Now Available: The C&S Alpine Tunnel: St. Elmo to Pitkin Route!

Milepost Simulations now brings Colorado’s legendary Alpine Tunnel Route through the Rockies to Train Simulator Classic!

Now, the Alpine Tunnel route, as originally built by the fabled Denver South Park and Pacific and operated by the Colorado & Southern, comes to Train Simulator Classic!

Created for Train Simulator Classic by acclaimed developer Milepost Simulations, the C&S Alpine Tunnel route extends from St. Elmo to Pitkin, Colorado, a distance of around 22 miles, and re-creates a portion of Colorado & Southern’s Gunnison Division during the period 1905-1910.

Narrow-gauge railroading in the Colorado Rockies has always had appeal that bordered on the mystical. To climb up and over the Colorado Rockies via Alpine Tunnel, grades of 3 and 4 percent were the norm, along with a twisting path that included multiple horseshoe curves and treacherous paths set to the very edge of towering cliffs. Most noted of all was the “Palisades,” a stone wall and embankment constructed to support the line as it clung to a vertical stone face. Such was the challenge of the railroad that it frequently required three or even four locomotives to power even a modest freight.

Constructed by the Denver, South Park, and Pacific (DSP&P) during 1880-1882, the railroad would endure the financial difficulties so common to Colorado narrow-gauge lines, becoming the Denver, Leadville, and Gunnison (DL&G) in 1889, falling under the control of Union Pacific in 1894, and finally included in the new Colorado & Southern in 1899.

At Alpine Tunnel, the railroad operated an engine house with enclosed turntable as well as a small depot. More than 1,700 feet in length, Alpine Tunnel also boasted of lengthy wood snow sheds at each portal. Never rich in traffic, the line hauled coal and mixed tonnage as well as passengers, often using mixed trains to serve both. In time though, the route proved simply too tough and too brutal to operate, and it was often closed during winter and other periods. A cave-in at Alpine Tunnel in 1910 was the final straw and the railroad ceased operation.

As created for Train Simulator Classic, the C&S Alpine Tunnel route brings to life the railroad’s handsome Baldwin-built 2-8-0 Consolidations (originally constructed for the Denver, Leadville, and Gunnison), and includes a captivating roster of nine types of narrow-gauge freight and passenger equipment. The route beautifully replicates the magnificent Colorado mountain scenery of the region and includes yards, servicing facilities, stations, and lineside mines and structures.

A selection of nine career scenarios deliver the realistic – and exceptionally challenging – experiences of serving as engineer to battle Colorado’s unforgiving yet majestic mountains.

Milepost Simulations’ Alpine Tunnel route for Train Simulator Classic takes you back to one of railroading’s most remarkable and memorable eras – and brings you the full experience of steam-era railroading in the extraordinary Colorado Rockies! The C&S Alpine Tunnel: St. Elmo to Pitkin Route is available now at the Steam Store!

Now available from accomplished developer Milepost Simulations, the C&S Alpine Tunnel: St. Elmo to Pitkin Route brings legendary and dramatic steam-era narrow-gauge railroading to Train Simulator Classic! Making the eastbound climb toward Alpine Tunnel, Colorado & Southern 2-8-0 No. 68 and two sisters are lifting tonnage through the scenic Colorado Rockies and approaching Quartz.

The C&S Alpine Tunnel route extends from St. Elmo to Pitkin, Colorado, a distance of around 22 miles, and will recall a portion of Colorado & Southern’s Gunnison Division during the period 1905-1910. Baldwin-built C&S Consolidation No. 62 has just departed the depot at snowy St. Elmo (above) with a mixed train, while at Pitkin, a trio of C&S 2-8-0s is departing with coal tonnage in tow (below).

The C&S Alpine Tunnel route features the railroad’s B4D-class 2-8-0s, which were built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1890 and originally served the Denver, Leadville, and Gunnison. The diminutive but potent locomotive is provided in standard configuration and with a large snow plow affixed.

At an elevation of nearly 11,600 feet, C&S No. 64 is emerging from the west of 1,772-foot-long Alpine Tunnel (above). Nearby, the railroad hosted a stone engine house that included an enclosed turntable (below).

Jaw-dropping scenery was the norm on the Alpine Tunnel route, and nowhere more so than on the west slope of the line between the summit and Woodstock. C&S 2-8-0 No. 68 and a passenger train are easing along the sheer cliffs at the “Palisades” (above). On the rear of a westbound short freight rides a four-wheeled wooden “bobber” caboose (below). The route includes nine types of C&S freight and passenger rolling stock.

With nearly constant grades of 3 and even 4 percent, the Alpine Tunnel route required multiple locomotives to tote even moderate tonnage. C&S B4D 2-8-0 No. 68, with sisters farther back in the consist, is chugging between large stone boulders at Quartz.

The C&S Alpine Tunnel route wonderfully recalls the small towns, yards, and lineside structures of the turn-of-the-century era. C&S Consolidation No. 64 is spotting gondolas at the Golf Mill near Romley (above), while on a snow-dressed day sister No. 63, with a flanger attached, prepares to take on water at Hancock (below).

C&S No. 64 leads a mixed train twisting through an S-curve approaching Woodstock. Milepost Simulations’ Alpine Tunnel route for Train Simulator Classic takes you back to one of railroading’s most remarkable and memorable eras – and brings you the full experience of steam-era railroading in the extraordinary Colorado Rockies! The C&S Alpine Tunnel: St. Elmo to Pitkin Route is available now at the Steam Store!