Railworks America

The 70-mile Saluda Grade: Asheville - Spartanburg route is coming to Train Simulator Classic as developed by the High Iron Simulations team.

https://live.dovetailgames.com/live/train-simulator/articles/article/a-challenge-unmatched

If I may ask, are those SD40 models retooled from the old kuju or rsc models or are they just new models entirely? Kinda bummed out by the lack of southern or N&W liveried locos.
Route looks interesting though, glad it includes more than just the “saluda grade” itself.

Unoriginal wrote:If I may ask, are those SD40 models retooled from the old kuju or rsc models or are they just new models entirely? Kinda bummed out by the lack of southern or N&W liveried locos.
Route looks interesting though, glad it includes more than just the “saluda grade” itself.

As detailed in the article at DTL Live, all models (the two versions of the SD40-2 and the GP35) are "all new" models. In addition to being accurate in size and scale, etc., the units have Southern bi-directional or N&W dual control stands as appropriate, and all have Smokebox advanced braking features, etc.

The 70-mile route is rich in operational features and includes more than 40 lineside industries, large yards at Asheville and Spartanburg, and much rugged and steep topography in addition to Saluda Grade itself.

ElphabaWS wrote:

Unoriginal wrote:If I may ask, are those SD40 models retooled from the old kuju or rsc models or are they just new models entirely? Kinda bummed out by the lack of southern or N&W liveried locos.
Route looks interesting though, glad it includes more than just the “saluda grade” itself.

As detailed in the article at DTL Live, all models (the two versions of the SD40-2 and the GP35) are "all new" models. In addition to being accurate in size and scale, etc., the units have Southern bi-directional or N&W dual control stands as appropriate, and all have Smokebox advanced braking features, etc.

The 70-mile route is rich in operational features and includes more than 40 lineside industries, large yards at Asheville and Spartanburg, and much rugged and steep topography in addition to Saluda Grade itself.

YES!!!!!!! I've been pining for some SOU/N&W equipment with the proper controls!!!

I made a scenario for Kyle's version based on this Southern Railway- Saluda Grade Training video, but I never uploaded it because frankly I haven't been able to finish it successfully enough to have all the instructions I was putting in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IABM8UPplY

It would be interesting to compare it to the one in our file library. This route is only about 8 miles the HIS version is significantly longer at 70 miles. https://railworksamerica.com/index.php/download-library/route-collection?view=document&id=2468:saluda-grade&catid=20:route-collection

This is a beautiful part of the Country. It should be a great route to run for scenery as well as challenging.

Wonder when the last regularly scheduled passenger trains used the Saluda Mountain line...

I recently read an article on the Saluda grade in the Classic Trains' Mountain Railroads special edition.
The article described some interesting challenges and runaways that occurred on that steep grade, especially in the steam era.

https://www.trains.com/ctr/magazine/spe ... railroads/

I expect this will be a great addition to TSC.

harryadkins wrote:Wonder when the last regularly scheduled passenger trains used the Saluda Mountain line...

Hi Harry:
The Carolina Special made its last scheduled run over Saluda on December 5, 1968.

I'm really looking forward to this one. HIS's B&O Mountain Sub is one of my favorite routes, and I'm sure this one will be just as good.

Video of J class NW 611 doing an excursion run over Saluda Grade. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP5_SArsHf8

I have been thinking the thing that would be great is if we had the 611 to run on this line. I am not digging up the licensing issue,just saying.

N&W J class 611 is available from The Loco Shop. It is a reskin of FEF 3 Northern. https://thelocoshop.wixsite.com/thelocoshop/tls-rolling-stock-2 In the readme there is a list of freeware and payware that are needed.

Looking forward to this route!

I'm still in the early stages of learning repainting, and know very little overall about how rolling stock models are set up. Is it theoretically possible to take the dual control stands from the low hood SD40 and put them in the high hood SD40?