Stevens Pass stands at an elevation of 4,061 feet above sea-level in the heart of the Pacific Northwest's Cascade Mountains. Large granite outcroppings tower above the densely forested landscape creating a cool, wet rainforest on the west and semi-arid country on the east. Weaving through this seemingly impassible barrier is a transcontinental railroad connecting the heartland of America with the Pacific Northwest and the Orient. BNSF Railway utilizes a historic route carved by John F. Stevens over 100 years ago. A continuous parade of long and heavy trains roll back and fourth over the beautiful terrain on what is fittingly named the Scenic Subdivision. 7idea Productions traveled to the State of Washington in May of 2010 to document current operations over this former route of the Great Northern between Everett and Wenatchee. Witness long stack trains crossing beautiful mountain streams, heavy grain trains thundering up 2.2% grades with mid and rear-end DPU's plus Amtrak's Empire Builder on its daily run between Chicago and Seattle. The highlight of the line is the famous 7.8 mile Cascade Tunnel. the longest tunnel in the United States. See how smoke and fumes are flushed out of the tunnel in between trains. Plus recount the 1910 Wellington avalanche which swept two trains off the mountain. No one ever said mountain railroading was easy and you'll see why in STEVENS PASS...BNSF Railway's Scenic Sub! ES44AC - BNSF SD70ACE - BNSF SD70MAC - BNSF SD40-2 BNSF GP38-2 BNSF P42DC Amtrak https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcjZJBLo88c
Stevens Pass has Amtrak's Empire Builder, which would be the perfect opportunity to add the Siemens ALC-42 Charger in TSW2 (included in the base route or added as a DLC. The ALC-42 made its first revenue run on the Empire Builder earlier this year in February. I would also like the GP60 instead of the GP38-2 and a BNSF ET44C4. If this route is made, it needs to include the Boeing airplane fuselage cars. Great Northern and Burlington Northern loco packs could be made. F45s, SD40-2s, SDP45s, SD45s, SD60s/SD60Ms, SD70MACs, and other engines could be included. I'd love to see a C30-7, U30C, and/or BN B30-7B as well as the Hustle Muscle GN SD45.
To stand any chance, you’ll need to select a 50 mile or thereabouts section as unlikely anything longer would make it into TSW.
Excellent idea and for existing locomotives the following are reskinned ES44AC SD70ACE SD40-2 GP38-2 from the original versions are Norfolk Southern Union Pacific and CSX to BNSF. New build SD70MAC DLC SD70ACE-T4 8500s. Will also affect Sand Patch Grade on Next Generation Consoles is that there will be Mid train DPU trips.
