Last Routes

[landnrailroader]

I have the same issue with it so I have created, shaped terrain, and created kml markers for at least 8 routes that I may never actually do anything with. I can't find any instructions for the program either but never found any for the desktop version either, just learned what others had found. Now I am creating a list of routes and their status and my son-in-law will zip and upload them if I get my last Form A and running orders first.

Jerry

[scottb613]

Hi Folks,

Have you ever looked at "Google My Maps" - super easy to trace paths and make a KML. I did this years ago when Chris was working on the Mountain Sub.

Baltimore and Ohio - Google My Maps

Regards,
Scott

[landnrailroader]

Scott,

No, never knew about till you mentioned it, but when I looked at it, I would need more precision to lay out a route. For the newbies doing real world routes, the first requirement is a accurate digitization of the route which is accomplished by a variety of methods. I have found Google Earth to work best for me but it is not perfect. For example, there can be several feet in difference of the route location from one image to another, or even breaks in a single image which just have to be dealt with as best as you can. Secondly, unless you have at least the most rudimentary track chart of the route, you probably won't come out, even close. Fortunately you can usually get these charts as .pdf files either on a CD or for download at Ebay, or one of the various historical groups. As a member of the Louisville & Nashville Historical group, I have bought several CDs from the "store" in Chattanooga, TN and for other railroads, I have bought them from Railfan Depot which now sells on Ebay, and there are others. One thing that not even track charts show is the absolute elevation above sea level. A few do including all the Milwaukee Road charts I have. If you don't have that then Google Earth is a possible source but I found that downloading topo maps and overlaying them on Google Earth allowed me to locate bench marks and intersections with contour lines fairly well.

Jerry

[yellowdog]

For landnrailroader
Jerry, I know you don't like TSRE for fills and cuts, etc. I've been playing with Scott's LIDEX program. I have no idea what I'm doing, and it's very easy to use. If I can do it, you certainly can. Here are some results I got with it, for the East Tennessee Railway (former ET&WNC, with connections with the Clinchfield and SOU in Johnson City, TN) I'm building as a sandbox to learn route building and route modification. I have done absolutely no terrain manipulation--LIDEX did it all. Check out the long fill, right next to a quarry, that LIDEX auto-generated....

ETRY Fill.jpg

[landnrailroader]

YD,

That is all well and good if you are starting a new route but all of the routes I expect to create already have terrain generated and many have track already laid and I just need to add roads and minimum details before releasing them. I see a possible conflict also between LIDEX terrain and information on a track chart. The best part I see of Lidex is that the terrain would show where a track or road was supposed to go but changes in gradient etc. would be hard to match. At the moment I have all the track, for example, for a new version of the Kingsport Sub. as well as roads and now I need to add the crossing names (bungalows) or passive protection signs and mileposts. I will use most of the bridges etc. from the original Kingsport route because I would be hard pressed to improve on those. So for now, I am minimally detailing the Louisville to Nashville line and then the Kingsport is probably next. Another one that I for historic purposes I just called "Stevens Pass", but what it has is all three routes of the Great Northern over that pass in the Cascade mountains. The line was completed near Scenic, WA in 1891 and from then to 1900 a switchback route was used over the summit of the pass. Then the first tunnel eliminated the switchbacks and finally the current tunnel eliminated a lot of mileage, snow issues, etc. Since there is a payware Scenic Sub. route, I limited my activity to the pass and 10 miles or so east & west of it and I use nothing from the payware route.

Jerry