High Iron Simulations returns to the Baltimore & Ohio’s legendary “West End” with ten authentic Career scenarios for Train Simulator Classic!
Heavy coal tonnage, classic diesel power and demanding Alleghany Mountain grades return to Train Simulator Classic in B&O Mountain Subdivision Scenario Pack 02 from High Iron Simulations!
Set in the pre-Chessie System era from the early 1960s through the early 1970s, this new pack delivers ten Career scenarios inspired closely by real railroad operations and train symbols. Across both Baltimore & Ohio and Western Maryland territory, you will handle everything from end-to-end coal drags and empty hopper movements to local turns, set-outs and pick-ups.
The Baltimore & Ohio’s famed mountain main line between Cumberland, Maryland and Grafton, West Virginia was long known simply as the “West End.” Opened in 1852 as the B&O’s original main line crossing of the Alleghany Mountains, it became one of America’s most demanding heavy-haul railroads. In Train Simulator Classic, the B&O Mountain Subdivision route covers the 101-mile main line between Cumberland and Grafton, alongside more than 30 miles of the Western Maryland Railway’s Thomas Subdivision, sprawling Cumberland Terminal and portions of adjoining B&O lines.
For crews, the territory is defined by steep and twisting mountain grades. Newburg Grade, Cheat River Grade, Cranberry Grade and Seventeen Mile Grade all present gradients of more than 2 percent, demanding careful train handling and, for the heaviest tonnage, the assistance of rear helpers.
At the heart of Scenario Pack 02 is the five-part Alleghany Coal sequence. Beginning at Grafton in October 1965, take charge of an eastbound loaded coal drag behind a classic A-B-B-A set of B&O EMD F7s and work your way toward Cumberland. Along the journey, helpers are added and removed as you climb Newburg Grade, descend the Cheat River Grade to M&K Junction, battle Cranberry Grade to Terra Alta, cross the Alleghany high plateau and tackle the formidable descent of Seventeen Mile Grade before making the final run from Keyser to Cumberland.
There is plenty of variety away from the mainline coal run, too. In B&O Keyser Turn, a pair of veteran GP7s take you from Cumberland Terminal toward Keyser with local set-out and pick-up work along the way. B&O Terra Alta Turn places you at the throttle of a GP9 on a wintry local working, calling at locations including Mountain Lake Park and Oakland as you work toward Terra Alta.
Other duties bring more classic B&O motive power to the fore. Alleghany Rollercoaster puts a set of EMD SD35s on a westbound train of empties returning toward the West Virginia mines, with the route’s major grades coming one after another. Empties to Austen features rare B&O Baldwin RF16 “Sharknose” diesels as you take empty coal hoppers from Grafton Yard toward the Austen Spur and Austen Mine.
Western Maryland fans are represented as well. Georges Creek Black Diamonds follows coal tonnage from the Georges Creek Subdivision onto the Thomas Subdivision at Westernport, with Western Maryland EMD GP35 power carrying the train east toward the railroad’s yard at Knobmount near Cumberland.
From Grafton and Terra Alta to Keyser, Cumberland, M&K Junction and Westernport, B&O Mountain Subdivision Scenario Pack 02 delivers a broad selection of authentic mountain railroading, local freight work and classic pre-Chessie System diesel action. Take the throttle and experience the Baltimore & Ohio’s legendary “West End” at its hard-working best!
B&O Mountain Subdivision Scenario Pack 02 is available now for Train Simulator Classic at the Steam Store!
Launching alongside Scenario Pack 02 is a new B&O Mountain Subdivision bundle on Steam, bringing together the B&O Mountain Subdivision: Cumberland - Grafton Route Add-On, B&O Mountain Subdivision Retro Pack, B&O Mountain Subdivision Scenario Pack 01 and the new Scenario Pack 02. For those looking to experience the Baltimore & Ohio’s rugged “West End” and both scenario packs together, the bundle offers a convenient way to pick up the full collection with a saving compared with purchasing each included add-on separately.
Please note: The B&O Mountain Subdivision: Cumberland - Grafton Route Add-On and B&O Mountain Subdivision Retro Pack are required, as separate purchases, to play the scenarios in this add-on. Two scenarios additionally require the Western Maryland Railway Retro Pack. Use of the 64-bit version of Train Simulator Classic is recommended for best results.
The five-part Alleghany Coal sequence places a classic A-B-B-A set of B&O EMD F7s at the head of an eastbound loaded coal drag. From Hardman and Newburg Grade to the Alleghany high plateau, the long journey across the Mountain Subdivision demands careful train handling over some of the B&O’s most formidable territory.
After crossing the Alleghany summit and descending toward Keyser, the Alleghany Coal movement begins its final, lower-gradient run toward Cumberland. The five-part sequence recreates an end-to-end October 1965 coal movement across the Mountain Subdivision.
Scenario Pack 02 also gets you off the through freights and into local work. A pair of veteran B&O GP7s handles the Keyser Turn with set-outs and pick-ups between Cumberland and Keyser (above), while a GP9-led local works the wintry Terra Alta Turn, serving locations including Mountain Lake Park and Oakland (below).
Alleghany Rollercoaster sends a set of B&O EMD SD35s west with empty hoppers returning toward the West Virginia mines, tackling Cranberry Grade, Cheat River Grade and Newburg Grade in succession.
Rare B&O Baldwin RF16 “Sharknose” diesels provide distinctive power for Empties to Austen, an uncommon eastbound movement of empty coal hoppers from Grafton Yard toward the Austen Spur and Austen Mine.
Western Maryland action comes to the fore in Georges Creek Black Diamonds, with EMD GP35 power carrying coal tonnage from the Georges Creek Subdivision onto the Thomas Subdivision at Westernport and east toward Knobmount near Cumberland.
From mountain grades and high plateaus to busy towns and terminal facilities, B&O Mountain Subdivision Scenario Pack 02 delivers ten era-authentic Career scenarios across the Baltimore & Ohio’s legendary “West End.” The pack is available now for Train Simulator Classic at the Steam Store!