The Stevens Pass route represents most of the BNSF Scenic Subdivision. It extends from Wenatchee on the Columbia River to Mukilteo alongside Puget Sound in Washington, USA. The real line was completed by the Great Northern Railway in 1893. In 1929 portions of the railroad between Leavenworth and Scenic were realigned to the present-day right of way. That year also saw the completion of the 8-mile-long Cascade Tunnel, as well as the installation of electric catenary between Skykomish and Wenatchee. Electrification was removed in 1956 and in 1970 the Great Northern became part of the Burlington Northern, which today is part of the BNSF Railway.
There are major yards at both ends of the route in Wenatchee and Everett. Many industries are located in those cities and there are several smaller yards and industrial spurs in between. The most prominent industry is the Boeing assembly facility which is where the jumbo jets are made and which is accessed via a 5% grade originating in Mukilteo. The Amtrak Empire Buider makes stops Everett, Leavenworth and Wenatchee. Except for the yards, the route is under CTC control and consists of a single main line with passing sidings.
Geographically, there are four major regions: Urban, maritime Everett; the agricultural plains between Lowell and Gold Bar; the heavily forested, mountainous Cascades region; and the arid eastern slope with its characteristic fruit orchards. In addition to the Cascade Tunnel, there are several other tunnels, mostly of the in-and-out variety, including one running beneath the city of Everett.
Edit/July 18: We're adding this Q&A in response to your questions.
Q. When will this route be released?
A. It's impossible for us to give you even a rough estimate for the release date at this point.
Q. What rolling stock will be included with this route?
A. A precise list of equipment is yet to be determined, but we can tell you that it will be modern day BNSF.
Q. Are there plans to extend the route to Seattle?
A. No. We have decided against this for practical reasons.
Q. Will a backdated, electrified followup version be produced?
A. Possibly.
Q. Are the signals in the route based on the various Safetran or older prototypes used on the Scenic Sub? And do they illuminate according to BNSF practice?
A. Yes. Yes.
Q. Speaking of the prototype, how about speed signs? Advance speed signs? Switch stands? Switch machines? Switch locks? Milepost signs? Trackside warning detectors (TWD)? Miscellaneous signs such as CTC, ABS, yard limit, whistle, etc.?
A. Yes to all and pretty close to what you would find there. Lots to look at!
Q. Does the ventilation door at Cascade East Portal automatically open and close? Do the signals work? The strobe lights?
A. Yes.
Q. Are the track types (wood or concrete ties) prototypical? What about things like bridges and grade crossings: Are they in the right place and of the right type?
A. Yes. We followed the 1998 Track Chart and the 2006 Employee Timetable as closely as practicable, augmented with field photos taken by ourselves and others, and aerial photos by Google and Bing.
Q. You said the route is mostly a single track main with passing sidings. Doesn't that make it difficult to write decent scenarios?
A. Difficult, but not impossible. We think you'll enjoy running trains on this one.
Q. StP sounds like it's a pretty accurate route. Is it?
A. No. We make no claims about accuracy. Train sims are never accurate. Only the prototype railroad is accurate.
Q. Is StP a faithful representation of the prototype, given the current limits of computer simulation technology?
A. We like to think so, but ultimately that will be for the customers to decide.
