Which is the better option

[TheDefiantPirate]

To go for the Silva expansion or the Bryson expansion first?

[DorniNerd]

Bryson, personally.

[AshHill07]

I'd definitely suggest going to Bryson first. Usual logic in games is always that the cheaper, more affordable option is probably the one the developers want you to do first.

Also the tutorial tells you to go to Bryson first.

[Imperial Strikeforce]

For what it's worth, I went to Sylva first. After completing the tutorial and learning the game, I started a new game and decided to go to Sylvia.

As far as the 'cheapest' option and to earn money fast. Stay in the starting area. Don't go either direction but spend a few days running those empty log cars up to Connelly and back to the lumber mill. Along with that, do business contracts in Whittier and run the passenger train between Whittier and Ela to get your business rating up and your purchase discounts.

Now that the devs have shortened the amount of time it takes to unload logs, you could do 2 log deliveries per day and earn about $3k per day. Play 4-6 days of doing those things and you'll quickly have over $14k+. At this point, you could sell the weaker starting locomotive for about $5K. You might have anywhere between $15-20K all said and done after your first week.

Now you'll have good opportunities of what you want to do. You could build the bridge to Bryson, buy the way to Sylva, buy a better locomotive with that saved up money.

Going to Bryson is a shorter distance than Sylva, but I think you'll earn more money going to Sylva first because once you buy at least 8 pulpwood cars, you can take those to Connelly and deliver pulpwood to Sylva. For 8 pulpwood cars delivered you'll get about $2,000 per day if you do a tier 2 contract. Plus two loads of logs per day, you could be making about $5,000 per day. Just make sure your steam locomotive is topped off with coal for each trip to Sylva because there is no coal refuel anywhere in that direction until you pay for a milestone to build one in Dillsboro.

I don't know if there are any big money-maker tasks in Bryson as I just built the bridge to it recently and made my first freight delivery tonight while playing.

Going to Sylva first and playing as I recommended above, not to mention the money I was making delivering to businesses along the route, I've already bought 2 GP9 diesel locomotives at $31,500 each and 16 pulpwood cars and a 3rd passenger car. I still have one of the two steam locomotives the game starts you off with also. Now that I'm making decent money I'll start buying the diesel switchers and have one in each of the major rail yards of the map I've unlocked thus far. Sylva, Whittier, and Bryson for shunting freight cars to local businesses.

The tutorial has you build to Bryson first, but that doesn't necessarily mean that's the most effective way to go. I think the game has you go that way simply because it's the shorter distance to the next big town. If Bryson has a good way to make fast money like log and pulpwood deliveries, then go to Bryson first since it's a shorter route.

That's my perspective to give you something to think about, but ultimately it's your decision.

[thebear05]

Going to Bryson will give you the Robinson coal mine after you build the Bryson bridge. Then you can open the way to Alaka junction, which will give you the copper mine. It is up to you to decide. I only know about the west of Bryon and the Robinson coal contract is worth a lot. However you will need a decent loco to move the coal cars. Going to Bryson maintains your interchange tracks at Whittier.

[TheDefiantPirate]

Thank you all for the suggestions

Currently I am on day 11 I just dropped the last stage of the Bryson Bridge project off I have 4 locomotives the two starters plus a Atlantic and a Pacific I have made heavy use of the Loan system and been paying them back I have 16 Log cars and was doing two runs a day of logs currently my cash sits at 897 but that is only because I put everything i make into paying off the loan before interest payments come out I have three of the 1900 Passenger cars and an Observation car

Once the bridge is done the Atlantic will remain on Passenger duty the Pacific will handle Frieght between Bryson and Whittier while the Mogel and the 10 Wheeler handle Log trains and working the interchange I plan for a Consolidation and a Mikado to be bought to handle heavier stuff at which point the Pacific and Atlantic will probably be transfered to the Sylvia to East Whittier set up

[coenvijge]

For me Bryson. A much more complete location (in confront with East Whittier), better engine service with more coal for the engines and repair tracks enough, bigger yard, more local destinations. a lot of extra tracks. Also a much better starting point for your pax service.
I moved 'everything' over from East Whittier, execpt the local logs service and the 'direct' deliveries from the interchange to the sawmill. Deliveries to Whittier and Ela with a local form Bryson or sometimes with the pax train Bryson<>Eka<>Whittier.

[Rudolf Jan]

Bryson is far better. Less troublesome and way cheaper.

[[NcK]MasterShake|CM]

The Sylva expansion is going to make your days a lot longer as the interchange is no longer at E. Whittier

[TheDefiantPirate]

So next question are there any specific frieght contracts i should focus on at Bryson? and any specific rolling stock I will need for the companies around Bryson?

[moosc]

Remember the higher tier for the industry the more cars it will receive and the faster the turn around from spotting to pick up will be.
As suggested elsewhere the Robinson Coal mine is a very good contract at tier 3 or above but decent motive power will be required due to grades. I have been known to double head a Mikado and Consolidation due to tonnage.
Once Alarka is reached then the Copper mines also become a good source of income.
Hope this helps.

[avgwarhawk]

Bryson is your best bet. It provides the opportunity to work freight, understanding how interchanges work and steadily grow your bank account. It permits you to work a passenger train. All of these things are basically a short line and how they operate.

[TheDefiantPirate]

Is there any point in Running logs out of the logging camps above Bryson?

[Lemon Friend]

Originally posted by TheDefiantPirate:

Is there any point in Running logs out of the logging camps above Bryson?

The challenge and fun of it. A way to add a bit of variety to the daily grind. If I were to use those logging camps, I'd have an engine more or less permanently stationed up there to do the setouts and pickups, using the track near the water tower as an exchange point. Another train would haul cars from there down to the Bryson yard.

[thebear05]

If you want to profit off the Whittier sawmill I suggest three sets of eight log cars. These should consist of being one set being unloaded, one waiting in the spare track on the left of the sawmill and one in Connelly Creek being loaded. This gives you a constant supply of logs into the sawmill. Walker also supplies logs but it is a longer run and if you check out the map of Connelly Creek there are several log producing sidings. The 0-6-0 switcher is permanently on this duty.

[avgwarhawk]

Originally posted by TheDefiantPirate:

Is there any point in Running logs out of the logging camps above Bryson?

Yes, I run two logging trips a day. Bryson and Connelly. Bryson I run late evening. Just nice running the hills as the sun sets. I then drop it at the Bryson interchange to be brought to the mill the following day by my engine that runs between interchanges. The mill needs 44 logs a day. I do my best not to have my interchange running engine return to Whittier without something paying it's way. Working logs in Bryson helps with that.