Big Sky Country

[buzz456]

So I'm on the phone with my friend Walter Jaeschke aka Krellnut just talking about fun stuff and we were musing about scenic western mountain routes and I asked him if he was familiar with the Montana Rail Link. A couple of weeks later he told me he was planning on doing the whole route as it was through beautiful country with all kinds of mainline and switching opportunities. When I asked him what part he was planning laying the track he said he had the terrain laid out for the whole thing from Billings to Spokane so he might as well lay all the track. Now normal people don't do that but normal people also don't take on the task of making the wagon sounds that Walter created one of the greatest additions to RW ever.

Well the track has been laid. The early team is Walter of course, me trying to keep assets organized and laying scenery, and emdsd90mac Steve Titze who is making custom assets where we need them as well as laying scenery. Our intention is to recruit some more individuals who are interested in doing some bits and pieces of this beautiful route. Our goal is to release this as a ongoing beta every time we get fifty or a hundred miles more or less done. We have a couple of folks recruited already who will be joining the team shortly one who is in the process of moving right now.

This route includes both Mullan Pass and Bozeman Pass as well as a lot of other nifty features. Right now I'm working with Livingston and headed towards Billings. Steve is building out Billings and then will head west.

We'll post some pictures in the WIP as we go along. The only payware route that will be required in Marias Pass. All other assets will be freeware.

Mullan Pass.jpg

Continental Devide.jpg

Screenshot_Montana Rail Link_45.67827--110.52962_10-07-29.jpg

[NStrains]

Can't wait to see how this turns out! Looks good all ready.

[jpetersjr]

I'll have to try to get Marias Pass later on, if there's any vintage assets I might be willing to put together a couple vintage assets.

[imnew]

This is great news The MRL is such an interesting operation. Always wondered how it would look in our sim. Best of luck to you guys.

[Ericmopar]

This is going to be great.

[Chacal]

Great project, with a good team!

[thebigroyboyski]

MRL has to be one of my favourite roads.
Brilliant news guys. Thanks for taking on such a massive task

[BoostedFridge]

Great project, with a good team!

Well said! This project is in good hands.

[dejoh]

Great news. I was kicking around Helena and Missoula in my younger traveling days. Beautiful country.

[Griphos]

Welcome news indeed, and looking very good so far. This is my old stomping ground, and one of my favorite lines. Used to spend a lot of time near the tracks west of Billings.

[emdsd90mac]

Welcome news indeed, and looking very good so far. This is my old stomping ground, and one of my favorite lines. Used to spend a lot of time near the tracks west of Billings.

Do you have many reference photo's? Could be very handy for laying scenery and building models.

[Griphos]

Sorry, no. I've never been a shutterbug. I don't even own a camera. But there are some great videos of the MRL out there. I may even have one of those, and would be happy to mail it to the team. I'll look for it.

[ssbobz]

Looks like a great route.

https://www.facebook.com/TheMontanaRail ... ngSociety/

[krellnut]

Aren't these mountains gorgeous! The route has 1/3 arc second terrain. A huge thanks goes out to BoostedFridge for teaching me how to import terrain, and also making the terrain and sending it to me on account of I couldn't get my copy of ReDem to work correctly.

[Boss1]

Great job guys! Really looking forward to it.