If you're playing Rhein-Ruhr Osten, and look at the route map, you'll notice, at the eastern end, where the S-Bahn and mainline are separate, you'll notice a line branching off the mainline near a set of sidings. This continues west, between the two lines, before passing under the mainline near Ennepetal station then ending nearby. This is called the Ennepetalbahn (Ennepe valley railway), and runs - in between the other two lines, in, as the name suggests, in the valley. It's non-electrified, largely single line, and hasn't had regular passenger services since 1969. What makes it particularly interesting is that through the town of Gevelsberg, it runs next to the road, not quite on it but immediately adjacent, and at the same level, crossing the side streets on the flat. Except for the tunnel where it does pass under the main line (the Kruiner tunnel), where the road and railway share a lane. There are also a few extant passenger platforms (a couple of which are on the track included in the route) which have been used for tourist trains. Advantages: * Track is already in the system * Rolling stock is largely the diesel shunters already in TSW * Very interesting curio and driving experience * Neighbouring scenery at least partly modelled * Potential for passenger specials if/when appropriate stock becomes available Disadvantages: * Area presumably not modelled (I tried to access in free roam but hit a force field) * Tunnel road sharing possibly a complex new system to add * Limited possibilities once the novelty wears off. Some pictures: A goods train entering the Kruiner tunnel (they use the same road lane in both directions One of the stations in Gevelsberg Running next to the road A road junction A tourist train
The main picture - of the Kruiner tunnel - has disappeared. Here it is Also the n-Wagen and 628 are out now, so there could be passenger specials.
