As a Washington local, I would love to see this route in train sim world. The route: 47.6 miles of track between Seattle King Street Station and Lakewood station, Via the Point Defiance bypass. Equipment: should include the Sounder F59PHI, numbers 901-911. There would be the older style series 3 and 4 coaches and cab cars, and the newer series 10 cab cars. They could include the SC-44 and Talgo series 8 for Amtrak cascades. For freight there should be a H3 GP39-2 or GP40 for switching and locals, and a H1 or H2 Dash 9-44CW or H3 SD75M/I for heavier freights. Freight could layer on from Cajon Pass, Sherman Hill, Cane Creek, and Boston Sprinter (for Amfleets) The other Stock Used (Sounder MP40PH-3C, phase 5 and phase 7 Amtrak P42/P40, phase V and Cascades Amtrak NPCU, phase 6 and phase 7 ALC-42, and the Amfleet I) could be added in other DLC/packs later on. Stations: Seattle King Street station, Tukwila, Kent, Auburn, Sumner, Puyallup, Tacoma Dome, South Tacoma, and Lakewood. Again, i think this route would rock in TSW. What features and rolling stock would you guys like on a route like this? People who want a route with heavy traffic and beautiful scenery or are interested in trains like this, or just like this idea, feel free to comment or like this post! The more action on this thread there is, the more likely DTG is to see this thread!
I've been daydreaming about this route for a while -- decent compatibility with existing stock (BiLevels, freight, the MPH40 should be a quick modification from the MPH36), commuter, intercity (maybe just the P42 with Amfleet, as is currently in place on the non-Talgo Cascades runs), and some big freight yards. However, I'm a bit concerned about the boringness of the route from like Tukwila to Tacoma - lots of straight, fast running. It would sort of make sense to me to extend down to Olympia-Lacey, so that the Amtrak services can terminate there rather than in Tacoma. However, that's another 30km / 19 miles of mostly fairly straight running from Lakewood (other than the notorious 30mph curve over I5 near DuPont...). Another option would be including the old Point Defiance route, but that's 55km / 34 miles in total from the split in Tacoma. It would have the benefit of better scenery and more varied speed zones. Perhaps call it a historical route prior to the opening of the bypass, and include it instead of the Sounder extension to Lakewood to save some track kilometers. Guess that doesn't fit with the Amfleet subbing in for the Talgos though.
I Really appreciate the reply. Really helps this thread! Thats a good idea and would work nicely with the S-line. I thought i would share two videos from my recent railfanning trip to Auburn! Video 1: Sounder 1506 (F59PHI) and 1501 (MP40PH-3C) meet. Video two: Amtrak 505 meets a BNSF manifest. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zOhfgoRNCtuIQvweGDOO6qbVmnLUwuUc/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xXjcl7QNI8Eu6jdR8GR73BmAD1VlHvS0/view?usp=drivesdk
If DTG made this route, which locomotive/cab car would you drive first? Anyone else railfan this route?
With the announcement of TSW6, it still might be possible this route could make it to the initial release or more likely the first few DLCs after. But if we want that to happen, we have to show DTG our hype! Who is with me?
