail line: UP's LA-Salt Lake Line. There are two sections that include LV: the Caliente Sub: LV-Milford, UT and the Cima Sub: LV-Yermo, CA. I've done some railfanning along both subs, and the scenery is pretty great. There are a lot of trains running through the deserts of southern Nevada and Utah.
-Other NV routes: Nevada Northern RR (now a tourist line) and SP's (now UP's) Donner Pass from Reno, NV-Roseville, CA.

-New York: Northeast Corridor w/ Avelia Liberty, Adirondack (D&H w/ Alco PAs or Amtrak), and NYC w/ Hudsons, Niagaras, and Mowhawks

-North Carolina: I've got a good one here: the Aberdeen, Carolina, and Western Shortline! An AC&W route should include F9s, E-Units, SD50s, SD40-3s, etc. and both freight and passenger equipment; plus interchanges with both CSX and NS.

-North Dakota: Help needed here too.

-Oklahoma: MKT, MoPac, or other midwestern roads maybe; BNSF or UP for modern railroads; route ideas needed.

 

Next up on my state-by-state US route suggestion list: Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and South Carolina.

-Ohio: Help needed.

-Oregon: Columbia River Gorge and Portland; UP Portland Sub; BNSF CR Sub; BNSF route to include Amtrak Empire Builder; Portland needs SP #4449; CR Sub could also include SP&S or BN power; also SP Mount Shasta Line from TS Classic; could we get SP Cab Forwards?; also BNSF/Amtrak Cascades in Portland

-Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania RR needed; HSC with PRR diesel and/or steam power; maybe Conrail or Penn Central if DTG can get licensing?; PRR NEC or Keystone Corridor w/ GG1s and E44s; again, Conrail? Penn Central?; another route: Western Maryland and/or WM Scenic RR at Cumberland (also B&O and/or Chessie on Sand Patch Grade; interchange w/ WM on SPG at Cumberland)

-Rhode Island: Help needed.

-South Carolina: Help needed.

 

RI/CT NEC Providence Stamford. On weekday rush hours ACS-64s must pull in a yard to let M8s run express on Stamford NHV leg. Looking at them they're TSC routes

 

Looking at the electric NH RR section that's a TSC add on because it had the E33

 

Before I finish the suggestion list, I need to figure out which states I've missed. I will do that first. Lines highlited in bold are missed ones.

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arizona
4. Arkansas
5. California
6. Colorado
7. Connecticut
8. Delaware
9. Florida
10. Georgia
11. Hawaii
12. Idaho
13. Illinois
14. Indiana
15. Iowa
16. Kansas
17. Kentucky
18. Louisiana
19. Maine
20. Maryland
21. Massachusetts
22. Michigan
23. Mississippi
24. Missouri
25. Minnesota
26. Montana
27. Nebraska
28. New Hampshire
29. New Jersey
30. New Mexico
31. New York
32. Nevada
33. North Carolina
34. North Dakota
35. Ohio
36. Oklahoma
37. Oregon
38. Pennsylvania
39. Rhode Island
40. South Carolina
41. South Dakota
42. Tennessee
43. Texas
44. Utah
45. Vermont
46. Virginia
47. Washington
48. West Virginia
49. Wisconsin
50. Wyoming

Got it now. I should have done this list before starting the suggestions so I wouldn't forget states. Oh, well. Let's get to the next few states. I have thirteen left, so I will do five today, and four for the last two days. Next up on the list: Michigan and New Jersey (forgot those earlier, sorry). Then we have South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.

-Michigan: Nickel Plate Road in Michigan; NS ex-NKP; NKP Berkshire #765 needed (hopefully in the future, we could get more steam locos).

-New Jersey: Central RR of New Jersey (CNJ) maybe; include an FM Trainmaster for commuter services in NJ. Maybe the famous CNJ Blue Comet train and route could be added (we can dream, can't we?).

-South Dakota: Not familiar with this state; help needed, please.

-Tennessee: Memphis area; CSX, UP, BNSF, and NS serve Memphis

-Texas: Fallen Flags: MKT, Frisco, SP (Sunset Route), KCS; UP or BNSF needed in Texas

I'm all caught up now. Stay tuned for the next four state-by-state route suggestions.

 

I only have seven states left, so I'm going to finish my suggestion list today. The final states are Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Let's get started.

-Utah:
-Utah RR, including their unique MK5000Cs/MK50-3s

-D&RGW Soldier Summit: Helper-Salt Lake City with SD40T-2, SD50, GP40(-2), GP30, SW1200, and Amtrak F40PH w/ Superliners for the California Zephyr

-UP/UTA/Frontrunner in the SLC area: Frontrunner MP36PH-3C and Bi-Level Commuter Coaches/Cab Car; UP GP60, ET44AC, ES44AC, AC6000CW, SD70M, SD59MX, GP40N, MP15DC/MP15AC, and/or SD70ACe-T4

-TSW6 version of UP's Evanston Sub: Ogden, UT-Green River, WY; second section just announced for TS Classic; same UP locos as suggested above; Big Boys, Challengers, FEFs, 2-10-2s, and 4-12-2s should be added (we can dream, can't we?)

-Vermont:
-Help needed for this one; maybe Vermont RR

-Virginia:
-Again, help needed; something with NS or CSX

-Washington:
-GN/BN/BNSF Stevens Pass/Scenic Sub with Cascade Tunnel and Renton Boeing Facility; BNSF ET44C4, C44-9W, SD75M/I, SD60M-3, and/or GP60/GP60M-3/GP60B; also Amtrak P42DC or ALC-42 Charger w/ Superliners for the Empire Builder

-BNSF/Seattle Sounder/Amtrak Cascades with BNSF power (same as Stevens Pass suggestion), Sounder F59PHI or MP40PH-3C and Bi-Level Commuter Coaches/Cab Car, and Cascades SC44 Charger w/ Venture Coaches/Cab Car (coming soon to this line in 2025/26)

-West Virginia:
-B&O/Chessie/CSX Harper's Ferry Route; include Amtrak P42 or ALC-42 Charger with Superliners in CSX version for Capitol Limited

-Wisconsin:
-Wisconsin Central maybe; CN, including Heritage ET44s and SD70M-2, SD75I/IACC, AC44C6M, C44-9W, C40-8/C40-8W, SD40-2(W), GP40-2(W), GP38-2(W)

-Milwaukee Road in Milwaukee; include Hiawatha; MR Atlantics or F7 Baltics could be cool, but those probably won't happen any time soon

-CPKC ex-Milwaukee Road; include AC4400CWM, ES44AC (including CPKC new units), ET44AC, SD30C-ECO, GP20C-ECO, SD40-2, GP40-2, and Amtrak P42 or SC44 Charger w/ Hiawatha service Venture Cars or Horizon Cars

-Wyoming:
-Extension for UP Sherman Hill including 3rd line; also UP Heritage Fleet and Steam Program: #4014, #844, E9s, maybe #6936 and #3985; also new UP power as suggested above

-UP/BNSF or C&NW/BN Powder River Basin: AC4400CWs (C&NW and BNSF liveries; also UP/C&NW patched units); SD70MACs (BN and BNSF liveries, including Vomit Bonnet BNSF unit); UP AC6000CWs; UP SD90MAC-Hs/SD90-43MACs, UP SD70ACe-T4s, UP/BNSF ES44ACs; UP ET44ACs/BNSF ET44ACHs; C&NW SD50s and/or SD60s (also UP and UP/C&NW patched units); include lots of really long coal trains

-UP Evanston Sub: Ogden, UT-Green River, WY