How much is too much?

[xxuntitledxx]

Hi all,

I wanted to get some opinions on how much is enough to model for a route. I'm working on the Lehigh Line from Bethlehem (Allentown Yard), PA to Oak Island, NJ. I wanted to know if it would be worth extending the route to include the line to Croxton as well as the Port Reading secondary/Amboy secondary. Would this be too much over kill? Anybody have any opinions on when is a good time to stop?

Thanks,

Ken

[artimrj]

Depends on how much scenery you have done. If your all done, extend it, if you did not start yet, forget extending it. Not sure how far along you are but laying track then scenery are two different entities all together.

[gwgardner]

Base your decision on operations. What does the extension add to freight movements, etc. Is it worth the effort?

[xxuntitledxx]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to end up doing the Port Reading Secondary in addition to the Chemical Coast Line along with the main line extension to Croxton Yard. The reason is because I found a lot of trains end at all 3 locations, and with a crew change point in Bethlehem (Allentown) I think it would be a good thing for scenarios. Also, I think an advantage is since I live around all the locations and railfan the line regularly (and took a train over the line this past summer) I pretty much know every mile (literally) of the route. Now the tough part will be finding assets that can be "place holders" for some of the structures along the line. I'm hoping to get some screenshots once I have some things in place. Just to give a perspective of what I've done. I'll update that in my other thread.

Ken

[Chacal]

055.jpg

I can't decide if this is a clever spam bot or a randomly wired human.

[arizonachris]

I can't decide if this is a clever spam bot or a randomly wired human.

The latter, me thinks.

[italianbattalion]

^ Too funny...

Ken, I'd be happy to help you test out your route when you're ready for it (if you'd like). I can't wait to check it out!

[FourEightFour]

Do we have a Close Encounter of the Third kind on our hands here?

[xxuntitledxx]

um... I don't know exactly what to say to that... *twilight zone theme song*...

On a normal note... I am slowly inching my way between roycefield rd. and manville, and manville and bound brook... just having trouble getting the tangents to line up. I have a bunch of curves with straight tracks in between... unfortunately the editor isn't as precise as i'd like it... anyone have any tips on getting long straight sections (a few miles in length) to not head off in weird directions? according to the track charts from conrail (1999) and norfolk southern (2008) the track is straight as an arrow between port reading junction and bound brook and just past the industrial spur west of Manville Yard on the NS Main. (CSX Main heads south). Anyone familiar with the editor enough to help me out?

Thanks.

Ken

[Chacal]

huh.jpg

[NorthernWarrior]

Back to the OP, working on average an hour or two a day on a route you can probably reckon on around a month per 20 linear miles of route working solo to achieve a realistic level of finish. Don't forget that RSC/Dovetail have a team of professionals working full time on their stuff which is, 1. Why it looks so brilliant, but 2. Is making it harder for the solo freeware builder to keep up in terms of route length and/or quality. Factor that figure into your plans x how many months you expect to work on a project without getting bored of it or distracted by something else and there's your answer.

[NorthernWarrior]

Methinks some people shouldn't try posting when they are either drunk, or stoned (or both)... :)

[arizonachris]

And, POOF! It's gone.

[dejoh]

Aw Shucks. At least I read it before going up in smoke. Was good for a little laugh

[artimrj]

Sorry, couldn't take it anymore. There was just enough RW stuff in the posts to make me think it might be a person. I no longer care if it was or not. Deleted.