The Clinchfield Railroad route is a popular downloadable content (DLC) add-on for the Train Sim World series, developed by Dovetail Games. It transports players back to the 1970s and 80s for heavy freight operations in the rugged Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and Kentucky.
Route Overview and Details
The DLC focuses on the challenging northern end of the historic Clinchfield Railroad. The route is renowned for its steep grades, narrow valleys, and spectacular scenery.
- Main Line: Approximately 37 miles of mainline track connect Elkhorn City, Kentucky, and Dante, Virginia.
- Branch Lines: An additional 27 miles of branch lines and spurs are included, serving areas such as Haysi, Fremont, McClure, and Nora.
- Key Landmarks: The route features the dramatic Breaks of the Big Sandy and the significant Sandy Ridge Tunnel.
- Focus: Gameplay centers heavily on managing coal traffic, serving numerous mines, loaders, and tipples along the line.
Included Locomotives and Rolling Stock
The add-on features a selection of classic American diesel power essential for hauling heavy trains through the mountains:
- EMD F7: Both the F7A cab unit and the F7B booster unit are included, serving as the first-generation workhorses of the line.
- EMD SD40: A powerful, modern second-generation locomotive necessary for heavy haulage.
- Rolling Stock: The package is completed with various types of rolling stock, including 80-ton and 100-ton coal hoppers, a boxcar, a refrigerated boxcar, and an authentic steel cupola caboose.
Availability and Remastered Features
The Clinchfield Railroad route is available across multiple platforms, including PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, and on console via the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store.
Dovetail Games has provided a significant remaster for Train Sim World 5, which includes:
- Updated lighting and headlight functionality.
- Fixes for gameplay issues, such as banking communications required for helper locomotives.
- Potential future updates to rework the game’s Journey Mode and add more branch run scenarios.
