Hi everyone, I know I might look new around here, but don't let that account age fool you. I have been playing Train Simulator Classic since 2016 and Train Sim World since 2017, right when it came out. Now I want to start by saying that I am a big fan of Dovetail as a company, and I think that they have something great with Train Sim World. But with that being said, there is a significant gap in Train Sim World and that gap is American Freight routes. Dovetail hasn't released a single dedicated American Freight route since Cajon Pass in 2022. And the routes that we do have are severely outdated and linear in the sense that it's point A to point B nothing else nothing more. One of my personal favorite routes that suffers from this problem is Sherman Hill: Cheyenne - Laramie. This route came out in the Train Sim World 2 era and it is definitely time for an upgrade considering the other routes that have gotten revamped recently. While the grades remain a fun challenge, the route is severely outdated compared to modern standards. I’m proposing a complete "ground-up" remaster to bring one of my favorites to current train sim standards. 1. Scenery and Environmental Revamp While the current route represents Wyoming’s open landscape, it often feels too empty and lacks the depth seen in newer TSW routes. A revamp could include: Higher-density vegetation, terrain variation, and rock formations across the Laramie Mountains Improved skyboxes, lighting, and weather transitions (matching newer TSW standards) More detailed roads, vehicles, and ambient life alongside the route Expanded industrial areas (The rock quarry and Wycon chemical plant) to make the route feel more alive A complete overhaul to the Cheyenne and Laramie yard areas and surrounding towns to make the entire route feel like it has a purpose Revamped I-80 crossings with cars and signs marked along the highway which would also be an easy way to give life to the middle sections of the route Adding static objects and people walking around the cities of Cheyenne and Laramie Revamped railroad crossings along the route to reflect the gates and roads surrounding the route Sherman Hill should do a better job of capturing the harsh desert terrain seen in Wyoming and feel more alive. 2. Addition of the Harriman Line (Track 3) One of the biggest missed opportunities is the lack of the Harriman Line (Track 3), which exists in real life as an alternate, less steep route over the hill. Especially since this route exists in the Train Simulator Classic version of Sherman Hill By including the Harriman Line, you could Introduce route choice gameplay (steep mainline vs. easier but longer route) Adds the abilitiy to add more timetable services due to more track being available Adds more scenery to enjoy Allow heavier trains to realistically take different paths (and climb the grade at higher speeds) Increase timetable variety and replayability Create opportunities for meets, overtakes, and dispatcher controlled signals that are more engaging than the ones currently in game. Also create opportunities for new scenarios that make use of the new line for super heavy freight trains Make use of all the mainline tracks that currently run into Cheyenne since half of them aren't even used in timetable mode Right now, gameplay is limited to a single mainline experience. Including Track 3 would instantly make Sherman Hill feel like a much more dynamic railroad. 3. Expanded Locomotive Variety Currently, the route only includes the SD70ACe and SD40-2. While these are solid both good modern diesels and they are frequently used on Sherman Hill, they don’t fully represent modern Union Pacific operations. Sherman Hill is known for running a wide range of power, not just one flagship locomotive. A revamp should include at least one additional modern freight locomotive, such as: A GE Evolution Series locomotive (C45ACCTE, or C45AH) Or another modern EMD unit (SD70M, or SD70ACe-T4) This would: Diversify lashups and make consists feel more realistic Improve immersion for modern-era operations Add variety to gameplay and scenario design Right now, most trains feel very bland and operationally similar which hurts the replayability of this route significantly. 4. Timetable and Gameplay Improvements With a revamped route and added trackage, the timetable could be significantly expanded: More varied freight moves (including trains along the Harriman Line) AI traffic utilizing multiple routes (also including the Harriman Line) More yard switching at Cheyenne and Laramie (specifically more switching at Laramie) Longer, more complex services that reflect real-world operations (Longer trains can take the Harriman Line) Better timetable naming schemes with the train symbols included like HSC or CJP More realistic and immersive timetable moves with trains going up the Harriman Line and going down the Transcon route (track 3 between Hermosa and Laramie) Fix the horsepower and tractive effort on the SD70ACe as it is slightly underpowered I feel Sherman Hill is supposed to be a railroad superhighway that takes the path of the original Transcontinential Railroad and the game should reflect that. 5. Why the Revamp Matters This revamp wouldn't only fix a major gap in the TSW gameplay department it would also bring one of the greatest freight routes in TSW up to modern standards and give it new life. Upgrading this route is also a rather simple way to appease the US freight fans (such as myself) by giving an old but iconic route a place among the greatest routes in the game. By improving the scenery, adding the Harriman Line, and expanding locomotive variety, this route could go from “good” to one of the standout experiences in the entire game. I strongly believe a revamp would be well received by the community and give this iconic route the attention it deserves.
Absolutely. This is needed. The ubiquitous UP SD70M is a must-have (especially versions with different cabs and radiators). I'd love to see UP's newer EMD SD70ACe-T4s (SD70AHs on UP), the C45AHs (ET44ACs), C45ACCTEs (ES44ACs), C60ACs/C4460ACs/C44ACMs, SD90-43MACs, SD60s (including SD62/SD60E rebuilds)/SD60Ms, C40-8s, C40-8Ws/C41-8Ws, C44-9Ws/C44ACM rebuilds and maybe SD59MXs (rebuilt SD60Ms). Add a UP GP60/GP62/GP60E, and/or GP40-2/GP40N for yard and local duties too. We should get UP's new corporate livery on both existing and new locos too. We should also get UP #4014 and #844 in the future, as well as #3985, the rebuilt Heritage E9 A-B-A #949, #951, and #963B, and #6936 DDA40X. Special locomotives are needed: -SD70AH #1111 "Powered By Our People" -SD70ACe #1943 "Spirit of the Union Pacific" -SD70ACe #4141 George H. W. Bush Unit (?) -SD70M liveries: 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics Units #2001/2002, ONE Unit #1979, US 250th #1776, and #1616 Abraham Lincoln -ET44AC #4547 Trump Loco -ES44ACs liveries: Boy Scouts of America, 5000th GEVO, Breast Cancer Awareness Then we also need the following new rolling stock: -UP Heritage Fleet Passenger Cars (w/ full interiors) -UP Rocket Booster Train! This train needs the passenger car w/ interior, the rocket booster flatcars (both loaded and empty), and the boxcars (including the one with the clearance bars) -Newer Gunderson Multimax and Thrall Articulated Autoracks -Steel Coil Cars -Cement Hoppers -Coal Hoppers/Gondolas -New Intermodal Well Cars (single and articulated versions; empty, single container, and two-container versions too) How about classic 1950s or 1960s-70s UP loco packs? Here are some of my great ideas: -UP Gas Turbines! Big, powerful, and really loud, especially the 3-unit 8500HP Big Blows; we need the prototype and all 3 production versions -UP GP30s (including #844 and GP30B units) -UP SD24s/SD24Bs -UP GP35s -UP FM Erie-Built A-B-A Sets -UP Alco FA-1/FB-1 -UP NW2 -UP GP7s/GP9s (including rebuilt Turbocharged Omaha versions) -UP GP20s -UP SD7s -UP U30Cs -UP C30-7s UP Big Diesel pack(s): -EMD DD35, DD35A, DDA40X -GE U50, U50C -Alco C855 A-B-A Set -AC6000CW (C60AC on UP) -SD90MAC-H (including SD70ACe-style Ph. 2 cab units) UP Steam Pack(s)?: -Big Boys -Challengers -FEF-1s, 2s, and 3s -4-12-2s -2-8-8-0 Bull Moose Also needed: -Sound upgrades for all current UP locos -Upgrades to UP Heritage Fleet SD70ACes
Not to get too political, but yeah, it feels like its UP's way in trying to get the US government to try and approve of the UP-NS merger by way of the current US president. Thankfully it doesnt exist yet, but they plan on painting it https://www.up.com/about-us/history/heritage-fleet/commemorative/4547
