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[Anonymous]

Can anyone tell me about the Maple Leaf Tracks add ons for MSTS? I am very interested in purchacing the LS&I iron ore route and was hoping for a decent review on any of their products, how they work, suggestions, anything you have on it.

[Anonymous]

They are worth every penny! I have the D&H and Sandpatch and they my favortie routes!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

They are worth every penny! I have the D&H and Sandpatch and they my favortie routes!

That's good to hear. If they are that good then I look foreward to buying Michigan Iron ore and their new cascades crossing route as well.

[Anonymous]

The programs are very good; I have Cascades Crossing, Kicking Horse Pass, and some of the Heritage Add-ons. My recommendation - anything you download from them, make a couple of backups (CDs/DVDs). I made one backup on a CD of all the stuff I bought and downloaded, and when I needed it when the drive that had the MSTS on it died, the Cascade route failed to install because of a flaw in the CD (I guess?!). Even with copies of the receipts, MLT said "Tough Luck - buy another one" (It wasn't a flaw in the downloaded file). I'd had the program for about a year and like it, but I won't buy it again. I go buy the Niagra Corridor, one that I haven't run yet. Anyone know how to repair a corrupted file?

[StillGrande]

I have Sandpatch (bought it when they were including the B&O Heritage for free!), Kicking Horse Pass, and Cascade Crossing.

The newer stuff is really nice, and there are a ton of activities and repaints for their stuff on Train-Sim. You can check out a shorter version of Kicking Horse on the CP railroad site (there is a thread with the links here).

Be forewarned that Cascade and Rogers Pass are very graphics intensive and push MSTS to the edge on some machines.

Their in cab views are also notorious for having very limited forward views. Spotting whistle posts in the snow can be a challenge!

[Anonymous]

The new Rogers Pass line by Maple Leaf isn't as well done as others. Passable but misses some of the graphics both on the line and adjacent to the track. They could have taken more time putting it together and concentrated more on accuracy.

[StillGrande]

There are a number of good terrain upgrades available on Train-Sim.com for most of the routes (not just MLT) which upgrade the trees and tracks.

MLT, like a lot of the payware route developers, are running into the limitations of MSTS as far as how much they can put on a route and still have MSTS function. Then add it having it work on a majority of the machines out there, and some things just get left off.

[smurf]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hiawatha

Can anyone tell me about the Maple Leaf Tracks add ons for MSTS? I am very interested in purchacing the LS&I iron ore route and was hoping for a decent review on any of their products, how they work, suggestions, anything you have on it.

I have the Michigan Iron Ore; its nice. I don't think you'll be disapointed with it.

The D & H (The Bridge Line is my favorite.)

I'd also suggest that you get the add ons from the CP site, including the Holiday Train.

[zwspnby9]

Between Which two cities does CASCADES CROSSING cover. Does it go through CHEMULT, OR? Willamette Pass?

[zwspnby9]

Is there any other BNSF routes one can purchase besides the Cajon Pass, and Marias pass routes?

[StillGrande]

There are a ton of good BNSF routes on Train-sim.com. Crawford Hill, Glorietta Pass, Raton Pass, and the Seligman sub to name a few. Seligman is also available as a payware route, as is Tehachapi pass, with Santa Fe add-ons for that one.

Maple Leaf tracks also has a site it directs to for free downloads. A bunch of the downloads are dependent on thier shape files, so you need at least one of their products. But there are a bunch that are stand alone too. Quite a few patched SP units, railcars, activities, etc. Most items are based on either Cascades, Niagra or Rogers Pass objects. There are also some unofficial upgrades to the routes there. Some developers also are uploading the same items they upload at train-sim.

It is at http://65.75.159.161/main/index.php. You have to register and then log on when they send the approval, but it is worth it. And you don't have to play the "I hope I get on game" you do at train-sim (unless you paid, which does eliminate this event).

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by zwspnby9

Between Which two cities does CASCADES CROSSING cover. Does it go through CHEMULT, OR? Willamette Pass?

According to mapleleaftracks.com, Cascades Crossing is from Eugene to Klamath Falls, Oregon. I'm not sure of your requested city is on there. You see, I live in New York, so I only have the Bridge Line route (which is great) I'm looking forward for getting more stuff from Maple Leaf Tracks.

[ddechamp71]

Definitively, MLT add-ons are worth the investment.

Dominique

[agentatascadero]

QUOTE: Originally posted by zwspnby9

Between Which two cities does CASCADES CROSSING cover. Does it go through CHEMULT, OR? Willamette Pass?

Chemult is located about 70 miles north of Klamath Falls, and so should be on that route.

[StillGrande]

Cascade Crossing is Willamette Pass. Good route. Tough on the computer resources. Considered to be near the limit of what MSTS can handle.