I dream of a day when we see the Amtrak license used to bring us the Pennsylvanian on Horsehoe Curve, the Capital Limited on Sand Patch, and The California Zephyr on Sherman Hill. Anyone else feel the same?
At least with more and more freight routes added it increases the amount of route for Amtrak LD trains to sub in. And Cajon is the only freight route at the moment with three Amtrak stops on it, most other Routes only have 1 or no stops. Sand Patch Grade -Capitol Limited (Cumberland only) Horseshoe Curve -Pennsylvanian (Johnstown and Altoona) Cajon -Southwest Chief (San Bernardino, Victorville, Barstow) Peninsula Corridor -Coast Starlight (San Jose only) Cane Creek -California Zephyr (No stops in Modern era)
Now we don't have loco dlcs tied to routes the possibility for Amtrak LD services has certainly increased. Let's hope we see a constant stream of loco DLCs
Being able to drive passenger trains on those freight routes certainly ups the value of these routes for me. It basically makes one-trick pony into a two-trick pony which is a massive improvement and a better reason to spend money on these routes.
For Pennsylvanian P42DC P40DC Cajon Pass DLC compatible with ACS-64 Amfleet I II coaches on Horseshoe Curve. the Entire set can run on Sand Patch Grade Basically you drive it from Cumberland Station to Rockwood Junction with the Somerset and Cambria Railroad the line leading to Rockwood Mine eventually joining Horseshoe Curve
I was think the same, hopefully this is the case as I’d love to operate Amtrak on these freight routes not to mention having them operating as AI.
Just yesterday I noticed that 7FDL-16 has produced a superb P42DC Amtrack 'Empire Builder" superpack enhancement for the TSC P42 and checked out the U-tube demo - that is what we need on TSW3! Would be near-perfect on Cajun.
Yes! I don't particularly like the US freight routes because I'm more into passenger trains, but if you were to add the possibility of running an Amtrak with several stops, that's a whole new ballgame. Agreed. After the F40, it's my all-time favorite in terms of sound. The horn is as close to ideal as you can get.
The problem is, outside NEC Boston there are no routes in the game which have "several" Amtrak stops.
Not in the game, yet, but the " Hiawatha" has 5 stops between Chicago and Milwaukee and runs 6 or7 round trips a day. Plus at about 90 miles, it's now within TSW3 range. It also is a CP ( Soo Line ) freight route.
I like the thought but there are exactly two services Amtrak would add to the Horseshow Curve timetable. One in each direction per day. Same for the Chief Zephyr etc on other routes. The only way to really do Amtrak justice is on the NEC. I'd love to see the full NEC from Boston to Washington with all commuter services (nj transit, metro north, septa, marc etc) included. Not sure how many routes that would have to be but I'd love to see boston sprinter become Boston to NY and then a new route NY to Washington. I fear the length of the routes may not make it possible. It would be even better if some spurs like the new canaan line raritan valley line or north jersey coast line were included. If you want true passenger US passenger services like you see in SEHS or London Commuter or the German routes the NEC is the only equivalent route here in the US. We simply don't have the rail network here that is over there. I've also seen people wanting subway services. As cool as the NY subways are most of them are underground until you get to the outer boroughs. If you want an iconic American subway route you gotta go for the "L" in Chicago. I would think DTG could easily do the entire system in one route.
It would be nice to just have something as simple as seeing the odd Amtrak service layer in as AI on routes like HSC and Cajon Pass.
As previously stated, most of these Amtrak services would be once daily in each direction. However, I could be interested in an "Amtrak trainset" DLC that was decoupled but added timetables to some of these routes, and future routes. Nice that something like that is now at least possible.
Oh Yes. Love the idea of an "Amtrak trainset " dlc. Just how difficult would it be to have two hidden timetable slots written into each new American route. Once you buy the Amtrak set the routes become visible to use.
That's the nice thing about loco DLCs particularly with this whole TSW3 decoupling, they don't need to be bound to specific routes. It's perfectly reasonable to have a loco which gets layered into the timetable of any and all appropriate routes, and then is available to drive off the rails in scenario planner however you like.
I think this probably the only financially viable way for it to happen. Really hope we'll see an Amtrak diesel pack sometime in the next year.
Exactly: decoupling would enable loco/rolling stock DLCs which couldn't be justified on a single route, but which could appear in a limited way on many (Amtrak P42+Superliners or Amfleets as appropriate; 101 + IC coaches across multiple German routes)
Think it would be more efficient to add the Superliners to a P42 pack vs the Amfleets, since we already have a few Amfleets already, and more routes that would require the Superliners over yhe Amfleets. However I think ideally a pack should include both. Since the pack would cover most regular Amtrak trains. (Aside from those that use Viewliner stuff or the Autotrain)
I had taken the Amfleets as read, since Boston is a core Rush Hour route; but you're right, it won't be a base TSW3 route. Still, it's something DTG can toss in at no cost to themselves.
When The Racetrack came out in TSC, the Super Chief appeared as AI. Although it was non-driveable, just its occasional appearance added some luster to the route. If we we're able to somehow add Amtrak trains to existing routes as AI, it would be a real plus. But that would need a real scenario editor in TSW.
You also have to remember those pieces of stock were Very low poly models, and weren't really suited for anything else besides AI and yard filler.
In theory, yes, but considering how similar they are I wouldn't consider it a priority. (There also aren't all that many of them; and they're only used on long-haul services where height restrictions preclude Superliners)
Yeah, I would consider the Superliner I/II more of a priority over the Amfleet IIs Also the Viewliner II Baggage cars as well. Personally I think inly the Superliner IIs should be the focus, as those cars include the Transitional cars.
