Central Jersey Freight Lines (The Lehigh Line Project)

[xxuntitledxx]

Hey all,

I know, I know... you've all been wondering if this route is still being worked on and the answer is yes! I've been slowly working on things in between work, events, and...life... so here's a couple of screenshots I took today with a test consist... one could say it's a very late running (and short I might add) "18N" autorack train.

Just east of CP-53 (WIP)


Rockafellows Mills Road (WIP)


CSX at Port Reading Junction 1 (WIP)


CSX at Port Reading Junction 2 (WIP)


Hope you all enjoy and keep coming back for more updates. As always... feel free to comment or ask questions.

Ken

[Chacal]

Great work!
Glad to see this project is still alive.

[imnew]

Great work!
Glad to see this project is still alive.

I echo Chacal

[xxuntitledxx]

Thanks all! I really appreciate the positive feedback! I think eventually once I get more scenery laid out I'll start using real world photos and put them next to the sim screenshots so you can see the comparison. I have PLENTY of pictures since I pretty much railfan the entire route almost every weekend. (My dad is the photographer, I shoot video). So I'll have to find shots from my dads vast archive to do comparison shots. Look out for those soon.

[italianbattalion]

Sweet pics! Can't wait to play it!

[xxuntitledxx]

Thanks for all the kind comments. It encourages me to keep on going.

Anyway... ran into a problem... I'm trying to signal the Trenton Sub division junction and the signal doesn't want to change if I set the signal points as they should. Each mainline has a signal facing east that protect the points getting onto the Conrail Mainline.
You can see the Trenton sub mainlines converging off to the left in the photo. The thing is I need to have the signals protect the Conrail Mainline all the way to the bridge through the entire junction which has 2 crossovers before the bridge as seen in the middle of the photos. This carries CSX freights on and off the mainline as well as cross over NS freights from Main 2 to Main 1 or vice versa. So any Idea on how to make the 2 signals ont he CSX line work in sync with the signals on the NS/Conrail Main? I have those working perfectly.

Any ideas?

[italianbattalion]

I can't think of any reason it would be any different than the other signals you've done, except you'll have to drag the markers beyond the last crossover in each track.

By the way that's an interesting picture of the junction. I don't think I've seen it from that perspective.

[xxuntitledxx]

I was thinking the same about the Signals. And that shot was taken by the company that re-did the interlocking a few years ago. I guess they took it from one of their bucket trucks or something.

[italianbattalion]

Well hopefully that works. I know when I've messed around with long signal links like that, it worked most of the time but there were situations where it didn't work, like if the train backs up before completely crossing the last link. My guess is that if you managed to get the NS line working at 100%, there's probably something simple that you missed for the Trenton line into PRJ. I could be wrong, but I don't think it would make a difference between that and any of the areas where you have 1 track diverging to 2 or 3 on the Lehigh line. Just be careful to pick a signal with enough links to account for every possible track the train could go after passing the signal. All things I'm sure you know already!

PS: Any chance we could get an early sample????

-Lou

[italianbattalion]

Hi Ken,

Just because I'm really curious, I made my own Port Reading Junction as a standalone mini-route (minus the Manville yard tracks). I was able to successfully signal the junction mainlines protecting the Conrail portion from the NS and CSX portions, and vice versa. I got it to work by dragging the signal links beyond the farthest junctions. I had to guess where all the signals actually are, though, because I can't really tell where they are from your picture or from Google Maps. I see one two-head signal on what I presume is an EB NS track (track 2 from the employee time table...aka the left track). I don't see a signal on the other EB track (track 1, aka right track). From Google Maps it looks like the WB signals are out of the bottom of the frame. I couldn't find the CSX signals facing the junction, but guessed they were relatively close to where the tracks converge into the NS/CSAO portion (probably just out of the frame on the upper left side).

I tried using many different signals for the junction and only got one of them to work properly (though I suspect more work). If I used the RCAP NRC V20 signals, the lights operated with the correct aspects but AI trains do not obey stop signals. The scenario time-table view also displays a "multiple trains in block" error. It's as if the signals do not form blocks.

I then tried to use the NS Coal District signals since they are also G-type signals, and the most realistic looking. The "multiple trains in block" error went away instantly, but I am unable to get these signals to display limited aspects, and they don't have as many options for different quantities of diverging tracks.

The last signal I used, though not prototypical for the route, was the RCAP NS_USR2 type. These work well for the most part. I was able to get them to display the limited aspects by adjusting the speed limits for each diverging track link within the signal itself (not messing with the track's speed). When I type in 40mph, the signals will usually display limited aspects. When I type in 30, medium aspects. And when I type in 15, slow or restricting (depending on the signal type). I tried the same exact method with the NS Coal signals but no matter what I did, they never displayed limited aspects.

Anyway, if you haven't gotten yours to work I'd be happy to send you a .rwp file of the one I made for reference. And if anyone else on here has any idea why I can't get AI traffic to obey stop signals for the RCAP NRC V20 signals, please let me know! It's driving me crazy. The AI behaves nicely with other signals keeping everything else constant.

Thanks
Lou

[xxuntitledxx]

Thanks for the info, I think I figured out what was going on link wise... I still have to test it. The picture I have is an old picture taken before the junction was opened... I'll post a picture of what I have as soon as I can...(btw Lou...what do you mean as in preview?)

Secondly, I've been making attempts to create assets for my route (i.e. stations) and might I stress on attempts. I find modelling in sketch up to have quite some challenges. Still trying to get the hang of it. But, I think at the rate I'm going it'll take me forever to make what I need to make. So if anyone would like to help join the cause and create some stations for me I'd be happy to help in any way I can. Even if I get the base model, I'll texture it and what not.

Speaking of which...what should I use to texture these things? I'm using the textures in sketch up but they're okay...not the best. Any ideas, or any takers?

I'd need 3 things modelled... Phillipsburg, NJ Union station, Union, NJ station, Roselle Park, NJ station. The rest I can fill in with other assets. I also have a lot of work to do on some other "added" lines... Let's just say this is turning out to be more than just the Lehigh Line. I'll explain (and maybe show) more later

Anyway...please PM or respond here if anyone is interested...

Thanks again!

Ken

[italianbattalion]

Oh I just meant if the route works and you don't mind sharing it now before it's finished, I wouldn't mind playing around with it!

Wish I could help with the building models, but that's beyond my knowledge. I wonder if there are tutorials here? I didn't look.

-Lou

[buzz456]

Oh I just meant if the route works and you don't mind sharing it now before it's finished, I wouldn't mind playing around with it!

Wish I could help with the building models, but that's beyond my knowledge. I wonder if there are tutorials here? I didn't look.

-Lou

Tons of them.

[xxuntitledxx]

Oh I just meant if the route works and you don't mind sharing it now before it's finished, I wouldn't mind playing around with it!

Wish I could help with the building models, but that's beyond my knowledge. I wonder if there are tutorials here? I didn't look.

-Lou

Oh... well... before I release it in a beta form I want to have the track work pretty much complete. Functionality wise it works... I've already had AI trains running on the route in real world scenarios and so far no issues.

This is turning into a lot more than just the Lehigh Line per se (I'm thinking of changing the name of the project because of that). I also want to get some of the scenery complete too.

I've been working on the tracks in Oak Island this past weekend and when I can during the week. I have the eatsbound receiving yard and Bay Line Yard complete and the main up to CP-Pike. Next thing in line (no pun intended ) is the yard at Doremus, and the Hump in Oak Island, plus track work on some secondary lines. I also need to work on the engine facility. Once I get that complete I'll have some pretty interesting screenshots.

So yeah, in short... I won't be releasing something until I feel it's somewhat "complete".

I know based on my building skills (or lack thereof) I know I will need help with Landmark buildings. I found some of them in Sketchup's warehouse model database but... I'd need to convert them to Railworks format. Any ideas? It's well appreciated...

Ken

[xxuntitledxx]

Hey guys,

One more thing...
So I originally made this route using RWTools to set up all the folders and core files... However, I only have summer textures. I tried testing something in Winter and even though I selected "Winter" as the season everything is still in Summer textures. No snow anywhere. Anybody know how I could fix this so I have seasons?

Thanks in advance!

Ken