3DTS West Colton Route Released

[hiball 3985]

By doing just a little bit of research I find the possibilities of this route are endless. They have placed the route in the 78 to 95 time frame which allows the use of both the SP serif font as well as the speed lettered units seen after the D&RGW buyout in 1988 and the Kodachrome scheme seen in the mid to late 80's. On the Sante Fe side you have the yellowbonnets that were seen for that whole time frame, and then can bring in the Superfleet after 1989. Activities can be created by era, bringing in newer locomotives and freight cars as they were introduced. I quick look at the wikapedia listings for EMD and GE give the introductory dates for the different diesels they produced, and there is a pretty good freight car chronology here in the file library. And I'm sure there will be non-purists (myself included) that will insist on running UP and BNSF as well.
I guess if I had one wish for the route it would be a good SP SW1500 or MP15AC/DC for the hostler duties. My computer desktop at work is a picture of a pair of back to back SW1500's moving a U33C/SD45 set towards the classification bowl.

For you none purist. I can just see 100+ UP loco's in storage lined up there. I counted 144 last summer... my last observation was about 120

[jamesphh]

I was looking foward to this route, but at $35 for the route and $30 ea for the SP packs I can not justify $95 for this with no stock or activities.

[Train-a-Mania]

I was looking foward to this route, but at $35 for the route and $30 ea for the SP packs I can not justify $95 for this with no stock or activities.

For $95, you would have stock. As already established, activities are on the way as well.

[jmslakings]

I was looking foward to this route, but at $35 for the route and $30 ea for the SP packs I can not justify $95 for this with no stock or activities.

I don't have the time or the space for a model layout. Since I consider MSTS to be my layout and since I want the new layout with new stock I will gladly pay $95 dollars for this route. Not because I have to, but because I want to. Hey if this was a layout I would be paying $95 dollars just for one loco.

[NW611]

I was looking forward to this route, but at $35 for the route and $30 ea for the SP packs I can not justify $95 for this with no stock or activities.

I agreed until I went to dieselswest and seen what you get. I think the route should have came with at least a few default stuff so you dont have to shell out more $$$$ but in all fairness, you dont need the dieselswest stuff ot enjoy the route. You can never go wrong with DW though. Me, Id have to go all out.

[BNSF650]

I agreed until I went to dieselswest and seen what you get. I think the route should have came with at least a few default stuff so you dont have to shell out more $$$$ but in all fairness, you dont need the dieselswest stuff ot enjoy the route. You can never go wrong with DW though. Me, Id have to go all out.

Ture DW Has the best Payware locomotives out there. Just hope they could do a SP SW that would be awsome to have.

[Turbo Bill]

Even better......an SP switcher with the attending Mars light package. True SP to the core. As soon as I have the kaching, I will definetly get the SP bling.

[pinpuller]

I agree.

Of course it would have to have the SP's unique lighting package and number boards.[/QUOTE]

Thought I'd add these;

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=23074

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=48881

[railguy]

I've ordered Colton and am looking forward to it. In the meantime, I've been testing the DW SP Packs 1 and 2. Now, I'm a big fan of Scott's work, especially what he has produced in the last three years or so. It seems every new product he makes is just a little better than the last. The SP packs are no exception. If I've had any criticism of DW's products in the past, it has centered on the sounds. Especially in the EMD units there could be some "choppiness" in the transitions from .wav file to .wav file in throttle-up and throttle-down--enough that I usually wound up aliasing the locomotive to another sound file. Well, that issue seems to be have solved with the SP packs. The locomotives sound right and the choppiness seems to be gone. Great job, Scott! Also, the horns on the packs are outstanding. I listened to the prototypes going by about 10 blocks from my house for years. Do a Camera 4 with the train going by and blowing for crossings and, like they said on the old TV show, "And you are there."

Now, I hope Colton lives up to its billing. Too many payware routes today skimp on scenery, night lighting, etc.--to the point that many freeware routes (the latest Birmingham is a great example) are superior, in my opinion. The limited screenshots I've seen of Colton, though, do seem encouraging. Just to be authentic, I am modifying one of the Birmingham environments to made Southern humidity into a real gnarly brown smog layer for Coton, just to be prototypical :>) .

[dcushing]

A little bird just told me that Scott does indeed intend to do a SP MP-15AC with the correct light package. Can't wait!

Duncan

[BNSF650]

Would be nice to see some SP Red an Yellow also

[pinpuller]

A little bird just told me that Scott does indeed intend to do a SP MP-15AC with the correct light package. Can't wait!

Duncan

If that is a fact then they should be well received. His UP MP's are sure fantastic.

[dcushing]

Diesels West has just posted previews of 4 of the activities for West Colton. They look interesting, with one being a two part Kaiser Local. I know the route won't even be in the mail 'til Wednesday but boy is it getting harder and harder to wait.

Duncan

[GTW6408]

I wonder how many grade crossings there are on this route.

[Curt C]

Has anyone heard how far this route will extend eastward? I know the webpage says "towards Yuma", but was hoping to get a more definitive answer.