The Western Vermont Railroad: A "Traditional" New England Shortline

As stated before, I am currently about 6 months into development of my second Train Simulator route. The route itself is larger and far more in-depth than my last project, definitely a product of greater experience and practice. Set in 1960 (although the route can be altered with different rolling stock to take place anywhere between 1950 and the mid-60's) the route represents a fictional division of the Central Vermont Railroad along Lake Champlain and up into northern New York State. However, as the route began to take form, I decided to add a separate entity entirely of my own creation: a shortline railroad.

Shortline railroads have always intrigued me with their ingenuity, determination and charm. Here in New Hampshire, shortline railroads hold a special place in the state's railroading history, with many operating on trackage formerly operated by larger railroads. When creating the Western Vermont Railroad, I used many real life shortlines as inspiration. Some of the railroad's rolling stock is repainted in a similar way to that of real life New England short line railroads. In addition to the aesthetics, I have written up a history of the railroad as well as a roster for its equipment, showing that much of it was acquired second hand from larger railroads.

The ski slopes of Mt. Fraser overlook the depot and WV yards at Fraser, VT.

Shortline railroads are also very well known for their scenery. The tracks they ran on often stretched through gorgeous countryside (as rural lines tended to be less lucrative, the larger railroads were more than willing to dispose of them) and the Western Vermont is no exception. The WV line passes mountains and rivers while rolling in out of small hillside towns, before terminating in a mountain village with a ski area visible from the town center and a large granite quarry (a serviceable customer with its own switching operation) just up the tracks. The Central Vermont route and the connected Western Vermont Railroad will present a unique New England Railroading opportunity for Train Simulator users.

Mixed trains are a common sight between the war years and the end of passenger service in the early 60s.