Understanding Cajon Pass traffic?

[nlmcm]

Would like to comment about Railroad companies rivalry, i.e, CB&Q v Union Pacific, Great Northern v. UP, Northern Pacific v. UP, AT&SF v SP and UP, (and so many other roads) then its evolve on to BNSF v UP - still competitive, but as true gentlemen shall.

Sure, their are other rivalries, but healthy, i.e., versus trucking companies and independent drivers, so the real competition is with the truckers. They all want one thing, to stay in business, in the near term, neither is going to disappear, let's face it, when we get right down to it, they really need each other. Competition is good, great for us, the consumer.

Some years ago, Union Pacific faced any railroads worst nightmare. Its computers locked up, all trains stopped, why? Too many trains at the same time for the computers to process signalling, in effect, fail-safe system created the lock up, for safety reason. What to do?

Condensed, BNSF, along with many regional lines pitched in, and let UP run on there tracks, caused initially havoc, but hey, these guys were professionals, made it happen. Was in the news, but not for long, thankfully. Only in America - right?

Now to comment on something else: Cajon Pass Route, was converted from 3DTrainstuff.com's two partners and excellent development team from the MSTS version, which was and still is great. Recollection, some 3,000 man hours to complete the route conversion to Rail Works specifications.

MSTS version was much longer (mileage-wise), original had a complete loop, with extensions and crossovers - of sorts. Many of you may remember, when the dust settled at MS ACE Studios, closed permanently, MSTS2 cancelled, then, RS (KUJU in concert with EA) had to decide ( hence delay or not) the original debut date, or, should we add USA routes?

Forged ahead with two USA companies (as mentioned above) and All Aboard, of Rich Garber fame, created the Castle Rock Railroad, miraculously 30 days non-stop. Granted was short mileage-wise, but in such detail, you could hear me singing Rocky Mountain High....being tone deaf, off key - bad.

Only one detail concerns this writer, why isn't 3DTrainstuff included in the Credits on the RSC Newsletter each month?

And of course, 3DTrains.com Marc Nelson, improved the tracks and roads for all routes so favorably, with both freeware and payware versions of Scale Rails and Scale Roads, with one bonus everyone forgets, the rhythmic clickity-clack we all miss from our youth.

Rail Simulator - European version released (I believe) late October-2006, USA version early 2007. KUJU sold out, under-capitalized, and a new company was born, under the direction of CEO Paul Jackson, best part was to maintain its original policy, this small organization was to have one entertainment/leisure/game only, - Rail Simulation. Then Mr. Jackson took the company and created a IPO on the London Stock exchange, and became as we now know it, RSC- Rail Works/ Such allowed updates November last to RW2, February another major update, RW2+. This fall we all have heard, will be the next, biggest yet, this fall.

Conclusion - Yes, BNSF owns the trackage rights, and yes Union Pacific is allowed to share it, whether by government insistence or not, would have to believe BNSF doesn't really mind, after-all, good for all, including us.

Clickity-Clack,

Peter

[Toripony]

It sounds like the big mainlines today are something like the electric grid or telephone network. In the tele network when I worked with that stuff there were so many "borrowers" and "sub-letters" it was almost impossible to tell who owned what wire or pole. Sometimes AT&T would call to tell me my MCI T1 (to go 80 miles) data circuit was down in Canada, lol.

Tori

[emdsd90mac]

I live close to the area and drive down Cajon often. To the best of my knowledge, BNSF does own the tracks going from Barstow into San B and the UP line from Mojave comes into the area around the town of Writewood; it follows the CA 138 from Lancaster/Palmdale area. I cannot remember if I have ever seen a UP train climbing up Cajon into Barstow, but it's hard to really view the traffic when driving on the interstate. I don't know if this helps for not.