RAILS REACH FLORISSANT! 6/30/10, Whew! Options

[laming]

I feel like DANCIN'!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

My land, Twin Creek Canyon was a geniune SLEEPER. Flying over it in RE at the speed of "Shift" it looked like it would be easy-peasy. No major bluffs, nothing really that stood out to set off the alarm button.

THEN...

I started laying track down it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

It twists, it turns, it falls, it flattens a bit, turns and twists, it falls even MORE... flattens some more, twists... 16 degree curves here... another there... 3% is reached several times over the miles and the whole thing is on grade. No wonder this was also a helper district!

Wow. I've spent the better part of several evenings trying to get the rails a few scant miles from Bellevue to Florissant... it has been a BOOGER!

BUT...

I'm there. I have arrived.

Of course, I still must lay out the town proper, but that will be smooth sailing compared to the sections of real estate I just came through! I'll start the town later... right now it's CELEBRATION time, Bay-bay! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[TheGrindre]

Oh, whoopee, I'm about as excited for you as a new puppy greeting his master as he opens the front door. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Great job, Andre but no pix??? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Have fun,

[laming]

Great job, Andre but no pix???

Well... right after I posted the above... our ISP went down. This morning is the first I've been on the 'net since.

Lord willin' an' the creeks don't rise, I'll try to post a few pics tonight!

[laming]

It's ME again Margaret!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Not only have the rails reached Florissant, but now the town of Florissant is ready to go. I need to extend the main line about another mile or two west for AI traffic... and then I guess it's a WRAP. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

I gotta' tell you though... it's only few easy miles across the park to Granite Canyon. Wow... browsing and exploring in RE: That place is SPECTACULAR! Sooooo tempting.

Anyway, Rick asked for pictures... so here's a few RE screens as well as an AE track schematic.

See 'ya later!!!

[TheGrindre]

Ah, yes. That's better. Since I can't touch it, I want to at least look at it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Very nice, indeed. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[SAR704]

So the track navigates through the bottom of the canyon? Did this line get washed away frequently after heavy rain?

Is this the route you were posting screenshots of some months ago, with the track winding through narrow gaps between mountains?

Sorry for all the questions (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[laming]

Thanks Grindre!

SAR:

No problem on the questions... I like talking about it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Now, for some input...

Yup, that line washed out a bunch. At times the roadbed was only a few feet above the creek, other times about 10' or more. Never very high, though. The remaining roadbed has many washed out places.

Okay... hmm... narrow canyons... rails. Two routes that have been pictured here quickly come to mind:

* The "Lower Ute Pass" portion of this route. (Colorado Midland.)

* The narrow gauge Colorado Central that ran up Clear Creek.

I have no equipment for the CC narrow gauge idea, also, there is the lack of functionality issues with the dual gauge track system for MSTS... so I'm going with this one (the CM) for the foreseeable future. However, I'm sure that WHEN (not if) the narrow gauge bug bites me again, I'd be inclined to piddle with the CC for a spell. As for no equipment: If you've seen Tim Muir's first effort on a steam engine (over at Elvas Tower)... WOW! Talk about inspiring! Maybe I could further my skills in TSM and learn to build some of the simplistic locomotives and equiment of the Colorado Central? That could be cool... WAY cool. Ah... so many dreams... so little time.

Later!

[TheGrindre]

OH, NO! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) No narrow gauge? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) Just when I was gettin' my hopes up... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
Golly, gee, shucks, darn...

Oh well, that's life in the virtual world. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[S. Weaver]

... and then I guess it's a WRAP. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Track gangs must've collapsed in a heap after all that activity! All Quiet on the Western Front.

[SAR704]

I have no equipment for the CC narrow gauge idea, also, there is the lack of functionality issues with the dual gauge track system for MSTS... so I'm going with this one (the CM) for the foreseeable future. However, I'm sure that WHEN (not if) the narrow gauge bug bites me again, I'd be inclined to piddle with the CC for a spell. As for no equipment: If you've seen Tim Muir's first effort on a steam engine (over at Elvas Tower)... WOW! Talk about inspiring! Maybe I could further my skills in TSM and learn to build some of the simplistic locomotives and equiment of the Colorado Central? That could be cool... WAY cool. Ah... so many dreams... so little time.

Later!

Dual gauge is awkward, but not impossible. The appearance of DG can be achieved without relying on the dualtracks sections by placing one of the narrow gauge rails under the standard gauge ones. DG point situations are awkward, but once again, these issues can be worked around.

How much of the CC is dual gauge?