Heya all. Having both Seligman Subdivision & Scenic Subdivision on MSTS, I was wondering if someone could help me in providing some idea for both routes as to what runs from where to where, what the rough journey time is, & what the average consist is of certain trains is. Thanks in advance.
Well, I am not on either of those subdivisions. But I can tell you that it varies in all aspects. Consists, timing, transit. Weather, derailments, delays for various reasons such as maintenance of way windows or awaiting a rested crew, etc.
The Scenic sub division sees a lot of stack trains. There are usually at least 2-4 each way a day. The stack trains are usually around 6000-7000 feet and will run either 5 engines in front or 3-4 in front and 2 DP on the rear. At least one of the trains will also have a significant amount of auto carriers. There are 2-3 Intermodal/TOFC/COFC Z trains each way. They are high priority and around 5000-6000 feet and have 5 engines leading. Amtrak west in the morning/east at night. Usually there is a daily heavy mixed freight train that runs from Everett to Spokane and back. Boeing runs a train full of fuselages at least once a week. There is a regular parade of empty grain trains heading east 2-4 per day. Occasionally an empty coal train will also run. On the coastline portion of the Scenic Sub Division between Seattle and Everett you get everything.
More on the Coastline. Sounder Commuter Trains run from Everett to Seattle and back 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening. Amtrak Cascades runs north in the evening and south in the morning. The Boeing Local runs out to Boeing Hill 3-5 times a week. Loaded Coal trains run north 2-3 a day and empties south. Garbage train runs 1-2 each way. Oil trains 1-2 a day. Lot's of mixed freight, lumber and chemicals.
Thanks Greg, that's ideal. Sorry to be a pain, where you're stating the length of the train in feet, i.e. 6000-7000 etc. etc., what's that work out roughly in car lengths plz???
That's a hard question, because those stack trains are made up of several different types of intermodal cars. Some 5 packs are 265 feet long, some of the shorter ones are closer to 225 feet long. Three packs vary also, some are actually longer than a five pack. We consider 50' to be equivalent to one standard car length. I don't know how you build a train in a simulator, but maybe add various cars until you reach the right length. Greg Amer The Industrial Lead gregamer.com
Cool, so that works out roughly average 140 cars per train, which is more or less, taking into account the restraints of MSTS, what I'm running at the mo. Thanks again Greg, at least I know I'm more or less running towards realistic formations.
Then, length and schedules are meaningless. You need to factor in wreck trains, single track out of service for days at a time with massive derailments. You need to factor in costs, as even buying TYCO freight cars from the junk boxes at the train shows, you will be broke, soon. You need to enter in slides, washouts, weather related delays. Motive power breakdowns, signal failures, the occasional head on collision in dark territory. Then, you need to add a turnout in Snohomish, and one in Renton, for a second line, and don't lay any track between them. You need to re-open Stampede, don't listen to anyone, and find you can't drop the floor of the tunnel, and the line is relegated to single stacks, grain, coal, things like that. Let's see...on my trusty calculator......you can run one train, go to work for 10 hours (8 on the clock, and hour transit each way), get home and run another. Joke, son, just a joke.
It's Deja Vu all over again(except for the mountain and tunnel parts) or "The Story of My Life" !!! ROFL Charlie
And then one fine day you get a train and a wheel report(train consist) that shows the length of your train about 100' shorter that it actually is and you discover that reality almost by accident and I mean a real accident. You are pulled up tight(EB)to the pot in a siding for a meet and your meet(WB) tells you he is coming thru on an "Approach" signal, you know he is doing an inspection of your train but you ask him to let you know what the rear of your train looks like. As he reaches the end of your train he tells you that "You are JUST(his emphasis)in the clear". Some terse words were exchanged on our arrival at our home terminal that day! Charlie
Nose to ass in the hole. I hope you stretched 'em in there. Greg Amer The Industrial Lead gregamer.com
