What do non-Americans really think of USA assets and routes?

[Leaf85]

I love railsimming anywhere. No matter where I'm sim-driving I'm always trying to read up/watch Youtube vids etc to get a feel for where I am in the world/simworld so its become a passion of research. Being a Canadian living in a large western city (Calgary) I will say I've thoroughly enjoyed Sherman Hill and Donner. I'm looking forward to Marias Pass on sale. I love the freight trains, and the industrial feel I get- if that makes any sense. The ridiculously long and heavy consists are a challenge to drive well. When I want a change I'll run on NEC or the Ohio Steel route. Steam, diesel, electric-- love em all although I'd have to vote steam as my fav. That said, I LOVE the UK element in the sim-- UK steam (just bought the A4 Pacifics) is top of my list. I love running Deltics on the York-Newcastle route. I get my passenger fix from running the UK routes since really the NEC is the closest passenger route we have (as far as I know anyway). I absolutely adore the differences in how rail works on the different continents.

For me it's just a fascination, coupled with knowing there is sooo much to discover out there about rail- American (and Canadian), UK, Europe, Asia, Central and South America etc-- learning about the power and various consists, from signals, to yard speeds, from warrants to RTCs. Much respect to real life train crews and rail people

[PamBrooker]

I know i'm american and i do hope i dont commit a foul, but frankly, i've become very grateful that so many american loco's have been added to the RW stable and that RSC and others have listened to the players. When i first came to RW a few years ago, you could lash up perhaps ten or twenty cars and that was it.. It was simply a matter that RSC wasnt familiar with the american predilection for making trains two miles (3.75KM (??)) long.. There's something almost "macho" about americas attitude with freight.. its kind of cute in a way.. Yes, we have vista's that go on mile after mile ad nauseum ad infinitum. The problem is is that everything is so big it looks flat and your most of the way up a mountain before you even know your on one.. I guess its all part of who we are as a people and a nation..
What i dont know a lot about is canadian rail.. I watched a snippet on youtube the other night highlighting the great divide.. Heh.. heres a pass where the snow is officially older than most of the people driving the trains. It never melts, and the location looks harsh and forbidding. other places look amazing as well. I'd really like to see more canadian railroading and learn more about it..
pam

[Metropolitan]

I am from the UK. American routes are to me fascinating and strange because the landscapes are just so huge! The great surprise is how slow the speed limits seem to be on many rotes. I've just bought Sherman Hill and there is miles and miles of dead straight track where the speed limit is only 40mph. Even in the days of steam in the UK lines laid out so straight as this would have a speed limit of 100mph?

There is a huge and growing interest in Mainline Steam here. The calendar is packed with Steam Specials and you need to book well in advance to stand any chance of a ticket! A couple of weeks ago one of Gresley's A4's "Bittern" built before WWII pulled a special from London to York at 90mph.



Most US stem engines (like most European steam engines) look just plain dog ugly to me!!! (No offence intended!!) I am used to nice clean lines with all the ugly pipework hidden neatly away. In fact until the first world war and in some cases up to the second it was considered vulgar and cheap to have too many rivets showing. Flush riveting or second skins were used to hide them!! Although this tended to go by the wayside at the first major over hall due to cost considerations.

Cheers
John A