This is a small section of the TasRail (required license) freight network in Tasmania, that would be most appropriately and easily represented in its present-day state. TasRail uses 3 different locomotives, but the primary loco used on this route is the newer TR class locomotive, which would need to be created from scratch. Rolling stock is quite generic (mostly cement wagons and intermodal boxcars on this section of the network), although it is narrow-gage. Not sure what narrow gage rolling stock is available to re-use/reskin, but that may be an option. Some new foliage assets would be required, with gum/eucalypt trees, dry grasses/ground cover, and coastal small trees/shrub species. Grasses and many trees in town/residential areas can have re-used assets as there are quite a few non-native trees in such areas. The network, like most freight networks, is too big to include a full end-end route. Burnie to Railton includes one freight terminus (Burnie), one freight yard/port (Devonport), and one supplier/consumer business with their own yard (Railton). It does not include the termini and larger cities of Launceston or Brighton (Hobart), but contains the most interesting/unique and appropriate-length section of the network while still having a terminus. Rail traffic is light on the route, with only a handful of trains per day in both day and night running. Route is entirely single-track between Burnie and Railton except for Devonport yard, where passing is also possible. There is potential to spruce up the timetable a little if desired even with the primarily one-way traffic, particularly if this passing is utilised. This section of the network in particular has strong gameplay and enjoyment potential for a number of reasons: 1-Scenery is picturesque, running along the beachfront between Burnie and Devonport with a few excursions slightly inland through marshes and over rivers/inlets. A unique features of the route is that it runs right through residential areas and small towns. Towards Railton, it suddenly becomes a rather lush Tasmanian forest. Quite scary for drivers in real life with the close proximity to roads and footpaths, and dozens of poorly-guarded crossings, many going right through busy intersections and even roundabouts. Many gradients and tight curves thanks to the route originally being planned over 100 years ago with a tough landscape and small budget. Some straight sections approaching Railton to allow some slightly higher speeds. Typically around 25 mph over most of the route, getting up to 35 and 40 here and there. Actual limits are in kph of course. 2-The route is 30 miles of track from Burnie to Devonport, and another 12 miles to Railton. Trains usually run slow due to the windy nature of the track and many level crossings, so the full journey normally takes about 2 hours (1.5 hours to get from Burnie to Devonport, so the option is there to have some slightly shorter scenarios, but I believe all services from Burnie continue the full length of the proposed section to Railton and beyond in reality). 3-There are several realistic service options on the route, including two-or-three-loco intermodal between Burnie and Railton (continuing beyond Railton in reality), single-loco cement between the cement works at Railton (including cement loading) and Devonport yard (including cement unloading), and shunting at Burnie. 4-A big playability bonus would be the inclusion of the 2-mile stretch of track from Don Junction to Don near Devonport. Tourist trains run from Don (west of Devonport) to Don junction (north-west of Devonport), several times a day with a return trip taking 20 minutes. It offers a slightly different pace from the big freight trains, and if some creative liberty is taken in timing services well, the tourist trains can pass next to freight services at Don Junction for maximum railfanning potential. Of course, this would require more locos and stock, depending on the existing library of narrow-gage trains (Small steam and/or medium steam and/or diesel railcar and/or diesel locomotive). Potential for heritage stock shunting and moving at Don too, with a small but very dense yard and station (including a turntable). Also offers a chance to ride in a passenger car, albeit only for 2 miles. There is the potential to include a "what if" scenario, where the connection between the now-tourist-line and the main line is restored. Currently it's missing a 10m section of track that was ripped up, but if this was included, tourist trains could be run from Don into Devonport station yard, or in the other direction to Ulverstone or even all the way to Burnie, slotting between freight services. Google maps highlights images album: https://ibb.co/album/G72t71
