Additional/Custom map suggestion

[alucia]

I just wanted to put this up as a suggestion, and i'm posting it here since my access to the discord is fairly limited. I don't know if anyone will ever make a fully custom modded map, or if the devs may eventually decide to add another map themselves.

However, should either of those come to pass, I personally would like to nominate the Colorado Midland Railway. As far as I can tell, it's never shown up in any train simulation game, and I personally think it would be quite the spectacular and beautiful alignment to run over.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Midland_Railway

For those unaware, the Colorado Midland was a railroad that ran from Colorado Springs to Leadville, and to Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction via Hagerman Pass in the state of Colorado that operated from 1883 to 1918. The railroad had planned to run all the way to Salt Lake City initially, but unfortunately for the Midland, that plan never materialized and was one of the main issues that hamstrung it's ability to make money (since the only railroad they interchanged with on the west end, the Denver & Rio Grande/Denver & Rio Grande Western, was their main competitor over the continental divide and often hoarded through traffic (particularly eastbound traffic) for themselves). The situation briefly improved as a result of the USRA routing trans-Colorado traffic over the midland, but the railroads chronic cash issues meant that is was ill-equipped to handle the traffic, and the USRA diverted all of it elsewhere. As a direct result of this, the owner was forced to seek permission to abandon the line due to financial issues in the summer of 1918.

The interesting part about the Midland was that although the railroad was built like a narrow gauge railroad with a lot of steep grades (Miles of ~3% and some area's up to 4%), sharp corners (in some area's 16 degree curves) and little level track, the railroad was actually built as a standard gauge railroad. At it's longest extent, the railroad was roughly 222 miles long (at least according to the Wikipedia article on the Midland Terminal Railroad, which interchanged with the Midland at Divide), and if it had ever managed to connect to Salt Lake, it would have been even longer.

But the main thing that got me interested in the Midland is Hagerman Pass itself, or more specifically, the High Line through Hagerman Tunnel (Elevation: 11,528 Feet).
https://www.4x4explore.com/rds/h_rds/hagerman_ps.html
https://www.4x4explore.com/rds/h_rds/hagerman_ps.html
The High Line is the impressive alignment of Spaghetti track that loops back on itself several times. It was eventually replaced in service by the Busk-Ivanhoe Tunnel, which was located several hundred feet lower than Hagerman (Busk-Ivanhoe Elevation: 10,953 Feet), though there was an amusing interlude where, for two and a half years, service returned to the high line after a dispute over the fees through the Busk-Ivanhoe tunnel (it was owned by a different company). More details about that (and the Midland itself) can be found in S5;E5 of Hyce's 3/4's show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03UxpFNhyV4&t=3095s

Now, I don't know what the limits of what Railroader can handle are. I know the Murphy branch in game extends some 60 or so miles from Sylva to Andrews, but I don't know the feasibility of using the whole 222 mile route, let alone a hypothetical alternate world where the Midland not only survived to the transition era but also managed to extend to Salt Lake City. If it isn't possible to accommodate the entire route, the region around Hagerman Pass would probably still be enough for some interesting play. Not only is the High Line a near equivalent to Red Marble, the entire route is almost an equivalent to Alarka, given a lot of the towns along the route were silver mining towns, so re-establishing the silver mines could provide some decent cargo. Obviously given the grades, though, it would be a difficult route to run, and would demand powerful engines.

Thoughts?

[alucia]

Originally posted by whashj0:

The route sounds very interesting and would like another map to run on, also. However, at this time I think the Devs are focusing on developing the game, improving things we can't see, adding new features and finishing the scenery on this map. Another map would be nice but it may not be feasible since the design team is so small. I think that after this game is released and tweaked to perfection a new map might be considered, or one of the talented modders may come up with something on the order. Time will tell.

I know, hence why I said this was just a suggestion, and also why I mentioned the modding community, since they are already managing quite a bit despite mods not being officially supported. I'm well aware that it probably won't be happening any time soon

[Axehandle]

+1 Colorado Midland would be neat. But only with period-era locomotives and rolling stock.

[DorniNerd]

Thanks for your thoughts!

[sbmarauderman03]

Originally posted by Axehandle:

+1 Colorado Midland would be neat. But only with period-era locomotives and rolling stock.

No. It MUST have the Big Boy and ALL the locos...

(j/k)

[Axehandle]

Originally posted by sbmarauderman03:

Originally posted by Axehandle:

+1 Colorado Midland would be neat. But only with period-era locomotives and rolling stock.

No. It MUST have the Big Boy and ALL the locos...

(j/k)

Colorado Midland didn't operate beyond 1918 and they never owned anything beyond a 2-8-0. Historic snobs might laugh, but I suppose you could run BigBoy and other stuff if you wanted to. It's your railroad.

[Hwyranger]

That does sound like an interesting route. But, I would like and do believe the Devs are fully focused on completing the task at hand in the current game.
As for any future expansions or add-on's, I would like to see more of the Murphy Branch line. There are 17 additional potential towns/cities east of the Sylva IC ending at Asheville with Marple and Murphy west of Andrews.

[Axehandle]

Originally posted by Hwyranger:

That does sound like an interesting route. But, I would like and do believe the Devs are fully focused on completing the task at hand in the current game.
As for any future expansions or add-on's, I would like to see more of the Murphy Branch line. There are 17 additional potential towns/cities east of the Sylva IC ending at Asheville with Marple and Murphy west of Andrews.

Yes, all the way westward to Murphy, please. Then climb eastward over Balsam and back down at least to the HUGE paper mill in Canton -- climbs equally as nasty as the Red Marble.

[House Æonna]

A worthy endevour. My wish list includes the Mann's Creek in West Virginia and its interchange with the C&O. All nine miles of it. 😁

[Axehandle]

Originally posted by House Æonna:

A worthy endevour. My wish list includes the Mann's Creek in West Virginia and its interchange with the C&O. All nine miles of it. 😁

Any industries other than coal drags?

[House Æonna]

Originally posted by Axehandle:

Originally posted by House Æonna:

A worthy endevour. My wish list includes the Mann's Creek in West Virginia and its interchange with the C&O. All nine miles of it. 😁

Any industries other than coal drags?

Timber. Of course. LOL