KCS mainline route

[wlenz781]

I am looking to see if I can find some people interested in collaborating in creating a route and rolling stock. I want to recreate the KCS mainline in sections, or even to eventually be the whole thing with scenarios working different sections. We have so many routes and railroads represented, with the exception of some older engines there is very little KCS content. Such a shame for this country's third oldest railroad founded in the 1880's. I want to start in Kansas City where 4 different railroads have yards; KCS, UP (shared with Amtrak), BNSF, and NS. As you make your way out of KC, passing the different railroads, you make your way south towards Pittsburg, KS on the Pittsburg subdivision. While the terrain is predominantly flat, it is also single track with the exception of sidings to allow trains to pass. There are at least on average 20 trains a day that make this run, maybe more. Trains consist of long distance trains, example UP delivers coal to two power plants south of Pittsburg from the Powder River Basin in Montana. There are also many short distance trains, such as the Fort Smith Dodger that runs from Heavener, OK to Fort Smith, AR making deliveries and pickups to local industries. To add to the challenge of managing all these trains on single track line, once you reach Neosho, MO you start running into steep climbs. To make these climbs, long coal trains often have 4-6 ES44AC engines (2-3 on each end). There are lots of grades between 1.1-1.5% that stretch for miles. The steepest of these grades are located in Arkansas as you must take your trains through the Ozark (Blue) Mountains. From Heavener, OK (mile post 338) you start out at 500ft above sea level and climb a 1.5% grade from mile post 347-355, followed by a 1.12% all the way to the top of Rich Mountain, AR (mile post 367) at 1,600ft and then descend back down to 500ft over the next 60 miles of sawtooth climbs and descents of 1.11-1.35% grades, as you head to Shreveport, LA. Within 30 miles you have climbed 1,100ft on single track line. I have included a picture below to show you just how daunting this would be. The second picture shows a passing track while going up the mountain. You must have enough power to make the climb without blocking the track. Hope to see some people interested in helping me to recreate this route in TS20xx. Imagine the possibilities of scenarios when you don't have double track the entire length to allow two-way traffic, but must rely on signals and sidings to get cargo flowing in both directions.

KCS Rich Mountain.jpg

KCS Rich Mountain 2.jpg

[emdsd90mac]

It would certainly be a fun project. I downloaded the DEM for the KC area with the plan of one day doing a route just in Kansas City with all of the yards and industry. That alone would keep someone busy for a long time. It has yet to make it to the planning stages, but will at some point I hope.

[wlenz781]

Sounds great! I could see where someone could stay busy just switching cars within the multiple yards in the KC area. Hopefully we can get several people working on this and create a fun route. Will definitely need lots of DEM data for MO, KS, AR, and LA.