Also known as the Silver Streak, the SEMTA Commuter Rail was a passenger service that was operated by the Southeastern Michigan Transport Authority, who took over passenger services from the Grand Trunk Werstern Railroad (GTW) in 1974. The route, including the line to Davis Yard is 34 miles long, with 10 stations on the commuter route, 2 freight terminals controlled by the GTW, one by Conrail, and another controlled by the Detroit Terminal Railroad, that was later taken over by Conrail. The General Motors factory in Detroit is also included in the scope of this route. This route proposal would see the route as it was in either the period of 1977-1978, or the period of 1981-1982. The reason for the chosen periods are mainly regarding the development of Detroit's Renaissance Center, which was initially completed in 1977, with trains now departing from a new station that was constructed on the site of the former Franklin Street station. This new station constructed to serve the Renaissance Center was much bigger than the old station in anticipation of the larger number of passengers travelling on the line to access the new Renaissance Center. By 1981, the Renaissance Center had gained 2 more buildings and the Detroit Terminal Railroad had been dissolved, and its operations taken over by Conrail. Although the passenger services to the Renaissance Center ceased in 1983, the track remained in place until some point between 1999 and 2002. Fortunately aerial photos of the whole route with the track layout that was present in the 1980s is present of Google Earth. If the route needs to be extended further, then an extension the GTW's freight terminal in Flint would double the length of the original route and add more freight scenarios utilising GTW rolling stock. Route map: List of rolling stock used on the route: EMD GP9 (SEMTA) - Already in TSW through the CN Oakville Subdivision EMD GP18 (SEMTA) - The successor to the GP9, this used a 567D1 engine instead of the 567C featured in the GP9. This gives the GP18 1800hp in comparison to the GP9's 1750hp. Those used by SEMTA were the only GP18 units fitted with steam generators for heating the coaches used on this route. PRR & UP Steam heated coaches (SEMTA) - Former PRR & UP rolling stock purchased for use on this route. EMD GP38-2 (GTW) - Already in TSW with several routes. EMD GP38AC (GTW) - GP38s fitted with AC10 alternators instead of the normal GP38 generator. Most were upgraded to GP38-2 specifications. EMD GP40 (Conrail) - An older variant of the GP40-2 that currently exists in TSW, these have a few external changes and lack the modular electrical systems of the GP40-2. EMD NW2 (Detroit Terminal) - The Detroit Terminal Railroad owned 11 NW2 switchers. 9 were aquired in 1947 and another 2 in 1949. These would have used EMD 12-567A engines with D4 generators. D15 generators would have been used on the pair aquired in 1949. EMD SW7 (Detroit Terminal) - A single SW7 was purchased by the Detroit Terminal Railroad in 1951. These had the same general design as the SW9, but featured vents on the upper hood and an older EMD 567A engine. EMD SW9 (GTW + Conrail) - An upgraded version of this locomotive, the SW1000R, is already featured in the NEC: New York route for TSW. EMD SW1200 (GTW) - The successor the the SW7 and SW9, this used either the EMD 567C or EMD 567E engine, but had no other external differences to the SW9, making it hard to distinguish between the two types. EMD SW1200RS (GTW) - A variant of the EMD SW1200, these featured EMD Flexicoil B-B trucks, and larger fuel tanks. Various freight wagons with GTW and Conrail branding. As far as licencing is concerned, SEMTA still exists, although they have rebranded as SMART and only operate buses at this time. GTW is now a subsidiary of Canadian National, although they still exist as a paper corporation. Conrail was dissolved in 1999, with its track being taken over by CSX and Norfolk Southern. They still exist as a contract local courier and switching company for CSX and Norfolk Southern in Detroit, Philadelphia and Newark. The Detroit Terminal Railroad was merged into Conrail, so usage rights can be negotiated at the same time as Conrail. If licencing isn't an issue, but this route cannot be made for TSW, I wouldn't mind seeing it in TSC instead.
