TrainSimulations: Sand Patch (CSX Mainline Subdivision) Development Thread

[CSRX]

any other work with this yet im not suprised this wasnt set in the 2020s Sand Patch era

Andrew and the team have been working hard on several projects including this. They will have updates when they can. From what I have seen, the wait will be well worth it.

[Tailterrier27]

It's very nice to see an Eastern Route being covered by Train Simulations. While I have long since moved on to TSC, I do check in on ORTS projects once in a while to see what other people are cooking.

[Unoriginal]

im not suprised this wasnt set in the 2020s Sand Patch era

It’s as simple as them just not being interested in modeling that era.

[rrdiesel87]

The 1986-1989 timeframe was chosen for a few reasons. Primarily it’s because the early CSX “rainbow” era is by far the most popular with rail fans and modelers. Secondly, that timeframe allows for the inclusion of several branchlines and other pieces of industrial trackage that had vanished by the early 1990s. Ultimately, the variety of paint schemes, B&O CPL signals, staffed interlocking towers, manned helpers, etc will always be FAR more interesting than any operations going on in modern times.

[Orbita]

The 1986-1989 timeframe was chosen for a few reasons. Primarily it’s because the early CSX “rainbow” era is by far the most popular with rail fans and modelers. Secondly, that timeframe allows for the inclusion of several branchlines and other pieces of industrial trackage that had vanished by the early 1990s. Ultimately, the variety of paint schemes, B&O CPL signals, staffed interlocking towers, manned helpers, etc will always be FAR more interesting than any operations going on in modern times.

Same can be said for just about any fallen flag. I tend to go towards older routes myself, specifically anything Conrail. You get to recreate scenes that can no longer be done today. Infrastructure, stock, signals, motive power, etc. That's what makes any pre-2000 era route appealing to me (I'm more pre-1960 when it comes to the Northeast).

[CSRX]

The 1986-1989 timeframe was chosen for a few reasons. Primarily it’s because the early CSX “rainbow” era is by far the most popular with rail fans and modelers. Secondly, that timeframe allows for the inclusion of several branchlines and other pieces of industrial trackage that had vanished by the early 1990s. Ultimately, the variety of paint schemes, B&O CPL signals, staffed interlocking towers, manned helpers, etc will always be FAR more interesting than any operations going on in modern times.

This alone is why I chose the 1978-1982 era for my own route. While a lot has diminished, the manned helpers and various yard jobs are still plenty to go around. Honestly as much as people want modern day railroading, I think the 1970-1980 time frame for any Northeast line, is far more interesting. Mixed paint scheme of mergers, with early CSX, early NS, and even early Guilford had a rainbow of colors between the MEC, D&H, B&M, and even some LV, RI, and L&N mixed in.

[dcarleton]

Something else about that era:

While some may have preferred that the route be set in the pure Chessie era (before CSX), or in the Blue B&O era; with the route is set in 1986-89 it could very easily represent these previous eras because apprearance of the route didn't change all that much from 1965 to 1989. In fact, if Trainsimulations cares to do so they might do well to create add-on sets for those eras, increasing the appeal of the route without needing to create a new one.

[RobGuru]

Something else about that era:

While some may have preferred that the route be set in the pure Chessie era (before CSX), or in the Blue B&O era; with the route is set in 1986-89 it could very easily represent these previous eras because apprearance of the route didn't change all that much from 1965 to 1989. In fact, if Trainsimulations cares to do so they might do well to create add-on sets for those eras, increasing the appeal of the route without needing to create a new one.

Will there be a modern CSX trainset and activity pack?

[dcarleton]

If you're asking me, I haven no idea because I don't work for Trainsimulations.

However, a modern CSX pack would not be appropriate for the time frame that the route is set in. Too much changed after 1990. The CPL signals are gone, the towers are gone, the helpers are gone, the tracks where the helpers would lay over are gone, and on and on. In order to do an accurate representation of current operations they'd have to create another version of the route.

Of course, there's nothing preventing you from running your modern CSX stuff on the 1989 era route.

[RobGuru]

If you're asking me, I haven no idea because I don't work for Trainsimulations.

However, a modern CSX pack would not be appropriate for the time frame that the route is set in. Too much changed after 1990. The CPL signals are gone, the towers are gone, the helpers are gone, the tracks where the helpers would lay over are gone, and on and on. In order to do an accurate representation of current operations they'd have to create another version of the route.

Of course, there's nothing preventing you from running your modern CSX stuff on the 1989 era route.

Add an era swap similar to Monon.

[CSRX]

Add an era swap similar to Monon.

I hope you are aware how much time and effort goes into route building..

[ChandlerBranchRailfan]

I hope you are aware how much time and effort goes into route building..

Yeah, but honestly who cares if certain tracks and signals are still there when they're not anymore?
A Modern CSX Pack for the route would be a good idea.

If an era swap absolutely has to be included, it should only affect the signal models you see and remove the towers and leave the track database as is.
Everything else is the unaffected.

Not everything has to be 100% accurate. No one has the time to nit pick.

[rrdiesel87]

Something else about that era:

While some may have preferred that the route be set in the pure Chessie era (before CSX), or in the Blue B&O era; with the route is set in 1986-89 it could very easily represent these previous eras because apprearance of the route didn't change all that much from 1965 to 1989. In fact, if Trainsimulations cares to do so they might do well to create add-on sets for those eras, increasing the appeal of the route without needing to create a new one.

This is correct. Obviously, there are some small differences from year to year, but overall a late 80s representation of Sand Patch is a good stand-in for anything from the 1970s to the mid 1990s, prior to the closure of ND tower. That being said, there are a few areas where I am bending the rules slightly to make the route more inclusive of other timeframes.

[RobGuru]

Yeah, but honestly who cares if certain tracks and signals are still there when they're not anymore?
A Modern CSX Pack for the route would be a good idea.

If an era swap absolutely has to be included, it should only affect the signal models you see and remove the towers and leave the track database as is.
Everything else is the unaffected.

Not everything has to be 100% accurate. No one has the time to nit pick.

The pack should include SD70MACs, ES44ACs, ES40DCs, ET44ACs, AC44CWs, AC44CWMs, Dash8-40CWs, Dash9-40CWs, SD40-2s, SD40-3s, GP40-2s, GP40-3s, GP38-3s, GP38-2s, P42DCs, and a GP40-2WH.

[ChandlerBranchRailfan]

The pack should include SD70MACs, ES44ACs, ES40DCs, ET44ACs, AC44CWs, AC44CWMs, Dash8-40CWs, Dash9-40CWs, SD40-2s, SD40-3s, GP40-2s, GP40-3s, GP38-3s, GP38-2s, P42DCs, and a GP40-2WH.

SD70MAC, ES44AC, ES40DC, ET44AC, AC4400CW, C40-8W, SD40-2, GP40-2, GP38-2, and a Capitol Limited Set.
Freight Traffic would be Intermodal, Manifest, Coal, Grain, Autorack.

Leave the rest up to the community and their generous repaint policy.