Route Proposal: Colombia River Gorge ( Bnsf Fallbridge Subdivision/ Up Portland Subdivision)

Discussion in 'Route Suggestions & Proposals' started by Blacknred81, Mar 12, 2020.

  1. Blacknred81

    Blacknred81 Well-Known Member

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    The Colombia River serves as the border between Washington and Oregon east of Vancouver and Portland. Both the BNSF and UP run trains on either side of the river, with BNSF's Fallbridge subdivision on the Washington side, and UP's Portland subdivision on the Oregon side. I believe this area, focusing on either side of the river, would be an excellent route for TS 20XX.

    1st proposal would be BNSF's Fallbridge Subdivision, and the route could cover the Appx 140 mile route between Vancouver Washington, to Roosevelt. The route would start in Vancouver, and run to the yard in Wishram, and extend as far east as Roosevelt. The route should also be made similar to the Montana Hi-Line, making the route available worldwide.

    Vancouver is home to the Port of Vancouver, and an Amtrak Station. The Amtrak Station is unique as it is situated in the middle of a wye, this station serves Amtrak's Cascades, Coast Starlight, and the Southern end of the Empire Builder towards Portland.
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    The route then heads eastward, passing by the Georgia Pacific mill in Camas, before heading into the scenic Colombia River Gorge in the east. Passing by cliffs, running thru tunnels, past dams and over causeways along the northern bank of the river.
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    Mt Hood can also be seen from the route as well.
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    In Wishram, BNSF maintains a small yard, this is also where the Oregon Trunk subdivision heads south towards Klammath Falls Oregon crossing over the Columbia River and the UP tracks over the Oregon Trunk Bridge. East of Wishram, BNSF used to serve an Aluminum Plant at the John Day Dam, as well as the end of the Eastbound of Trash Trains in Roosevelt.
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    One of the special trains for this route would be the containers used in the Trash Train, which runs east to Roosevelt, where it is unloaded and sent to the landfill.
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    For locomotives, I think we should do something a little older, with GE's C44-9W's being the main power for the route, this would allow users to have access to BNSF Dash 9s who never had the chance before the licensing became an issue. The locomotives could come in H2,H1 and Warbonnet Colors.
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    Other power that we could see would be similar to what we already have from other routes (Mainly SD40-2,GP38-2's and SW1500's) though it would be nice to see something new as well.

    Ill go over the Union Pacific side of the river at a later date.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2020
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  2. Blacknred81

    Blacknred81 Well-Known Member

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    EDIT:
    The BNSF part of the route would also extend south of the Vancouver Amtrak Station towards BNSF Lake Yard, and Portland's Union Station. Which would add 10 miles to the route, and give us the Eastern Terminus to the Southern part of the Amtrak Empire Builder.
    This would also give us the BN Rail bridge 9.6 over the Colombia River, and BN Rail Bridge 5.1 over the Willamette River
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    BNSF_9.6_railroad_bridge,_train_crossing_swing_span.jpg
    1200px-BNSF_bridge_5.1_with_steam_loco_SP_4449_crossing.jpg
    D26_39_005_0004_600.jpg
    Portland-Union-Station.jpg
     
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  3. Michael Newbury

    Michael Newbury Well-Known Member

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    This would nice to have hopefully a third party developer can make it branded and unbranded.
     
  4. jedi247

    jedi247 Well-Known Member

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    I'd still like the GEVOs rather than the C44-9Ws. The ET44C4 in BNSF paint would both be great. THe other older engine that I'd like would be BNSF B40-8Ws, C40-8Ws, Triclops SD60M(AC)s, SD70MACs, and/or SD75M/Is I'd also like Genset Switchers, GP15s, or GP60s for switching and local freights. An Amtrak P42DC and Superliner cars needs to be included as DLC. Also, I noticed that one of the photos showed a rebuilt BNSF GP30. The GP30 or GP35 would be great additions if we get older engines for the route.
     
  5. Blacknred81

    Blacknred81 Well-Known Member

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    Union Pacific Portland Subdivision
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    Following along the southern side of the river is Union Pacific's Portland Subdivision, which if made for a route could include the 150 mile run from Portland, to about Arlington. Aside from Union Pacific, this route was part of Amtrak's now defunct Pioneer train, which had stops at The Dalles, Hood River, Portland and Vancouver along the proposed route.
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    The Portland area would include UP's Brookland Yard (Ex SP now intermodal) and the large Albina Yard, Portland Union Station, and the various industry's and ports around the area. The Oregon Rail Heritage Center is also located here (Home of SP 4449 among other equipment)
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    UP's route into the Gorge is slightly different, as there are 2 lines from UP's Albina yard that trains can take eastward.
    The northern line is the Kenton Line, which runs north out of Albina thru a tunnel then turns east. The Southern line is the Graham Line, which splits off the mainline between the Albina Yard and Brooklyn yard. Both lines merge back in Troutdale.

    The line thru the gorge is pretty much the same spectacular landscape seen from the Washington side of the river. UP maintains a yard in The Dalles and used to have a smaller yard in Cascade Locks. UP also exchanges cars with the Mt Hood Railroad as well. Potash trains from Canada also use this route to travel to the Portland terminals to export. These trains used to be run with leased SD90MAC from CEFX. Canadian Pacific power can also be seen on the route as well.
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    One of the more unique locations on this route is Multnomah Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in the country, UP trains cross on a short bridge in front of the falls.
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    Mt. Hood Railroad
    Located at Hood River, the Mt Hood railroad is a heritage railroad that runs between Hood River and Parkdale, about 22 miles to the south. This could also be a good addition to the UP side of the route, as the line isn't long, plus the Mt Hood railroad also serves a few customers along its route. The route also feature a switchback just outside of Hood River.
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    Locomotives:
    Locomotives for this route could be anything that was ran by the UP since the 1990's.

    AC6000CW/SD90s
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    AC4400CW/C44-9W/ES44's/SD70's
    C40-8W/C40-8
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    SD60M/SD60
    SD40T-2/SD40-2
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    GP38-2/GP40-2/GP60

    Mt Hood
    GP38-2 #02, GP9 #88
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  6. NEC Railfan

    NEC Railfan Well-Known Member

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    After seeing that F40, I really want this route set in the early 90s please. Before ditch lights made passenger locos ugly.
     
  7. NEC Railfan

    NEC Railfan Well-Known Member

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    My personal loco list would be maybe locos we haven't seen yet. Perhaps unbranded Burlington Northern diesels and UP.
    - C30-7s
    - SD40-2s
    - GP38s
    - Maybe even an ALCo, depending whether they made it to BN.
     
  8. MiniMe943

    MiniMe943 New Member

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    Great suggestion. So much potential too, with good opportunities for both extensive yard work and scenic mainline drags. It's something I've always wanted to see modeled in a train sim, but it's a big project for a relatively obscure route.

    Here's some more images to highlight key locations along the route:

    Albina Yard (Portland, OR)
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    Steel Bridge (Portland, OR)
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    Union Station (Portland, OR)
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    Portland Intermodal Facility (Portland, OR)
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    BNSF Railway Bridge 8.8 (Portland, OR)
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    Vancouver (VAN) (Vancouver, WA)
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    BNSF Railway Bridge 24.8 (Camas, WA)
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    BNSF Railway Bridge 58.8 (Home Valley, WA)
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    Oregon Trunk Rail Bridge (Wishram, WA)
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    Hinkle Yard (Hinkle, OR)
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    Last edited: Jun 21, 2023
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  9. Emeka Nwafor

    Emeka Nwafor New Member

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    For UP locomotives 90s
    EMD
    SD60M, SD70M, GP40-2, SD40-2
    GE
    C40-8, C41-8W, AC4400CW, AC6000CW
    For BNSF
    EMD
    SD60M Ex-BN triclops
    SD70MAC BNSF or Ex-BN Executive Patch
    SD60 Ex-BN
    GP60M BNSF
    GE
    C44-9W BNSF H1,
    BNSF Warbonnet or
    Ex-Atsf Patched
     
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  10. Emeka Nwafor

    Emeka Nwafor New Member

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    Continued
     

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  11. Emeka Nwafor

    Emeka Nwafor New Member

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    Continued pt 2 IMG_1371A.jpeg IMG_1371A.jpeg UP 2442   891.jpg 43053022461_ac5ab3ee25_b.jpg 36851016865_b969937cc9_b.jpg UP_6670.jpg
     
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  12. driverwoods#1787

    driverwoods#1787 Well-Known Member

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    Let me see this is where Empire Builder P42DC P40DC 40th anniversary pack anniversary pack can run on since Empire Builder runs here
     
  13. Garrison

    Garrison Member

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    I just threw out two posts that both start in Portland. Seattle sub and UP’s Portland sub.
     
  14. collindaboi#5241

    collindaboi#5241 New Member

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    So, this would be a great addition (as if i dont railfan this sub) but it would be awesome, especially taking the local from vancouver to bingen, and having switch work there!
     

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