Train Simulator
TS20: Rockies Railroading!

Written by: Gary Dolzall.
Coming soon to Train Simulator is Canadian National’s Yellowhead Pass crossing of the Rockies via the majestic Albreda and Robson Subdivisions!
Get ready to journey to the fabulous and rugged Rocky Mountains of Canada and take the throttle of Canadian National trains crossing the Continental Divide with the upcoming Yellowhead Pass route for Train Simulator!
This remarkable Train Simulator route will feature the Canadian National mainline crossing of the Rocky Mountains via Yellowhead Pass, from Jasper, Alberta to Valemount, British Columbia, approximately 80 miles. The route will feature the eastern section of Canadian National’s Albreda Subdivision and also include CN’s Robson Subdivision extending west from Red Pass to where it rejoins the Albreda Subdivision at Charles, British Columbia.
The upcoming Yellowhead Pass route is set in the 1980s when the CN line from Jasper to Red Pass (a distance of 43 miles) had just been double-tracked and the new Robson link line built between the Albreda and Robson Subdivisions, thus creating a double-track route with a grade separation west of Red Pass to where the lines reconnect at Charles. Traffic on the busy CN mainline includes general mixed manifest traffic with significant tonnage of lumber and grain as well as unit coal trains, sulfur trains, and intermodals.
The Yellowhead Pass route has been masterfully created for Train Simulator by Milepost Simulations, known for its creation of other superb Canadian routes including the popular Canadian Mountain Passes route and the Canadian National Peace River route.
Surrounded by towering and majestic mountain peaks and beautiful lakes, Yellowhead Pass and the route of the Miette and Fraser Rivers provided railroad builders an extraordinary favorable crossing of the Continental Divide, with a maximum elevation of 3,711 feet above sea level and favorable grades never exceeding 1 percent. That said, the Yellowhead Pass crossing of the Rockies is a wonder to behold, with the western slope of the pass in particular being extraordinarily rugged and imposing.
What are now CN’s Albreda and Robson Subdivisions were built in 1910-1913 by the competing Canadian Northern and Grand Truck Pacific railroads, respectively. Albeit at times situated at dramatically different elevations, the two lines were built often within sight of each other. But construct costs proved untenable for both roads and by the early 1920s each had been folded into the Canadian National. Today, CN’s rail traffic generally moves westbound via the Robson Subdivision and eastbound via the Albreda Subdivision and the route is a busy funnel for tonnage moving to and from both Vancouver and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. On its east end, the upcoming route will include Jasper’s large yard, engine facilities, and famed station and on the west end, the connection at Taverna, British Columbia with CN’s Tete Jaune Subdivision and the Albreda Subdivision’s stylish station at Valemount.
As an engineer on the upcoming Train Simulator Yellowhead Pass route, you will take the throttle of Canadian National GMD GP40-2LW and SD40-2W diesel locomotives, both of which feature CN’s distinctive “comfort cab” design. The route will also feature a variety of appropriate freight rolling stock, including intermodal equipment, covered hopper, rotary gondola, flatcars, boxcars, tank car, and a Canadian National steel caboose. A superb selection of ten career scenarios will put you right to work hauling heavy tonnage across the Canadian Rockies.
The experience of railroading in the Rockies, complete with its scenic splendor and extraordinary operating challenges – is coming soon to Train Simulator with the Canadian National’s Yellowhead Pass Route! – Gary Dolzall

Coming soon to Train Simulator, the Yellowhead Pass route will feature the Canadian National’s mainline crossing of the Rocky Mountains via Yellowhead Pass, from Jasper, Alberta to Valemount, British Columbia. The scenic and challenging route will include the eastern section of Canadian National’s Albreda Subdivision and CN’s Robson Subdivision extending west from Red Pass to where it rejoins the Albreda Subdivision at Charles, British Columbia. Screenshots by Gary Dolzall.

Eastern terminus of the upcoming 80-mile Train Simulator Yellowhead Pass route is Jasper, Alberta, where at dawn a Canadian National westbound freight begins its ascent of the Rockies. The route will include Jasper’s large yard, engine facilities, and famed station. Note: Screenshots depict content while in development.

Canadian National’s Albreda Subdivision climbs through Yellowhead Pass and follows the paths of the Miette and Fraser Rivers to achieve a relatively low-gradient crossing of the Rockies. Above Wynd, Alberta, a duo of Canadian National GMD GP40-2LW diesels (above) are nearing a tunnel high above the Miette River. The Albreda Subdivision passes through magnificent lake country (including Yellowhead and Moose Lakes). With manifest tonnage in tow, a pair of CN GP40-2LWs near Fitzwilliam, British Columbia (below).


Red Pass, British Columbia, 43 miles west of Jasper, stands near the summit of Yellowhead Pass and marks the divergence of the Albreda and Robson Subdivision lines to make their way down the west slope of the Rockies. At Red Pass, an eastbound CN empties train crosses the Fraser River on Albreda Subdivision trackage.

The upcoming Train Simulator Yellowhead Pass route will include Canadian National’s four-axle (B-B) GMD GMD GP40-2LW (above) and six-axle (C-C) SD40-2W diesel (below), as well as a variety of freight rolling stock, including intermodal equipment, covered hopper, rotary gondola, flatcars, boxcars, tank car, and a Canadian National caboose.


Both the Canadian National GMD GP40-2LW and SD40-2W diesel locomotives feature CN’s distinctive “comfort cab” design and traditional-style engineer’s control stand.

The west slope of the Canadian National’s crossing of the Rockies features the separated grades built by the Canadian Northern and Grand Trunk Pacific and now operated as CN’s Albreda and Robson Subdivisions. Near Foster, British Columbia an eastbound CN train lead by SD40-2W 5318 emerges from an Albreda Subdivision tunnel while the caboose of a westbound freight passes below on the Robson Subdivision.

The dramatic scenery of the Rockies is on full display as a westbound CN coal train clings to the ledges near Robson, British Columbia. The Yellowhead Pass route has been masterfully created for Train Simulator by Milepost Simulations, known for its creation of other superb Canadian routes including the Canadian Mountain Passes route and the Canadian National Peace River route.

Canadian National heavy tonnage trains meet at Lubin, British Columbia, site of a connecting track between the Albreda and Robson Subdivisions (above), while the caboose of a westbound CN freight glides past the stylish depot at Valemount, British Columbia (below).


Get ready to journey to the fabulous and rugged Rocky Mountains of Canada and take the throttle of Canadian National trains crossing the Continental Divide with the upcoming Yellowhead Pass Route for Train Simulator!
Screenshots and images displayed in this article may depict content that is still in development. The licensed brands may not have been approved by their respective owner and some artwork may still be pending approval.
3
3
1
0
Train Simulator
26 Jun
TS20: Rockies Railroading!
Train Simulator
25 Feb
TS21: GWR 2-8-0T Pack Out Now!
Train Simulator
18 Feb
TS21: Trainload BR Class 60 Out Now!
Train Simulator
11 Feb
TS21: Bahnstrecke Riesa - Dresden Out Now!
Train Simulator
5 Feb
TS21: Bulleid Brilliance
Train Simulator
29 Jan
TS21 - Bustling Berlin!
Train Simulator
28 Jan
TS21 - Midland Line Out Now!
Train Simulator
25 Jan
TS21 - South Pacific Spectacular!
Train Simulator
4 Dec
TS21: Third-Generation Hauler
Train Simulator
25 Nov
TS21: A Fabulous “Fallen Flag”
Train Simulator
13 Nov
TS21: The Wonderful Western Maryland
Train Simulator
29 Oct
TS21 - Rivet Games' Suburban Glasgow Out Now!
Train Simulator
16 Oct
TS21: Just Trains' Marsdonshire Out Now!
Train Simulator
9 Oct
TS21: CrossCountry Product Announcement
Train Simulator
8 Oct
TS21: Big, Bold, Red
Train Simulator
5 Oct
TS21: Introducing Searchlight Simulations & the AC4400CW!
Train Simulator
24 Sep
TS21 - London's Locomotive - Clan Line Out Now!
Train Simulator
15 Sep
Train Simulator 2021 – Steam Workshop
Train Simulator
10 Sep
TS20: Experience the “ECO!”
Train Simulator
9 Sep
TS20: On the CSX Hanover Subdivision route, experience 20 realistic scenarios!
Train Simulator
8 Sep
Train Simulator 2021 Announced!
Train Simulator
4 Sep
TS20: The Innovative “ECO”
Train Simulator
3 Sep
TS20: Now Available, the CSX Hanover Subdivision Route!
Train Simulator
28 Aug
TS20: Southern Heritage
Train Simulator
27 Aug
TS20: Frankfurt - Koblenz Out Now!