Introduction With the release of the Bernina Line route for Train Sim World 4, the stark beauty and dramatic mountain scenery of the Alps, in particular the sparse landscape around the summit of Ozpisio Bernina, and the engineering marvels on the descent to Tirano has rekindled my interest in the development of a representation of the White Pass and Yukon Railroad for Train Sim World, especially with such dramatic scenery now being a reality in-game. History The WP&YR was originally a product of the Klondike Gold Rush, known by historians as the last great human migration. In 1896 gold was discovered on the banks of the Klondike River near Dawson City, Yukon. When news of the discovery reached the mainland U.S. it triggered a frenzy of prospectors traveling by steamship from Seattle to the boomtown of Skagway, at the headwaters of the Lynn Canal. The need for a more efficient form of transportation soon became apparent as thousands of prospectors traversed the treacherous and often deadly Chilkoot Trail to the Canadian border, often requiring many trips to the summit in order to procure the nearly two-tons of supplies required by the Canadian government for survival in the Yukon. Once the supplies were in order, an equally dangerous trip by water in homemade boats was then required in order to reach the gold fields near Dawson City via Lake Bennett and the Yukon River. It was in 1898 when the need for a railroad was answered by a group of British financiers, among whom “Big” Michael Heney famously bragged when doubt was expressed about the railroad’s construction “Give me enough dynamite and snoose and I’ll build a railroad to hell!” Starting at Skagway, the WP&YR was built over the course of two years with a golden spike being driven at Carcross, Yukon. The line was blasted through solid granite out of Skagway, clinging to narrow shelves and crossing numerous bridges on the nearly 2,500ft climb from sea level at Skagway to White Pass Summit where the line crosses into British Columbia. After crossing a glacial plateau the line reaches Fraser, BC before, in modern times, paralleling and crossing the Klondike Highway before reaching Bennet, BC. The railroad then skirts Lake Bennett before reaching Carcross and ultimately continuing on to Whitehorse, Yukon. Following the conclusion of the gold rush in 1900, the year of the railroad’s completion, the WP&YR transported vast quantities of ores and concentrate to Skagway for loading onto ships, as well as being the main material provider for the U.S. Army’s Alaska Highway project during World War Two. By 1954 when the WP&YR dieselized, the White Pass was a completely integrated transportation system, operating docks, trains, ships, busses, trucks, hotels, and pipelines. The WP&YR was also an early adopter of the system that would ultimately become the intermodal container we know so well today. Unfortunately the railroad began to decline during the 1970’s with the line ceasing operations as a common carrier in 1983 following a global crash in metal prices. However it was around this time that Skagway began to become a tourist port for cruise ships, and in 1988 the railroad reinvented itself as a tourist attraction, offering scenic excursions over the most iconic part of the route from the docks of Skagway to White Pass Summit. Today the WP&YR continues to thrive as a tourist railroad, offering excursions to the summit, Fraser, and Carcross, the current end of track. The Route for Train Sim World The White Pass & Yukon for Train Sim World would represent the railroad as it appears in the modern day, from the docks of Skagway to Carcross, YK, a distance of approximately 70 miles. As stated in the introduction, the dramatic mountain scenery of the Bernina Line proves that such a route is not just possible for Train Sim World, but will elevate and transform what was once a run of the mill train simulator into a form of digital art with the dramatic and sweeping landscapes, making the driving experience all the more exciting. Locomotives The two most iconic locomotives present on the White Pass are the ALCo/MLW DL535-E, and the General Electric 90-class “Shovelnose” diesels. These two locomotives are the mainstays of the line running in lash-ups of three or sometimes four units on the Skagway-Summit, Fraser, or Bennett runs. Trains to Carcross usually run with a single unit or sometimes two. The railroad also rosters a pair of preserved steam locomotives for special excursions, these being the 73, 69. I feel however that these engines would be better suited for a possible DLC pack, along with the older liveries of the diesels. Rolling Stock The modern White Pass and Yukon is a tourist railroad through and through, therefore passenger equipment will be the mainstay of the rolling stock included with the route. The WP&YR rosters 79 coaches for their various excursions. While these coaches come in a variety of builds ranging from wood to steel construction, clerestory roofs, rounded roofs, and even a few with cupolas, the Train Sim World route would ideally include the classic wooden coach with clerestory roof, such as the one pictured. While the modern White Pass does not handle revenue freight, it would still be a good idea to include a variety of freight stock for services such as maintenance of way, photo charters, and representing operations prior to 1983. To properly represent the freight equipment of the White Pass, the route should include a boxcar, flatcar with a variety of loads including the semi-intermodal ore containers, container flat, tankcar, and steel caboose. Examples of all these pieces of equipment are pictured below. Conclusion To have the White Pass and Yukon Route in Train Sim World would be more than just another North American route, but an opportunity to truly show what the Unreal Engine is capable of and to elevate a train simulator to a new form of digital art. The Bernina Line is a fantastic start to mountain scenery, but I believe the White Pass will truly revolutionize the train simulator experience and unlock the true potential of Train Sim World.
The WP&Y currently rosters new NRE E3000CC-DC diesels. Their DL-535Es were recently (as of 2020) sold to the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge. If we get the WP&Y, The DL-535Es and GE 90-Class Shovelnose Diesels should be included with the steam power and the NRE E3000CC-DCs as DLCs.
The pictures look really mind-blowing driving the loco throught these mountains and this seems to be a very cool and running railway. I also like the unique locomotives. I wish more variety in routes from DTG.
