Here goes my first attempt at an MSTS review...

[lvf]

Dear Matt,

I thought your review is very informative on the scope and status of the route. It saves me the effort of downloading it and trying it out.

That is also the purpose of reviews, not any different than a movie review.

Thank you.

Yours truly,
Leland

[Vince]

What you are about to see is my first attempt at a review. The focus of this first review: a lesser-known version of the GT Holly route by Daniel Ward, Holly Subdivision V2 (not the John Finney upgrade of Ward's original route!). ...............snip useless verbage..................

How can you, who has announced with great fanfare, fourteen (14) route builds and has never produced a mile of track be competent to review/judge/critique another routebuilders work?

How's that Polar Express route coming on? (you announced on 12-23-2011)

You have a MAJOR credibility problem ... Matt.

[Train-a-Mania]

Out of curiosity,
What is your mission on reviewing a route that is that old and outdated in terms of what is being done in the modern MSTS era?

I thought the same thing as well. Why not review a route in its best form since V2 is available to the public?

[qballbandit]

Out of curiosity,
What is your mission on reviewing a route that is that old and outdated in terms of what is being done in the modern MSTS era?

[amtrakmattburb]

It is also located in the file library here at trainsim.com !!!!

A single file D/L and one upgrade. ALSO available here are Activities and Craig Kawahara's detailed map.



????? The one from here has lots of scenery. Detroit is totally done. Plenty of scenery: buildings, roads, trees etc.

I know that, if you search the F/L, the route you're talking about was an upgrade John Finney did in 2010 to the Holly Sub V1 (he called it Holly Sub V2, which is also the name of the route I reviewed), V1 is a nine-file download(!), they were all uploaded in 2003. The route I reviewed is very different from those and also contains additional trackage.

[crstagg]

Where to Download: http://gtw.railfan.net/index.html (click on "MSTS")
This is a three-part download.

It is also located in the file library here at trainsim.com !!!!

A single file D/L and one upgrade. ALSO available here are Activities and Craig Kawahara's detailed map.

However, most of the route is devoid of scenery objects, except in Flint and Durand. That way, the end user has the ability to install their own. However, the tracks and terrain have already been included, so all they have to do is install buildings, roads and any other scenery object.

????? The one from here has lots of scenery. Detroit is totally done. Plenty of scenery: buildings, roads, trees etc.

[amtrakmattburb]

What you are about to see is my first attempt at a review. The focus of this first review: a lesser-known version of the GT Holly route by Daniel Ward, Holly Subdivision V2 (not the John Finney upgrade of Ward's original route!).



The map above pretty much shows what trackage this route has. It includes the main trackage (the Holly Subdivision) between Detroit and Durand, Michigan (a distance of 67 miles), as well as the Flint Subdivision between Flint, Michigan and Morrice, Michigan (halfway between Flint and Lansing), the Mount Clemens Subdivision as far north as Fraser, Michigan and the Shoreline Subdivision as far south as West Detroit, as well as the Great Lakes Central line to Owosso. A few spurs and yards as well as an interchange with CSX in Holly, Michigan is included as well. This is mostly a freight route, however it is possible to run Amtrak Blue Water and Wolverine Service trains on the route too.

However, most of the route is devoid of scenery objects, except in Flint and Durand. That way, the end user has the ability to install their own. However, the tracks and terrain have already been included, so all they have to do is install buildings, roads and any other scenery object.


A KLW GT GP40-2 is about to cross Van Slyke Road in west Flint. The GM plant is visible in the background. (the crossing signals aren't interactive)

Even the I-69/I-75/US 23 interchange in west Flint has been included (at least some of it):



If you aren't a route developer though, the route is still usable instantly, all you have to do is create a path. However, there are no signals, so you may have to pay attention. However, you should note that the scenery is sparse in many places:



There is one problem with the route though, in a few areas there's no terrain beneath the track! One example of this is in Flint:



In all, if you are a route developer and are up to the challenge of installing 67+ miles of scenery, this route is for you. To finish this review, here's a shot of the same GP40-2 in Durand:



Where to Download: http://gtw.railfan.net/index.html (click on "MSTS")
This is a three-part download.