A lot of railroads, both Class 1s, Tourist RRs, and are getting into the America 250 Celebration this year. DTG should totally get into the action and make some great America 250 locomotives for existing routes. Here are some of my ideas. 1.) BNSF ES44ACHs #250, 1776, and 2026: Top of the list: BNSF's America 250 ES44ACHs. I love the paint job on these; so much so, that I preordered an MTH Trains O-Scale model of #1776 for my O-Gauge layout. Plus, I'm a huge BNSF railway fan. These would be really great locos for Cajon Pass, and they would add a splash of color to the desert route. Interesting fact: one of the guys who works at the paint shop where these locos were painted has a teenage son who helped design the livery. That's really cool. 2.) CSX CM44AHs #250 and #2026: These are a pair of rebuilt CSX CM44AHs (rebuilt AC4400CWs) that they recently painted into America 250 liveries. We have CSX AC4400s in game on Sand Patch Grade. However, the model in game would need a few modifications to modernize it to rebuilt CM44AH status. 3.) NS America 250 SD70ACes, ES44ACs, and AC44C6M: NS has some nice paint schemes on 6 of their modern locomotives for the US 250th Anniversary. Three of them are SD70ACes, one is a rebuilt AC44C6M, and the other two are ES44ACs. We have both the SD70ACe (BNSF and UP) and NS ES44 in game. The AC44C6M would need to be added, along with an NS SD70ACe. These locos would be DLCs for Horseshoe Curve. 4.) Union Pacific SD70Ms #1776 and #1616 Abraham Lincoln; also UP C45AH #4547: I'm surprised that we still don't have UP SD70Ms in game. They are ubiquitous on the UP. UP has a couple of units that have been painted in special liveries. The 1st is #1776, the UP America 250 loco. #1776 wears the original UP Large Flag Livery with America 250 on the cab sides. UP #1616 celebrates Abraham Lincoln. I included this one because I think that it fits the theme of celebrating America. I also have an O-Scale model of #1616 from Atlas coming later this year. The final UP loco is their new Trump loco, C45AH (ET44AC) #4547. While the paint scheme is really great, I'm not the biggest Trump fan. Plus, the ET44AC is needed in game, especially in UP (and BNSF) liveries. We need these UP locos for Sherman Hill (along with UP Big Boy #4014, UP FEF-3 #844, and all the UP Excursion Train passenger cars). 5.) CPKC America 250 ET44AC #1776: Another ET44AC, and this one in CPKC America 250 livery. We would need a new CP/CPKC route for this loco. 6.) CN America 250 ES44ACs #1776 and #2026: CN did really good paint jobs for their two ES44AC America 250 units. The #1776 "Screaming Eagle" Unit is one of my favorite America 250 locos (second only to the BNSF units). 7.) Nevada Northern SD9R #250: Another of my favorite America 250 locos is NNRY #250, a rebuilt ex-SP SD9R that has been painted in an attractive red, white, and blue livery. I also have an MTH model of this locomotive coming very soon for my O-Gauge layout. I also rode this train years ago, and I am trying to do it again sometime soon. If we get NNRY #250, we would need a Nevada Northern RR Route in game. Could that happen? Could we get museum and shortline routes in TSW? Hopefully. They have some nice America 250 liveries. 8.) Grand Canyon RR F40FH #365 America 250 Loco: Even the famous Grand Canyon RR is getting into the whole America 250 celebration. I love this livery and would totally purchase an O-Scale model if it is made. I have ridden the GCRY train, and it's a great experience. As for the GCRY in game, I don't think it will happen, but we can dream, can't we? Bonus Loco: N&W J-Class 4-8-4 #611 America 250th Livery: The Virginia Museum of Transportation and the N&W Historical Society have recently painted J-Class #611 into an attractive livery for the US 250th Anniversary. Could we get #611 in game, along with some excursion passenger cars? We can dream. Hopefully this one could happen.
Oh yeah man!! I was absolutely excited when BNSF made 250 locomotives. I also love the GRCY one. Now licensing for 611, the GCRY, CPKC, and Nevada Northern is one of the reasons why some of the locomotives might not get featured initially but hopefully licensing can get resolved.
Nothing was done for Railway200 last year so I don't see why they should do a livery pack of the America250 locomotives. However, if this did happen and they included UP 4014 & N&W 611, I'd change my opinion
