Creating a totally ficticious route - The Central Pacific Southern & Mexico

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  • CentralPacificSouthern
    New Member
    • Apr 2015
    • 12

    #1

    Creating a totally ficticious route - The Central Pacific Southern & Mexico

    This is an idea I've had bouncing around for some time, which I'd like to bring to fruition, but I've no idea how to start doing this.

    In the 1875 novel "The Way We Live Now" by Anthony Trollop one of the main plot features is a scam built around a fictional railway that runs from Salt Lake City (United States) to Vera Cruz (Mexico) via Mexico City, for fun I decided to look at the map of the northern portion from Salt Lake City to the Grand Canyon and found what looks to be a geographically viable route (Using Google Maps) to Lee's Ferry, the only crossing point of the Colorado River.

    I also sketched out three possible routes to the Mexican border from that point (Both maps are below) which conform (more or less) to this description:

    The scheme in question was the grand proposal for a South Central Pacific and Mexican railway, which was to run from the Salt Lake City, thus branching off from the San Francisco and Chicago line,—and pass down through the fertile lands of New Mexico and Arizona, into the territory of the Mexican Republic, run by the city of Mexico, and come out on the gulf at the port of Vera Cruz. Mr. Fisker admitted at once that it was a great undertaking, acknowledged that the distance might be perhaps something over 2,000 miles...
    Anthony Trollope, "The Way We Live Now", 1875

    One change I have made is to the name, I think 'Central Pacific Southern & Mexico' reads better than Trollope's version so that's what I'm using for this little project.

    CPSMRR_Utah_to_Arizona.jpgCPSMRR_Alternate_Routes_to_Juarez.jpg

    As I said at the start of this post I'm not sure where to begin beyond this point, so any help, advice will be very greatfully accepted.
  • qballbandit
    6500 Post Veteran

    • Jan 2006
    • 6522
    • Elgin Il., USA.
    • MSOR

    #2
    Interesting idea and storyline. One important place to start would be to download Michael Vone's route building guide. If you poll the route builders here, I'd bet they've all read and used this guide extensively.
    More route building experts are sure to weigh in with their advice, I am sure.
    Good luck with bringing your "idea" to fruition.
    Neil

    Chicago Railroading Fan

    Comment

    • OTTODAD
      1
      • Feb 2001
      • 32344
      • England
      • General

      #3
      I would love to run this route, my son and his family living in Salt Lake City. On one of my holidays with them have driven from there to Las Vegas using the old Route-66, taking in a few National Parks on the way there, Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon and the Hoover dam !

      Its landscape has interesting scenery but it would take you many years to create it !

      It took my friend Frank Carver and me 2 years to create and release his modified by me Marial Kootenai route and then me merging it with the Whitefish-7 into my Gold-Spike-X took me another 2 years !

      I am not likely to be around when you have released it, at the age of 86 having serious problems with my heart's health and hope that your partner / family ? can put up with you while you spend much of your spare time working on it !

      Comment

      • eolesen
        9500 Post Veteran and Administrator



        • Dec 2002
        • 9583
        • NS MP245.4 CNO&TP South District
        • English, SQL
        • General

        #4
        I'd begin at one end, and be realistic about balancing out how many years you're willing to devote to this.

        What you're proposing in Utah alone is close to 400 miles. At one mile of track a day as an estimation, that's a 12-14 month project.

        Eat your elephant one bite at a time. Start with something to Provo, then extend it to Nephi, etc...
        Last edited by eric; 04-28-2015, 11:27.
        If you like what you see here at Trainsim.com, be it the discussions and knowledge in the forums, or items available in our library, I hope you'll consider a paid membership to help support keeping the site operating.... Thanks!

        Comment

        • CentralPacificSouthern
          New Member
          • Apr 2015
          • 12

          #5
          I think you're right, the route from Kanab (When/If I get there.) is going to be 'interesting' as this GoogleMaps screenshot shows.

          Map_03.jpg

          Comment

          • eolesen
            9500 Post Veteran and Administrator



            • Dec 2002
            • 9583
            • NS MP245.4 CNO&TP South District
            • English, SQL
            • General

            #6
            I figured you'd realize that eventually...

            We've taken our motorhome and fifth wheel (at separate times, mind you) all thru that part of Arizona and southern Utah, and the roads are where they are for a good reason....

            Having a rail line that followed US-89 from Salina thru Kanab and over Page would be interesting. Coming down off the plateau south of Page? Probably better to head towards Tuba City...
            If you like what you see here at Trainsim.com, be it the discussions and knowledge in the forums, or items available in our library, I hope you'll consider a paid membership to help support keeping the site operating.... Thanks!

            Comment

            • CentralPacificSouthern
              New Member
              • Apr 2015
              • 12

              #7
              I had realized that was going to be an issue, I will be looking for a topographic map once I get that far south.

              The attached is an update of the route planned (Will probably run closer to I-15 once I get started on this.). Green marks the possible alternate route once Flagstaff is reached.



              Map_01_Route_Update.jpg

              Comment

              • CentralPacificSouthern
                New Member
                • Apr 2015
                • 12

                #8
                Sorry guys, this one is on indefinite hiatus, that said if anyone wants to do something based on the maps, feel free.

                Comment

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