With the upcoming Santa Fe Gameplay Pack from High Iron Simulations announced as a part of the recent roadmaps, a gameplay pack down the line for the other US freight railroads as a part of TSW5 could be fun. As suggested by the title, a gameplay pack would entail the addition of rostered locomotives, cars, timetables, and AI for the routes these companies run on in the real world. In the United States, passenger service run by Amtrak (at least, in California) is usually leased operations on tracks owned by large companies, such as UP and BNSF, and smaller state- or government-run railroads (IE-SCRRA in California). As such, freight service, while sometimes rare on busy passenger lines such as the California-based "Peninsula Corridor" or the lines run by Metrolink, they're common enough that running timetables for freight services would not be unheard of. What a UP Gameplay Pack might entail: Expanded services for UP run mainline routes such as "Sherman Hill" and "Cane Creek", with layers to allow for mixed cars if other routes are a part of owned DLC (Adding in BNSF, CSX, and/or NS branded cars in mixed freight lineups, as can be seen in the real world)* Alternate schemes for locomotives/new locomotives such as "Patched" SP locomotives (patched ES44AC, SD60, or other locomotives in "Bloody Nose" paint), "Patched" Rio Grande locomotives (patched SD60, GP42, etc) and repaired locomotives with mismatched panels, with a chance of any of them spawning on the timetables and special services once the DLC is owned Added AI timetables, allowing for a more densely packed yard during "on foot" strolls, as well as a more consistent movement of stock over the routes.* Small "jobs" between different available small industries, available in other routes such as "Peninsula Corridor" and "Antelope Valley Line", adding onto their timetables with more stock moves based on real-world stock moves and freight timetables.** Added services for those who also have the "UP Heritage Livery Collection" pack What a BNSF Gameplay Pack might entail: Expanded services on BNSF run mainline routes (as stated similarly in the UP section)* Added paint schemes to BNSF run manifests (Sunbleached "Warbonnet" patched/re-lettered Ex-ATSF Dash-8 or Dash-9 locomotives, "Freightbonnet" (blue and yellow) patched Ex-ATSF GP and/or SD series locomotives, "Patchwork" Dash-9 locomotives with "Warbonnet" patches on side panels, and visa versa) and the ability to spot these "rarer" locomotives during timetable runs, as well as being able to use them both in timetable and added services. "Cabcar Service" scenarios added to Antelope Valley and San Bernardino lines - BNSF locomotives were used for a time while Metrolink was testing the new Rotem Cab Cars between 2014 and 2021 (Per photo research on RailPictures), and as such, BNSF AC4400 locomotives were leased to Metrolink while they were testing the new Cab Cars still - an odd sight to be sure, but still used often enough to warrant its addition in either/both lines. Added small jobs on "passenger" routes** What a CSX Gameplay Pack might entail: (In all honesty, I know less about CSX and NS as I'm from the west coast, but a rough outline for both follows below) Expanded services on CSX run mainline route* "Heritage" paint schemes as rolled out in the last few years (2/3's paint as I've heard it called, CSX nose with heritage fresh paint fading in behind it), or "Spirit Of" stickers on the nose of AC44CWs Added small jobs on "passenger" routes** What an NS Gameplay Pack might entail: Expanded services on NS run mainline route* "High Hood" locomotives available as extra power options, in addition to switching and short-haul moves "Operation Lifesaver" locomotives - NS has 27 Operation Lifesaver locomotives per Heritage Units (dot) com Added small jobs on "passenger" routes** (This would be more difficult as CSX, UP and BNSF all have a place in most passenger routes already while NS is left out - however, rolling stock moves around often between railroads, and on the east coast, it is possible to see CSX further south and NS further north, while also seeing BNSF and UP stock helping out as DPUs or lashed up as a part of the lead set of locomotives helping out when needed). Added services for those who also have the "NS Heritage Livery Collection" pack * - All Gameplay Packs would follow a similar suit. For Union Pacific, routes include Sherman Hill and Cane Creek. BNSF would include Cajon Pass. NS would include the Horseshoe Curve route. And finally, CSX would include the original Sand Patch Grade route. All routes would now allow for cross-railroad car lineups as would happen often on for-profit railroads. ** - All packs would allow for layers within "sub" services on routes that are available for the railroads in real life. For example - BNSF and UP run trains on the lines in California, and as such, passenger lines like the Antelope Valley line, Peninsula Corridor, and San Bernardino line. CSX is added as a freight option in the NEC routes, and NS would be able to possibly be used in the NEC routes as well or any future route in the South East US.
-My BNSF ideas: -B40-8/W -GP60/M/B -ET44C4/ET44ACH -ES44AC/DC/ACH -C44-9W/AC44C4M Rebuild -SD75M/I -SD70MAC -AC4400CW -GP30 and GP35 rebuilds (GP39-3s) -GP38-2 and/or GP39-2 -Add some more new rolling stock -Add the BNSF OCS Train -Add ATSF 4-8-4s #3751 and #2926 for steam excursions; also SP #4449 (maybe the BNSF livery version, too) -Add BNSF Boeing Fuselage Trains -My UP ideas: -C45ACCTE (ES44AC) -C45AH (ET44AC) -C44ACM (both C44-9W and C6044AC rebuilds) -SD70ACe-T4 -SD70M ("One" loco and Olympics locos included, maybe) -SD59MX -SD60/SD60M -GP60/GP62/GP60E (including D&RGW and SP-patched units) -GP40N -SD90MAC-H (including Ph. II units) and SD90-43MAC -Add special UP SD70ACes: #1111 "Powered By Our People;" #1943 "Spirit of the UP" -Add new correct cars for dirty dirt trains on Cane Creek; plus loading and unloading -Add UP Heritage Fleet passenger cars, #844 and #4014, #3985 (maybe), #6936 (maybe), and E9m A-B-A set -Add a UP Rocket Booster Train -Add UP New Corporate Livery to some locos -My NS ideas: -SD70ACU -SD70ACC -SD40E -SD60E -SD40-2 Admiral Cab -ET44AC -GP60 -GP59/E/ECO -SD80MAC -AC44C6M (including special-liveried units and new TAG Heritage Unit) -Conrail Heritage ES44AC -Heritage SD70ACes -SD45-2 (including EL Heritage Unit) -Add more rolling stock -Add a Roadrailer train -Add the NS OCS Train w/ SD60Es or F9s (no longer on roster, but should be included) -Add NKP #765 and N&W #611 for steam excursion services -My CSX ideas: -ET44AH -ES44AH (including Heritage Units) -ST70AH -SD70AC -CW60AC -SD80MAC -Add CSX OCS Train w/ F40PHs (including B&O-liveried unit) -MP15DC/AC/T -3GS-21B Genset Switcher (also UP, NS, and BNSF liveries) -GP40-2 -Rebuilds: SD40-3, SD40E3, GP40-3, GP38-3, ET23DCM/SD23T4 -More rolling stock -Other ideas: -Amtrak P42DC Genesis, P32-8BWH, and/or ALC-42 Charger layered onto routes -Continuous Welded Rail Trains -Work trains, wreck cranes, track maintenance equipment, operating rotary snowplows, etc. -DPU operations -US Military trains -Santa Fe Super Chief or El Capitan passenger cars for F7 pack -Run-through power (NS and/or CSX on BNSF or UP routes and vice versa; I've seen this several times)
