Any way, this is the map in the archives called "Iraq" by Louis (Louie) Schanus. It starts in 2004. I have just finished it now, a fun map. Not too challenging although I did have to sit around for a few years to get $18.5M to get to Iran. I think that's the most expensive territory purchase I've ever seen!
![yikes !*00*!](./images/smilies/yikes.gif)
I just used Diesels, no point going Electric, as the DD080 is amazing, and I have a Canadian variant of the Genesis that is more expensive but better, so I used those 3 locomotives exclusively. I also went for the cheaper locomotives at the start. I started in Kuwait, then connected the neighbouring cities, then took out some loans and kept expanding. Quite a slow start, but once I got to Baghdad things picked up. I then bought into Saudi Arabia (for only $500K it is a bargain), and connected Kuwait down to King Khalid and Bar'a, and then North back up to Baghdad. I then went up to Mosul from Baghdad, and Manama in Bahrain (it costs only $100K for access, but because it is on an island on the end of the map, actual track, loco, station, and bridge costs ended up being around $2M, but it counts for the 30 needed cities and gave good profits). Never bought into Syria or Qatar.
But here comes the big problem I had. After I bought access to Iran, around 2033, I had around $40M CBV, around 5 or 6 years left for Gold, and 29 cities connected. All I needed to do was get to Tehran for Gold. I connected up a city in Iraq close to Kuwait, and then after the year ended I was awarded with a Bronze. WHY?
![dunno **!!!**](./images/smilies/smilie142.gif)
Looking at the editor, everything *seems* okay to me, but then I'm not familiar with event triggers. It should be (for reference):
Bronze: Connect any 30 cities in less than 40 years
Silver: Connect 30 cities, CBV $20M, and connect Baghdad to Tehran, in less than 40 years
Gold: Connect 30 cities, CBV $30M, and connect Baghdad to Tehran, in less than 35 years.
I never did get to Tehran. Looking at the terrain, I'm not sure if I would have been able to get enough money to do so. A tunnel would be easier, but would be very expensive. I couldn't find the least steep path, so have no idea where it would have been, or how much it would have cost.