Hello, everyone. ON Clinchfield, coal traffic is king, we run both empty and loaded coal drags across the line. In addition, there are also mine runs which run up the steep hollers of Virginia, on Clinchfield's numerous branch lines to loaders to load hoppers with black diamonds. But the thing is about CRR's timetable mode, is that there is only one service in which you load coal. On the Fremont branch you'll pull loads in both directions, because loaded trains of unprocessed coal are taken to Moss Processing. At Moss, coal is cleaned, washed, and processed to the consumers need. Of which, involves emptying the hoppers and later loading them with processed coal; which will then later be taken back over the Fremont branch loaded again. And mind you, that involves taking the train down the steep 2% grade to join the mainline; the grade is also a challenge ascending, too, once I stalled going up and had to double the train. However, like I mentioned before, there is only one service where we load coal. There really should be loading and unloading services at all the major plants on Clinchfield, such as Moss, Blue Diamond, the McClure river coal fan, Rex loop tipples. Locomotives are stationed at some of these places, but none have services assigned to them, and I don't think any have ai services, but I don't know for sure. This all is one big thing that CRR is missing and I really think DTG and the preservation crew should look into implementing in the future, with a preservation update.
The thing is that we don‘t have the right rolling stock for the (un-)loading services. That would have been handled by local switchers (like the famous Haysi F7B) or smaller engines like the GP7, not by mainline engines like the F7 and SD40. It’s another reason why CRR desperately needs a loco DLC.
Sadly CRR seems to have joined the ever increasing list of “fire and forget” TSW routes. Launched with great hoorah, but then left to languish with buggy scenarios unfixed and no love in the way of additional content.
I fear it's in great part because CRR hasn't sold especially well, so DLC for a little-played route isn't a priority. While there are those of us who absolutely love vintage US freight, a larger segment of the player base want nothing to do with it.
Indeed. My one regret with Run 8 is that they haven't included some older F units which would be great fun all the way from Fresno to Seligman or down the Florida A-Line.
That is true, it sure has been left behind. It's not right, DTG really should give this route some love. Because it's a really good route, highly underrated. And it could really shine with the GP7, adding the loading services.
