The joint BNSF and Union Pacific coal operations of the Powder River Basin in northeastern Wyoming would make for an awesome and highly-challenging route. The route is officially called the Orin Subdivision and runs north and south between Douglas and Gillette, WY. The busy line has two and sometimes three tracks to handle all the heavy coal trains on the route. One advantage of a prairie line like the Orin Sub is that it might be possible to get a longer route in game. The full Douglas-Gillette, WY route is about 133 miles long. Could we get the full route or would the TSW version of the Orin Sub be shorter than that? Of course, it's all the super heavy and long coal trains running on this route that make it really interesting. There are several huge coal mines along the Orin Sub. Coal trains run in both directions, making for lots of railfanning opportunities. While the route is located on the prairies of eastern Wyoming, the ruling grade on the Orin Sub is 1%. With the coal trains being so heavy and long, helpers are needed to get loaded trains over the line. Back when the line first began operations in the 1980s, the Orin Sub/Powder River Basin route was operated jointly by the Burlington Northern and Chicago and Northwestern Railroads. The line is now jointly run by UP and BNSF. With all the weight of coal in the gondolas or hopper cars, BNSF and UP both operate primarily big, modern 6-axle AC Traction diesel locomotives on this route. Let's talk about the locomotives and rolling stock we could get with this route. 1.) BN Power: -EMD SD40-2 -EMD SD45 -EMD F45 -EMD SD60M -EMD SD60MAC Demonstrators -EMD SD70MAC -GE U30C -GE U33C -GE C30-7 2.) C&NW Power: -EMD SD40-2 -EMD SD45 -EMD SD50 -EMD SD60 -GE C40-8 -GE C44-9W -GE AC4400CW 3.) UP Power (AC Traction): -EMD SD90MAC-H (6000HP units; including Ph. II cab units) -EMD SD90-43MAC (4300HP units) -EMD SD70ACe/SD70AH (in game with Sherman Hill route) -EMD SD70ACe-T4 (SD70AH) -GE AC4400CW/C44AC(CTE)/C44ACM rebuild (in game with Cane Creek route; also needed: ex-SP and ex-C&NW units too) -GE AC6000CW (6000HP units) -GE C4460AC/C44ACM rebuild (4400HP units) -GE C45ACCTE (ES44AC) -GE C45AH (ET44AC) 4.) BNSF Power (AC Traction): -EMD SD70MAC (most ex-BN; also include "Vomit Bonnet" livery unit #9647, BN patched units, and H2 and/or H3 Swoosh livery units too) -EMD SD70ACe (in game with Cajon Pass route DLC addon) -GE AC4400CW -GE ES44AC -GE ES44ACH (newer, heavier-ballasted ES44ACs on BNSF roster) -GE ET44ACH (newer heavier-ballasted ET44ACs on BNSF roster) -Older pre-AC Traction BNSF and UP Power (?): -UP GE C40-8/C40-8W/C41-8W -BNSF GE C40-8W/C41-8W -GE C44-9W (both UP and BNSF; also ex-C&NW and SP patched units) Now, for the rolling stock. Obviously, we need a lot of coal hoppers or gondolas for the trains. Multiple liveries and designs would be great. MOW rolling stock would be great to see also for keeping the track maintained. Lots of heavy coal trains moving along the track on this route put strain on the right-of-way. Operations: -Coal loading at each mine -Maintenance work -Bill Yard operations -Working the loco and car shops on the route -DPU and/or manned helper operations (depending on the time period of the route in game) In conclusion: we should get the BNSF/UP Powder River Basin/Orin Sub in TSW 7. This route would be challenging. It would include some new modern diesel power for the game. And of course, we would get to experience handling extreme modern railroading at its best with all the massive coal trains.
