CPKC and BNSF lines from St Paul, MN to La Crosse, WI

[BrandonS261]

Here is a 3 year difference in the route. Honestly there are some areas you wouldn't even think it was the same route. The first shots of every location was from 2023 and the second shots are from the routes current status. I guess I have been making more progress then I had even anticipated.

MILW 261 shop facility

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Downtown Hastings

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Downtown St Paul by St Paul Union Depot

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Jackson St Roundhouse in St Paul

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La Crosse, WI Area

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Maple Springs

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Lakeside
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Red Wing, MN
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Winona, MN
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[cfriedri]

Awesome work!

[BrandonS261]

Well I have fell back into the rabbit hole of route building once again. This time I decided to completely take out the whole BNSF St Croix Sub and rebuild it from scratch. This is because when I originally built it was with the original MSTS editor and the tracks were really off. Over the years I have also had to do this with all of the other routes I have built as the Route Editors keep advancing.

I have decided to take a little different approach this time and take Eric's advice and build both the roads and the track at the same time building a little at a time. I have also decided to start putting in road signs, crossings, and working on terrain textures as I go as well.

What got me going again on the BNSF St Croix Sub was the fact I made a trip down to Alma, WI along the line yesterday with the family and was able to get some photographs along with study the line for about half the way of way to La Crosse. Being that this line does not have many roads on it and the roadway doesn't follow the tracks all that well it is not as easy to document. I will post some photos once I get more done on the line.

As for the CP/CPKC side of the river there has been quite a bit done on that side and I will also be posting photos of that route as well once I feel I have made enough progress on it.

Brandon

[BrandonS261]

Some progress shots of the CP/CPKC River Subdivision. The shots are between Hastings and Red Wing. However not in order as the Hastings photos are farther down in the order of photos.

Lately I have been doing a ton of road work, terrain texturing along with vegetation along the line along with adding in crossings, a few signs and some buildings as well.

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[BrandonS261]

Here are a few shots further down river. Mainly the famous curve of Maple Springs and a few other locations farther down from that spot. I have also included a few shots of La Cressent. MN as well.

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[BrandonS261]

Some scenes around the Twin Cities and beyond. If you live in the Twin Cities area or have ever rail fanned here you may recognize a few locations.

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[BNrailfan]

Can't wait to run this one day, job well done!

[BrandonS261]

I might try and get all track work roads, crossings, most scenery, signs snd speed signs done and then release it. Its too big of a route for me to be working on by myself and honestly need some help with it. Yes Eric was right with how I bit off more then I could chew with this massive project but making a lot of progress latley.

With how many routes I have together in one massive route I am not just working on one singular route. It is mainly custom buildings and objects that I need help with for the most part.

Brandon