Rail Simulation UK blog: May 2014

This post was originally posted on 14 May 2014 and will be updated daily until the route is announced. But previously entered details about clues will not be edited, with any information connecting them named on the later clue.
Recently Dovetail Games have been posting hints about a new route on Facebook. Below is a list of the clues with a short analysis. It is worth noting that because of the publicity DG are generating for this route it is likely to be a major release possibly entering a new country, adding new features and/or a famous route. This has also been widely discussed on UKTrainSim and Railworks America These clues are likely to get increasingly obvious as the announcement draws near knowing DG (RSC). Some other possibly related information (may be edited later) is that ~~DG say they currently have a US freight almost completed~~ (confirmed to be unrelated although in Pennsylvania which should please people thinking it was there http://www.engine-driver.com/article/show/3574/norfolk-southern-mon-line-comes-to-train-simulator), expansion into Italy has previously been hinted at and they have discussed bringing French high speed lines to Railworks. For any lazy people South Africa seems quite a possibility at the moment.

The fifteenth clue a picture from District 9. District 9 is a 2009 independent science fiction action/thriller film directed by Neill Blomkamp. It was written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. The film stars Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, and David James. Which was filmed in South Africa! Theories on Facebook include Gautrain and Johannesburg.

The fourteenth clue a picture of some Macademia nuts. Macademia nuts are grown in South Africa and Austrailia amongst others. Also DG reply to a comment with "No one has actually guessed the route yet. We have had lots of suggestions about which country it might be but no one has actually got the exact route let. All the clues are there to work it out". Theories on Facebook include Sweden and Chester.

The thirteenth clue a picture of Georgette Heyer. Georgette Heyer is the writer of The Spanish Bride, which is based on the Autobiography of Sir Harry Smith, Governor-General of South Africa and was the
wife of a mining engineer but was borne in London. Theroies on Facebook include South America and London.

Dovetail Games replies to comments "All the clues are there to work out not the just the country but also the exact location of the route." I think this basically confirms South Africa and my guesses for the route is either The Southern Line or The Blue Train.

The twelth clue a picture of boxing. 'PEACEFORCE' clearly visible on the lower right corner is a security group in South Africa. The picture is 1:02 into round 1, the poor quality suggests either enlargement of the photo or copyright infringement, the people have yet to be identified.Theories on Facebook include Branson Missouri and Poland.

The eleventh clue a screenshot from the sandbox indie video game Minecraft. Gold is clearly visible in the sreenshot this is probaly a refference South African gold mines such as TauTona Mine. It is also worth noting that gold is Au on the periodic table, Au is short for Australia. Or maby it's a minning rilawy that'd be a new type of railway to bring to Railworks and that Minecraft was developed in Sweden. Theories on Facebook include an undergorund railway and Alaska.

The tenth clue a picture of a sign in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The sign appears at a a large white-columned mansion called Graceland which bears no railway significance. US fans are ofcourse taking this a clue for a route out of Memphis, howether it is more likely (while trying to avoid confirmation bias) a refference to Paul Simon's album Graceland was recorded in South Africa and features South African musicians. Theories on Facebook include a CSX freight route and Thameslink.

The ninth clue a picture of a person bungee jumping. Another clue about which not much can be said. It is worth noting that South Africa has the highest commercial bungee jump off Bloukrans Bridge on the south coast. Other than that not much can be said even the cloud can't be analyzed to provide any information! As Ian Storey said on Facebook "Wouldn't be surprised if everyone is wrong and way off the mark" Perhaps the answer is hidden in plain sight on the blue background. Theories on Facebook include The Cliffton Supension Bridge (howether this is already featured in a route) and Salisbury Viaduct on the Sandpatch grade.

The eighth clue a picture of either an African Penguin or a Magellanic Penguin. Assuming it's an African Penguin it's a strong hint at South Africa when combined with the third clue and the second clue as that's where most of them live. It's also quite possibly a hint at the Pittsburgh Penguins but the United States seems unlikely. This can also be seen as a hint to anywhere in the Southern Hemisphere or near a zoo. Theories on Facebook include Nottingham to Skegness and Alaska.

The seventh clue a picture of the human chest with heart emphasized. This clue will probably only be of use when combined with other clues as they are many lines refereed to as The Heart of...
The Amsterdam to Rotterdam via Schiphol High Speed line pases through the countries "Green Heart" Not to mention Hertford. Other theories on Facebook include First heart transplantation in South Africa!

The sixth clue a picture of clogs. Many think this hint at ~~Holand~~ The Netherlands, but clogs are actually found in many different countries.

The fifth clue a poster for the film Witness with the actor Harrison Ford clearly visible. The film is set in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. Theories on Facebook include the actors last name Ford hinting at Ford railway station, West Sussex ,UK but this seems unlikely.

The fourth clue a picture of H.M. queen Elizabeth II. Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations. Many people interpret this as a strong hint of a UK route but that is only one of the possible countries it could be hinting at, it's worth taking a look at the list.

The third clue a picture of Mostert's Mill, Cape Town, South Africa. The Southern Line is less than 1 mile from the mill. Tying in with clue 2 SA is member of The BRICS nations. Although Dovetail Games may have just looked for a picture of a windmill to use, if this were true then The Netherlands is a possibility howether Mostert's Mill certainly doesn't look like a dutch Windmill. .

The second clue a brick wall. Again not much can be said about this one, it does look like British brick work. A close look at it shows it's likely computer generated (at a much higher resolution than TS though). Theories on Facebook include: The channel Tunnel with Ian B G Mills citing this video and China. This could a hint at The BRICS nations.

The first clue a picture of a globe, posted with the text "There is a new and exciting route coming soon to #TrainSimulator, but we are not going to tell you what it is just yet. Instead over the next few weeks we will be sharing with you a series of clues to see if you can guess what it is. Are you up to the challenge of cracking the clues and figuring out what our next route will be?" Probably just a convenient picture of a globe. But a quick look at it shows Africa, Europe and Asia (and surrounding islands) The UK is visible howether seems unlikely, but Australasia and America are not visible.
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