Railworks America

I've finally decided it's time to take the plunge and do a North American route for Railworks. I've previously started a couple of projects (Utah Potash, California Western, McCloud River) which unfortunately ended up in the Fallen Flags bin.

I'm currently evaluating a few possibilities - California Western is looking top of the list as those twisting curves climbing the mountain towards Willits are irresistible.

However I was also thinking Canadian, maybe part of the CP in the Salmon Arm area though I know someone else is working on a Selkirk historical route and I wouldn't want to duplicate, albeit mine would be from a modern(ish) perspective. Another offbeat one that came to mind is a SF MUNI line, maybe N Judah, but like my recent UK ng project there's a bit of chicken and egg - without appropriate trams to run on it there seems little point in creating the route.

The other biggie I'm surprised not to see WIP is Tehachapi, think I may have seen something at TS about that a while back but no recent news.

My biggest problem at the moment is attention span building a route, anything over about 6 weeks = 25-30 miles and my mind wanders off. Now a 30 mile "budget" will build an intensive UK route thanks to our crowded little island but in the US or Canada that's barely the distance between two towns. Guess the advantage being it is (slightly) quicker to scenify a wilderness area than a townscape.

At the moment California Western is looking favourite (again). I'm an addict of mountain railroading and the shortline nature means train lengths and infrastructure can be kept fairly short.

The Tehachapi at TS.com is pretty much just the loop and that's it. I don't think it's even put in the right geological position. (I checked)

I thought someone here was doing a Tehachapi route. *sigh* Now I'll have do do some searching.

Vern, I would love a new North American route. I have pretty much run the Barstow/ San Bernadino and Rich Garber's routes to death.

As things stand at present I've decided to take another crack at California Western. There will be a (slight) interruption in progress during October as I'm taking part in the UKTS Route Building Challenge, but at 40 miles based on my normal rate of progress that could be a release candidate by mid to late December. We shall see!

If the others are still "vacant", who knows next year, I might take a crack at Tehachapi or Durango & Silverton.

If you have run those two popular routes to death, try the P&LE

tehachapi pass is in the DL section at TS. but? it woulda been helpfull if the author would have included the markers and the terrain files.

CerealKiller wrote:tehachapi pass is in the DL section at TS. but? it woulda been helpfull if the author would have included the markers and the terrain files.

Trainguy76 wrote:The Tehachapi at TS.com is pretty much just the loop and that's it. I don't think it's even put in the right geological position. (I checked)

It's not in the right place, so there is no terrain possibilities.

I'll put Tehachapi on the "maybe" list for next year then, if no one else is having a more accurate attempt in the meantime.

BigVern wrote: if no one else is having a more accurate attempt in the meantime.

*Cough*

I'm just passing the time until the Route Building Challenge.

Feel free to extend it when I'm done.

Off to a reasonable start on CWRR with Willits in and the line through Summit and through the winding curves down the hill. Some of those needed 70m radius curves so will be a bit limited what can run up there (given there's several 3.5% grades too) in terms of motive power and tonnage. Should be plenty of flange squeal though!

OK, I have the DD40, the Challenger and the Big Boy. I suppose those should run that grade.

I was looking at the WCRR on Google Earth.... are you sure that section is a railway?! It looks more like a ski trail!! lol That looks like a run I will enjoy.

Tori

@Chris...
I think the problem with the "big" power is getting round the curves, though I guess in a simulated world as you're really running on a database line you will probably get round any curve regardless of wheelbase. Not sure how RW approaches the physics of curve flange resistance. I was thinking more a BritKits RS3 or GP7/GP9.

@Tori...
My thoughts on seeing it too. Thus far it's defied two attempts on my part to see it through, the first in TS2009, which really couldn't cope with the precision needed for those sharp curves and second last year in RW when I got distracted by something else.

BigVern wrote:though I guess in a simulated world as you're really running on a database line you will probably get round any curve regardless of wheelbase. Not sure how RW approaches the physics of curve flange resistance.

It could be that RW's physics in this matter is different than it was with MSTS (although both were created by Kuju), but if you'll remember in MSTS some of the longer rolling-stock would hang on sharp curves.
However, in my limited time in the RW editor laying track, I don't think RW can produce as sharp of a curve as was available in MSTS.

It is possible to create quite sharp curves in RailWorks, all that is needed is your own track-rule.