Here's a fourth tourist railroad yet to be created for TSW 5. It would go from Williams to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. The route is over 64 miles. It would be set in the 1940's-1950's-1960's and in present day. The Grand Canyon Railway rolling stock would include LS&I SC3 Class 2-8-0 #29, CB&Q O1A Class 2-8-2 #4960, Alco FA's, F40PH's, and GP7u's with freight and passenger equipment. The ATSF rolling stock would include 4-8-4 "Northern"' #3751, F-Unit's, GP7's, GP9's, Alco RSD15's, S2's, Alco S4's, SD24's, H12-44's, etc. with the same passenger equipment like TSC has. This would be awesome route for TSW 5.
The Grand Canyon Railway only runs 1-2 trains A DAY, steam on select days, and not much else. Also factor in the amount of unique rolling stock for this to become a reality, makes it not commercially viable for DTG to make for TSW.
The Grand Canyon RR is something I really want in game. I rode the GCRY train at the end of May this year. It was a fantastic experience, especially because I rode in the dome car with its great views. The scenery at the Grand Canyon is breathtaking! I would love to have the GCRY steam locos (#29 and #4960) on the route, as well as the Alco FPA4/FPB4s and F40FHs. They also use a chopped-nose ex-ATSF GP7u for switching duties and for pulling some trains. ATSF 4-8-4 #3751 has done excursions on the GCRY. Perhaps we could see the GCRY set in the 1940s-60s when ATSF operated passenger services to the Grand Canyon from Williams. The ATSF Grand Canyon Branch could include some ATSF passenger cars and an F3 or F7 A-B-B-A lashup, along with a GP7 or GP9, an RSD-15 "Alligator", an EMD SD24, an Alco S2 or S4, an FM H-12-44, etc. Of course, I would love to see the BNSF (or ATSF) Seligman Sub (Arizona Divide as it's called in TS Classic) route in game. The TSC route is the eastern part of the line from Winslow-Williams, AZ. I want the entire 300-mile (roughly) route from Needles, CA to Winslow, AZ (that won't happen unless we get the route in several parts). The BNSF Seligman Sub sees a lot of freight action with 70+ trains per day. Amtrak also runs the SW Chief on the route, so that could be layered onto the route and also Cajon Pass. For BNSF freights, I'd suggest an ET44C4 or C44-9W, and a GP60/GP60M-3 (maybe a GP60B) or B40-8W. For Amtrak, the P42DC or ALC-42 Charger and a SW Chief Superliner consist are needed. For an ATSF 1990s-era Seligman Sub, I'd suggest an ATSF C44-9W, SD75M, GP60/M/B, B40-8/B40-8W, C40-8W/C41-8W, SD40-2, SD45-2, SD45(u), GP39-2, GP38u, etc. along with an Amtrak F40PH, P32-8BWH, or P42DC for the SW Chief.
From what I’ve read on Trip Advisor the scenery en route to the Canyon is not that spectacular, which I can vouch for, having driven the parallel road on holiday a few times. You can’t see the Canyon from the train either. Basically it’s similar to the north end of Cane Creek. Also isn’t this the railway with a bit of a reputation for the staff “bilking” tips out of passengers, by staging a phoney train robbery on the return journey, where they are harassed into putting money into the swag bag?
