Route Ramblin's...

[Coonskin]

Hello!

I'm Andre Ming. I've been a member of this forum since August 1st, 2002. During the 2000's, upon my entry into the V scale hobby, I was very active in learning how to build routes. I eventually moved into commercial development with my "V Scale Creations" endeavor. Technically, VSC lasted until the loss of 3D Trains, (which hosted my web space) at which point my website and files went dormant. However, my involvement with VSC was dead long before that time arrived, so it wasn't a exactly heartbreaking for it to pass into obscurity.

My commercial endeavors are well behind me now. Over a decade ago I realized I didn't have it in me to continue pursuing commercial development, so in an attempt to salvage my enjoyment of V scale, I retreated back into the role of a "hobbyist". That is, I mess with my route projects when I want, and on whatever route I want, without the pressure of deadlines, customer issues, etc. My free-styling approach to my V scale hobby often means long periods of inactivity. Oh well, it is what it is! Now that I'm retired (I retired from full time railroading in April of 2018), I have time to pursue my hobby interests (there are several) of which V scale is a very minority interest.

I've had a long running "Route Ramblin's" blog thread going over at Elvas Tower, but felt it high time to start one here at Trainsim. After all, Trainsim is where it all started for me and the hobby of V scale some 23 years ago!! I also decided to place this blog/journal in the Open Rails section because essentially all of my routes are OR compatible and the vast majority of end users now use OR. (I DO use MSTS Route Editor because I know it inside and out. Besides, if it works in MSTS, then you know it will function in OR.)

As for my routes:

Though I do have ONE ancient diesel era route that I worked on for a time back before 2010, that route project has been dormant since about 2010, and likely will remain so. My interests in utilizing V scale has evolved as a vehicle to cater to my V scale "thing", which is 19th century railroading. (Though I model diesels in my HO scale hobby, my long time 19th century side interest is indulged in via V scale.)

Typically, my 19th century routes use "stub switches" that were a part of the X-Tracks package that introduced toward the last of X-Tracks development life. To this a fellow V scale enthusiast by the name of "Jared" created diverging routes for both standard and narrow gauge stub stub switches which GREATLY helped in the flexibility of using X-Tracks stub switches. Because of the custom Jared stub switch shapes, my 19th century routes use the custom T-Section Dat file version 44A. Keep that in mind should you decide to download a beta of one of my routes when one is offered in the future. (Yes, I sometimes upload the latest version of one of my routes via the "Wormhole" file hosting service, and those interested can download and install for a look see.)

Though I have several 19th century routes on my hard drive, In this blog, I will primarily cover those that are on my "Favorites" list, thus they are the routes that get the time and energy when I'm in a "V scale" mood.

SO, there you have it. If you enjoy viewing in-process route pics, reading railroad-oriented drivel, and what have you, then you have found the right place!

All fer now!

Andre

[jbtower]

Hey Andre it's good to see you over here. Did you retire from real-world railroading, or are you still hogging on the AOK?

[SD40-2]

Because of the custom Jared stub switch shapes, my 19th century routes use the custom T-Section Dat file version 44A. Keep that in mind should you decide to download a beta of one of my routes when one is offered in the future. (Yes, I sometimes upload the latest version of one of my routes via the "Wormhole" file hosting service, and those interested can download and install for a look see.)

I keep my 19th century routes in a separate folder called ORTS_1800, which currently has only one route, the Ozark Northern (Bought as a gift, still have the e-mail).Would your custom tsection work with the Ozark Northern?

[Coonskin]

Hey Andre it's good to see you over here. Did you retire from real-world railroading, or are you still hogging on the AOK?

Well thanks. It's good to be back. It's going to be interesting to see how many that I've known over the 2+ decades of being a member here, are still around and active.

Yes, in my intro above I indicated I retired in April of 2018. It was the pure Alco-powered (when I hired) Arkansas & Missouri that I spent my last 11 years with. (Not the AOK.)

Andre

[Coonskin]

I keep my 19th century routes in a separate folder called ORTS_1800, which currently has only one route, the Ozark Northern (Bought as a gift, still have the e-mail).Would your custom tsection work with the Ozark Northern?

Hello Parker!

It's my understanding that newer T-Section Dat's can be used on older routes without any issues. The only "issue" is if, when in the MSTS Route Editor, you try to use a piece of track from the listing that your Global folder doesn't have. In that case, RE will inform you that the shape doesn't exist exist with a "Continue: Yes or No" option. Select "Yes" and RE will keep right on with your route editing session. Typically, I package the 44A T-Section Dat and the shapes/etc needed with a beta release. So, if your leery to tamper with your Global folder, simply make a copy of your current Global (I name my back up Global files by T-Section Dat, such as "Global33") and install the Global containing the needed shapes and 44A T-Section Dat file.

As for your lonely Ozark Northern route: Hopefully it will have some companionship over the coming months/years. I have several 19th Century "Favorites" that I pick and choose to work on when in the mood.

Sometime this evening I intend to introduce the first one to the readers of this blog with some progress pics.

All fer now!

Andre

[Coonskin]

THE FRISCO LINE: Late 1880s

My first 19th century route I'd like to introduce you to is my mini-mega route that I started over 15 years ago. (First official entry into the I.D. text file within the route's folder is dated 12/6/09!)

For decades my favorite prototype line has been the Frisco's Fort Smith Sub. It was on the Fort Smith Sub that several of the fellows of the Frisco helped me to learn railroading. (This began in mid-1969 and continued off/on into the early 1980s.)

SO, when I began to truly like 19th century railroading via V scale, it was a natural outgrowth that I would have a 19th century version of the Frisco's Fort Smith line! Thus my St. Louis & San Francisco "Frisco Line" route was begun. However, as it grew, I decided I would be okay with some anachronisms, more on that later.

As the route sits, the mainline runs from Monett, Missouri, where the line to Fort Smith peels south off the southwest bound Frisco main line. From Monett, I've modeled all the towns along the main for about 200 miles well into Indian Territory (which would become Oklahoma in November of 1907) to the division point town of Talihina. By the way, that name regionally pronounced "Tal uh HEE nuh". (Or if your REALLY into corn pone: "Tal uh HAY nee".) Talihina's he town's name from the Choctaw Native Americans that were relocated to the Ouachita (regionally pronounced "WASH uh taw") Mountains of Indian Territory. It comes from the word "tulluh" meaning "iron" and "hena" meaning "trail". Thus, when the railroad started building through the Choctaw region (by permission), the Choctaws began to call it the "tulluh hena"... which became "Talihina".

In addition to the Frisco's main from Monett to Talihina, I have laid track for:

* The 18 mile Eureka Springs Railway that runs from Seligman, Mo to Eureka Springs, Ark. Built 1882-1883.

* The 45 mile St. Paul Branch.Built 1886-1887.

* The 18 mile Mansfield Branch. Built 1886-1887.

Now, about the anachronisms: First, I've modeled enough of the Ozark & Cherokee Central at Fayetteville to accommodate the rather large Phipps Bros Lbr Co that was just south of Fayetteville, Ark. The O&CC didn't come into existence until about 1899 I think I recall. In addition, I've modeled ALL the other railroads of the "Coal Belt" south/southeast/southwest of Fort Smith Arkansas, though one of those did not come into being just after 1900. In addition to the Frisco's Mansfield Branch, those would include:

* Very small portion of the Ozark & Cherokee Central at Fayetteville. Built 1899. (Maybe 3 miles of rail?)

* Iron Mountain & Southern's Greenwood Branch. Built 1888. Complete from Van Buren, Ark over into Indian Territory, to re-enter Arkansas and then to Greenwood, Ark. 35 miles I think?

* Midland Valley. Incorporated 1904. The MV rails run from Fort Smith, south on the Frisco's rails to Maney Jct, where it heads east toward Greenwood. Just before Greenwood, at Excelsior, Arkansas, the line splits and one leg goes east to Greenwood, and the other leg goes south/southwest all the past Hartford, Arkansas. (To coal mines as well as a connection with the Choctaw Oklahoma & Gulf (later to become the Rock Island's "Choctaw Route"), which wasn't at Hartford/Mansfield, Ark until 1900.

Then there's one more:

* The 19 mile Black Mountain & Eastern (later renamed Combs Cass & Eastern), which connected with the Frisco's St. Paul Branch at Combs, Ark. The BM&E wasn't started until about 1912, but it was the most rugged of any of the Ozark lines and I just had to include it. I've loved the BM&E since my discovery of it back in the late 1970s-early 1980s.

The reason for ALL of the above is because they brought so much to the table by doing so, I was willing to fudge on my era a bit. Oh well!

Now, for some maps.

First is an overall view of the route:

StLSF_1_SystemMap.jpg

Next is a look at the St. Paul Branch:

StLSF_2_StPaulBranch.jpg

And here's a look at the mess of railroads in the Coal Belt region:

StLSF_3_CoalBelt.jpg

And to give an idea of what an area looks like that has a lot of density, here's a look at a portion of the Frisco's North Yard at Fort Smith...

StLSF_FS_Xchange.jpg

And here's a look at the interchange between the Frisco and the Iron Mountain & Southern at Van Buren, Arkansas:

StLSF_VB_Xchange.jpg

By the way, all of the Iron Mountain's facilities at Van Buren is modeled. (That's some of the IM&S tracks at the lower right.)

Okay... this is enough for the first look at my Frisco Line route. Up next will be some RE pics and in-sim screen pics.

All fer now!

[Coonskin]

Route: Frisco Line: circa late 1880s continued...

And now for some RE pics As you view these pics, understand that you're looking at what I call "Phase 1" scenery. Phase 1 scenery means that I have the bridges in place, and either custom structures of place holders awaiting custom structures, basic forestation/vegetation, etc. The intent of Phase 1 scenery is to get in and get out as quickly as possible, leaving behind and semblance of "completeness". Later, I come back and add detail, but the whole idea of Phase 1 scenery is get SOMETHING in place so it's not bare terrain with the intention of coming back later and detailing as mood inclines. (Truth be known, Phase 1 scenery may be in place for years before it gets revisited for detailing!)

That said... let's go!

An early RE pic (there's more there now) of the remote depot at Black Mountain on the Black Mountain & Eastern....

RE_BMnE_BlkMtn.jpg
Yes, the above is based on the prototype!

The cut at Summit on the BM&E...

RE_BME_Summit.jpg

Combs, Arkansas on the Frisco's St. Paul Branch showing the town and the two railroads at Combs: The Frisco (left) and the Black Mountain & Eastern (right)...

RE_CombsAR3.jpg
Standing on the bluff overlooking the timber town of St. Paul on the Frisco's St. Paul Branch...

RE_StPaul7.jpg

"Furniture Row" in Fort Smith, Arkansas. There was a tremendous amount of furniture and wood product mfg'ers in Fort Smith back then...

RE_FurnitureRow_FtSmith.jpg

The large Phipps Bro Lbr Company on the Ozark & Cherokee Central at McNair, Ark near Fayetteville, Arkansas...

RE_JHPhippsLbr_McNair.jpg
Arkansas Valley Lbr Co on the Iron Mountain & Southern at Van Buren, Arkansas. That's the Arkansas River in the background...

RE_ArkValleyLbr.jpg
Pettigrew, Arkansas on the Frisco's St. Paul Branch...

RE_PettigrewAR_2.jpg

Poteau (POE toe) in Indian Territory on the Frisco's east/west main line. (East/west is timetable direction, it's more north/south on the map and later became north/south on the timetable.)

RE_Poteau_IT_2.jpg
Poteau River (Indian Territory) just east of Poteau...

RE_PoteauRiverIT.jpg

I don't know if there's a limit on pics that can be included in a post... so I'll wrap this one up.

To Be Continued...

[linkj]

Wonderful, detailed work. Looking forward to seeing some locomotives and rolling stock shots.

[Coonskin]

Wonderful, detailed work. Looking forward to seeing some locomotives and rolling stock shots.

Thanks linkj.

As for the equipment, it will essentially all be based on the models supplied with my Ozark Northern route.

Here's a pic of the 4-4-0's the route would use. (Obviously, they will need to be re-lettered.):

ON 1-2.jpg

And below is also an Ozark Northern model that's been repainted. The original model is a model of a Frisco engine: A Rogers 4-6-0 of 1880. It is prototypically correct Even the livery scheme is accurate. However Jon Davis originally delivered it to me lettered for the Ozark Northern. (I commissioned Jon Davis to create/provide many pieces of equipment for my V Scale Creations routes.) However, my partner-in-crime and fellow crony Herb Kelsey re-lettered it the be correct for its prototype, and here's the result:

54 Right Side.jpg

And here's the prototype for the above 4-6-0. (Note the above engine modeled after the advent of air brakes, i.e., early 1880s.):

Frisco-55-Rogers-1880-LibraryOfCongress.jpg


The cabooses and rolling stock will also be based on my Ozark Northern as well as my Colorado Midland equipment.

Still to come: Some in-sim pics.

Andre

[Coonskin]

Finally getting around to posting some in-sim pics.

First up... the small engine service area at "Hackett City" (now called simply "Hackett"), Arkansas on the Frisco's "Mansfield Branch"...

HackettCity2.jpg

And a look at the general setting of the above. I live about 20 minutes from Hackett, and I see that distant ridge every time I make a trip to/from Fort Smith, Arkansas!

HackettCity.jpg


Now we hop down into Indian Territory at the town of Talihina. This picture is from beta tester Herb Kelsey within Open Rails. Herb's getting ready to hook onto the caboose of the train ahead, then shove the train up and over Winding Stair Mountain, cutting off on the fly just east (map north) of Compton...

HerbPicFrisco1.jpg


And here's a pic I snapped within an activity. The player engine is to help the eastbound (map north) train that's coming into town on the right. After the inbound train clears up, the train sitting on the pass will continue west (map south). After all that's over, I'll back out to the main, hook on to the east (north) bound train, and begin the shove up to the summit of Winding Stair Mountain...

StLSF_TrainTimeAtTalihina.jpg

Next post, we'll hop up into the Ozarks and take a look around.

Andre

[linkj]

That 4-6-0 is an amazing piece of work.

[Coonskin]

Jon Davis was a superb craftsman when he was involved in MSTS. I wish I would have commissioned a BUNCH more models through him than I ended up doing.

Though that is a gorgeous livery on Rogers 4-6-0 and superb texture work, toward the end of the 1880s the Frisco was painting engines with far less festiveness. Here's a picture of a Baldwin 4-6-0 (new in 1879) that shows how it appeared toward the later 1880s...

Baldwin_150_Class.jpg

I took the Rogers 4-6-0 and applied a completely black texture to it to emulate what is seen above. It will be numbered to represent the above Baldwin class. The blank model looks like this:

StLSF_160_blackblanks.jpg

Andre

[Coonskin]

AND NOW let's hop up into the Ozarks to the town of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Here is engine #160 coming into Fayetteville proper looking somewhat map south (timetable west)...

StLSF_Fayetteville1.jpg

And the same location looking map northeast...

StLSF_FayettevilleAR_2.jpg

A view from further out...

StLSF_FayettevilleAR_3.jpg

Now a look as the engine crosses Dixon Street...

StLSF_Fayetteville_4.jpg

And looking generally map south at the lay of the land. Fayetteville is a very interesting spot to switch. The line to the left that ambles off into the topography are the tracks of the Ozark & Cherokee Central. The track at Fayetteville is based on a track schematic I have of Fayetteville...

StLSF_Fayetteville_5.jpg

And now we're at the summit town of Winslow, Arkansas. Space was (is) at a premium at Winslow, so the town is hard fast against the Frisco's tracks. This scene is based on photos I have of Winslow from its earlier years. Plus, for the most part the tracks, structures, roads, etc, are pretty close to what was there. This view looks generally map south. The tunnel at Winslow is just ahead about 1/4 mile or so...

StLSF_WinslowAR_1.jpg

And now looking generally map northeast. Once entering the summit tunnel at Winslow, the line breaks over and starts descending what was known on the Frisco as the "Boston Mountain Grade". (More commonly called "The Mountain" by the train crews.) Once started down, it's 11 miles until the grade lessens significantly. At some points the grade is 2.69%...

StLSF_WinslowAR_2.jpg

One more pic before I hit the "Post Reply" button. This bridge was/is called "Bridge No 1". It's about 1 1/2 miles from the south portal of the Boston Mtn Tunnel. This one is something like 700' - 800' long and about 130' or so above the floor of the holler. In this view, the engine is pointing upgrade. So the tunnel is about 1 1/2 miles ahead.

StLSF_BridgeNo1.jpg

Still to go are pics of Bridges No 2 and No 3, as well as a look at the sizable town of Fort Smith, AR... and more!

Andre

[SD40-2]

This is looking spectacular, very nicely done. Give me the warm fuzzy vibes of laying track and running trains in Railroad Tycoon 2.

[yellowdog]

Outside my area of interest, but certainly an awesome addition! I believe I read that you were using the MSTS route editing tools to build your routes. While route building is not my area of expertise at all, I do know that the TSRE Route Editor has the option to paint terrain, rather than lay blocky textures or textures with harsh/no blending effect like the MSTS route editor. Given how much detail you're trying to put into the scenery, it might be worthwhile to load up your route in that utility just to play around with that tool.