Given that the northern American fan base for Train Sim World hasn’t had a freight route since Cajon pass, I thought it would be a good idea to give a suggestion for a remaster to Horseshoe Curve. The Route initially came out in 2022 during the Train Sim World 2 era, and it’s very noticeable playing it today. According to the latest roadmap sky Hook is planning updates for their older routes. Skyhook Games: "Looking at out back catalogue, we have been working on service updates following the great feedback we receive from players. On the list being planned for release with Dovetail are updates to Cane Creek, Horseshoe Curve, Cargo Line Vol.1 Petroleum and Vol.2 Aggregates, the ScotRail Class 158 and Midland Main Line." So here’s a list of ideas I’ve compiled for a potential remaster, so they can resell this line as a new route. Refresh the vegetation and terrain. Many, and I mean many, sections along this route are BARE with no proper vegetation and looks very old looking at it from today’s perspective. Driving around the curve itself, reveals the bare mountain sides with the lack of trees. Dovetail and skyhook has dramatically improved there detailing in their routes released lately because 9th Gen consoles are a lot more powerful than 8th Gen, which was when this route was launched. The terrain in this route is very off from its real life counterpart. Taking a look at Gallitzin we can see that there is rocks above the tunnels, which is not true. Gallitzin is also missing its tunnel Park, which is strange. This area could be a nice viewing point for watching trains as they drive up the grade. there’s also many points along this route where the scenery is lacking severely. This route could also use the new water that Dovetail has been using in routes like LIRR and Boston Worcester. Update the lighting and skybox. This route is in dire need of the TOD4 lighting and volumetric skies. The current state of the route looks dated with the old lighting, and I believe it could use a refresh. Update the rolling stock and consider new DLC’s for this route. The current way the manifest trains are set up, you will see the same manifest train over and over with no change and how the freight cars are organized. This could also be a good time to add the Center beam cars into the mix and add the TOFC (Trailer on Flatcar) back this could also be a good opportunity to add substitution into the consists like Oakville Subdivision does. Skyhook did release the heritage pack for the GEVO but I believe they can do more and should do more. a potential new Loco could be the SD70ACe from Sherman Hill, but reskinned in a Norfolk Southern delivery. Dovetail did do the same thing with the SD70 for Cajon pass and BNSF so this type of thing wouldn’t be new. I know this would never happen, but if this route were to get a remaster, it would be a good opportunity for dovetail to add the Amtrak P42 even though it only runs once in each direction. in the end, Horseshoe curve is one of the most famous lines in America. It is one of the more underrated North American freight routes in this game in my opinion. With the right amount of attention and work put into this route, I believe it can become one of the best freight routes for North American players. hopefully skyhook does this route justice in the future if they decide to return to North American content. This would also be a good opportunity for them to show that they can do North American content right and be a good step in the right direction for a return to North American freight. Have fun Railroading!
NS Locos needed: -SD60E (including special units); can be used for helper services too -SD40-2 Admiral Cab Rebuild -AC44C6M (including special-liveried units and TAG Heritage Unit) -SD70ACU -SD70ACC (including yellow and gray units -GP60 -GP59/E/ECO -Heritage SD70ACe Pack -Conrail Heritage ES44AC -ET44AC -SD45-2 (including EL Heritage Unit) -NS OCS Train with SD60Es or F9s (no longer on roster, but should be included) -SD40E (rebuilt SD50) for helper services
The dynamic brakes need fixing on the AC loco to bring them more in line with those in the similar loco in Cajon Pass instead of the odd and broken way they behave currently. It’s the main reason I don’t use this route very often which is a shame.
If they did one of these things from your list, it would be great! Hopefully, at least new lighting. I vaguely remember the sound of the engine was cutting off for me if I got too far away with an external camera or something like that, and had to "restart" it while rolling, which brough the sounds back...
The NS Gevos should get rotating radiators like the BNSF ES44C4. Perhaps Skyhook could make NS versions of the AC44 and the SD40-2 too.
Aside from the short lived 2nd hand ones they recently bought, NS never really had AC44's so I think Skyhook making them would be a waste, at most, they can try and make the AC44C6Ms, which obviously NS has a ton of due to the Dash 9 rebuilds. And the GEVO needs to be reworked to be at least up to par with the BNSF one.
It's a pity that we can't get Conrail in game because of licensing issues. We could get some great Conrail locomotives, including their OCS E8s, an SD80MAC, SD70MAC, C40-8/C40-8W, C39-8, SD40/SD40-2, SD50, etc. I'd love a PRR HSC version with either 1950s-60s diesel power, including a Centipede, SD9 "Cadillac," GP9, FM Trainmaster, Alco RS-11, and/or Baldwin RF-16 Sharknose A/B; or a steam-era PRR HSC with a K4s, T1 Duplex, H10, B6sb, L1, I1, and/or J1 Texas.
