diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/routing/route_set.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/routing/route_set.rb
index 6ba1a5c..5bc13cf 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_controller/routing/route_set.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_controller/routing/route_set.rb
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ module ActionController
           end
       end
 
-      attr_accessor :routes, :named_routes
+      attr_accessor :routes, :named_routes, :configuration_file
 
       def initialize
         self.routes = []
@@ -238,8 +238,8 @@ module ActionController
       alias reload! load!
 
       def reload
-        if @routes_last_modified && defined?(RAILS_ROOT)
-          mtime = File.stat("#{RAILS_ROOT}/config/routes.rb").mtime
+        if @routes_last_modified && configuration_file
+          mtime = File.stat(configuration_file).mtime
           # if it hasn't been changed, then just return
           return if mtime == @routes_last_modified
           # if it has changed then record the new time and fall to the load! below
@@ -249,9 +249,9 @@ module ActionController
       end
 
       def load_routes!
-        if defined?(RAILS_ROOT) && defined?(::ActionController::Routing::Routes) && self == ::ActionController::Routing::Routes
-          load File.join("#{RAILS_ROOT}/config/routes.rb")
-          @routes_last_modified = File.stat("#{RAILS_ROOT}/config/routes.rb").mtime
+        if configuration_file
+          load configuration_file
+          @routes_last_modified = File.stat(configuration_file).mtime
         else
           add_route ":controller/:action/:id"
         end
diff --git a/actionpack/test/controller/routing_test.rb b/actionpack/test/controller/routing_test.rb
index 5756c05..640afd5 100644
--- a/actionpack/test/controller/routing_test.rb
+++ b/actionpack/test/controller/routing_test.rb
@@ -2341,11 +2341,13 @@ uses_mocha 'route loading' do
     def setup
       routes.instance_variable_set '@routes_last_modified', nil
       silence_warnings { Object.const_set :RAILS_ROOT, '.' }
+      ActionController::Routing::Routes.configuration_file = File.join(RAILS_ROOT, 'config', 'routes.rb')
 
       @stat = stub_everything
     end
 
     def teardown
+      ActionController::Routing::Routes.configuration_file = nil
       Object.send :remove_const, :RAILS_ROOT
     end
 
@@ -2386,6 +2388,14 @@ uses_mocha 'route loading' do
 
       Inflector.inflections { |inflect| inflect.uncountable('equipment') }
     end
+    
+    def test_load_with_configuration
+      routes.configuration_file = "foobarbaz"
+      File.expects(:stat).returns(@stat)
+      routes.expects(:load).with("foobarbaz")
+
+      routes.reload
+    end
 
     private
     def routes
diff --git a/railties/lib/initializer.rb b/railties/lib/initializer.rb
index ea61d4e..5054928 100644
--- a/railties/lib/initializer.rb
+++ b/railties/lib/initializer.rb
@@ -382,6 +382,7 @@ module Rails
     def initialize_routing
       return unless configuration.frameworks.include?(:action_controller)
       ActionController::Routing.controller_paths = configuration.controller_paths
+      ActionController::Routing::Routes.configuration_file = configuration.routes_configuration_file
       ActionController::Routing::Routes.reload
     end
 
@@ -499,6 +500,10 @@ module Rails
     # The path to the database configuration file to use. (Defaults to
     # <tt>config/database.yml</tt>.)
     attr_accessor :database_configuration_file
+    
+    # The path to the routes configuration file to use. (Defaults to
+    # <tt>config/routes.rb</tt>.)
+    attr_accessor :routes_configuration_file
 
     # The list of rails framework components that should be loaded. (Defaults
     # to <tt>:active_record</tt>, <tt>:action_controller</tt>,
@@ -631,6 +636,7 @@ module Rails
       self.plugin_locators              = default_plugin_locators
       self.plugin_loader                = default_plugin_loader
       self.database_configuration_file  = default_database_configuration_file
+      self.routes_configuration_file    = default_routes_configuration_file
       self.gems                         = default_gems
 
       for framework in default_frameworks
@@ -771,6 +777,10 @@ module Rails
         File.join(root_path, 'config', 'database.yml')
       end
 
+      def default_routes_configuration_file
+        File.join(root_path, 'config', 'routes.rb')
+      end
+
       def default_view_path
         File.join(root_path, 'app', 'views')
       end