Coming Soon: Stevens Pass 1929-56

[ZekTheKid]

This is fantastic! Is it coming to Steam?

There's a good chance it will, considering the VNHRR got moved to steam. Not to mention the current Stevens Pass is also on steam.

[Caffeine]

In Train Simulator 2021 you will:

1. Take 15 minutes trying to decide what route to play (too many outstanding ones).
2. Take another 15 minutes trying to decide what locomotive to play (too many outstanding ones).

How cool can it be!?

[buzz456]

This is fantastic! Is it coming to Steam?

There's a good chance it will, considering the VNHRR got moved to steam. Not to mention the current Stevens Pass is also on steam.

You presume.

[DrewG]

Now this I'm looking forward too. Gtrax, greatnortherner, freidland and all else who have worked on these last few historical routes to be released are easily some of the best route devs out there. Anything with their name on it is sure to be excellent.

[GreatNortherner]

Thanks for all the very kind comments!

Rick has just published more in-depth information on his website here:
http://www.gtraxsims.com/

More information and screenshots will be added soon.

[BoostedFridge]

This is just fantastic Michael (and team)!

I spent a lot of time in my childhood hiking the old roadbed of the first Cascade Tunnel route, so I am beyond pleased that you have chosen to make that era a part of this sim!



On the east side of the pass, are you going to use the current Gaynor Tunnel and Trestle, or the pre 1949 alignment?

nason-creek-realignment-1 (1).jpg

Image c/o Model160.com

[ex-railwayman]

In Train Simulator 2021 you will:
1. Take 15 minutes trying to decide what route to play (too many outstanding ones).
2. Take another 15 minutes trying to decide what locomotive to play (too many outstanding ones).

What!? Some of us have had this dilemma for the last few years, I'm already up to 45 minutes for each choice, and it's getting worse every month...

Cheerz. Steve.

[Boldri]

WOOOW!
Great news! You made my day, Michael
Everytime I rode the modern Stevens Pass route, I was dreaming about this. It seems to me that somebody is reading my thoughts.

[GreatNortherner]

(...) On the east side of the pass, are you going to use the current Gaynor Tunnel and Trestle, or the pre 1949 alignment?

Many thanks for the picture! We seem to have missed this realignment, our route follows the modern route there (through the tunnel). At least the realignment was made during our route's period but we'll see what we can do. From the picture it looks like there was at least a short moment when both bridges stood side by side.

Everytime I rode the modern Stevens Pass route, I was dreaming about this. It seems to me that somebody is reading my thoughts.

A steam/electric era Stevens Pass was our original idea before we decided to build the modern day route. Back then there weren't too many US routes available so we thought a modern route would be more popular and welcomed (which I still think is true, steam era modeling is sadly a bit of a niche within our hobby, especially when looking not only at RWA but the train simming community as a whole).

[mrennie]

I still think is true, steam era modeling is sadly a bit of a niche within our hobby, especially when looking not only at RWA but the train simming community as a whole).

Completely true, unfortunately.

[gtrtroger]

Just remember, neither tunnel at the time had been equipped with a ventilation system, ruling out the passage of diesel- or steam-only trains. It's perfectly all right to use the powerful Y-1 electrics to haul such trains along either route—and through the tunnels—because that's exactly what the Great Northern did!

Did I read somewhere that GN would just hookup the Y-1’s in front of the steam loco’s and pull the whole train over the top? With the numerous EB/WB trains, especially during WWII, how were these operations handled with just 8 - eight - Y-1 Electrics?

[Chacal]

steam era modeling is sadly a bit of a niche within our hobby, especially when looking not only at RWA but the train simming community as a whole).

I think we train hobbyists are largely motivated by nostalgia. We are looking for the trains, tracks and scenery we remember from our childhood.
I know this is why I prefer rusted, dirty, smelly 40s-50s diesels. As kids, we would go to the yard and play on and in them (no security in the early 60s).

The pool of hobbyist who actually met a steam locomotive in the flesh is getting smaller. I never did and they don't mean much to me.

[buzz456]

steam era modeling is sadly a bit of a niche within our hobby, especially when looking not only at RWA but the train simming community as a whole).

I think we train hobbyists are largely motivated by nostalgia. We are looking for the trains, tracks and scenery we remember from our childhood.
I know this is why I prefer rusted, dirty, smelly 40s-50s diesels. As kids, we would go to the yard and play on and in them (no security in the early 60s).

The pool of hobbyist who actually met a steam locomotive in the flesh is getting smaller. I never did and they don't mean much to me.

You've never met a steam locomotive? You don't get out much huh.

[ricksan]

Yes, Y-1s would tow entire trains over the pass. Here is a view of an eastbound passenger train heading up to the tunnel along the original alignment.

Martin Creek Bridge 2.jpg

And, for comparison...

Martin Creek Crossing 1.jpg

As for wartime traffic, GN would have used the new tunnel as the old one had been abandoned. Who knows, they could have had Y-1s waiting at Scenic and Berne strictly to tow trains the short distance through the tunnel.

[OldProf]

This is fantastic! Is it coming to Steam?

There's a good chance it will, considering the VNHRR got moved to steam. Not to mention the current Stevens Pass is also on steam.

According to the website: "The route will be payware, moderately priced and independently released through Railworks America." And there's more info as well -- check the OP for a link.