Railworks America

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2662 ... ssee_Pass/

Released today.

Can someone who owns the route please post the map?

Thanks!

Release-date article:

https://live.dovetailgames.com/live/train-simulator/articles/article/rio-grandes-tennessee-pass-out-now

Route Map:

Thanks !

Just a few early shots. Very nice so far.

I downloaded the freeware version off here years ago. Whose version was that? I have it on a thumb drive somewhere. I had it installed on one of my past laptops. Does anybody remember where that version started and ended at on the route and possibly the mileage of it?

This new one has 62 miles of mainline. I think the route IRL clocks around 160 miles if memory serves right. I don’t expect them to do the entire route, but was hoping for at least around 90-100 miles of it. My only other issue is the time period. I like routes that are 1970 and newer. Neither of these are deal killers, but I will wait for YouTube runs of the route to see how it is and maybe pick it up on a sale. I’m guessing this has more scenery assets than the freeware version, which is a plus.

This is a route I wished I had visited before UP stopped running trains on it in 1997.

It may have been the MSTS version from 2003. It was hosted on Trainsim.com It may have been from ottodad.

here it is and was.
https://railworksamerica.com/index.php/ ... collection

GSkid wrote:I like routes that are 1970 and newer.

Given time, I suspect that some enterprising route builder will take this route and come up with a "modernized" version.

Couple of quick comments. No people and no cows? WTH?

Be aware if you QD from Pando towards Tennessee Pass that at Malta the switches are set wrong and you will have a collision and derail if you don't reset them.

GSkid wrote:I downloaded the freeware version off here years ago. Whose version was that? I have it on a thumb drive somewhere. I had it installed on one of my past laptops. Does anybody remember where that version started and ended at on the route and possibly the mileage of it?

This new one has 62 miles of mainline. I think the route IRL clocks around 160 miles if memory serves right. I don’t expect them to do the entire route, but was hoping for at least around 90-100 miles of it. My only other issue is the time period. I like routes that are 1970 and newer. Neither of these are deal killers, but I will wait for YouTube runs of the route to see how it is and maybe pick it up on a sale. I’m guessing this has more scenery assets than the freeware version, which is a plus.

This is a route I wished I had visited before UP stopped running trains on it in 1997.

Tennessee Pass 2 Pueblo to Minturn including Leadville and the mine. Also has the Monarch Branch. I think Jonathan Lewis originally designed it.... Otto Dad and Mike Simpson maybe a few others have done modifications to it over time. It is a more modern themed route. I have taken that route and started adding the Moffat section of the route Denver to Dotsero and Craig, as well as the Joint Line from Denver to Pueblo. So Far the Moffat Section has track from North Yard to Frazer.

buzz456 wrote:Couple of quick comments. No people and no cows? WTH?

I agree. On the bright side, it's an open canvas just begging for third-party freeware assets. The wife and I spent our 30th anniversary on the Royal Gorge tourist train out of Canyon City and also a few motorcycle trips along the Arkansas River, and I must say that the scenery and texture work is a beautiful rendition of the area.

There are some really nice cow models (bulls included) at the following link ("Objets" category), among other excellent offerings: https://ajrailsim.pierreg.org/

But come to think of it, I don't recall seeing very many domestic animals. Not sure how it was in the period the route is set, but today it seems the odds are better of seeing a few deer rather than cattle, sheep, or horses; unless directly near ranch structures (for those thinking of modernizing the route).

One of these days (famous catch-phrase) I'd like to populate the route with Wayne Campbell's beautiful thirties and forties era automobiles (included with the RWA Lakeside route).

Something I noticed while creating a free roam for my first run; the L-131 and it's tender are under the loco category, while the front pilot is in the rolling stock category. I thought it was simply a case of misplaced text or something so I ignored it; only to discover later that my L-131 was happily rolling along without a front pilot. Should only require a bin-file edit to fix it; perhaps we'll see a patch later. Speaking of which, it would be nice to have an option for the solid "rock knocker" as seen in the photo below:

Overall, I'm very pleased with the route, definitely in my top-ten favorites now; Colorado residency bias excluded.

The reason I mentioned the lack of cattle was the two (at least) feed lot/loading yards on the route.

Cattle now added pics to follow.

Looks nicely modelled but maybe a bit too neat and lacking in life - still very well done for all that. Good selection of engines and rolling stock

Rod