The Lakeside Line
Posted: Sun Jan 05, 2014 10:57 pmWe all enjoy visiting and participating in Railworks America; however, Internet hosts, like the one that hosts RWA, are not in business for our enjoyment. The growth of RWA has necessitated its migration from a shared file server to a dedicated server and that's not cheap. To help defray the associated costs, some of us have begun to build a "donationware" route which will be made available exclusively at this web site. All proceeds will be used solely to maintain RWA as viable concern.
Development of the route began in late November. Normally I don't announce projects until they're well on the way to completion. This time I thought it would be fun to let you to watch the route come together. It's being designed as we go according to whatever strikes our fancy, so nobody really knows what the final route will look like. Stay tuned! Post your questions and comments in this forum.
What follows is set of route specs to give you an idea of what the route is about. But first, some WIP screen shots!
1. Locale
Upper-midwest, Great Lakes...because it's under-represented in TS. Also as an homage to of all the great model railroads based in that region that I used to read about.
2. Fact or Fiction?
Fictional but plausible...so we can do whatever we want as long as it's more or less believable.
3. Era
Transition period...allows for steam and diesel, not that you couldn't run modern equipment if you wanted.
6. Scenery
Generally flat and agricultural with a few hills up in iron country...populated areas, but nothing very big...one end of the line is on "a little known inlet off Lake Superior."
4. Size
Not more than 15 miles end to end...avoids long, in-between runs with nothing much happening. It'll also be finished that much sooner!
5. Operational Theme
Bridge line between two "major railroads" with interchange tracks at each end...small yard with steam and diesel services...primarily switching activities, which should allow for a lot of scenario opportunities...in addition to general industries, there's also an iron ore mine that generates traffic between the mine and the big loading dock over at the lake...the major railroad is essentially a 2-track loop to be used by AI trains.
7. Signals
Where appropriate...because we can and because they're fun! The bridge line already has working semaphore signals.
8. Rolling Stock
One original first-gen locomotive, the ALCo RS-1 shown above...a variety of mid-20th-century freight cars.
9. Time Frame
Available in late Spring-early Summer 2014.
10. Route Name
Working title is "The Lakeside Line," but one of you will choose the actual name. Look for more information about that in a separate post.
Development of the route began in late November. Normally I don't announce projects until they're well on the way to completion. This time I thought it would be fun to let you to watch the route come together. It's being designed as we go according to whatever strikes our fancy, so nobody really knows what the final route will look like. Stay tuned! Post your questions and comments in this forum.
What follows is set of route specs to give you an idea of what the route is about. But first, some WIP screen shots!
1. Locale
Upper-midwest, Great Lakes...because it's under-represented in TS. Also as an homage to of all the great model railroads based in that region that I used to read about.
2. Fact or Fiction?
Fictional but plausible...so we can do whatever we want as long as it's more or less believable.
3. Era
Transition period...allows for steam and diesel, not that you couldn't run modern equipment if you wanted.
6. Scenery
Generally flat and agricultural with a few hills up in iron country...populated areas, but nothing very big...one end of the line is on "a little known inlet off Lake Superior."
4. Size
Not more than 15 miles end to end...avoids long, in-between runs with nothing much happening. It'll also be finished that much sooner!
5. Operational Theme
Bridge line between two "major railroads" with interchange tracks at each end...small yard with steam and diesel services...primarily switching activities, which should allow for a lot of scenario opportunities...in addition to general industries, there's also an iron ore mine that generates traffic between the mine and the big loading dock over at the lake...the major railroad is essentially a 2-track loop to be used by AI trains.
7. Signals
Where appropriate...because we can and because they're fun! The bridge line already has working semaphore signals.
8. Rolling Stock
One original first-gen locomotive, the ALCo RS-1 shown above...a variety of mid-20th-century freight cars.
9. Time Frame
Available in late Spring-early Summer 2014.
10. Route Name
Working title is "The Lakeside Line," but one of you will choose the actual name. Look for more information about that in a separate post.
just for the ALCO.
