Just thought I'd touch base with all of you that stop by here occasionally.
So, what's been happening in my part of the world? Frankly, work, and other assorted responsibilities.
As for my free time: I've been splitting time my free time between my S scale model railroading efforts and some smattering of V scale thrown in for good measure.
At this point the Colorado Central has given way to my workbench modeling in S scale. However, I expect to pick the ol' CC back up as the days get shorter and nights colder. Man, is it September already???
With my V scale time, I've also looking been for a diesel-type route to indulge in when I'm in the mood to tinker with diesels in V scale. I THINK I've found one that looks veeeeery interesting. I'm still researching and learning about it at this point. So far, so good. We'll see!
Hope all of you are doing well and those of you in the USA are will be having a great Labor Day Weekend!
Oh, and in addition to asking tech questions about VSC products, please feel free to use this forum to ask questions, chit-chat, and enjoy it! That's what it's here for!
Full Version: Hi All! 9/4/09
Andre,
Have you ever considered the Alaska Railroad? Not the whole thing, just Seward (or even Whittier) to Anchorage. Two or three ports, a metropolitan area and yard activity. Pick your diesel era, they have had some unusual engines!!
Bill
Have you ever considered the Alaska Railroad? Not the whole thing, just Seward (or even Whittier) to Anchorage. Two or three ports, a metropolitan area and yard activity. Pick your diesel era, they have had some unusual engines!!
Bill
Andre,
Very happy you are planning another route. Can't wait to hear more about it! I have your A&O route and love it. Nobody writes activities for their routes better than you.
Al
Very happy you are planning another route. Can't wait to hear more about it! I have your A&O route and love it. Nobody writes activities for their routes better than you.
Al
Hi Bill!
Haven't really looked at the Alaska with a thought toward MSTS. It runs through some gorgeous country, that's for sure. I also like the older black w/yellow lettering scheme. Not too much on the blue w/yellow currently being used.
Al:
Thanks for the kind words about the A&O.
I admit there is still a goodly part of me that appreciates diesels during the "Classic" era.
Love "Turn of the 19th Century" (TOC19?) stuff as I do... I also like diseasels.
The railroading that was taking place in the 50's through the 60's (and maybe early 70's) was the last of the Mohican's in regards to actual railroading. Very unlike today's sterile RR enviorn.
What I've been looking at is the C&O at Thurmond, WV, circa mid-60's. So far, it has MANY points in its favor, such as:
* Impressive togography forcing the line to adapt among the tight confines.
* A reasonably sized yard that could be selectively compressed without much compromising of the prototype. (Large yards brings any sim to its knees.)
* A compact and interesting engine service area.
* There were interesting branch lines (sub divisions) that radiated out of Thurmond. Some of them used steep grades with switchbacks. Down such grades would come loaded coal trains.
* A busy double track mainline to capitialize on AI traffic through the scene. (Enough main line would be modeled to utilize AI.)
* Excellent equipment is ALREADY AVAILABLE meaning I don't have to contend with that aspect. (Have you seen BLW's C&O and B&O stuff???? Wow!)
My thinking is that I could build the immediate Thurmond area and begin operation with activities concerning yard jobs, engine hostling, etc, all the while coordinating with AI moving on the main. Once that is operational, when mood moves, I could then pick a branch line and begin building that. Result: Sequential completion. Less delayed gratification. (Building a semi-lengthy route is a looooong process with much delayed gratification.)
Sooo... at this point the C&O's Thurmond area leads the pack in regards to a diesel project.
Hey, it could be fun!
Haven't really looked at the Alaska with a thought toward MSTS. It runs through some gorgeous country, that's for sure. I also like the older black w/yellow lettering scheme. Not too much on the blue w/yellow currently being used.
Al:
Thanks for the kind words about the A&O.
I admit there is still a goodly part of me that appreciates diesels during the "Classic" era.
Love "Turn of the 19th Century" (TOC19?) stuff as I do... I also like diseasels.
The railroading that was taking place in the 50's through the 60's (and maybe early 70's) was the last of the Mohican's in regards to actual railroading. Very unlike today's sterile RR enviorn.What I've been looking at is the C&O at Thurmond, WV, circa mid-60's. So far, it has MANY points in its favor, such as:
* Impressive togography forcing the line to adapt among the tight confines.
* A reasonably sized yard that could be selectively compressed without much compromising of the prototype. (Large yards brings any sim to its knees.)
* A compact and interesting engine service area.
* There were interesting branch lines (sub divisions) that radiated out of Thurmond. Some of them used steep grades with switchbacks. Down such grades would come loaded coal trains.
* A busy double track mainline to capitialize on AI traffic through the scene. (Enough main line would be modeled to utilize AI.)
* Excellent equipment is ALREADY AVAILABLE meaning I don't have to contend with that aspect. (Have you seen BLW's C&O and B&O stuff???? Wow!)
My thinking is that I could build the immediate Thurmond area and begin operation with activities concerning yard jobs, engine hostling, etc, all the while coordinating with AI moving on the main. Once that is operational, when mood moves, I could then pick a branch line and begin building that. Result: Sequential completion. Less delayed gratification.
(Building a semi-lengthy route is a looooong process with much delayed gratification.)Sooo... at this point the C&O's Thurmond area leads the pack in regards to a diesel project.
Hey, it could be fun!
Andre,
IMHO you could not have picked a better era, location, and Railroad(except mabe the B&0). Looks like a potential for another classic!
Al
IMHO you could not have picked a better era, location, and Railroad(except mabe the B&0). Looks like a potential for another classic!
Al
QUOTE(laming @ Sep 5 2009, 11:33 AM) 
* Excellent equipment is ALREADY AVAILABLE meaning I don't have to contend with that aspect. (Have you seen BLW's C&O and B&O stuff???? Wow!)
Indeed, use of the BLW C&O and B&O equipment would be an excellent idea. Not only are they visually pleasing, but the BLW ALCO sounds are simply unsurpassed.
Thurmond WV? I say go for it!
Al:
Ah, but remember, the C&O acquired the B&O in 1963. This means B&O equipment can be seen and used (and was) in the Thurmond area!!
Norman:
Well... the more I'm learning, the more fascinating the area is. Just this week I received my order for a stack of C&O books I purchased to learn more about it. One book "The C&O In Thurmond, WV" is a real gem of info. Between the books, and info I've gleaned off the internet, I have photos, track charts, structure drawings, and maps for the Thurmond, area. I also have some ideas of what the mines looked like "out there". In one case, a picture of an actual mine that was located on one of the subdivisions out of Thurmond.
Granted, there WILL be compromises that will have to be made in order to have a playable route once finished... but hopefully such compromises will not detract from the impact of the area.
If I build this thing, I have no intention of making an "eye candy" route that is so packed and bloated with objects to the point that it can't be used for operation. I never have approached route building like that, and don't intend to change with this one. I want to be able to switch big cuts of cars in the yard, have some AI, and all that, and still not cripple the sim. Can't do that and have 2500 objects per tile. If I can capture the feel of the area with reasonable tile counts, then that will be good enough for me. This means I may have to resort heavily to custom terrtex via Mosaic, but that would be fine. For some reason the terrtex don't seem to load the sim as bad as many objects with fat textures. (The downside to lots of custom terrtex is the size of the route in download size and installed size.)
SOOO... as with any route of significance, it won't be a piece of cake, but man... can you imagine hanging your head out of a C&O Geep and seeing reasonable simlitudes of these scenes in MSTS?
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...1982&nseq=9
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...9120&nseq=4
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...9031&nseq=5
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...8488&nseq=6
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...0859&nseq=7
Like I said... it could be fun!
Ah, but remember, the C&O acquired the B&O in 1963. This means B&O equipment can be seen and used (and was) in the Thurmond area!!
Norman:
Well... the more I'm learning, the more fascinating the area is. Just this week I received my order for a stack of C&O books I purchased to learn more about it. One book "The C&O In Thurmond, WV" is a real gem of info. Between the books, and info I've gleaned off the internet, I have photos, track charts, structure drawings, and maps for the Thurmond, area. I also have some ideas of what the mines looked like "out there". In one case, a picture of an actual mine that was located on one of the subdivisions out of Thurmond.
Granted, there WILL be compromises that will have to be made in order to have a playable route once finished... but hopefully such compromises will not detract from the impact of the area.
If I build this thing, I have no intention of making an "eye candy" route that is so packed and bloated with objects to the point that it can't be used for operation. I never have approached route building like that, and don't intend to change with this one. I want to be able to switch big cuts of cars in the yard, have some AI, and all that, and still not cripple the sim. Can't do that and have 2500 objects per tile. If I can capture the feel of the area with reasonable tile counts, then that will be good enough for me. This means I may have to resort heavily to custom terrtex via Mosaic, but that would be fine. For some reason the terrtex don't seem to load the sim as bad as many objects with fat textures. (The downside to lots of custom terrtex is the size of the route in download size and installed size.)
SOOO... as with any route of significance, it won't be a piece of cake, but man... can you imagine hanging your head out of a C&O Geep and seeing reasonable simlitudes of these scenes in MSTS?
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...1982&nseq=9
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...9120&nseq=4
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...9031&nseq=5
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...8488&nseq=6
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?...0859&nseq=7
Like I said... it could be fun!
QUOTE(laming @ Sep 5 2009, 11:00 AM)
Like I said... it could be fun!
You got my interest up Andre
Don't forget Marcs got some real nice power that would fit right in there, body makes a better EMD 1st generation power as far as I am concerned.
Go ahead and work your magic, we'll be waitin' in the back ground
Don't forget Marcs got some real nice power that would fit right in there, body makes a better EMD 1st generation power as far as I am concerned.
Go ahead and work your magic, we'll be waitin' in the back ground
Nice to hear your plans for the future Andre.
Its also good to see you working around Fort Smith with your C420. I've caught you several times, I'm pretty sure you've seen me.
Its also good to see you working around Fort Smith with your C420. I've caught you several times, I'm pretty sure you've seen me.
Hi Barry:
Yup... I've seen you out and about the Ft. Smith area. Have fun!
Yup... I've seen you out and about the Ft. Smith area. Have fun!
QUOTE(laming @ Sep 15 2009, 1:40 PM)
Hi Barry:
Yup... I've seen you out and about the Ft. Smith area. Have fun!
Its always fun chasing down Alcos, even if they are only doing switching jobs.
Hey bk!
You shouldn't have left the UP interlock so quick today. Behind me was the FS Turn w/8 Alco's and about 60 cars. Once we cleared, they came on in to the interlock, and we coordinated/switched out freight/etc. Lots of action. Eventually the Turn left north with about 60 cars. After being given another motor by the FS Turn needed to handle the tonnage into FS, I drug in the Ft. Smith propers in. It was quite a smokey show climbing up from the river bridge! Rattled over Newlon road in 8 throttle at about 20 MPH with smoke shooting skyward.
Reason for all this: My job would have had an early quit today... BUT (and there are lots of "buts" when it comes to RR'ing!)... 4" of rain in 45 minutes last night caused a major washout up at Chester. Seeing as I'm the only day time engineer qualified to run north, my switch job was pressed into service shuttling ballast to Chester and dumping it. Once done there we got a new TW and I hot-footed south and radio blocked the Turn south with us.
Lots of daylight mainline action today on the southend!
You shouldn't have left the UP interlock so quick today. Behind me was the FS Turn w/8 Alco's and about 60 cars. Once we cleared, they came on in to the interlock, and we coordinated/switched out freight/etc. Lots of action. Eventually the Turn left north with about 60 cars. After being given another motor by the FS Turn needed to handle the tonnage into FS, I drug in the Ft. Smith propers in. It was quite a smokey show climbing up from the river bridge! Rattled over Newlon road in 8 throttle at about 20 MPH with smoke shooting skyward.
Reason for all this: My job would have had an early quit today... BUT (and there are lots of "buts" when it comes to RR'ing!)... 4" of rain in 45 minutes last night caused a major washout up at Chester. Seeing as I'm the only day time engineer qualified to run north, my switch job was pressed into service shuttling ballast to Chester and dumping it. Once done there we got a new TW and I hot-footed south and radio blocked the Turn south with us.
Lots of daylight mainline action today on the southend!
I knew I shouldn't of left... Dag nabbit!! I just had a feeling something was up when I seen you in Van Buren.
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