The LMS Coronation Class was a Mainline Steam locomotive designed by William Stanier and built at Crewe Works between 1937 and 1948, 38 were produced in total and they are the most powerful steam locomotives ever built in the UK with an impressive 3333 horsepower (set by 6234 Duchess of Abercorn) which was more than the diesel locos that replaced them in years to come.

The first 5 locos to be built were painted in Caledonian Railway blue with sliver stripes to match the coaches for the Coronation Scot service, of which they were designed for. They also featured streamlining, designed by Tom Coleman, the streamlining was mainly added as a publicity stunt and Stanier believed that the added weight, increased difficulty in terms of maintenance and the fact that it just wasn’t effective at lower speeds didn’t make it worthwhile.

In 1937, Coronation No. 6220 was put through some speed trials where it achieved a very impressive 114 mph, which was a new record at the time, just south of Crewe. However shortly afterwards it reached a series of crossover points and after not having the distance to slow down, 6220 entered too fast, luckily the loco remained on the rails, but most of the crockery inside the coaches was destroyed. It was decided to put an end to record-braking runs after this, as they were deemed too dangerous.

The second batch of 5 Coronations was also streamlined, except they featured the more traditional Crimson Lake with gold stripes livery, one of these locomotives was 6229 Duchess of Hamilton. In 1939, Duchess of Hamilton had its identity temporarily swapped with 6220 Coronation as Hamilton was taken to the United States for the 1939 New York World’s Fair. This meant a Blue Duchess of Hamilton was still in the UK and a Red Coronation was in the States. The locomotives were given their identities back in 1943.

6229 was built in 1938 and was the final in the Coronation Class to be built with streamlining as it really didn’t help unless travelling over 90mph and it also impeded maintenance. As a result, in 1947 Duchess of Hamilton had its streamlining removed and smoke deflectors added.

Today, 3 Coronation Class locos have been preserved, 6229 Duchess of Hamilton, 6233 Duchess of Sutherland and 6235 City of Birmingham. 6233 is owned by The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust and is used on railtours to this day, 6235 was taken to the site of the to-be-built Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry and it was built around the locomotive, following the closure of that museum 6235 was taken to Thinktank in Birmingham instead. 6229 had its streamlining replaced at Tyseley Locomotive Works in recent years so that she could be displayed next to LNER Class A4 Mallard, the fastest steam locomotive in the world at the National Railway Museum in York.

FEATURES

The LMS Streamlined Coronation Class features:

• LMS Coronation Class 6229 Duchess of Hamilton in LMS Striped Crimson Lake Livery
• Mk1 First Corridor, Second Corridor, Second Brake Composite, Full Brake, Kitchen (new) and Restaurant First (new) Coaches in BR Maroon Livery
• Scenarios for the Settle to Carlisle Route
• Driver Assist Enabled
• Opening Smoke Box Door with the Home Key
• Basic and Advanced Control Modes
• Quick Drive Compatible

The LMS Streamlined Coronation Class is available now on Steam. 

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 An S-Stock train on the Metropolitan Line.

An overview of the route.

As the route has a good amount of different services that can be driven, it is a perfect mixture between city underground service with short distances between the stops and longer distances, along the London to Aylesbury Line.

The great variety of services (stopping, semi-fast, fast) don´t make it boring. The four different branches (Amersham, Chesham, Watford and Uxbridge) also eliminate the linearity of the line.

What should be included?

The full Metropolitan Line with all branches is mandatory for the route. Also one could include London Marylebone for Chiltern scenarios. 

Rolling Stock:

This depends on the era that the route is set in. I would suggest either the modern day with the S-Stock and Class 165 and 168. 

The new S-Stock trains, rolled out in 2010. Today, the line is operated using 8-car vehicles (hence the name "S8").

A Class 165 "Networker Turbo". These units are used on short-stopper routes.

The class 168 "Clubman" was the first vehicle type of Bombardier´s sucessful Turbostar family. These units are used on all services and can be coupled with the Class 165.

Another nice era would be the 90s. With A-Stock on the Met-Line and Class 115 and 165 units for NSE services.

As the A-Stock was undergoing refurbishment, one should include two versions. One in the old, unpainted design and in the refurbished design.

Class 115 units were a common sight on the line. There should be a NSE and a BR livery with it.

Class 165 trains also carried the NSE livery.

Thanks for reading and I´d love to know your opinion on the Metropolitan Line.

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Joshuaharkness' Workshop scenarios have been downloaded more than 20,000 times since April 2015, Joshua Harkness of Joshuaharkness' Workshop begins a new guide about creating a realistic scenario for TS2016.

Hi, I'm Joshua Harkness of joshuaharkness' Workshop. I will walk you through a step by step guide on scenario creation. I intend on enhancing some items in Gary Dolzall's guide as well as creating a new guide for TS2016. I have chosen The Racetrack: Aurora-Chicago route for this scenario as it is a busy route and does not require a multi-part scenario to run the entire length.

Once TS2016 is running and you are on the menu screen, you will need to click the Build button.

The build menu will pull up defaulting to the route editing section. We don't want that, we want the scenario section. You will need to click the scenario button to bring up the scenario section.

This will default to a list of scenarios for the TS Academy. You just need to scroll down the list and find the route you want to create a scenario for... in this case The Racetrack: Aurora-Chicago. Once you've clicked on the route and it is highlighted in blue, you'll then need to click the New Scenario button.

Once you've clicked the New Scenario button, you will get a box in the center of the screen with basic information for the scenario.

The information you will need to enter is:

• The start location of the scenario (in this case Union Station),
• The scenario type (in this case Standard), and
• The title of the scenario.

I like to name some of my scenarios after a real train that is featured in them. For this scenario, I went to the Metra website and got the train name (Metra 1235, which I will use as the scenario title) and the schedule, which I have written down on a notepad so I can use it later when I need to. I will assign a number code to the scenario title consising of my initials and then a scenario number to designate which scenario it is. Once you've filled in the information, click Create.

Once you've waited for the editor to load, you will be left looking at an orange and white marker with what looks like a train in it. (Note: color will change with the scenario type).

To start, move the marker to the approximate location of where you desire to have the player train. Once you've moved the marker, double click the marker and you'll get an information box. You will need to provide some information, such as a description, briefing, the scenario's author, the start location of the scenario, the date, duration of the scenario, difficulty of the scenario, weather and the power type of the player train. I like to write my descriptions outside of TS2016 in a word editor to prevent typos.

As the Racetrack comes with only one freight locomotive, the BNSF GP38-2 road switcher, we will need to add additional DLC into the scenario. You will need to click the small blue box with an arrow on it, which is located on the center panel on the left side. Clicking that button will bring up a box on the right side. Select RSC and scroll through the list until you see Marias Pass, and then select Marias Pass. (If you don't own Marias Pass you can still create a scenario with just the included equipment in the Racetrack route, but the Marias Pass equipment adds extra realism into the scenario).

Now we can place our player train. Select CD F40PH Chicago from locmotive list, which is located on the center panel on the left side. Place your mouse over the track. You will see a locomotive apear that is highlighted in red. Left click your mouse to place the locomotive onto the track. The button next to the locomotive list button is for rolling stock. Select CD Bi-Level coach from that list and place six of them behind the locomotive. Then go back to the locomotive list and select CD Bi-Level Cab Coach (no driver) and place one on the rear of the train. 

Ensure the control cab is facing away from the rest of the train. If it is facing the wrong direction, click the cab car. An arrow will appear above the cab car. Click the arrow to reverse direction.

Now that our train has been placed, we need to make it operable. Go to the top panel on the left side and select the Engineer (head icon). Then Click on the leading locomotive. You'll see the icon apear above the locomotive. Double click the icon, you'll get an information box. You'll need to check the box next to the Engineer icon telling the game that this is the player train. Check the box next to the passengers if you want the train to be empty at the start of the scenario. Then you'll need to select the departure time (should be start time of the scenario if it's the player train) and the priority of the train (we'll go for Express Passenger for this scenario).

You'll then need to click the map icon on the top center panel and then click the blue box with the orange arrow. Move the map to where you want the scenario to end and click a marker at or near that point. We'll use Aurora Platform 1 for this scenario.

We're almost done with the first part of this guide series. There's just one last feature I wanted to mention:

If you double click the locomotive, you'll get an information box, in which you can change:

• The quantity of fuel in the locomotive,
• Tell the game if this locomotive is broken down and can't complete any instructions (only functions with AI controlled trains), and
• Assign a road number. 

I've decided to change the road number on our locomotive from 104 to 117.

That's all for now. Keep an eye out for the rest of the guide series and this scenario on the Steam Workshop. I hope you've all enjoyed part one of my guide series and I hope you all learned something too.

Note: The Metra logos are not included with the route nor are they required in the scenario due to licensing issues. They are a freeware pack from railworksamerica.com.

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In response to your important feedback on the functionaility of Train Simulator 2016, we have today released an update to address a key issue, see below for details.

• Fixed crashing that occured when using the search box

The update will download automatically from Steam. If you have any problems/queries with regard to the update, leave a comment below or submit a ticket to our support site where we will be ready to help.

No Updated Content? Steam File Verify

In the unlikely event that Steam fails to update what is listed in the article, you'll need to perform a file verify and ensure Steam provisions your installation properly. Follow the instructions listed at this link to perform a file verify. Note that this process can take some time to complete and, if you have a high number of Add-Ons, we'd recommend you do this overnight.

If you find that after the file verify has completed, you are confident you have not received the update, please contact our Support Team by submitting a ticket to our support site where someone will assist you directly.

REASON TO BUY TS2016

If you've not yet bought TS2016, this is a great time to get on board and take a journey through the extreme. With trains so advanced you'd swear they were the real thing. Haul thousands of tons of cargo over Sherman Hill Summit in the legendary Union Pacific Gas Turbine, command the mighty Castle Class in the golden age of steam on the busy route of the famous Cornish Riviera and beat the clock as a Deutsche Bahn driver on the challenging West Rhine Main Line. Why not get involved with a passionate community and join in the fun of our many forthcoming competitions.

TS2016 features the biggest package of exclusive content ever delivered in Train Simulator, click the image below for a complete overview of what's included.

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A little later than planned owing to delays obtaining the appropriate metrics from Valve, we finally announce the winners of the Scenario Writing Competition.

With 25 scenarios submitted for the competition, from 13 different authors, you have been busy playing through the scenarios and casting your votes for your favourites. When we closed the submissions for scenarios and commenced voting, it was clear there was already a finalist pulling ahead of the pack and we watched closely as the votes climbed ever higher.

At the time of closing the voting for the competition at 6pm on Friday 13th November, we took a snapshot of the accrued votes for each of the registered entries. We have now verified each of the votes and have compiled the following leaderboard:

As you can see, from the table above, there are three clear winners and we hope you'll join us in congratulating MrSumner[GER], Joethefish and The P2 Person who win their respective chosen prizes as indicated below:

Their Steam keys have now been ordered from Valve and will be delivered direct to their email inbox once received. Winners please note that it can take up to 28 days for Steam Keys to be delivered, please await at least this length of time before contacting us. Watch the site for articles detailing their scenarios over the coming weeks. If you would like to play their scenarios, we'll link them for you below.

Also, we'll be announcing a new scenario writing competition shortly with another chance to win some Train Simulator 2016 Add-Ons. 

REASON TO BUY TS2016

If you've not yet bought TS2016, this is a great time to get on board and take a journey through the extreme. With trains so advanced you'd swear they were the real thing. Haul thousands of tons of cargo over Sherman Hill Summit in the legendary Union Pacific Gas Turbine, command the mighty Castle Class in the golden age of steam on the busy route of the famous Cornish Riviera and beat the clock as a Deutsche Bahn driver on the challenging West Rhine Main Line. Why not get involved with a passionate community and join in the fun of our many forthcoming competitions.

TS2016 features the biggest package of exclusive content ever delivered in Train Simulator, click the image below for a complete overview of what's included.

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70000 Britannia about to give the DTG staff a blast!

On October 9th 2015, a BR Standard Class 7, 70000 Britannia stormed along the Chatham Main Line with Empty Coaching Stock after performing the Golden Arrow charter service which runs from London to Dover.

Here we see 70000 Britannia racing past Sole Street headed from Dover to Southall Depot, filmed by our very own Ben Jervis.

Following the nationalisation of Britain’s Railways, which combined the Big Four, LNER, LMS, GWR and SR into British Railways, locomotives were to be built using a Standardized design to allow for ease of operation and maintenance. Robert Riddles was put in charge of designing these standard locomotives and most of them were derived from LMS designs whilst incorporating some aspects from former Big Four locos.

The first design requested from the Railway Executive was for a new standard 4-6-2 Pacific which was capable of hauling heavy express passenger and mundane freight duties, the BR Standard Class 7, or Britannia Class was built in Crewe Works between 1951 and 1954, 55 of the locomotives were produced, with the end of production being at the dawn of the 1955 Modernisation Plan, only 2 examples have survived into preservation today, 70000 Britannia and 70013 Oliver Cromwell.

The first BR Standard Class 7 to be built was completed on January 2, 1951 and was the first of all the BR Standard locomotives to be built, she was named Britannia at Marylebone Station and would go on to become a very famous and long lasting locomotive. Britannia saw the beginning of her service life in the Eastern Region, hauling express passenger services from London to Norwich and Great Yarmouth, in the 1960s, Britannia was sent to work in the London Midland region, where she did so until 1966 when all the steam locomotives were being withdrawn from service.

Despite having a very short service life of only 15 years, 70000 Britannia is famous for pulling the funeral train of King George V from Norfolk to London following his death in 1952, for this service she was given the Royal white cab roof. Due to this and being the first BR Standard locomotive ever built, Britannia was put into storage with the expectation of being preserved, however when the time came for the National Railway Museum to purchase a BR Standard Class 7, they chose 70013 Oliver Cromwell as it was more standardized than 70000 which was basically the prototype of the class. 70000 Britannia was eventually bought by the Britannia Locomotive Company Ltd.

Britannia was used on various services on the Severn Valley and Nene Valley Railways until 1991 when she was fitted with an air-brake compressor which allowed her return to main line duties until 1997.  It was in 1997 when Britannia’s boiler certification for main lines expired and so was sold to Pete Waterman who stored her whilst assessing the cost of restoration, Waterman was unable to do so and sold Britannia to Jeremy Hosking.

Hosking had Britannia restored to a fully working condition, with everything from a refurbished cab to a new smokebox and extensively worked on boiler. Following this Britannia was transferred to the Royal Scot Locomotive and General Trust who regularly operated her on various charter services like the one seen in the video above and she was even given the chance to pull the Royal Train in 2012, for which she was once again given the classic Royal white cab roof. 70000 Britannia truly is one of those locomotives that has stood strong throughout history, and will no doubt continue to do so in years to come.

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Now that you've all had a chance to get to grips with the amazing new exclusive content featured in TS2016, we felt a competition was in order. To take part in the competition and have a chance of winning, all you need to do is create a scenario and publish it to the Steam Workshop.

There are three prizes on offer, as well as showcasing your scenario and Workshop channel to the entire community with an article written by our team and published here on Engine Driver and our Social Network channels plus featured in our regular Twitch broadcasts.

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

1. READ THE RULES CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY
2. Create a Career or Standard scenario featuring only the content featured in TS2016, this includes only the following:

• Sherman Hill and included locomotives UP GTEL, UP GE ES44AC, UP EMD SD40-2, UP EMD SD70M, UP EMD SW10 and included rolling stock
• Riviera Line in the Fifties and included locomotives GWR 6800 Class, GWR 6000 Class, GWR 4900 Class, GWR 5700 Class, GWR 4073 Class and included rolling stock
• Koln Koblenz and included locomotives DB BR 155, DB BR 146.0, DB BR 146.2, DB BR 101, DB BR 294 and included rolling stock

• Your full name
• Your Engine Driver username/nickname
• Your Steam Account username that you have used to upload your scenario
• Indicate your choice of route and locomotive should you win (see rules below)
• Add your scenario links on separate lines leaving a clear line between them.

THE RULES

• Your scenario must not feature any content that is not included with TS2016 as listed above.
• You must not use any third-party or partner products including but not limited to: Repaints/Reskins, Third-Party Scenario Assets, Modified Routes or Trains and anything that isn't part of the base TS2016 package.
• Your scenario must be of Career or Standard type.
• If you choose to create a Career scenario, it must be possible for players to achieve 1000 points at completion.
• Your scenario must require a play time of no less than 20 minutes and no longer than 40 minutes.
• You can use any combination of the locomotives included with TS2016 as you see fit or use just one locomotive. However, you must include one of the star locomotives featured in TS2016 as indicated above.
• If you wish to include scripted events in your scenarios, you are permitted to do so.
• Your scenario must not contain any defamatory content, profanity/swearing, obscene references, abusive, racist and other content that is likely to cause offence or may be libellous in nature. The Acceptable Use and Code of Conduct Policies apply to scenarios submitted for the competition and we ask the community to be vigilant against this activity and report it. Any person found to be violating the Acceptable Use and Code of Conduct Policies will be reported to Valve for additional action and may warrant notification to law enforcement authorities in your country of residence.
• You have until 6pm (UK Time) Friday, 23rd October 2015 to create, test and publish your scenario. Any scenarios published after 23rd October 2015 will not be counted as part of the competition - no exceptions.
• Voting commences upon first announcement of entries received and will run until 6pm (UK Time) Friday, 13th November 2015.
• If you enter multiple times, your scenarios must differ from each other sufficiently in operation, conditions, consist and narrative to be considered different and therefore valid entries.
• Multiple submissions of the same scenario in terms of operation, conditions, consist and narrative will be considered an attempt to exploit or circumvent the rules of the competition and will disqualify you from this and any future competitions for a period of one year at our discretion.
• We will only enter your scenario into the competition on receipt of your emailed link to the scenario on Steam Workshop, which you must email to us at competition@dovetailgames.com
• Only entries sent to competition@dovetailgames.com will be counted, we will not accept entries to any other email account, contact address or posted in the comments below. 
• You must include your full name, Engine Driver and Steam Account usernames in your email, if you fail to provide this information, your entries will not be registered in the competition.
• If you wish to send us links to multiple scenario entries in your email, they must be pasted on separate lines with a space between them. We do not accept responsibility for omissions or errors as a result of not following the rules.
• • Route and locomotive selections are limited to those available to purchase on Steam and those currently announced for release before the closing date of the competition. You can change your choice of route and locomotive at any time by sending an email stating "Change of Competition Entry" in the subject, including your full name, Engine Driver username and Steam Account username, then indicate the change in your email. You can request changes in your choice of route and locomotive until Friday, 30th October 2015. Changes requested after 30th October 2015 will not be registered.
• E&OE

VOTING & DECISIONS

• You the community will be responsible for voting for your favourite scenarios by playing those listed in the finalist article which will be published on Friday, 23rd October. By providing a thumbs up vote for your favourite scenarios, you are confirming that you are happy the creator has followed the rules and you have enjoyed the scenario (or you just want to help a friend win). While thumbs down votes will not be counted or factored in the competition, you are free to make a selection based on your experience.
• We will be tracking each vote against registered entries in the competition and will only count votes that correlate to the number of completed playthrough attempts. For example if your scenario receives 100 votes but only 10 people have completed playing through the scenario, you will only receive a final score of 10 points. So it's important that if you decide to vote for a scenario, you should play through the scenario to the completion screen to ensure your vote is registered appropriately. Votes received without completing the scenario will not be counted.
• The scenario with the highest score at the close of the competition will be deemed the winner and will win a Route and a Locomotive of their choice from our extensive download library. We will also write a feature article based on the winning submission, showcasing their work and may even be featured in our Live Twitch broadcast. Prizes will also be offered for second place, a route of your choice and third place, a locomotive of your choice.
• In the event of a draw, the scenarios in question will be submitted for play by our Beta Team who will cast the final decision on the winning scenario. All decisions, whether by The Company, Beta Team or external adjudication are final.
• In the event of limited scenario entries or poor response to the competition, we reserve the right to cancel the competition and withdraw the prizes.
• We reserve the right to vary or modify the rules of the competition at any time to ensure the competition is kept fair and open to everyone.
• Authors have until Friday, 23rd October 2015 to submit their completed scenario entries to Steam Workshop and provide us with the link. Voting will close at 6pm (UK Time), Friday, 13th November 2015.
• • Winning entrants will be contacted directly by email with a full list of entrants and winners published on Engine Driver before Friday, 20th November 2015.

REASON TO BUY TS2016

If you've not yet bought TS2016, this is a great time to climb aboard and take a journey through the extreme. With trains so advanced you'd swear they were the real thing, you can haul thousands of tons of freight over Sherman Hill with the legendary Union Pacific 8,500-horsepower gas-turbine, command the mighty Castle Class in the golden age of steam on the busy route of the famous Cornish Riviera, and beat the clock as a Deutsche Bahn driver on the challenging West Rhine Main Line. Why not get involved with a passionate community and join in the fun of Train Simulator's many forthcoming competitions.

TS2016 features the biggest package of exclusive content ever delivered in Train Simulator, click the image below for a complete overview of what's included or click here to buy.

Earl of Mount Edgcumbe on the Welsh Marches Express. Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Ralph Ward.

Llinell y Mers (or the welsh Marches Line) is a main line that connects the major towns of Crewe and Newport and goes via some very busy stations on the way. Here's some info about this and why should it be in Train Sim?

The line is 86 miles long and goes via 17 stations on the way including Hereford, Cravens Arms, Shrewsbury, Wem, Abergavenny and Wrenbury. The line speed varies between 60 and 90mph. The reason I like this line is because it has loads of junctions leading off to other lines. 

The Welsh Marches Steam Tours

You may recongnise this route from a particular GWR steam railtour. Normally they are hauled by Castle Class 5043 and 5029. But sometimes 4965 pulls the trains. In the past 44932, 45596, 70000 and 70013 have run the tour. 

Notable Stations

Crewe - This is by far the busiest station on the route and is full of many junctions. This would be good for Train Sim as it's connected to many other routes like the WCML, North Wales Line and it also has the Crewe diesel depot, Crewe Coal Yard Junction, Basford Hall Yard, and an Electric Depot. 

Cravens Arms - This is the part of the line where the Heart of Wales Line and the North Marches join. This is the terminus of the HOWL and uses a large junction to connect them all.

Shrewsbury - This is a station in which 5 stations meet and is Shropshires busiest station. This would be a great place to place for AI in scenarios.

Newport - The third busiest station in Wales aside from Cardiff and Bangor. The reason for this is because it has a direct link to cardiff a couple miles down. Everyday 43s, 175s, 170s and 158s storm into its platforms.

Locos That This Route Would Come With

I was thinking about this and I came to a conclusion of 3 locos. The EWS Class 66, ATW Class 175 and a DRS Class 57.

In conclusion - I think that this would make an amazing TS route. I leave you now with some pics.

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Tim Rodgers.

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of N Chadwick.

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Stavros Lainas.

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Peter Basterfield.

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Peter Basterfield.

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Alan Roberts.

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Terry Smith.

Thanks for reading!

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In response to your important feedback on a variety of add-ons available for Train Simulator 2016, we have today released an update for the ECML: London - Peterborough route and the Hitachi Class 801 Add-Ons.

Here's a list of what's been addressed:

ECML: London - Peterborough

• Fixed an issue with the Silver Lining 3D Clouds
• Fixed an issue with models that would adversely affect performance
• Fixed a number of issues with improper placement of assets
• Fixed an issue with DOO Monitors that were incorrectly positioned on some platforms
• Fixed a number of issues related to tunnels
• Fixed a number of issues with scenarios that were broken

Class 365

• Fixed an issue that caused wheels to rotate the wrong way
• Fixed missing audio for in-cab controls
• Fixed incorrectly assigned materials in-cab
• Fixed an issue with the model that would adversely affect performance

Class 43 HST

• Fixed an issue that caused the brake lever to not move when using keyboard controls
• Fixed the frame rate issue when using the cab light
• • Fixed an issue with the model that would adversely affect performance

Class 801

• The Driver Safety Device can now be toggled using CTRL+D to turn it on/off
• Fixed the issue with AI train cab lights
• Fixed an issue with lighting in the passenger vehicles
• • Fixed an issue with the model that would adversely affect performance
• Fixed a number of issues with scenarios that were broken

If you own ECML: London - Peterborough and/or the Class 801, the updates will download automatically from Steam. If you have any problems/queries with regard to the update, leave a comment below or submit a ticket to our support site where we will be ready to help.

Combined the ECML: London - Peterborough and Class 801 update will be approximately 644MB in size.

No Updated Content? Steam File Verify

In the unlikely event that Steam fails to update the Add-Ons listed in the article, you'll need to perform a file verify and ensure Steam provisions your installation properly. Follow the instructions listed at this link to perform a file verify to reset your installation to default. Note that this process can take some time to complete and, if you have a high number of Add-Ons, we'd recommend you do this overnight.

If you find that after the file verify has completed, you are confident you have not received the update, please contact our Support Team by submitting a ticket to our support site where someone will assist you directly.

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The route of SLRG.

This proposal is for the San Luis and Rio Grande Railroad which operates in southern Colorado as a tourist and freight railroad. The SLRG is the closest thing to the modern day descendent of the Rio Grande Western, operating on that railroads former territory through extremely high altitude and mountainous environments. Today, the SLRG is operated by Iowa Pacific Holdings, and a variety of equipment operates over the line. As previously mentioned, freight is also hauled over most of the trackage, with the exception of the branch to Antonito. 

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Christopher Muller.

Now would be a good time to talk about where the SLRG operates. The SLRG has three major lines spreading outward from Alamosa, CO. The first and most heavily trafficked of these is the Alamosa to Walsenburg route over La Veta pass. This line serves as a connection to the Union Pacific at Walsenburg and passenger trains operate from Alamosa to La Veta (the town, not the pass). The railroad also hosts a summer concert series at the summit of Fir. The trackage from Alamosa to Fir is a steady climb, but from Fir to La Veta is a grueling 3% grade all the way down. The second most traveled branch is the Alamosa to South Fork branch. This line is almost completely flat, and sees no passenger trains except the luxury dinner train. The third and final branch is from Alamosa to Antonito. This line is popular due to it's connection to the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railway at Antonito. It is almost the opposite of the South Fork branch in that it sees almost no freight traffic, and heavy passenger.

An SD90MAC in SLRG colors. These locomotives are also occasionally used for passenger service. Photograph copyright Chris Paulhamus and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Locomotives that should be included with this route are the railroad's SD90MACs for freight, an FP10 for passenger, and possibly the railroad's single 2-8-0 steam locomotive.

The FP10 at Alamosa yard. Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Marty Bernard.

The SLRG steam locomotive, #18. Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Robert E Weston Jr.

Rolling stock should simply be a boxcar and a grain hopper, as those are the main profits from the freight services, as well as pullman heavyweights and rocky mountaineer domes for passenger services.

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A modern Blackpool tram.

I am proposing this route because I think this would be a great addition to Train Simulator. Blackpool is a popular holiday location in England. It is well known for its famous Blackpool tower, 3 piers and Pleasure beach. Another famous part of Blackpool is the tramway which runs along the coast. Here is a map of the Blackpool tramway.

Map copyright and reproduced courtesy of Jkan997.

As well as the modern trams running the line, there are also a range of older trams that run the heritage services. Here are some pictures of the older trams.

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Andrew Waddington.

So why am I proposing this route? Well as I have said previosly, I think it would be a great addition in Train Simulator. I think it would be nice to see a tramway in Train Simulator because it is somthing different. I hope Dovetail take this into consideration and please add your comments below so I can see what you think of this route proposal.

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Third party developer Smokebox has produced a further free update for the popular AT&N 2-8-0 Consolidation loco. This is an automatic update for all ‘Connie’ owners – read on to find out more.

Having already issued a significant update to the Consolidation, which added realism to the loco simulation and driving experience, Smokebox have now added another set of enhancements together with a couple of fixes. The patch will be automatically rolled out to all Consolidation owners via Steam later today. Full details are below.

Fixes

• Missing "AI Helper" recovered.
• Various fixes to save and resume.
• In HUD version, live injector lever now closes properly when "water" button is clicked "off".

Enhancements

• Advanced version's wheel slip/skid physics (with sparks!) now extended to the HUD version.
• Updated brake simulation for the Advanced version, (including scripted auxiliary and quick service reservoirs, and selectable brake difficulty level).
• Enhanced texturing of the pressure gauge faces.
• Reduced idle fire mass so that safety valves don't lift as soon as a scenario begins.
• Reduced dome throttle delay from one second to half a second (Advanced version).
• Increased condensation in winter (Advanced version).
• Enhanced smoke effects with distinct chuffs, longer trails, thicker smoke, turbulence, cinders, and colour that depends on how much soot the smokebox draft draws out from the firebox.
• Cylinder cocks now emit steam only when the admission valves are open and there is steam in the cylinders (Advanced version).
• Much more distinct (less muffled) chuff sounds (appropriate for a non-superheated locomotive).
• Improved clanking sounds, especially when coasting.
• Added impact and coupling sounds.
• Added fire noise (audible when the firebox doors are open).
• New, authentic single-chime Lunkenheimer "hooter" sound (generously provided by "steamboat75043") to match the whistle that is actually on the locomotive.
• Additional cab camera positions (one on the fireman's side, another on the engineer's side that makes it much easier to use the brake handles and watch the gauges at the same time).
• AI Consolidations now mimic many operations of the player-driven locomotive in the same consist - for example, they will open their doors and windows when the player does.
• The track conditions (dry, wet, snow or leaves) are initialised automatically at the start of a scenario, according to the season and weather.

The AT&N Consolidation update will be approximately 63MB in size.

Our thanks go to Smokebox for providing this update, and we hope that Connie drivers everywhere will enjoy their updated locos.

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In response to your important feedback on a variety of add-ons available for Train Simulator 2016, we have today released an update for the Weardale & Teesdale Network.

Here's a list of what's been addressed:

Weardale & Teesdale Network

• Weather effects now appear at Bishop Auckland station
• A number of texture errors have been corrected
• Couplings have been fixed on the [WVR] 50t Warflat wagon
• Fixed an issue with QuickDrive between Bishop Auckland and Barnard Castle

BR Class 101

• The audio on the throttle lever has been resynced

BR Class 25

• The loco information has been corrected

If you own the Weardale & Teesdale Network, the update will download automatically from Steam. If you have any problems/queries with regard to the update, leave a comment below or submit a ticket to our support site where we will be ready to help.

The Weardale & Teesdale Network update will be approximately 85MB in size.

No Updated Content? Steam File Verify

In the unlikely event that Steam fails to update the Add-Ons listed in the article, you'll need to perform a file verify and ensure Steam provisions your installation properly. Follow the instructions listed at this link to perform a file verify to reset your installation to default. Note that this process can take some time to complete and, if you have a high number of Add-Ons, we'd recommend you do this overnight.

If you find that after the file verify has completed, you are confident you have not received the update, please contact our Support Team by submitting a ticket to our support site where someone will assist you directly.

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In response to your important feedback on a variety of add-ons available for Train Simulator 2016, we have today released an update for the Köln - Koblenz Route.

Here's a list of what's been addressed:

The West Rhine: Köln - Koblenz

• Fixed an issue with the streetlights in some locations that were overpowered
• Rotated the four horsemen on Hohenzollern Bridge to the correct orientation
• PZB has been updated to the latest version with a number of fixes in all trains that utilise it

DB BR 146.0 and DB BR 146.2

• AFB brake force has now been adjusted to allow it to descend gradients appropriately
• PZB has now been forced to passenger mode in the [146] Köln to Bonn (Hard) scenario

DB BR 155

• Additional fixes for the DB BR 155 will follow soon

If you own the Köln - Koblenz route, the update will download automatically from Steam. If you have any problems/queries with regard to the update, leave a comment below or submit a ticket to our support site where we will be ready to help.

The Köln - Koblenz update will be approximately 153MB in size.

No Updated Content? Steam File Verify

In the unlikely event that Steam fails to update the Add-Ons listed in the article, you'll need to perform a file verify and ensure Steam provisions your installation properly. Follow the instructions listed at this link to perform a file verify to reset your installation to default. Note that this process can take some time to complete and, if you have a high number of Add-Ons, we'd recommend you do this overnight.

If you find that after the file verify has completed, you are confident you have not received the update, please contact our Support Team by submitting a ticket to our support site where someone will assist you directly.

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The Train Simulator Thanksgiving Sale is now on, featuring massive savings over a wide variety of content for a limited time only! Discover our fantastic Mega Collection, offering an epic array of Routes and Locomotives for one amazing price, or personalise your Train Simulator roster with the exclusive Single Route Packs. More information can be found below and you can easily be taken to the Steam Store by clicking on the images for full details.

TS2016: Mega Collection

Kick off your Train Simulator collection with this epic bundle of content featuring an incredible variety of content including the South London Network, Soldier Summit and Hamburg - Hanover plus much more to give your near-endless hours of entertainment, all for one unbeatable price!

TS2016: Single Route Packs

Are you an avid Railfan, who loves a very specific type of locomotives and routes? Then the TS2016 Single Route Packs are for you! For a most impressive price you can personalise your Train Simulator collection, grab hold of the route you want to drive the most without adding other content to your collection. If you’re a dedicated British Steam fanatic, German Powerhouse collector or American Heavy-Hauling enthusiast then look no further than the TS2016: Single Route Packs.

Check out even more of our great deals available for a limited time only!

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Photograph copyright Kevin Burkholder and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

The route I am proposing is in an isolated location only accessible by a barge across the river in the remote Northern Quebec. I am on about the Qubec North Shore and Labrador AMMC, Quebec Cartier Railway and the Arnaud Railway.

These 3 lines would be brilliant for TS because of the remoteness and being 3 lines rolled in to one package. I have put the wikipedia links below for these railroads so you can view the maps and also there is very little known about them.

The Cartier Railway runs 260 miles from Port Cartier (Headquarters) to Mont Wright Mine and also serves the Fire Lake Mine but any material that comes out of Fire Lake has to be transported up to Mont Wright for separation and crushing. AMMC runs trains with 1 unit and 80 cars with no DPU, 2 units and 160 cars with no DPU and 3 units with 240-280 cars with a mid-train DPU cut in 160 cars back and the units are the ES44AC, SD70ACe and AC4400CW.

QNS&L run a fleet of SD70ACe's, AC4400CW's and a sole C40-8CM from Port Cartier up to Carol Lake Mine with 2 units for 160 car trains and 3 units for trains between 240 - 280 cars with a mid-train DPU cut in around 160 cars back.

I have added the links below because each one of these railroads are interesting and would make for a good Remote Quebec package from heavy iron ore trains to small passenger trains and local freight in Quebec. With very little known about them, finding out locomotives was difficult but the power may have been the old MLW RS18 and other older units as most of these smaller railways operated a lot of older units.

The units for these routes are: C44-9W, AC4400CW, ES44AC, SD70Ace, C40-8CM, Alco c636, MLW 630 & 636 and MLW RS18, a nice mix of old power with new power.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_North_Shore_and_Labrador_Railway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartier_Railway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemin_de_fer_Arnaud

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tshiuetin_Rail_Transportation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabush_Lake_Railway

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemin_de_fer_de_la_Rivi%C3%A8re_Romaine

https://www.beaucerail.ca/qui.php

Photograph copyright Tim Stevens and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Photograph copyright Kevin Burkholder and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Photograph copyright Kevin Burkholder and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Photograph copyright Jean-Francois Dumont and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Photograph copyright Kevin Burkholder and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Photograph copyright Rolf Stumpf and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Photograph copyright Kevin Burkholder and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Photograph copyright Kevin Burkholder and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Photograph copyright Rod Bushway and reproduced courtesy of RRPictureArchives.NET.

Photograph copyright and reproduced courtesy of Jean-Francois Dumont.

Photograph copyright Rod Bushway and reproduced courtesy of RRPictureArchives.NET.

Photograph copyright Rod Bushway and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

Photograph copyright Larry Russel and reproduced courtesy of RRPictureArchives.NET.

Photograph copyright Robert Palmer and reproduced courtesy of RailPictures.Net.

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As part of the fantastic Thanksgiving sale now on for a wide variety of Train Simulator 2016 content, a truly epic pack has been put together to jump-start, or add to your Train Simulator collection. Featuring a plethora of awesome routes and locomotives, there is no greater way to experience Train Simulator 2016, all for one unsurpassable price! Click on the images below to be taken to the Steam Store for full details.

Sherman Hill

There is no greater challenge than attempting to haul incredibly long freight trains across one of the most iconic railroads in North America, Sherman Hill. Featuring a range of different powerhouses including the fuel-hungry, unbelievably powerful Union Pacific Gas Turbine, Sherman Hill will test your wits as you drive up and down the nail-biting gradients of Wyoming.

West Rhine: Köln - Koblenz

Experience the thrill of travelling between several of Germany’s most history-rich cities via the scenic West Rhine Railway, be it racing commuters from Bonn to Köln in the modern DB BR 146, or mastering the complex controls of the DB BR 155 with a heavy freight service winding down the Rhine Valley, or simply assembling a long container freight bound for lands afar in the DB BR 294, there is no shortage of services in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Riviera Line In The Fifties

Travel back to the heart of the 1950s to experience the romantic steam era in the UK, featuring classic Great Western locomotives including the iconic Castle and King Class, the heavy working Modified Hall Class and Pannier Tanks or the mixed-traffic, ill-fated Grange Class across the picturesque Riviera Line which has amazed and tested for decades.

Norfolk Southern Coal District

Struggle through the beautifully scenic Mon Line as you haul mile long coal trains through the winding curves and streets of Pennsylvania. Collect coal as you drive your ES44AC slowly under the loading facilities and prepare for the run to the other end of the line. While being relatively level, the sharp river-side turns and the slow speeds as you cut right through a town will not be mastered easily.

TS Academy

New to driving trains? Not to worry! With the TS Academy you can learn all that you need to beat the extreme, from basic passenger operations to freight terminals that require pin-point accuracy or nailing those complex and unique signalling systems. TS academy is the best way to learn or remember how to control every type of train.

Miami - West Palm Beach

Soak up the sun of Florida in the Miami – West Palm Beach route, take charge of the Amtrak Silver Star under the cloudless blue skies as passengers from the Big Apple look forward to their summery stay in Florida, or drive heavy freight trains with CSX powerhouses at the helm that glisten in the sunlight. Travel through iconic locations such as West Palm Beach with its near-ancient architecture contrasting with the modern locomotives that roll through.

Munich - Rosenheim

Drive across one of the most important cross-border routes into Austria with the Munich to Rosenheim route, featuring many S-Bahn and InterCity services every day. As you travel at 160 km/h, take in the spectacular scenery as the line quickly goes from bustling city to winding countryside. Featuring some of Germany’s most reliable rolling stock, from the classic DB BR 101 to the modern and efficient DB BR 423.

South London Network

With a huge number of stations serving a vast population in the South of Britain’s Capital, The South London Network is the pinnacle of start-stop commuter services in the UK, featuring many lines served by Southeastern Class 375s, Southern Class 456s and much more, be it linking 2 of the most major termini south of the Thames or playing a small role in Britain’s busiest railway station, Clapham Junction, the South London Network offers a near-endless potential of services.

Soldier Summit

Observe the stunning plains and valley passes of Utah across the fantastic Soldier Summit route, being one of the highest railroads in North America, this mountain pass offers near-limitless locations for fantastic views, be it at the Gilluly Loops or the peak itself, the drive across Soldier Summit will always provide. Take charge of a heavy freight locomotive with a purpose-built D&RGW SD40T-2 giving traction up the steep gradients, keep busy in the yard with a D&RGW GP9, assembling train in preparation for the climb, or experience driving the versatile Amtrak F40PH in front of the iconic California Zephyr.

Hamburg - Hanover

Master the incredible duty of running across one of the most important railway lines in Lower Saxony, drive the revolutionary ICE 2 non-stop between the state capital and Germany’s second largest city, a distance traversed at speeds well over 200 km/h, or take a stopping InterCity service with the DB BR 101. Alternatively take the reins of the classic DB BR 294 and assemble regional, national, even international freight trains in the largest Marshalling Yard in Europe, the second largest in the world.

Liverpool - Manchester

Built to link two of North England’s most major cities, the Liverpool to Manchester line sees a high volume of passenger and freight traffic with as many as 4 trains per hour, running at speeds in excess of 80mph between the two cities whilst passing iconic landmarks. Prepare to perform the tight timetable of the line via Warrington Central in the reliable Regional Railways Class 158, with Railfreight Class 47s providing horsepower for the freight.

UP Gas Turbine

Union Pacific always dreamt big when it came to motive power, and the incredible 8500 horsepower ‘Big Blow’ Gas Turbine Electric Locomotives (GTEL) are definitely no exception, breezing over the once-challenging gradients of Sherman Hill, UP knew how to build a beast. These fuel-hungry locomotives were eventually beaten by the economy, with more efficient locomotives taking the helm, but that does not stop the experience of attempting to control this beast of a locomotive through the vast lands of Wyoming.

DB BR155

Take charge of one of the then-most powerful electric locomotives built for Germany’s rail network, the DB BR 155. Built as a dedicated freight locomotive designed to replace older traction and enhance on previously built technology, the DB BR 155 fits right in to the West Rhine Railway as a heavy-hauling, high-speed freight locomotive that remains reliably in service to this day.

Amtrak P30CH

Take a step back into the early 1990s with the Amtrak P30CH, nicknamed the ‘Pooch’, the P30CH was the first brand new diesel-electric locomotives built for Amtrak, featuring Head End Power right out of the factory, they were put to very good use throughout their operational years. Drive this ill-fated locomotive under the sunny skies of Miami with heritage rolling stock in-tow, giving the residents a fantastic display of true American power.

Southern Class 455/8

The Southern Class 455/8 is arguably one of the most iconic British Rail Mk 3 Electric Multiple Units that still serves to this day, with a top speed designed for short and frequent stops, the Southern Class 455/8 plays a vital role in getting commuters to, from and around South London with ease despite their age which is impressively nearing 40 years old.

DB BR 605 ICE-TD

Add more to the already expansive Hamburg-Hanover route with the modern ICE-TD, built as a counterpart to the ICE-T, the TD variant features a first for the ICE series, a powerful diesel engine in place for pantographs providing near limitless access across the network, without being bound by electrification. This tilting masterpiece can easily achieve 200 km/h, all while making it comfortable for the passengers.

Union Pacific SD60M

Add to the already-impressive array of heavy-hauling locomotives for the vast Sherman Hill route with the Union Pacific SD60M ‘Triclops’, featuring numerous improvements compared to older, less reliable locos and unique from the three-windowed cab to the modern-classic hybrid of controls. You can be ensured that the SD60M will get you across the summit.

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The Union Pacific EMD SD60M is an authentic fit for multiple Train Simulator routes, including D&RGW’s Soldier Summit, as Gary Dolzall of Elphaba’s Workshop demonstrates in a new scenario available free at Steam Workshop.

To lug Utah coal, Union Pacific’s SD60Ms
frequented D&RGW’s famed Soldier Summit, as
Gary Dolzall of Elphaba’s Workshop explains

When Dovetail Games’ Union Pacific Electro-Motive SD60M was recently presented as a free bonus locomotive to purchasers of TS2016, it seemed like an ideal time for Elphaba’s Workshop to again put the husky and notable six-axle, 3,800-horsepower locomotive to work.

In the past, Elphaba’s Workshop has created Steam Workshop scenario featuring the Union Pacific SD60M on Train Simulator routes including Cajon Pass (over which Union Pacific operates along with BNSF), Donner Pass (which UP acquired with the Southern Pacific in 1996), and, of course, Union Pacific’s own bustling Sherman Hill line. So, what could we do next? History provided us the answer – and the basis for an authentic new scenario.

When the Electro-Motive SD60M, powered by EMD’s 16-cylinder version of the 710G3 power plant and equipped with the original “Phase I” three-windshield design of the “North American” cab, made its debut in 1989, Union Pacific was both the first and largest buyer of the type. Union Pacific’s roster of “Phase I” SD60Ms (nicknamed “Triclops” for their three-eyed appearance) totaled 184 units and the diesels originally wore road numbers 6085-6268 (in later years, the locomotives would be renumbered into UP 2200 and 2300-series road numbers).

Purchased as heavy-haulers, one of the first regular assignments given to UP’s brand new SD60Ms was as power for unit coal trains that originated on the east slope of Denver & Rio Grande Western’s Soldier Summit route. These trains carried coal mined along D&RGW’s Pleasant Valley Branch at locations such as Skyline and Valley Camp onto the Soldier Summit main line at Colton, Utah, then moved west across the Wasatch to Provo. At Provo, the trains moved onto Union Pacific’s route southwest to Lynndyl, Utah for delivery to an Intermountain Power (IPPX) coal-fired electric generating station. All of which seemed to make for an ideal and realistic way to put the UP SD60Ms to work on Train Simulator’s Soldier Summit route!

Originating on the D&RGW, these run-through unit coal trains carried Rio Grande train numbers in the 700-series and were typically powered by a trio of UP’s SD60Ms. One such movement was D&RGW Train 735, which is what I chose as the basis of the new Elphaba’s Workshop scenario. Although the full Pleasant Valley Branch is not replicated on the Train Simulator route, the branch’s junction with the main line at Colton is nicely represented, allowing an opportunity for the scenario to begin as Train 735 receives clearance onto the Soldier Summit main line. Following departure from Colton, first comes the hard, full-throttle climb to the summit of the Wasatch, then follows the twisting, scenic descent of the route’s west slope through the Gilluly Loops to the Narrows, during which the SD60Ms dynamic braking comes into valuable use. For reasons of duration (the scenario runs approximately 65 minutes), I concluded the run with a dispatcher ordered stop for oncoming priority traffic at Rio, but certainly a “sequel” for the scenario, featuring the remaining run to Provo and onto the UP main line offers interesting future possibilities.

The scenario is set in 1989 when the SD60Ms were brand new, and adding further variety and authenticity to the scenario is that in the prior year (1988), Rio Grande and Southern Pacific began operated as a combined company (under the SP name) and thus Soldier Summit at the time regularly witnessed motive power in both D&RGW and SP liveries. Along with the UP SD60M DLC and the D&RGW equipment included with the Soldier Summit route, I thus also employed locomotives and rolling stock from Train Simulator’s Donner Pass route to provide the captivating range of motive power that could be seen regularly on Soldier Summit in 1989.

Ready to put the UP SD60Ms to work lugging coal over the Wasatch and do so during a particularly interesting period in the history of Soldier Summit? If so, you’ll find the Elphaba’s Workshop scenario “Wasatch Changing Times” available free by clicking the image below. – Gary Dolzall

Starting its pull from the Pleasant Valley Branch at Colton, Utah, D&RGW Train 735 (above) employs the 11,400 combined horsepower of a trio of Union Pacific SD60Ms to begin its westward journey, and moments later (below) meets an eastbound manifest running wrong-main behind a D&RGW EMD SD40T-2. All screenshots by Gary Dolzall.

With its hard climb of the Wasatch’s east slope nearly complete, Union Pacific SD60M 6133 is on the point as Train 735 approaches the 7,440-foot-high summit of the Soldier Summit.

Beginning the twisting descent of Soldier Summit’s west slope, Train 735 meets an eastbound grain empties climbing behind a mix of Southern Pacific and Rio Grande EMD power (above), then the trio of UP SD60Ms make for a grand site (below) as it navigates the Gilluly Loops.

Further down the famed Gilluly Loops, Train 735 encounters an eastbound D&RGW empties consist heading back to Helper, Utah behind a lash-up of Rio Grande SD40T-2s (above) and trailing a D&RGW caboose (below).

The winter shadows are laying long in the late afternoon as Train 735 and its three UP SD60Ms trundle through the “Narrow and Hollows” section of the line (above), meeting an eastbound SP SD40T-2 (below) in the process.

Great red rock spires stand tall above the double-track Rio Grande main line of Train Simulator’s Soldier Summit route as D&RGW Train 735 and its run-through Union Pacific SD60M motive power roll west of Narrows (above) and approach Rio (below).

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Are you an avid lover of everything to do with Deutsche Bahn, who drives exclusively through the wonderful sights throughout Germany on the seat of some of Europe’s most powerful locomotives? Then pick up the exclusive TS2016 Single Route Pack featuring the stunning scenery of North Rhine-Westphalia in the West Rhine Railway: Köln – Koblenz, which not only features one of the most modern, high-speed locomotives to date, the DB BR 146, the versatile DB BR 101 and one of DB’s most reliable shunters, the DB BR 294, this route is also complimented by what is considered the genesis of modern electric motive power, the classic DB BR 155.

Add more to Köln – Koblenz with the spectacular DR BR 86

Experience the thrill of mastering a locomotive built at arguably the most glorious era of any railway, the mixed-traffic marvel turned museum masterpiece, DR BR 86. Traverse the breath-taking views of the West Rhine Railway as you perform an exclusive Rail Tour impressing those on-board and watching from the trackside and prove that despite the modern traction undertaking duties every day, the ways of German steam are here to stay.

Why not add Mannheim - Karlsruhe while you’re at it

With Köln – Koblenz providing fantastic views and demonstrating the excitement of traversing down the Rhine, it only makes sense to go one step further and dive further south in the epic Mannheim – Karlsruhe route. Situated along the Rhine some 120 km south of Koblenz, Mannheim – Karlsruhe gives way to the rolling hills and valleys surrounding the West Rhine Railway in place for an unbeatable high-speed experience! Featuring the outstanding DB BR 406 ICE 3M which easily travels between Mannheim and Karlsruhe at incredible speeds, the DB BR 425 designed from the ground up as a dedicated, rapid, regional performer and the DB BR 189, hauling ludicrously heavy loads up and down the line.

Shunt together a wide variety of freight with the DB BR 261 ‘Voith Gravita’

The state-of-the-art DB BR 261 ‘Voith Gravita’ shunter loco is the perfect addition to not only Mannheim – Karlsruhe, but would also feel at home in the freight yards along the West Rhine Railway. Being the successor to the remarkable DB BR 294, the brand new Voith Gravita is designed on a modular basis, being able to easily take on any task it was built for. It features cutting edge controls including the revolutionary Eco mode, which manages the state of the engine depending on if the driver is moving or otherwise.

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North American railroading is big, diverse, and captivating -- and the TS2016 edition of Sherman Hill and its leviathan Union Pacific GE 8,500-horsepower gas-turbine fully embodies each of those remarkable traits. At Dale, Wyoming, UP “Big Blow” No. 30 has grain tonnage in tow westbound. All screenshots by Gary Dolzall.

North American railroading is enormous in scope and remarkable in its variety, and Train Simulator routes
recreate the drama of the continent’s railroading

North American railroading: 200,000 + route miles; a billion tons of freight hauled and a 100 million passengers and commuters carried each year; more than 500 operating companies with over 200,000 employees; 1.3 million freight cars and 25,000 locomotives in service. And along with the sheer enormity of its scope, North American railroading also delivers remarkable diversity, variety, and drama.

Around the globe, whether the location is Madrid or London, Cape Town or Buenos Aires, Melbourne or Chicago, railroading has long been a siren to those who find fascination with steel wheels rolling over polished steel rails. The intrigue of railroading is, simply, universal. And for those of us who call North America home, that appeal comes in a style of railroading that is massive in scope and captivating in experience.

Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, from the Gulf of Mexico to the tundra of Canada’s far north plains, railroading puts on a remarkable show for train-watchers. And happily, thanks to Train Simulator, the extraordinary verve and challenges of North American railroading can be experienced first-hand – and from the engineer’s seat!

Dovetail Games and its partner programme members have created more than a dozen captivating and highly authentic North American routes which, together, recreate North American railroading at its best, whether it be bustling commuter operations around New York City or freights dragging tonnage over the remote Wasatch Range of the Rockies; whether it takes the form of passenger trains rolling a stone’s throw from the Atlantic, intermodals hustling through the environs of America’s railroad capital, Chicago, or stylish streamliners skimming along the beaches of the Pacific. Train Simulator routes, together with a range of contemporary and historical locomotives and equipment available as DLC, truly bring to life North American railroading’s variety and drama.

With the annual Thanksgiving Steam Sale now on, it seems a perfect time, with “virtual camera” in hand, to take a look at North American railroading, Train Simulator style! – Gary Dolzall

The New York metropolitan area is home to three of North America’s four largest commuter railroads, and Train Simulator brings the bustling operations of Metro-North and NJ Transit to life. On the New York New Haven route, Metro-North Kawasaki M8 electrics are scooting out of New York City as a MNCR GE P32DM-AC pushes another train toward the “Big Apple” (above). On the recently released North Jersey Coast Line route, a NJ Transit ALP-46 electric (below) nears Long Branch, New Jersey. Note: Many route screenshots include additional products available as DLC at the Steam Store.

More than a thousand miles south of New York City, in sunny Florida, Amtrak’s Silver Meteor meets a Miami Commuter Rail F40PHL-2-powered push-pull train at Boca Raton on Train Simulator’s Miami-West Palm Beach route.

Whether present or past, Pennsylvania has always been considered one of North America’s greatest locations to experience railroading, and such is certainly the case on Train Simulator as well. In a scene representative of the early 1950s, Pennsylvania Railroad EMD F-units draw a PRR “TrucTrain” around famed Horseshoe Curve (above). In a contemporary scene on Train Simulator’s Norfolk Southern Coal District route, NS and CSX trains meet on the rugged and remote Manor Branch. NS and CSX share operations on this heavy-duty coal line.

The distinctive skyline of America’s railroad capital – Chicago – stands tall in the distance as an F40PH-powered Chicago commuter heads west on the Train Simulator Aurora-Chicago “Racetrack” route. The famed triple-track route west from the Windy City typically hosts upwards of 150 freight, commuter, and intercity passenger trains a day.

Mountain railroading! One of the greatest of all shows in North America railroading is that of heavy trains challenging the great mountain passes of the west. Atop the Wasatch Range in Utah, on Train Simulator’s Soldier Summit route, a D&RGW coal train eases down the Gilluly Loops (above), while some thousand miles to the north on Train Simulator’s Canadian Mountain Passes route, Canadian Pacific GE ES44ACs (below) lead a potash train through the remarkable spiral tunnels of Kicking Horse Pass.

Train Simulator routes recreate two grand and scenic segments – Marias Pass and Stevens Pass -- of the northern transcontinental line originally set down by James J. Hill’s Great Northern and now a key artery of the BNSF. On the Marias Pass route, Cut Bank, Montana hosts Great Northern’s elegant flagship, the Empire Builder (above), while further west on the Stevens Pass route in Washington State, BNSF GE ES44DCs (below) roll into the sunlight after a journey through 7.79-mile-long Cascade Tunnel.

When it comes to railroading diversity and drama, it would be hard indeed to top the state of California. The names are legendary: Cajon, Donner, Feather River, Tehachapi, and the Surf Line, just to name a few. Train Simulator delivers the verve of California railroading on multiple routes, including majestic Donner Pass, where a quartet of Southern Pacific EMD SD45s have a long intermodal in tow (above), and the Pacific Surfliner route, host to an Amtrak Los Angeles-San Diego train hustling south near the shores of the Pacific Ocean behind a stylish EMD F59PHi.

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