Navigation: Home—About—Donate—ACTIVITIES—Pictures—Maps—Progress
About...
The "Hi-Line" is the name of today's BNSF subdivision from Havre to Whitefish, MT. This line was once part of the Great Northern Ry.'s transcontinental line, and this MSTS route tries to capture this moment in railroading history: You will be running mid-20th century G.N. steam or diesel trains over Marias Pass or across the vast Montana prairies. The line extends west to east from Whitefish to Havre, MT, and north to south from Sweet Grass to Great Falls, MT.
The route aims at simulating a close-to-reality model of the real 1940s/50s G.N. line. Unlike ALL previous Marias Pass versions, it features mostly realistic grades and curves. Much has been tried to include realistic-looking scenery and track layouts.
On this site, you will find detailed background information about the route, its development status, several screenshots, track maps, and when I have gotten around to making them, activities to download!
Donate
You have downloaded, installed, and played the G.N. Hi-Line route? You like it, and I mean, you really like it? So far, I have almost two years, and also invested some money in several add-ons to help me build this route. It is my hobby, and what a pleasant one! Still, I would greatly appreciate some donations from some fans of the route, which would greatly help me to keep going steadily. Any sum would be a great help for me, also in order to invest in new tools and programs to create even more detail and realism for this and other MSTS projects. Thank you very much! If you decide to make a donation, please simply click on the small paypal icon below.
Activities
For version 3 there are already several activties out. Some done by me, some by others - most of them by Rick Franzosa. Check here for an overview of most of what is out: Hi-Line Activties
Pictures
Marias Pass
Rocky Mountains Crossing!Click the image!
Blackfoot to Havre
Mainline Action Over the Montana Plains!Click the image!
Sweet Grass to Great Falls
Secondary Line Over Rough Prairies, several Branches.Click the image!
Havre to Great Falls
Secondary Line Along the Mighty Missouri River!Click the image!
Odds and Ends
Everything else...Click the image!
(Please note: All pictures shown on this site are resized screenshots from the route in Microsoft Train Simulator. All you can see here will be in the route you can eventually download!)
Track Maps
Here you can find a schematic overview of the Marias Pass 4 / G.N. Hi-Line route. Please click on the image to the right for a larger version.
Progress
News
Jun 26 2008
The route is still under construction. I am working towards version 3.3, which will most likely be the final update. It will finish the scenery work on the route and add a lot of detail throughout. It should be done still in 2008. Stay tuned for more!
Dec 30 2007
Version 3.2 has been uploaded to the file library of train-sim.com! It comes together with an updated activity for trains #235/248, also uploaded here in the activity section.
Dec 18 2007
Major progress: with the next update, out soon, I will expand the line from Kalispell to Marion, MT, and add a substantial amount of scenery to the line from Great Falls to Fort Benton.
Mar 17 2007
Version three is out! All files have been uploaded to train-sim.com.
Feb 15 2007
I am still in the process of installing car spawners, level crossings, and whistle posts. It will take me some more days, then the route will go to the beta testers.
Nov 14 2006
Some new progress pictures from Great Falls. Please see the pictures section.
Oct 11 2006
Some dead links fixed. Also more pictures of the Havre - Great Falls line imported into new site. Regarding the progress of the route itself, I guess version 3 will be ready some time this winter. It will then include the much redone Marias Pass which you can see on the pictures here.
Oct 9 2006
New website launched! In cleaned out all old pictures and restructured the site for easier access. Enjoy!
July 2006
Work has started on version 3 of the route. This will be a major update and the most basic work on the route will be done then. You can expect to have about 250 miles of additional main and branchline action, and the addition of two other railroad companies. Click here to find out more and see some pictures of the work in progress...
Version History
Version 1.0: not available any moreincludes driveable track and basic scenery for Whitefish - Havre
Version 2.0: not available any more
includes drivable track and basic scenery for Havre - Great Falls, plus scenery update
Version 2.1: not available any more
scenery update only
Version 3.0: released, available on www.Train-Sim.com
final version regarding tracks and interactives, major scenery progress (Marias Pass, Great Falls to Havre line)
Version 3.01: released, available on www.Train-Sim.com
minor scenery update and texture fixes
Version 3.02: released, available on www.Train-Sim.com
scenery update for Somers branch and Great Falls.
Version 3.03: released, available on www.Train-Sim.com
scenery update Summit - Glacier Park.
Version 3.1: released, available on www.Train-Sim.com
massive scenery update Shelby - Havre.
Version 3.2: released, available on www.Train-Sim.com
scenery update Great Falls - Fort Benton and addition of Kalispell - Marion line.