BNSF is Chicago?

I was thinking about buying Microsoft Train Simulator. It seems really awesome. Part of the reason I would want to get it tho is because I work in downtown Chicago and have been taking Metra. I was wondering if anyone has created a Metra/Chicago simulated route for this program!Thanks!
scott

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RE: BNSF is Chicago?, werner001, Nov-29-02, 10:16 AM, (1) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, Motley24Crue2, Nov-29-02, 11:12 AM, (2) RE: When is your route going to be available?, werner001, Dec-02-02, 07:05 AM, (6) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, pmann15, Nov-29-02, 11:13 PM, (3) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, pacmancreator, Nov-30-02, 00:39 AM, (4) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, davidpagesweb, Nov-30-02, 06:26 PM, (5) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, Bing, Dec-02-02, 10:56 AM, (7) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, Motley24Crue2, Dec-02-02, 02:47 PM, (8) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, Bing, Dec-02-02, 06:15 PM, (9) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, davidpagesweb, Dec-02-02, 08:58 PM, (10) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, ssw_96, Dec-02-02, 09:31 PM, (11) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, davidpagesweb, Dec-02-02, 09:51 PM, (12) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, Bing, Dec-03-02, 11:52 AM, (13) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, homer13j, Dec-03-02, 12:27 PM, (14) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, Bing, Dec-03-02, 02:11 PM, (15) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, rckstrscott, Dec-03-02, 02:17 PM, (16) RE: BNSF is Chicago?, Bing, Dec-06-02, 10:46 AM, (17)

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LAST EDITED ON Nov-29-02 AT 10:17 AM (EST)

I don't think the METRA, but the "L" is already available.Werner

--> Visit the Virtual Lehigh Valley <--
www.geocities.com/wmueller28/msts.html

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Werner When is your route going to be available?Bob
Philadelphia, Pa

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Actually i was planning to bring out a first version during my Christmas vacation.
Tracks are laid by 97% for the first step, i'll have to complete it and add a bit more scenery, so keep waiting a few more days....Werner

--> Visit the Virtual Lehigh Valley <--
www.geocities.com/wmueller28/msts.html

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Hey ScottBeing from Chicago I used to take the Metra (now i'm living in Seattle) and also have been hoping for someone to create at least one of the routes, hopefully either the C&NW or BNSF. By the way, Metra engines and cars are currently available for download including the Winnebago F40's.Regards

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aaarg, I already posted a reply in the route forum!!!Davidpagesweb is on the process of creating the Metra chicago-Geneva line-Creating Pac-Man comics for the humorless people out therethe search for the perfect route continues!

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As pacmancreator said, I
'm ding the Metra/UP/CNW Chicago-Geneva line. I have done the track between Geneva and Wheaton. It is harder then I though, and I am averaging 1 km per day (not including yards and scenery). RE does everthing in Meters. I will post more info. My half-completed site is http://freewebs.com/metra .
Thanks!
DavidPagesWeb

The "Metra Man" David Kuntz, 13 year old Simmist

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If someone is going to do the Burlington commuter-freight route from Union to Aurora, please make sure to include the dog food truck accident at the LaGrange Road crossing. Semi stalled on the tracks, commuter cut it in half, there was dry dog food ALL OVER that part of downtown LaGrange and it stayed there through the winter.Commuted LaGrange Road-Union many years. Best part of it was the hump yard in Berwyn, or is it Cicero or whatever, where you could watch cars being humped from the comfort and safety of your gallery car. Parking was a beast, however, so eventually I went to driving downtown, from LaGrange Park not bad, the cost for two or more people about the same as monthly commutation ("Hollywood, Hollywood ... don't forget your monthly tickets!!" - how many times did I hear that and yes, there IS a Hollywood stop on the line.)Part of the problem was in winter the old E-8's started with a great deal of difficulty or not at all. Shortage of motive power, shortage of trains, during a winter storm a train an hour late would arrive at LaGrange Road and you couldn't get on. The passengers were literally hanging out the doors, the stair wells were jammed so solid with humanity it was impossible to do anything but watch the train stop, doors open, doors shut, train departs with you standing on the platform.Ah, those were the days!Bing

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heh i guess there was a lot of Happy Dogs running about Bob
Philadelphia, Pa

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>heh i guess there was a lot of Happy Dogs running about Among other heinous crimes you can commit in the LaGrange - LG Park twin villages - along with not putting your garden tools away, which will bring a visit from the beautification police (it happened to me) - along with these is allowing a dog to run loose. You do not do that in LG-LGP. Period. There ARE no dogs to find things like a half ton of free dog food. The dog food stayed there all winter, in layers of snow, and could still be seen during and after the spring melt. We were standing on dog food when we waited for the train to pull into the station. BTW, I understand the semi-traIler was carried a few hundred feet down the tracks before it separated into two pieces. There was dog food from LaGrange to Berwyn. The beautification police didn't make a call on city hall, can't imagine why.(I am not making that up, about the beautificaiton police: you can turn in your neighbor and remain anonymous, I know it was done.)Bing

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Any Interesting accidents on the Geneva line? I know a freighter hit a School Bus with kids in it (some died) at Grace St. but that's not funny.
Thanks!
DavidPagesWeb

The "Metra Man" David Kuntz, 13 year old Simmist

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Does BNSF own Metra or does UP?

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>Does BNSF own Metra or does UP?
Both and Neither, to be exact. It was founded by CNW (now UP). Metra Electric has no freight. I think that it is a company that BNSF and UP hire to keep track of. The counters at the BNSF stations say "Make Checks Payable to BNSF" Tell me if I'm wrong. You will notice that all the BNSF cars have the BNSF logos and I think the other way around.
Thanks!
DavidPagesWeb

The "Metra Man" David Kuntz, 13 year old Simmist

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LAST EDITED ON Dec-03-02 AT 11:54 AM (EST)

Metra is the regional governmental authority for commuter operations in Cook County and surrounding areas. You pay the specific railroad for your commutation same as you always did. The idea behind Metra was to provide an umbrella organization to oversee operations and provide funding where needed. Some buses outside of CTA territory also operate under Metra, though I"ve been gone from Chicago area for some time and this might have changed. Despite the best efforts - or worst depending upon how you look at it - the buses were not keyed to train schedules. During evening rush, the bus going north on LaGrange road would depart five minutes before the BN commuter train was scheduled to arrive at LaGrange Road station. Not good, one of the reasons bus service was largley ignored by the public. Made it better for the taxi company, though, you bet it did.Metra came into being in the early 1970's - I had just moved to Chicago and there was a controversy going on over the upcoming election which would determine if Metra came into being. I have almost never seen such emotional reaction to a ballot issue - apparently suburbanites believed if Metra became a reality the "undesireables" from the city would invade their towns and villages. Metra was approved and to my knowledge the undesireable element doesn't ride the trains any more than prior to Metra.I think there might have been a companion issue involved with funding and so far as I know that has never been settled. People might have felt that their tax dollars would be wasted even more than before if Metra came into the picture. I can't speak to that, but it does seem that railroad commuter ops in the Chicago area are still running. Burligton was for years considered the best of all commuter lines runnning to and from the Loop. Has commuter service to the south suburbs folded, does anyone know? Just curious. (For a time I also rode the Northwestern from Evanston to Loop - overall the Burlington was superior in terms of service.)Bing

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If anyone is interested I have the DEM files for the Chicago-Aurora line. I don't have the time to do the line, and I no longer live in Chicagoland."Beautification Police" - that's a good one. Add to that high taxes, having to pay 9c/min for local phone calls, gasoline appoaching $2.00/gallon, those stupid windshield stickers they make you buy every year, $1500/month for a decent apartment, traffic either moves at insane speeds or not at all, I could go on and on but I'm rambling.Can you tell I'm happy I left Chicago?At least the roads are smooth and the trains generally run on time.Homer #13j

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The beautification police are a suburban phenom, so far as I know the city proper is already so nice it cannot be improved, other than maybe paying even minimum attention to the grass in Lincoln Park, which was close to a disgrace last time I saw it. "If the old man were still alive ....".Sometimes I miss Chicago, most of the time I don't. Not what it was as late as the 1970's. Bing

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With all due respect and as a proud chicagoan I must say;Today I paid $1.65 a gallon for gas.
My local calls are a nickel unlimited
And the grass IS growing in Lincoln ParkToss in the bears and bulls and this is a great town!Wait, scratch the last two scott

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I didn't mean there was NO grass in Lincoln Park, what I meant was the last time I saw it the condition was deplorable. As far as the Bears are concerned, the Lions might have had a chance, but when was the last time an NFL game ended in a scoreless tie??Bing

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