After seeing the title you might be asking yourself, a lot of people suggest metro/subway type routes, so what makes this different? well, besides being one of the oldest Rapid transit systems in North America and the world the Chicago Transit Authority's blue line is one of the longest and busiest lines on the CTA Network. The blue line would be a good intro into the world of subways in train sim world as it has a variety of elevated, and subway track-age, on top of that the Blue line also runs through the middle of both the Kennedy and the Eisenhower express ways. When would the route be Set? For maximum potential the route would have to be set between 2003 and 2006 so it can make use of what is now the Pink line which runs elevated after Racine station on the Forest Park Branch and from Racine runs elevated and at grade-level with multiple crossings, before ending up in the unique Cicero terminal at 54th and Cermak. Where does the route terminate? Well the blue line if set between 2003 and 2006 would have a terminus and services that would end at the following: 54th and Cermak, Forest Park, UIC-Halsted, Jefferson Park, Rosemont, and O'hare. What Rolling Stock would make for realistic services given the time period? Seeing as the route would be set between 2003 and 2006 there would need to be two types of Trains running on the line, These trains would be the Budd built 2200 and 2600 series rail cars. These types of trains would normally run with each other to form anywhere between a 4 and 8 car train. However it is important to note that because of the Americans with disabilities act, 2200 series rail cars would always run with 2600 series rail cars due to there unique door configuration. Seeing as there is a 2200 series Set at the Illinois railway museum it would be quite easy to model. Features I would like to see? Along with the standard features that are in most other trains in TSW, I would like to see an operable destination board with all of the destinations that are in a real life 2200 and 2600 rail car. I would also like to see a variation of how long trains are, as mentioned previously they can be anywhere from 4 - 8 cars long, I would also like to see the emergency exit levers above the doors working. A last essential feature would be the ability to take trains out of the yards and Rosemont, Forest Park, and 54th Cermak. Additional I would like to see advertising wrapped cars. I may require licenses so this would be very extra, although Dovetail Games could use the wrapped advertising cars to advertise there own products, it may not be realistic but I think it would be a nice detail. Extra Resources The following few videos are videos released by the CTA which show the view out of the front of a train, I have included both directions of the blue line, in real time and sped up, aswell as the Loomis ramp and the Pink line (which now is the 54th cermak branch that the blue line use to run on) (to O'hare From Forest Park, in real time) (To Forest Park From O'hare, in real time) (Pink Line from 54th/Cermak around the loop and back to 54th/Cermak. The blue line would have only gone as far as the Loomis Ramp) (Blue line From Forest Park to O'hare sped up) (Blue line From O'hare to Forest Park sped up) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ukjzWVVQk (Pink line From 54th/Cermak around the loop back to 54th/Cermak sped up) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CNJ5ANWEW8 (Loomis Ramp Blue line trains used this connector ramp to climb up to the 54th/Cermak Branch) Extra Wikipedia pages https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Line_(CTA) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Line_(CTA) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2200_series_(CTA) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2600_series_(Chicago_"L")
Great proposal! I think the fact that the Blue Line runs as a subway through the Loop adds to the strength of your argument. Since the train runs underground through the urban core, it negates the need to create a detailed model of downtown Chicago seen from above the street, which would be a rather daunting task from a development perspective. Additionally, the diversity of Blue Line operating territory lend to an exciting, diverse route, and the long suburban stretches give amply opportunity for higher speed runs, which are a staple of TSW.
