I am proposing the Moffat route from Denver colorado to the Axial mine (colowyo mine) which is the original routing. this route stretches over 275 miles total according to google map. At North yard Denver is where crew jump on board for a run up the moffat route. Once leaving denver the tracks start the 2.2% climb through arvada and Leyden the tracks twist through Barber Gulch entering the siding at Rocky where the rocky flats industrial lead services a chemical plant and cement plant, At this point the tracks make a large horseshoe maintaining a 2.2% grade climbing from the siding of elsie and into coal creek canyon another horseshoe is made and climbs into Tunnel 1 and into Plainview siding where the grade drops to 1.6 % and the grade picks back up at rainbow cut and into the flat irons and into the tunnel district following south boulder creek canyon to Pinecliffe up to the 8000+ feet siding at rollinsville and up to the next siding at Tolland where trains then do the final battle up to the Moffat route and into the 7 mile Moffat tunnel at 9, 280 feet . On the other side of the tunnel is winter park where WB trains now descend the 2.2% grade through frazier down to granby a total 8-10 miles of 2.2% track speed increases to 60 where train race through Granby to Tabernash where there is a wye track & passing track . The track goes through Byers canyon gore canyon with a siding a Azure & little gore canyon leading into yarmony and into bond. Bond is the crew change point for trains heading to gleanwood springs/grand junction. BNSF crews take trains from Denver to Kremmling (inbetween byers canyon and gore canyon ) where Utah railway crews take over. Bond is where the tracks go their separate ways the Dotsero cutoff heads for 30 miles to Orsted and a futher 30 miles to glenwood springs and it is a really scenic section of route. we're following the the tracks up the craig branch UP crews do a 166.5 mile stint from Denver to phippsburg (Pburg) and another crew will take the train to either the Energy mine or the Axial mine to be loaded there is also a power plant in that area too which is rail served. I would like to see this route with SP AC4400CW'S and UP AC4400CW (C44ACCTE & C45ACCTE) and the newer ES44AH's along with SD70ACes and SD70AH evena few Tier 4 GEvos's and SD70ACE-T4 and a good selection of coal hoppers. CSX have started running coal trains on the line too using http://www.coloradorailfan.com/gall...=&tt=&symbol=&sub=Moffat&season=&w=&tod=&txt= https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoHC_PIVzT9H8GKFTwIxsMQ http://www.therailroadcollection.co...de-railfan-guide-guest-post-by-john-crisanti/ http://railfanphotographycolorado.com/3canyons.html
I honestly believe that this would be a good route to add. DTG has made most of the western half of the DRGW, but why not add the eastern half? I live in Colorado, so this would be exciting to see the Moffat tunnel, also, the California Zephyr runs on this line so you do see passenger traffic as well, and usually manifest freight trains and coal trains.
theres the extention from Bond to glenwood spring at dotsero is where Tennessee pass joins making a wye track where trains can run to bond or glenwood springs after glenwoods is Grandjunction - the north fork branch to coal mines and the green river sub as well. i ve got an article in mind about colorado/utah
Great suggestion there. Hopefully DTG will put this on across all platforms so we can enjoy this route when and if it gets made.
I'd like this. I think the route needs to be set in the SP days. The route could include UP and SP AC4400CWs, GP50s or GP60s, and maybe an MP15 or SW1500 for switching. The UP ES44AC or ET44AC and SD70ACeT4 could be sold as DLC. A BNSF DLC with an ET44C4 or ES44AC/DC/C4 and a GP38-2 or GP60 could be great, too.
This is a great suggestion. Wouldn't be too bad of a route for another freight route for Train Sim World apart from the size. Overall well done.
ya or maybe rio grande ski train using f40ph engine. i donno if dtg would be keen to make new rolling stock like tempo cars for ski train. maybe it too time consuming for company.
You could just imagine it using Amtrak F40s and the DRGW lightweight coaches, but seeing actual Ski Train equipment would be cool.
having the ski train would make this from wye-ing the train at tabernashh for the return leg to climbing bearly 50 + miles 2.2 % grade im the dead of winter