Next USA Route (Speculate)

[UP3985]

If they are going for making Sherman Hill even better, and the licensing lines up, and if the GTEL is indeed going to be pre packaged with the paid version of TS2016, why not? Just my observations.

[LGM118]

I'm going to cite a post I wrote to a similar thread back in January 2014. In said post, I posited that DTG was probably at that point aware of the general imbalance of US routes with mostly "mountain" routes and very little in the way of faster (by United States standards, anyways) routes with a mix of different traffic types. This imbalance has been partially addressed. Let's look at the major US routes released since my post (in order):

1. New York-New Haven (released to Steam April 10, 2014)
2. Norfolk Southern Coal District (July 17, 2014)
3. Miami-West Palm Beach (December 18, 2014)
4. Soldier Summit (May 21, 2015)

First of all, I would like to say that I did call it that the next US release (from my January 2014 perspective) would be a "route with heavier traffic and commuter traffic", or what I'll call a "mixed" route (albeit I was completely wrong about where exactly it would be - I had been leaning towards a Chicago route). That said, it's clear that DTG is moving towards making more mixed routes for the US; New York-New Haven and Miami-West Palm Beach, as well as commuter rail DLC releases, show a commitment to at least giving some support to people who want to drive commuter trains in the United States. That said, it appears you need to have at least some freight, Amtrak, and commuter traffic to get released, which limits things quite a bit. There's not a lot of areas in the US where you have commuter rail, Amtrak, and decent freight traffic levels all running on the same tracks.

That said, I'm predicting that the next US route will likely be a mixed route, given that it seems DTG has been alternating between freight routes and mixed routes. I see there being a few candidates (I'm trying to think about what's more likely, not so much the routes I actually want to see):

1. CSX RF&P Subdivision (Washington DC to Richmond): DTG continues to do everything but actually re-do the older NEC route, and instead makes a route featuring Washington, DC to Richmond.
Why it will happen:Despite the massive amount of DLC for CSX that DTG has released, they so far have not made a single rail line on CSX tracks. The RF&P Subdivision would be a great place to go to fill that void since it also has Amtrak and VRE trains running, so there's possible DLC they could make.
Why it won't happen: Because it's too flat and too simple. There isn't a lot of local traffic on the line outside of a couple runs to area powerplants and such. DC isn't a major transfer hub; you'd need to run the line all the way to Baltimore (via CSX tracks) for it to really have variety in operations.

2. CP C&M Subdivision (Chicago to Milwaukee): We finally get a Chicago route, but if they make the route, I'll put any amount of money on it not including the Metra tracks out to Fox Lake.
Why it will happen: Because there's so much demand for a Chicago route. The C&M subdivision has the best mix of traffic for DLC purposes (Metra, Amtrak, CP, and a few Union Pacific trains running with trackage rights). It's just the right length for most users (90 miles end-to-end, with probably 30 extra miles of branches and other tracks)
Why it won't happen: Because it's a Chicago route. In order to be truly functional, you end up needing to include Muskego yard, Bensonville Yard, the UP "New" Line that connects the two (which just got realigned due to construction at O'Hare), and the list goes on. The problem is Chicago is that since it's the meeting point for all the US railroads, routes end up being less usable if you don't include a lot of extras, and that adds to filesize and CPU demands. There's also that same problem of not having a lot of local traffic - most trains run from Muskego Yard or points north all the way down to Techny.

3. Seattle-Portland: A major BNSF route with a nice mix of Amtrak, Sounder, and BNSF trains running up and down the line.
Why it will happen: Because it's a Western route, DTG loves doing western routes, and the route hits some pretty well known areas. Amtrak has a variety of operations (Cascades trains and the Coast Starlight), there's the Sounder Commuter rail, and finally you have a sizable BNSF operation.
Why it won't happen: Because it's almost 200 miles long with a lot of complexity.

[BoostedFridge]

3. Seattle-Portland: A major BNSF route with a nice mix of Amtrak, Sounder, and BNSF trains running up and down the line.
Why it will happen: Because it's a Western route, DTG loves doing western routes, and the route hits some pretty well known areas. Amtrak has a variety of operations (Cascades trains and the Coast Starlight), there's the Sounder Commuter rail, and finally you have a sizable BNSF operation.
Why it won't happen: Because it's almost 200 miles long with a lot of complexity.

I hadn't though about this line, but it would be a good route with all traffic represented. To shorten it up, the route could be truncated from Tacoma to Portland, or perhaps Longview/Kalama. The UP has trackage rights on this line, so a good assortment of freight traffic could be represented from existing or 'default' stock. Also, the line isn't completely flat, with Napavine hill there to offer some operational challenge.

[emd645e3]

I'm going to cite a post I wrote to a similar thread back in January 2014. In said post, I posited that DTG was probably at that point aware of the general imbalance of US routes with mostly "mountain" routes and very little in the way of faster (by United States standards, anyways) routes with a mix of different traffic types. This imbalance has been partially addressed. Let's look at the major US routes released since my post (in order):

1. New York-New Haven (released to Steam April 10, 2014)
2. Norfolk Southern Coal District (July 17, 2014)
3. Miami-West Palm Beach (December 18, 2014)
4. Soldier Summit (May 21, 2015)

First of all, I would like to say that I did call it that the next US release (from my January 2014 perspective) would be a "route with heavier traffic and commuter traffic", or what I'll call a "mixed" route (albeit I was completely wrong about where exactly it would be - I had been leaning towards a Chicago route). That said, it's clear that DTG is moving towards making more mixed routes for the US; New York-New Haven and Miami-West Palm Beach, as well as commuter rail DLC releases, show a commitment to at least giving some support to people who want to drive commuter trains in the United States. That said, it appears you need to have at least some freight, Amtrak, and commuter traffic to get released, which limits things quite a bit. There's not a lot of areas in the US where you have commuter rail, Amtrak, and decent freight traffic levels all running on the same tracks.

That said, I'm predicting that the next US route will likely be a mixed route, given that it seems DTG has been alternating between freight routes and mixed routes. I see there being a few candidates (I'm trying to think about what's more likely, not so much the routes I actually want to see):

1. CSX RF&P Subdivision (Washington DC to Richmond): DTG continues to do everything but actually re-do the older NEC route, and instead makes a route featuring Washington, DC to Richmond.
Why it will happen:Despite the massive amount of DLC for CSX that DTG has released, they so far have not made a single rail line on CSX tracks. The RF&P Subdivision would be a great place to go to fill that void since it also has Amtrak and VRE trains running, so there's possible DLC they could make.
Why it won't happen: Because it's too flat and too simple. There isn't a lot of local traffic on the line outside of a couple runs to area powerplants and such. DC isn't a major transfer hub; you'd need to run the line all the way to Baltimore (via CSX tracks) for it to really have variety in operations.

2. CP C&M Subdivision (Chicago to Milwaukee): We finally get a Chicago route, but if they make the route, I'll put any amount of money on it not including the Metra tracks out to Fox Lake.
Why it will happen: Because there's so much demand for a Chicago route. The C&M subdivision has the best mix of traffic for DLC purposes (Metra, Amtrak, CP, and a few Union Pacific trains running with trackage rights). It's just the right length for most users (90 miles end-to-end, with probably 30 extra miles of branches and other tracks)
Why it won't happen: Because it's a Chicago route. In order to be truly functional, you end up needing to include Muskego yard, Bensonville Yard, the UP "New" Line that connects the two (which just got realigned due to construction at O'Hare), and the list goes on. The problem is Chicago is that since it's the meeting point for all the US railroads, routes end up being less usable if you don't include a lot of extras, and that adds to filesize and CPU demands. There's also that same problem of not having a lot of local traffic - most trains run from Muskego Yard or points north all the way down to Techny.

3. Seattle-Portland: A major BNSF route with a nice mix of Amtrak, Sounder, and BNSF trains running up and down the line.
Why it will happen: Because it's a Western route, DTG loves doing western routes, and the route hits some pretty well known areas. Amtrak has a variety of operations (Cascades trains and the Coast Starlight), there's the Sounder Commuter rail, and finally you have a sizable BNSF operation.
Why it won't happen: Because it's almost 200 miles long with a lot of complexity.

Either way I am hoping your prediction is right. Of coarse I am supporting your second prediction all the way but the other 2 I would enjoy just the same.

[Haystack]

I would be all over this one
http://www.engine-driver.com/article/sh ... s-division


I know this isn't a *wish list* topic, but Conway, PA to Johnstown, Pa (maybe stretch it all the way to Altoona for good measures) would be neat as well.

[eyein12]

3. Seattle-Portland: A major BNSF route with a nice mix of Amtrak, Sounder, and BNSF trains running up and down the line.
Why it will happen: Because it's a Western route, DTG loves doing western routes, and the route hits some pretty well known areas. Amtrak has a variety of operations (Cascades trains and the Coast Starlight), there's the Sounder Commuter rail, and finally you have a sizable BNSF operation.
Why it won't happen: Because it's almost 200 miles long with a lot of complexity.

I hadn't though about this line, but it would be a good route with all traffic represented. To shorten it up, the route could be truncated from Tacoma to Portland, or perhaps Longview/Kalama. The UP has trackage rights on this line, so a good assortment of freight traffic could be represented from existing or 'default' stock. Also, the line isn't completely flat, with Napavine hill there to offer some operational challenge.

http://eyein12.blogspot.com/2014/05/bnsf-seattle-subdivision-final-version.html

theres a portion already done and its the urban part seattle-tacoma. Very close representative

[dr1980]

If there was one route of CN's I'd like it would be the Newcastle Sub from Halifax to Moncton or Truro depending on how far they want to go. It's got amazing east coast scenery, valleys, rivers, lakes, rocks, you name it, plenty of switching options in Halifax and throughout the route plus some trains stop at Gypsum mines and add more cars...

That would be my neck of the woods so i'd love to see it too! For reference it's the Bedford Sub from Halifax to Truro and the Springhill Sub Truro to Moncton. Newcastle heads west from Moncton. Gypsum unit trains also use the Dartmouth sub to reach the Gypsum docks in Halifax Harbour.

Another idea that i've always thought would work well would be the Lakeshore West line in the Toronto area (CN Oakville Sub and Union Station Rail Corridor) from Toronto Union Station to Hamilton.

It has GO Transit commuter trains that could reuse the bombardier bilevels and F59PH, VIA trains that could re use the F40PH and Genesis locomotives, and some CN and CP freights primarily serving the many local industries on route (including a major Ford plant in Oakville). There's a variety of commuter action there including all stops, expresses and semi-expresses too. This route would include GO and VIA's main yards/maintenance facilities in Mimico, and also the well known Bayview junction (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayview_Junction) , a popular spot for rail photography.

Lakeshore West from Toronto to Hamilton isn't terribly long (40-50 miles?) so the Lakeshore East corridor from Toronto to Oshawa, ontario could also be included (CN Kingston Sub and Metrolinx GO Sub). Similar action as on Lakeshore West, with lots of industry, go transit, via rail etc, and another large auto plant in oshawa to serve.

Lakeshore West: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeshore_West_line
Lakeshore East: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeshore_East_line

These are the oldest and busiest commuter lines in Canada.

Anyway, those are my dream routes!

[DrewG]

If there was one route of CN's I'd like it would be the Newcastle Sub from Halifax to Moncton or Truro depending on how far they want to go. It's got amazing east coast scenery, valleys, rivers, lakes, rocks, you name it, plenty of switching options in Halifax and throughout the route plus some trains stop at Gypsum mines and add more cars...

That would be my neck of the woods so i'd love to see it too!

Another idea that i've always thought would work well would be the Lakeshore West line in the Toronto area (CN Oakville Sub and Union Station Rail Corridor) from Toronto Union Station to Hamilton.

It has GO Transit commuter trains that could reuse the bombardier bilevels and F59PH, VIA trains that could re use the F40PH and Genesis locomotives, and some CN and CP freights primarily serving the many local industries on route (including a major Ford plant in Oakville). There's a variety of commuter action there including all stops, expresses and semi-expresses too. This route would include GO and VIA's main yards/maintenance facilities in Mimico, and also the well known Bayview junction (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayview_Junction) , a popular spot for rail photography.

Lakeshore West from Toronto to Hamilton isn't terribly long (40-50 miles?) so the Lakeshore East corridor from Toronto to Oshawa, ontario could also be included (CN Kingston Sub and Metrolinx GO Sub). Similar action as on Lakeshore West, with lots of industry, go transit, via rail etc, and another large auto plant in oshawa to serve.

Lakeshore West: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeshore_West_line
Lakeshore East: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakeshore_East_line

These are the oldest and busiest commuter lines in Canada.

Anyway, those are my dream routes!

I've been suggesting that for a long time now. There is a lot of articles about the lakeshore west line on engine driver, they must know about it by now.
I've got the name of the wrong of the sub I mentioned which is the Bedford sub between Truro and Halifax. I'd love that as my family is scattered along the line with some in Truro and Halifax, even some on the end of the Springhill sub in Moncton. Also the Bedford sub runs past Goff's county which was named after my 3rd great grandfather which would be really cool for me.

[FanRailer]

Well, no longer a secret.
https://www.facebook.com/railsimulator/ ... =1&theater
Chicago's BNSF Racetrack with Metra commuter rail.