Was all cranked up and running in RE tonight... but had to suspend things to handle some phone calls. BUT...

(Big drum roll please...)

The Frisco rails are past the Frisco Ft. Smith depot area and I'm laying rail in South Yard!!! I'm laying switches in place for the various industrial spurs as well. This is the GOOD news.

The BAD news is: I'm nearing 300 objects (of which 90% is track) on the Ft. Smith downtown tile and I have a ways to go yet before I'm off the fool thing.

BUT (again)...

Copying the working copy to the Coal Belt mini-install, when I have a train in the sim in the Ft. Smith tiles, so far the FPS is still in the 50's with some dips into the 40's. Not bad, given my dated machine specs. So, even on my system, I still have some resource headroom.

This is a good thing, isn't it?

ANYHOO... my immediate goal is to complete the needed track in the Ft. Smith tiles and see where I'm at. If I must adjust (simplify), then so be it.

Another FWIW...

Admittedly, there are compromises. The track isn't "exact", nor the gradients "perfect". HOWEVER... it "feels" like "home". (Remember, I run the former SLSF track daily.) When I pound by the depot in the sim... there's the IM&S (now Ft. Smith RR track) over there where it should be and following the same alignment (albeit backdated to 1908) as it does today. This is too COOL!

SO... I'm satisfied with the way things are turning out.

It really is amazing what you can do with a so-called "out dated" MSTS!!!!

WOW, I'm really looking forward to this update!!

Do you have an approximate date for the release?

He's just started. Cut the man some slack

Andre,

Your enthusiasm is obvious and contageous! Enjoy the hobby and, please, continue to allow us to share your "fun"!!

Bill

Larry_M said:

"WOW, I'm really looking forward to this update!!"

So am I!

"Do you have an approximate date for the release?"

Hopefully, in my lifetime.

Seriously, I haven't a clue. I intend to complete Van Buren and Ft. Smith first and release that. From there I'll work south, putting the finishing touches on track and adding scenery. However, expect diversions, distractions, and plan ol' "need to take a break" along the way to the first segment being ready for release.


SAR704 said in reference to the above:

"He's just started. Cut the man some slack "

True enough. However, I have had this project on my hard drive for sometime, just never had the courage to give it a good serious go. (Lacked data, mainly.) My data library has grown tremendously over the past year concerning this project, and I realized I had enough data to do it a creditable job. So, I've been on a track laying frenzy and now have:

* SLSF rails from downtown Ft. Smith, down to Jenson Ark/Ok south of Maney Jct. From Jenson over to Hackett and all the way down to Mansfield, Ark. (Including a good start on the many coal mines/towns.)

* Midland Valley rails from Maney Jct, over through Hackett, over to Excelsior, down to Hartford, Ark. Plus the spur to Greenwood is started.

* Iron Mountain & Southern rails in Ft. Smith, and headed south to AC Jct.

Frankly, there's already a TON of track layed.


Bill said:

"Your enthusiasm is obvious and contageous! Enjoy the hobby and, please, continue to allow us to share your "fun"!! "

You talked me into it!

Below you'll find an AE pic illustrating some of tonight's accomplishments. Ft. Smith is going to be a happenin' place!

I know how you feel. It took me a few years to get my WWII route to the point where it's at now, with nice long breaks in between versions. Keep up the great work!!

Here is a link to my route for anyone interested;

http://hawkdawg.com/MSTS/rts/ww2.htm