That said, Portland Terminal is definitely a switching route; It's not a long-haul, Class I route. People know me for my work on the MSTS Donner Pass and Feather River routes. I've been wanting to do a route like those for RailWorks that combines big-time railroading with scenic grandeur, but that's going to have to wait until distant terrain becomes a reality. I'm hoping I'll be able to announce something along those lines towards the end of this year.
Meanwhile...
The concept for Portland Terminal originally came from Michael Stephan and as soon as I checked it out I was hooked. The route is situated in and around the picturesque, historic coastal city of Portland, Maine. It's a compact, urban route. To get an idea of the route's scope, take a look at this image of its load screen.
From Pine Point to East Deering -- in other words, from one end of the route to the other -- there's an amazing variety of scenery. Beginning in the south, you'll travel across the tidal marshes and scrub-pine forests of Scarborough. You'll take your train right down the middle of bustling Rigby yard in South Portland, and past the oil terminals along the south bank of the Fore River. After crossing the river into Portland proper, you can visit the passenger facilities off to the west of town, or continue northward through an abandoned yard and directly into the trendy Old Port district of downtown Portland, alongside one of its busiest streets. Continuing northward you'll wind around the tip of peninsular Portland with the Eastern Promenade parks on one side and Casco Bay on the other. Then you'll cross over the mouth of Back Cove on a working swing bridge into the light-industrial suburb of East Deering.
There are plenty of industries along the way to keep the railroad busy. In addition to the usual distribution warehouses, you'll serve businesses specializing in chemicals, custom machinery, sand & gravel, cement, crude and refined oil products, frozen seafoods ,
-- and even baked beans.
All that in only 14 miles!
Watch the web site for new screen shots and, very soon, a much more detailed description of the route its content.
: I know you aren't even in the planning stages, but please consider Marias Pass or Donner Pass. 
; yes, please!
