The Cane Creek route is a popular heavy-haul add-on for the Train Sim World series, compatible with TSW 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. It allows players to experience challenging Union Pacific railroading through the scenic and rugged desert landscapes of Utah.
Route Overview and Features
The add-on simulates operations on the Union Pacific’s ex-D&RGW Cane Creek Subdivision, a branch line known for its steep gradients and tight curves.
- Location: The route spans from Brendel to Potash, Utah, incorporating the 35.8-mile branch line and five miles of the Green River Subdivision mainline to Thompson.
- Scenery: It showcases the iconic American West, featuring striking desert scenery, natural rock formations like Corona Arch, and the 7,059-foot-long Bootlegger Tunnel.
- Operations: The primary focus is heavy freight, specifically hauling potash from a mine facility and “dirty dirt trains” (contaminated mine tailings).
Included Locomotives
Players can operate two distinct Union Pacific diesel locomotives:
- General Electric AC4400CW
- Electro-Motive SD40-2
Gameplay and Challenges
The route offers a demanding, slower-paced experience. Frequent gradients of up to 1.2% and curves up to 6 degrees necessitate careful train handling, including the skilled use of dynamic braking, with much of the route limited to around 25 mph. Beyond standard operations, players can explore the route as a conductor, complete route tasks, or design custom scenarios using the in-game tools.
Availability and Purchase
The Cane Creek add-on is available digitally for approximately $30 USD and is typically backward compatible, meaning a purchase for an older version of the game (e.g., TSW 2) can usually be used in newer core titles.
You can purchase the add-on on your preferred platform:
- PC: Available via the Steam store and the Epic Games Store.
- PlayStation: Find it on the PlayStation Store US for PS4 and PS5.
- Xbox: Purchase it from the Xbox Store for Xbox consoles.
