Hey ya'll, been wanting to make a thread for a long time and now I feel like is the best time to do so.
I'm creating the CPKC Elgin/Chicago Subdivisions respectively. Loosely based on modern day, with a few easter eggs from the early 2010's and such, this route is over 130 miles and covers the entire width of northern Illinois. The line starts from Savanna, IL next to the Mississippi River, and goes east to Bensenville, IL where CPKC's Chicagoland hub is located. The line also extends eastward to Hanson Park that as for now terminates before hitting downtown. Not sure if downtown Chicago will be an option in the future, but we'll see. The route is currently being worked on in Trainz 2022 and was created by using DEM software.
Eventually, I'd like for this route to be released publicly when finished, or at least in sections.
As for now, plans for the route are based on 2010-modern day. However, I'm also considering cloning and making a circa 1970 or 1980 version of the route, but as for now, no plans are in the works since I really want to finish the original project itself.
For context about the line, heres some history.
The Chicago & Pacific (C&P) Railroad was chartered in 1865 (originally as the Chicago and Atlantic) and built west from Chicago toward Elgin and eventually Savanna, Illinois. It struggled financially and fell into receivership in 1876. After foreclosure in 1879, it was purchased by investor John Blair and soon leased to the Milwaukee Road in 1880, which later fully absorbed it.
By 1982, the Milwaukee Road sold its commuter line between Chicago and Elgin (now part of Metra's Milwaukee District West Line), while the Elgin to Savanna segment remained under its control until the Soo Line took over in 1986. The Soo Line had merged with the Canadian Pacific (CP) by 1990.
In 1997, CP sold the Elgin–Savanna line to the I&M Rail Link (IMRL). In 2002, IMRL was sold to the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern (IC&E), part of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E). IC&E prospered until CP repurchased the DM&E and IC&E in 2008, regaining control of the line.
CP continued to operate the route, and in 2023, after a merger with Kansas City Southern, the line became part of the newly formed Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), which owns the Elgin–Savanna segment today.
Screenshots:
Kittredge, IL
Mount Carroll, IL
Roselle, IL
Harper, IL
Schaumburg, IL
Bensenville, IL
Franklin Park, IL
Savanna, IL
B-35 - Elgin, IL
Monroe Center, IL
Spaulding Jct. - South Elgin, IL
I'm creating the CPKC Elgin/Chicago Subdivisions respectively. Loosely based on modern day, with a few easter eggs from the early 2010's and such, this route is over 130 miles and covers the entire width of northern Illinois. The line starts from Savanna, IL next to the Mississippi River, and goes east to Bensenville, IL where CPKC's Chicagoland hub is located. The line also extends eastward to Hanson Park that as for now terminates before hitting downtown. Not sure if downtown Chicago will be an option in the future, but we'll see. The route is currently being worked on in Trainz 2022 and was created by using DEM software.
Eventually, I'd like for this route to be released publicly when finished, or at least in sections.
As for now, plans for the route are based on 2010-modern day. However, I'm also considering cloning and making a circa 1970 or 1980 version of the route, but as for now, no plans are in the works since I really want to finish the original project itself.
For context about the line, heres some history.
The Chicago & Pacific (C&P) Railroad was chartered in 1865 (originally as the Chicago and Atlantic) and built west from Chicago toward Elgin and eventually Savanna, Illinois. It struggled financially and fell into receivership in 1876. After foreclosure in 1879, it was purchased by investor John Blair and soon leased to the Milwaukee Road in 1880, which later fully absorbed it.
By 1982, the Milwaukee Road sold its commuter line between Chicago and Elgin (now part of Metra's Milwaukee District West Line), while the Elgin to Savanna segment remained under its control until the Soo Line took over in 1986. The Soo Line had merged with the Canadian Pacific (CP) by 1990.
In 1997, CP sold the Elgin–Savanna line to the I&M Rail Link (IMRL). In 2002, IMRL was sold to the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern (IC&E), part of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E). IC&E prospered until CP repurchased the DM&E and IC&E in 2008, regaining control of the line.
CP continued to operate the route, and in 2023, after a merger with Kansas City Southern, the line became part of the newly formed Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), which owns the Elgin–Savanna segment today.
Screenshots:
Kittredge, IL
Mount Carroll, IL
Roselle, IL
Harper, IL
Schaumburg, IL
Bensenville, IL
Franklin Park, IL
Savanna, IL
B-35 - Elgin, IL
Monroe Center, IL
Spaulding Jct. - South Elgin, IL