Ohio Division Dev thread

[CSXT Q-317]

So I figured I would start this now as I feel I am at a point to start making some kind of updates, and will continue doing this as they become available.

The Ohio Division was part of the St Louis Mainline and connected the Parkersburg Branch which connected the West End ( Mountain Sub )


Reworking this is so much easier. Since early November it has been at a standstill as I was on 60-hour weeks at work.

To speed up the process I will most likely use freeware objects and for route specific stuff build it myself. This is actually been the BIGGEST hold up with this route.

The route sports 3 different signal systems C&O, B&O, and NW signals. I thought about upgrading these to more modern stuff.

Chillicothe Yard will be reworked a bit and an operational turntable installed at some point here.


The plan is to rework portions of the track seeing that I have zero time to relay some 200 miles of track.

Things have to be removed from the route for good reason, things installed and lots of custom objects need to be made.

Pic 1 shows a rough scene of a very early Queensgate.
Pic 2&3 is of Vauces just outside of Chillicothe.
Pic 4 is of an early Parkersburg High Yard.
Pic 5 is at Chillicothe where rework will occur. I have already placed Union Depot ( DO Tower ) that I created in Blender which still has to be finished.
Pic 6 shows the East end of the yard in Chillicothe and the unique layout B&O set it up as.

The plan is to rework portions of the track seeing that I have zero time to relay some 200 miles of track.

Things have to be removed from the route for good reason, things installed and lots of custom objects need to be made.

Pic 1 shows a rough scene of a place called Vauces outside Chillicothe OH and Pic 2 is another of the same place/
Pic 3 is of Parkersburg High yard.
Pic 4 is at Chillicothe where rework will occur. I have already placed Union Depot ( DO Tower ) that I created in Blender which still has to be finished.
Pic 5 is at the far east end of Chillicothe and looking at the yard there. That was a rough layout due to the yard ladder and how the prototype is set up.

East of Chillicothe is very undulating so running it keeps me on my toes a bit.

Right now the hot items are extending a siding from West Junction to near a place called Byer. The line is predominately single-track with passing sidings.



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[Metra322]

nice progress

[CSXT Q-317]

Recently I began work on an addition as I backdate the route just a bit.

In the process of adding the additional track to reflect a portion of the old bypass track that ran around Chillicothe to avoid the flood-prone. That bypass track was only used in emergencies such as flood-induced washouts.

This current addition adds 4 new industries with this addition of part of that bypass track. Roads are also going to be relaid as well.

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[tdbaer]

I couldn't believe my eyes when I did a route search on the Parkersburg Branch and google brought this convo up.

This line was a staple of my life as a kid. Riding the route to and from Cumberland thru all the tunnels on Amtrak or the mornings I'd ride into the roundhouse with my dad before school.

I don't know if I would be of any help on the design front. But if there are any image or map resources we may have to assist if your efforts please feel free to reach out.

I also forwarded this to a couple local friends who are active rail fans in the area.

I'm getting back on Train Simulator for the first time in about 15 years. I dabbled with creating a small Parkersburg route with my dad during the Covid downtime 5 years ago.

Looking very forward to seeing your creation!

[longiron]

What track system are you using on this route?

[CSXT Q-317]

What track system are you using on this route?

I am using the standard track or the Default track replacement tracks. Scale rail has no 55-degree diamonds for the Chillicothe B&O/NW Crossing that I could see.

I had considered Scalerail and do what was done on the WP route with rusty rails on the yard tracks and sidings. I could still run Scalerail and have the NW tracks slightly off alignment and I may still go that route but I would have some work cut out for me. The plan is to install operating turntables at Chillicothe and Parkersburg and if I go all the way to Cincinnati one there too.

If I decide on having the Parkersburg and Chillicothe subs together then Cincinnati would be pre-Queensgate. Lots that I have to rework to backdate the track by a decade or two. As the one based solely on track charts in 1984 which was a year before the downgrade from mainline status. One hot item is adding back in double track from West Jct to Byer.

Currently awaiting B&O diagrams for structures and tunnels because I want to have structures specific to B&O and this line.

[CSXT Q-317]

I couldn't believe my eyes when I did a route search on the Parkersburg Branch and google brought this convo up.

This line was a staple of my life as a kid. Riding the route to and from Cumberland thru all the tunnels on Amtrak or the mornings I'd ride into the roundhouse with my dad before school.

I don't know if I would be of any help on the design front. But if there are any image or map resources we may have to assist if your efforts please feel free to reach out.

I also forwarded this to a couple local friends who are active rail fans in the area.

I'm getting back on Train Simulator for the first time in about 15 years. I dabbled with creating a small Parkersburg route with my dad during the Covid downtime 5 years ago.

Looking very forward to seeing your creation!

Thank you for the kind offers. Yes, this line has been a challenge. I grew up with it at the tail end of its life in Chillicothe. As it stands right now I have B&O engineering line drawings for structures and historical aerial imagery. I am trying to backdate it just a bit. Currently, I have been working to build custom objects such as these below.

I have run tests on earlier copies and the undulating terrain from Chillicothe to Parkersburg will keep one busy. It isn't like some of the other routes out there as the terrain is constantly changing so I have learned that efficient use of throttle and brakes are needed. It is a line I have imagined being made ever since MSTS first came out.

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[CSXT Q-317]

Here's a bit of an update. I have since converted this route over to Scale rail. This was done prior to doing a TDB rebuild, which was a blessing.

Right now, I have just the track minus the TDB lines, which will make for quicker work when reworking sections and backdating just a bit.This will also allow me to update the signals to use the newer B&O/C&O/NW signals in one route. As well as updating crossing signals to newer ones.

This weekend I should be busy reworking the Chillicothe yard and installing an operable turntable.

At one point Chillicothe had a transfer table as well between to shop buildings. I am considering attempting to install one.

The yard here was a bit unique in its own right.

Work also continues on stripping out older objects as well. At least ones that don't mesh well.

I have tons of scenery objects to build as well.

the prototype aerials one from John King should give a good idea of the yard at Chillicothe. I will say this: trying to recreate a line that has been gone for 30-plus years and not as photographed as other B&O lines has been a challenge. Many nights have been spent tracking down actual on the ground photos and referencing tons of historical aerials and 1949 and 84 track charts.

The grain elevator here and the paper mill will make great places for the NAVS switchers at some point.









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[rrdiesel87]

Excellent work, glad to see yet another B&O route well underway.

[CSXT Q-317]

Excellent work, glad to see yet another B&O route well underway.

Thank you, it is a route that I have always envisioned being made ever since MSTS came out. I have a primary copy that is fully signalled from much earlier that I run. For the most part the grades are accurate, but there are abrupt grade changes here and there from my early novice efforts. One curve I need to ease up.

[CSXT Q-317]

Been a little while. I keep fighting burnout and spent the summer and fishing along with a new job. As fall arrives I expect this route to pick back up. Been working the past couple of days the old Wear Ever plant. I keep stalling on getting started on the old Mead Paper Mill which is a vast one. I recently picked up B&O engineering drawings for a lot of there structures. Trackwork to backdate a bit is slowly on going as well. extending track, changing signals to newer ones, and adding operable turntables are some of a few things I have to do.



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[jbtower]

Looking fantastic and yes I understand being occupied with other things when the weather is good.

[CSXT Q-317]

It has been a little while here. I did some ground texture work that is not completely done as of yet between Byer and Richland Ohio around milepost 124. Here is some of that work done over the weekend. What you see here in terms of vegetation is items from TS Ruel.

SInce TS came out with their generous policy. I find that there vegetation is outstanding and Ruel's vegetation just stands out, and I have not a expert at making custom vegetation at all. What I am trying to achieve here is that rural and remote Southeastern Ohio that the B&Os Parkersburg Subdivision traversed across.

IF I continue with the Ruel vegetation it would mean that you would need Ruel for the vegetation or substitute it.

This area still needs work including two tunnel portals. I have subsituted the USTrack3 with the CNOTP version that came with the US tracks as B&Os ballast on this line was remarkably clean. Other major work included reworking a curve just to the west of Byer Tunnel itself.



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[ossie]

I think it's looking great Mark and as a non-route builder/modifier I'd be rapt to see people take advantage of TS's policy. Their recent routes have been superb and if I did have modifying/building skills I'd be taking advantage of those assets for sure.

(And should they ever wave that wand over Seligman, I'd happily buy another updated version of it )

[LuFeDuTi]

That's awesome! If you want, you could add if you're going to create that part, the Fostoria area in Ohio. I wasn't able to create the Fostoria area 100%, but I'd at least like someone to finish that part or bring it to life in another route. That's the part of the path I'm referring to; I also left the hgt file.
https://www.trainsim.com/forums/file...leid?fid=90299