Passing through Cut Bank and Browning, the route reaches the summit just after Marias, before descending through Essex and Columbia Falls to Whitefish. Starting out at Shelby, the route winds up and through the flat farmland and open plains before heading into the mountain range through narrow canyons and vast pine forests alongside the Flathead River. The Pass reaches more than 5,200 feet (1,580 metres) at its summit and forms the southern edge of the Continental Ranges, a major grouping of the Rocky Mountains.
It proved to be an ideal route for a railroad with its wide valley and gentle gradient, meaning it would not require extensive excavation and multiple locomotives would not be required to haul freight up its incline. The 152-mile Montana route was first charted by the then principal engineer of the Great Northern Railway, John Frank Stevens, in December 1889. Marias Pass was voted for by the community and is our first BNSF add-on available globally, with more to follow in 2022. Spectacular scenery and large sweeping curves through the Rocky Mountains are just some of the features of Marias Pass, available now for Train Simulator worldwide. Today, freight is less common among the line, although it has remained a local and long-distance passenger haven with Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast combining to serve the line dozens of times a day. As British Railways arrived however, certain specials were cut from the timetable, and the North Wales Coast Line would relegated back to a freight-heavy powerhouse. With the grouping of railway companies in 1928 to form the “Big Four”, the LNWR network became part of the London, Midland & Scottish Railway - a further popular era ensued.
Without a doubt, the most iconic and historic point along the line is its proximity to Conwy Castle in fact, the railway itself uniquely passes right alongside the ancient structure, and even passes through the still-standing city walls. Trains were put on to serve seaside resorts like Rhyl, Colwyn Bay and along the Llandudno branch, setting in stone the line’s popularity. The LNWR, being in control of the West Coast Main Line and now the line to Holyhead, saw an opportunity for a spike in tourist traffic. By this point, the original Chester and Crewe Railway had already been absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway, and the Chester and Holyhead Railway followed suit in 1859 when it became part of the London and North Western Railway (LNWR). Irish Mail would regularly work from London to Crewe, along the path of the West Coast Main Line, before continuing onwards to Holyhead and finally Ireland.
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The full line was completed not long after and was ready to transform communications across seas by August 1848. The latter’s route was proposed by the Father of Railways himself, George Stephenson, knowing full well that the coastal route along the Irish Sea would be best for hauling mail traffic to and from Ireland. The first was the Chester and Crewe Railway, which linked the two communities in 1840, and only a few years later, the Chester and Holyhead Railway was incorporated. Two railway companies would form the basis of what is today the North Wales Coast Line. Ships for Dublin would arrive at Dun Laoghaire (formerly known as Kingstown), and frequently departed Holyhead, Wales – this was the shortest trip for boats to take.Īs years went by, many improvements were made to existing roads in order to make the journey to Holyhead that much easier however, nothing would revolutionise Welsh/Irish connections like the arrival of railways in the 1840s. The 19th Century was still young, and all communication was bound by horse-drawn transport and sailing ships of the day. Let’s recap the history of this famed line…Įver since the Act of Union in 1801, which saw Ireland become part of the United Kingdom, people have strived to improve the connection between the two isles. The scenic North Wales Coast Line: Crewe - Holyhead is returning to Train Simulator on January 20th, with Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales!