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On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:54 pm
by micaelcorleone
I am delighted to announce to you a Community Project, the first American narrow-gauge route for TrainSimulator 2012:


Durango & Silverton
Rocky Mountain Narrow Gauge


Announcement Video (click)

Video of the Original

Wikipedia on the D&S
Wikipedia wrote:The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad (D&SNG) is a narrow gauge heritage railroad that operates 45 miles (72 km) of 3 ft (914 mm) track between Durango and Silverton, in the US state of Colorado. The railway is a federally designated National Historic Landmark and is also designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

The route was originally built between 1881 and 1882, by the Denver and Rio Grande Railway, in order to carry supplies and people to and silver and gold ore from mines in the San Juan Mountains. The line was an extension of the D&RG narrow gauge from Antonito, Colorado to Durango. The last train to operate into Durango from the east was on December 6, 1968. The States of New Mexico and Colorado purchased 64 miles of the line between Antonito and Chama, New Mexico in 1970 and operates today as the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. The trackage between Chama and Durango was abandoned and rails were removed by 1971.

The line from Durango to Silverton has run continuously since 1881, although it is now a tourist and heritage line hauling passengers, and is one of the few places in the United States which has seen continuous use of steam locomotives. In March 1981, the Denver & Rio Grande Western sold the line and the D&SNG was formed.

Some of the rolling stock dates back to the 1880s. The trains run from Durango to the Cascade Wye in the winter months and run from Durango to Silverton during the summer months. The depot in Durango was built in January 1882 and has been preserved in original form.
Some WIP screenshots:
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j43 ... -27-06.jpg
Rockwood

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j43 ... -49-81.jpg
The Rockwood Cut

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j43 ... -19-48.jpg
The famous High Line

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j43 ... -48-09.jpg
High Bridge

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j43 ... -34-63.jpg
Tank Creek

This route for TrainSimulator 2012 covers the complete 45 miles of Durango & Silverton right of way between the cities of Durango, Colorado and Silverton, Colorado.
Set in the present-day era, it recreates modern-day operations of the Railroad, but still it's completely coal-fired steam.
A lot of custom buildings, tracks and rolling-stock has been made and we will continue to add more and more.

Who is we and what is the meaning of "community project"?
The Community, that's Rick Grout ("ricksan"), Larry Goss ( "MaineLines"), Justin Legg, Micheal Stephan ("GreatNortherner"), Grant Brennan ("Ozinoz"), Barry ("Captain Bazza"), some more and me, Timm ("micaelcorleone").
Communtiy project means that all these people are working together to build this route. Some make route building, others create assets and rollingstock.

Work on the route started early this year with the idea coming from me and the support from a friendly guy you all should know very well for his great models and routes, Rick Grout.
He is sponsor of the project and without him, all this wouldn't be possible.

There is still a lot to do and a lot of testing to be carried out, but we are pretty sure that a first version of the Durango & Silverton Route will be availalbe on the G-TraX website in the first quarter of 2012.
Updates will be realesed subsequently.

We hope that you are exited and that this is a successful nice little Christmas surprise to you all.
Updates and screenshots coming soon...

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:56 pm
by charlie99
Looks awesome, can't wait to drive it. I love christmas surprises! :D

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 8:56 pm
by johnmckenzie
This looks fantastic! :D

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:01 pm
by longbow
An iconic route with a very talented team to build it. Should be great.

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:04 pm
by gswindale
Now that looks like it might be something pretty special.

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:04 pm
by TheTazman
Some nice pics and video there.

All we need is a Delorian? MARRTTYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:10 pm
by ChrisBarnes
What a fantastic surprise! :o I imagine there will be tears of joy (well, I hope not really :P ) from the route builders that have expressed desires for some big narrow gauge for future narrow gauge projects. :) Congratulations to the entire team behind this.

Kind regards
Chris

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:16 pm
by btvboxer
Those photos looks fantastic! :shocked!: This really deserves to be a DLC on Steam also!

Merry Christmas
btvboxer

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:17 pm
by SHEEP
Yep, looks fantastic, A work of art.

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:24 pm
by partyspiritz
Just Magic

Just what the doc ordered


Regards


John

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:41 pm
by bigvern
Utterly fantastic. I just watched the video clip and this is going to be the must have route of 2012.

Also as noted above, gives us some fantastic ng resources to play with.

After this guys, you need to do the Colorado Southern and Telluride, would be equally awesome.

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:56 pm
by chrisreb
A must have

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:07 pm
by 92212
Wow!! :o Lovely whistle!! 3ft track gauge..............Isle of Man gauge!

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:40 pm
by chrisiveson
Lovely work and great screenshots, thanks for sharing. :P

Chris.

Re: On the Train to Yesterday...

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:05 am
by Merlin75
Looking at those shots this kind of puts the Donner Pass to shame.