Railworks America

For some reason, this route seems to load at dawn. I can't seem to get it to load looking like midday. Also, the sun is in the north, when it should be east at this time. Is there anything one can do with the xml files to fix this?

Everything's copied from another route which loads fine, with the provider/product fields updated, as well as the content etc.

What route is that?

It's a yet to be WIP.

The routes load into whatever free roam scenario is used for editing... usually.
I'd say lay some track, at least enough to put a route marker in somewhere, and then create a Free Roam at that spot and then you can select the time of day, season etc.
Make sure the date matches the season as well, or weird shadowing etc will happen at times.
There is a flashlight/torch in the route editor's upper left flyout as well. It will light up the workspace for you.
P.S. when you make that first Free Roam to edit from, don't add any trains. That will make it more stable for longer periods of time in the editor. Especially when painting ground textures.