Railfan Gaming > MSTS--Best Hard Core PSGR Add-On Route???

Am new to MSTS. Which route would give me the most "bang for the buck" if I want to run both Amtrak F40's, Genesis units, Superliners...diesel stuff, preferably a good route for both freight and passenger at high speeds???

Would it be the Surfliner Route? Any others? Which one comes with the most train/locomotive options for passenger service?

Red Wrote:
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> Am new to MSTS. Which route would give me the
> most "bang for the buck" if I want to run both
> Amtrak F40's, Genesis units, Superliners...diesel
> stuff, preferably a good route for both freight
> and passenger at high speeds???
>
> Would it be the Surfliner Route? Any others?
> Which one comes with the most train/locomotive
> options for passenger service?


The default Northeast Corridor Route would likely be it. Most of the routes available for MSTS are in the mountains, which isn't where high speed running is commonly found.

The only "fast flatland" MSTS route I know of is the CR Indy Line off of Train-sim.com. Not sure if Amtrak uses this route for real, though.

>>MC5725>> trying to help

Surfliner is great if you can get it. The entity which created the route started with a bang, then crumbled into pieces after disputes arose between the people in charge. Their customer service was also appauling. Eventually the route was completed, and it is THE best out there currently if you enjoy urban US commuter/freight routes. Many of the innovations common on better routes today like dynamic sound and objects were pioneered by the Facing Point team. I have no idea if orders are still being taken, and I would be a little cautious about giving Facing Point my credit card # at this point.

Also look into Streamlines' Seligman Sub. It is based in the 90's on the Santa Fe between Seligman, AZ and Needles, CA. Top speed is 55mph, but you can always turn off derailments and run to your hearts content across the mostly flat route (it is 70mph freight today, so why not?). With the exception of a few areas, a majority of the route is relatively flat desert land with little scenery or grade crossings, which is prototypical, but it can get little boring after a while. Still a first class route.

http://www.streamlines.ca/

-Justin

Forget the default NEC. Download the NEC version 4.0 from Train-sim.com instead. It includes everything the default one has, plus has all the MARC and SEPTA stations, the parallel CSX freight line (which also has MARC service), the Washington Metro and the Baltimore light rail; in addition to numerous improvements on industry, scenery, yards and other branch lines. I believe the file is necv4.zip or something along those lines.

Jacques (Ray's son)

Ray_Murphy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Forget the default NEC. Download the NEC version
> 4.0 from Train-sim.com instead. It includes
> everything the default one has, plus has all the
> MARC and SEPTA stations, the parallel CSX freight
> line (which also has MARC service), the Washington
> Metro and the Baltimore light rail; in addition to
> numerous improvements on industry, scenery, yards
> and other branch lines. I believe the file is
> necv4.zip or something along those lines.
>
> Jacques (Ray's son)


Didn't know about this!

>>MC>> gotta see for myself

Thanks for the suggestions.

Now...I don't mind running the Northeast Corridor at all.

So...what if I want to run a nice, say 180car Heritage Fleet Train behind either a pair of EMD F40's or Genesis units (I want both, and to even be able to intermix models)....how do I accomplish getting that done for the Northeast Corridor?

Also...if I can get such...how do I maintain this equipment in the various passenger activities, so that I can meet trains, have the conductor tell me it's time to go, etc. If I simply run it as "Explore Route", I notice that I run on reds all the way.

bnsfjth Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Surfliner is great if you can get it. The entity
> which created the route started with a bang, then
> crumbled into pieces after disputes arose between
> the people in charge. Their customer service was
> also appauling. Eventually the route was
> completed, and it is THE best out there currently
> if you enjoy urban US commuter/freight routes.
> Many of the innovations common on better routes
> today like dynamic sound and objects were
> pioneered by the Facing Point team. I have no
> idea if orders are still being taken, and I would
> be a little cautious about giving Facing Point my
> credit card # at this point.
>
> Also look into Streamlines' Seligman Sub. It is
> based in the 90's on the Santa Fe between
> Seligman, AZ and Needles, CA. Top speed is 55mph,
> but you can always turn off derailments and run to
> your hearts content across the mostly flat route
> (it is 70mph freight today, so why not?). With
> the exception of a few areas, a majority of the
> route is relatively flat desert land with little
> scenery or grade crossings, which is prototypical,
> but it can get little boring after a while. Still
> a first class route.
>
> http://www.streamlines.ca/
>
> -Justin

I thought this was 70 MPH freight, 90 MPH psgr territory. Why would Streamlines (who I've heard has good products), make it 55 MPH??? Strange.

I think this is the route that you have to have to run the ATSF 3751 simulation, isn't it? That's a goal of mine: I'd really like the ATSF 3751 and the SP&S 700, which are both available, supposedly based on accurate dynamics.

Red Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I thought this was 70 MPH freight, 90 MPH psgr
> territory. Why would Streamlines (who I've heard
> has good products), make it 55 MPH??? Strange.

Back in the early 90's that the route is set in, this portion of the line was directional ABS with TWC. This meant 55 for freight. There were stretches with ATS for Amtrak, so those sections were 90, with non-ATS sections being 79. Running against the current of traffic was regulated to 49/59. My 1995 ATSF system timetable confirms this. Streamlines has the best products out there in my opinion.

-Justin

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bnsfjth Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Red Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I thought this was 70 MPH freight, 90 MPH psgr
> > territory. Why would Streamlines (who I've
> heard
> > has good products), make it 55 MPH??? Strange.
>
> Back in the early 90's that the route is set in,
> this portion of the line was directional ABS with
> TWC. This meant 55 for freight. There were
> stretches with ATS for Amtrak, so those sections
> were 90, with non-ATS sections being 79. Running
> against the current of traffic was regulated to
> 49/59. My 1995 ATSF system timetable confirms
> this. Streamlines has the best products out
> there in my opinion.
>
> -Justin

Justin:

Wow!!! Those screenshots made a BELIEVER out of me!!! That puts you RIGHT INTO a Warbonnet GP60M on a hot intermodal train, by all appearances.

I THINK this is the route required for the ATSF 3751 4-8-4 add-on, if I'm not mistaken, isn't it?

Thanks for those beautiful, inspiring shots!

> Justin:
>
> Wow!!! Those screenshots made a BELIEVER out of
> me!!! That puts you RIGHT INTO a Warbonnet GP60M
> on a hot intermodal train, by all appearances.
>
> I THINK this is the route required for the ATSF
> 3751 4-8-4 add-on, if I'm not mistaken, isn't it?
>
> Thanks for those beautiful, inspiring shots!

The ATSF 3751 and the "official" activities come from http://www.3dtrainstuff.com/, though I'm sure someone has made activities for the 3751 for Seligman. Supposedly, Streamlines is coming out with an Amtrak set for running the Southwest Chief on Seligman as well.