Train Simulator: Colton & Northern Route Add-On DLC

Another classic little route by Rich Garber from All Aboard Rails. Yes, it is an older route but nonetheless a very beautiful route with a great amount of scenery and detail throughout. Plus, the 21 standard scenarios that are included will keep you busy for days. If you’re unsure whether to purchase or not then wait for a Steam Sale where you can pick up this forgotten gem for half-price or less. All Aboard! For those who are having trouble finding the Standard Scenarios, please note that something changed in TS2016 which stopped them from showing up the usual way when searching under the actual Route itself. Nevertheless, they can be found by going to the ‘Standard’ Tab, deselecting the ‘Loco’ and/or the ‘Route’ filters so that a complete list of ALL available standard scenarios appears for ALL the routes that you have installed. Then, you simply scroll down the list to find ‘Colton And Northern’ where all 21 scenarios will be listed. Took me a few tries to get it but works every time now. See the following link for more information: https://steamcommunity.com/app/24010/discussions/8/487870763310243069/

got alot of routes with alot of scenarios but do not have but 1 scenario I can play on this route. not sure why its like that for me.. I like the route I operated and wish I could do more scenarios on it.

Really outdated now and even the core layout isn't that great. There are freeware short line routes in the workshop that are much, much better. Adriana County, Blackwater Creek are two that are much more realistic and detailed, but they require a couple pay DLC routes but are well worth it. Colton and Northern is very much like a big train layout, and the trees and shrubs are not layed out very realistically. The driving is also boring because it's very flat and you're literally lapping a train layout. Not trying to rag on this hard, but those other routes are just ten times better.

The content is nice for route building, but otherwise it kinda sucks. The route is dated, badly, and it looks like they were trying to compete with Trainz' model railroad capabilities. Doesn't work well here...

No disrespect to the author of this route, as I am sure it worked fine when it was originally released 16 years ago. The changes to Railworks in the time since then have not been kind to this route. While scenarios still can be played (browse the Scenario list but don't filter on the route), there are issues with the base rolling stock (missing textures and audio, for example). The game crashes when trying to create a new scenario, and likewise when trying to run a Quick Drive. I will keep the route for assets only (some route creators use it), although I don't know why anyone creating routes these days would use these assets given how broken the route is (pleassssse don't make people have to buy it!). I bought this route at half price (AU$18), but even that is more than it is worth. Using RW Tools/TS Tools, its possible to modify the scenarios and give this route a fresher look.

mission 17 doesn't complete, so you will miss the green mark on your standard missions. Some missions have some puzzles for you to solve shunting, which was funny. The last 2 missions takes about 40min to complete.

I can't recommend this DLC, and I think it should be removed from the Steam store. There are too many bugs, and it's really not enjoyable to play. - None of the scenarios indicate which locomotive to use. - All scenarios list a playtime of 120 minutes, but are completed in less than 30 minutes. - All meadows and greenery are replaced with a snowy white color. - There's a grid pattern across the entire floor. - There are sky or water colors in the tunnels and no possible view. - The tracks don't display correctly. - Some stages are unplayable because there are no switches and the tracks are missing. - There's no immersion possible, and no animation; it's truly boring. I strongly advise against this DLC; it's a waste of time and money!

This route has really few downsides: - the early TS graphics from 2009, 2D trees and some buildings have basic lighting which make them stand out; - industries of the same type look the same, and most towns just repeat a variation of a single house over and over; - there is no traffic (just stationary) nor people; - one scenario (#17) doesn't end (but storywise it can be finished); - the SD40-2, even with both UP liveries, gets a bit dull after a while. But these can be accepted, as - the author made up by adding so many things to look at; - each geographical area has its own look and feel - different trees, bushes, grass, it really feels like traveling; - there are plenty of things to do: alongside the 30 mile mainline, there are a dozen or two industries; - representing a typical life of a tier 2-3 railroad; - there are 22 standard scenarios, including short range shunting, medium range deliveries and longer runs, plus the free roam (which can be extended with further trains to amend my point above); - some scenarios feel like puzzles, but you have time and it gives a sense of success while showing the reality of delivery by rail. Maybe the current price tag is a wee bit high considering the graphics, age and other competing offerings, but this route is good fun anyway. Suggested.

This review is for Train Simulator's Colton & Northern Add- On. A lot of heart went into the creation of this Add-On. The map layout is fantastic. It is as if you were suddenly transported from the real world into a living, breathing N scale train set. The towns depicted in this scenario will seem familiar to anybody who grew up or lives in the Midwest. The ambiance with its rivers, bridges, and ridges will make you glad you own Train Simulator, but much of it seems half baked. There are too many buildings that are simply cut and paste clones. It's like watching an old [i]The Flinstones[/i] episode and watching Fred and Barney drive by the same backdrop. The scenarios are interesting, but two of them are just broken. I tried them multiple times, no joy. The fact that I'm an OCD completionist bothers me, but alas, it doesn't involve Steam achievements. The scenarios that do work, however, are remarkable. You'll feel as if you accomplished a day's work. I'm recommending this, especially if you can find it for el cheapo via a Steam summer/winter sale.

I haven't had this route for very long, but in the short time that I have, it has become one of my favorite routes. It feels like a backwater shortline, in some areas, but in others it feels like you are just a stones throw away from a major city. I LOVE the two short branch lines that branch off from the main line. One near Westin that goes to a logging site and a coal mine, and another that branches to a coal mine and a limestone quarry. You gain a bit of elevation going from one end to the other, but it really doesn't feel like it, as the grades are kept very mild. I think the steepest grade you will encounter is 1% on the branch line to the mine and quarry. Another thing I like abou this route is that it could easily be a steam-diesel transition era route by making your own free roam using the US freight car packs and some of the early diesel locomotives and steam locomotives in the store. I have done this already for myself, and I would post it to the workshop if a large amount of DLC was not needed. (I don't like posting things that need a massive amount of DLC to use, because that limits the number of people who will be able to enjoy it) This route lends itself well to the Smokebox AT&N Consolidation, the GP7 pack, the SW1500 pack, and any of the 44 Tonners because the route feels like the kind of railroad that would use a small locomotive such as these as the main locomotive power, with the 44 tonners being used as yard switchers or assigned to move cars up and down the branch lines. Heck, the branchlines could even be a separate railroad, with trackage rights between the sawmill, Westin, and the two branch lines with Westin being the interchange yard between the two. Now, onto what I don't like about this route: 1. None of fueling points are interactive so you can't refuel a diesel or take on water in a steamer. 2. None of the mines/quarries/grain elevators are functional, meaning there are no loading or unloading points at the industries. All you can do is spot cars beneath the tipple, which is a shame, because there are several places where coal would be unloaded, (the textile mill, the foundries, and the saw mill, among others)and several places for limestone to be unloaded (lime and cement plants). It would be great to be able to load a car of coal or ore at one of the mines and unload it at one of the two foundries or the power plant for the textile mill or sawmill. The same applies for the cement plant and lime plant. it would be nice to be able to load a car of limestone at a quarry and unload it at the lime plant, or load a car at the cement plant or even one of the two grain elevators. 3. The tracks for the Colton Roundhouse dead end halfway into the building, leaving half of the locomotive sticking out of the doorway, which looks even more awkward considering the roundhouse stall doors are closed. Don't get me wrong, you can still have a lot of fun with this route. I myself have cloned the route in the editor and added loading and unloading points at several of the industries, as well as fuel and water points for locomotives.This has taken the enjoyability of the route to the next level for me. EDIT: I contacted the route creator through his website and got permission to release a modified version of the route containing operating mines, quarries, and grain elevators. Also included will be unloaders at the locations where the coal/ore/grain would be unloaded. I will link it here when it is fully ready.