New England based routes

[CSRX]

Going through my backed-up files, apparently, I started these two routes. Don't recall doing so, apparently, it's been so long.

First one was the B&M Berlin Sub, which my overall plan was to have this line run from Wells River, VT to Berlin, NH. Though, I don't remember where the track charts went to, so I may not even be able to continue this one. Looking at the updated overhead maps, it appears I need to redo some of the curves anyways.



The other was the Vermont Railways Northern Sub but also looks like I started to include the Washington County Montpelier - Barre line. I managed to lay track from Burlington to Vergennes on the Northern Sub and never continued. Again, looks like some of the curves need to be redone. I still have the 2020 track charts, and I do have grade charts to go along with it. Plus, definitely helps that this route was my home turf stomping grounds for 7 years.



Honestly, both of these routes may just get scrapped and redone anyways with better DEM files, and better track laying procedures, now that I kind of gotten better with that over the past few years with tinkering on the Mountain Division route, and the Eastern Division.

[Coonskin]

I, too, have a New England-based route, but it's circa 1869. It is based on prototype, albeit with anachronisms. I call it my "New England Lines" route. It's scope already includes the Rutland & Burlington from Rutland Yard to Bellows Falls, the Cheshire RR from Walpole, NH, to Fitchburg, MA. There are several other regional lines that already have markers and terrain in place. Track and markers for other area lines has grown to the point that it would essentially be a mini-mega route once track is complete. I will eventually be posting info on it in my upcoming "Route Ramblin's" thread.

Andre

[CSRX]

That would be pretty awesome to see an 1869 version of the Rutland to Bellows Falls area, especially how massive Rutland Yard used to be, before they decided to bulldoze it and put in an ugly strip mall.

My Vermont Railway route was actually going to end up being the full blown VRS system in Vermont, with the
Northern Sub (Burlington, VT to Rutland, VT)
CLP Sub (Rutland, VT to Whitehall, NY)
Green Mountain Sub (Rutland, VT to Bellows Falls, VT)
B&R Sub (Rutland, VT to North Bennington, VT)
Florence Sub (Florence to Florence Jct, VT)
Hoosick Branch (North Bennington, VT to Hoosick Jct, NY)
WACR M&B Sub (Montpelier Jct, VT to Websterville, VT)
WACR Lyndonville Sub (White River Jct, VT to Newport, VT)
This of course, being dated for the 2015-2022 era of when I worked there, but, that is a ton of mileage and scenery to lay down for such a limited run railroad (one train a day per direction), that I lost interest and moved onto my current route projects.

[Coonskin]

CSRX

Here's an RE pic of the still in process Rutland Yard. I was basing the yard on some drawings I have as well as that 1870 pic of the Rutland Yard from the overhead bridge that's found in the book "The Rutland Road".

RE_RutlandYd1.jpg

I'm pretty sure I've accomplished more since the above pic. Back in 1869-1870s the yard at Rutland was a somewhat complicated yard.

[CSRX]

Ah look at that, I can tell you are facing over the current GMRC line facing north, with the current VTR/B&R Line coming in from the left.

The yard was definitely a maze, even during that time frame. Almost seemed like they just threw tracks down and called it good. Even today it is a bit of a strange set up, with what felt like not enough space to do much switching for the various trains that originated and terminated in Rutland, including Amtrak.

[Coonskin]

CSRX

Yup, a maze for sure. AND, I'm pretty sure I've done a more work to the yard since the above RE pic.

I've already bit off a huge bite with my New England Lines route project... but New England was such a fantastic area during the wood burning locomotive years. Unfortunately, very few of my Ozark structures and such will be usable. New England had a totally different "look" compared to Ozark railroading. There was more "permanence" in New England (brick depots, brick industries, etc.) as well as often quite ornate In contrast, the railroads in the Ozarks were built more "hastily" and used wood much more often, and the structures were more simplistic. Also, there were far more railroads in New England, so on some lines, every few miles there could be a crossing or an interchange with another railroad. Not so in the Ozarks, where could be over a hundred miles before a crossing or interchange with another railroad. Very different "looks" in the railroading between the two regions.

As for the route: I'll eventually cover it in more detail in my "Route Ramblin's" thread, but some notable observations...

* The 10 NED Seamless DEM available for that region was VERY detailed. Fills and cuts were readily seen therein. Of course, in all cases I used such for track alignment in concert with the markers.

* The bulk of it is in place. Here's an AE screen of the track in place from Rutland, VT to Fitchburg, MA:

AE_NewEnglandLines.jpg

I already have the terrain generated and markers in place to model the Vermont Valley/Vermont & Massachusetts from Bellows Falls to south of Millers Falls. Also have the terrain and markers in place for the Ashuelot RR that ran southwest out of Keene, NH.The northern reaches out of Rutland was going to go far enough to interchange with the Clarendon & Pittsford RR.

Here's Bellows Falls, circa 1869 Looking at three railroads in this pic. The roundhouse is the Rutland, in the distance is the Cheshire's North Walpole facilities, and to the right is the Vermont Valley:

RE_BellowsFalls3new.jpg

And here's an example of the finely detailed DEM that was available for the region. Note the large fills that are in this screen and how the markers are right with it:

RE_Ludlow4.jpg

IF I only finish up what I already have... there's a huge amount of work ahead. Very likely this will end up in the "Unfinished Routes" section here at Trainsim "one of these days".

Andre

[CSRX]

That looks great Andre!
I actually recently redownloaded a bunch of DEM files, in hopes they have been updated since the last time. Some areas, such as Summit, you could see the cut already pre-made, so hard saying how much is different from back then when I downloaded the files, to now.

The trickiest part was doing the CLP main from Rutland to Whitehall, considering I could not find a single stitch of track grade charts. All was based off my experience of running that line and having a good idea where the big grades were located. I think it came out nicely. The bonus of course, was the tracks were pretty much ground level. Cheaply laid out years ago by the D&H, or whoever it was prior. Think it may have been the Rutland & NY or something. Even the Vermont Railway didn't have grade charts for this line.

However, the good thing about the rest of the lines including the GMRC section, I have grade charts and track charts for, that were updated in 2019.

[CSRX]

Skipping over the the MEC Mountain Subdivision, I have two videos. One starts in Rigby and heads towards Sebago, the other starts in Hiram/Baldwin and heads towards Sebago. Both showcasing what I have so far on this 40-42 mile portion of the 131 mile route.

[johnnyboy99]

On the topic of DEM, I wouldn't mind if someone made blank terrain and track/road only routes for certain mainlines we don't already have like the UP Kearney Subdivison or the Florida East Coast mainline. Easy to start small.
we already have a bare-bones Fostoria route thanks to someone on here