New York Division-Bergen Line - Part Deux!

[minerman146]

Welcome to our shiny new thread - we lost the liquor license on the last one.

Lets recap:

We are re building an amazing representation of the former Erie Lackawanna, New York Division. Set in the current day of course, so that those who enjoy their Norfolk Southern, Metro North Commuter Railroad and New Jersey Transit can have a place to their own.

We left off with our last update number 162 and 163, which included the majestic Moodna Viaduct in Salisbury Mills, New York. And we were also discussing the future - Campbell Hall, New York and the end of this here route.

Carry On!


Link to the Original Discussion http://railworksamerica.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=13875

[NStrains]

I can't help myself from continually posting screenshots of the Minermen's most excellent artwork!!!

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vvv This one is my new personal wallpaper vvv

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[JackD]

Minerman,

"Welcome to our shiny new thread - we lost the liquor license on the last one. "

I knew there was a better reason than that "unstable server" thing!

Glad you're continuing to ride into the sunset.

JackD

[BoostedFridge]

Welcome to our shiny new thread - we lost the liquor license on the last one.

That made my week! Looking forward to what's ahead.

[minerman146]

Yes, the bar is most certainly ... open.

Lets hop back in our time machine to Summer of 2015

Re: New York Divsion-Bergen Line
Postby minerman146 » Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:43 pm
NYWhiskey - stay tuned - we gotta go East before we go West again.
I just checked and its 5.05 miles from where our track ends in Highland Mills, NY to the Moodna Viaduct.
If you have the route - were going to relay everything from HIllburn, NY to Highland Mills, super-elevate then take it to Campbell Hall.

Ha! That's right I said 2 years ago I would go to the Moodna and Campbell Hall. Lo and behold, here we are. So, I build Whiskey's bridge and I haven't heared from him yet. Now mind you, this gentlemen did present me with a fine bottle of Jameson's Black, just about a year ago, not 1 mile as the crow flies from the trestle. C'mon Whiskey take a ride and take a picture of the bridge will ya?

Now, I made it a point of making promises and then keeping them. So, I my word can be my bond. And I've been talking about the end of construction for a long time. ( I don't think I really know how to stop) We are definitely going to Campbell Hall. I have some cool stuff planned for that area. So, I have been day dreaming, as I do on my ride home, and I get to envision what I'm a gonna do. I have many houses to put in to finish up the Moonda and environs. That will be the immediate focus.

I finally, after all these years, got hold of a track map that gives me the grades from Harriman to Binghamton (no, I am NOT goin that far). So, I see and I kinda figured out we got a .18 percent down slope from MP 54 to past the station. My bridge is .0, I decided to not dip the end of the Moodna 3 foot, as I was not going to try and tilt those bridge sections. But, were gonna hook you up with as real as possible track gradients for the rest of this run. And I found the Conjob "ZTS" map, which gives me the consignees for this entire area. I see local freight jobs out of Campbell Hall. That's a good thing as I envision this as a freight route. So if you can hang on for the next 9 miles or so of trees, I promise to make Campbell Hall very interesting for you guys.

Time for tonight's build session...

[minerman146]

As NS Pointed out - there is still scenery that needs to be backfilled. In my rush to cross the Moodna with Trees, there was still work to be done. I should wrap this up by the end of the week. Then I will get the scenery in North and South of the station and will proceed with the scenery around Beaver Dam Lake.

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[NStrains]

Looking goooooood!!!

[NStrains]

Some motivational shots!

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[minerman146]

Thank you NS, I am inspired! And I am inspired to fix that tilty embankment in your last shot!

I do have a small problem, I planned on ending the route at version 10! I am at 9.9 now. So, I will be using 9.9.0.1 in the next update. If I have a 'big' release, I will enter a number after the second decimal. This is going to be long 10 miles to CH.

The response to the trestle was not as strong as I had hoped. Frankly, I am really pleased with the work, I keep flying around the bridge, looking for ways to make the distant scenery look even better. On the other hand, I see that, while scenic, this is the boring part of the route. I had the same problem when I was on the line. Once you get to Suffern, THEN, it gets interesting.

CH will be a worthwhile destination. Maybrook is very interesting and I am toying around with making it look as it did in 1972. The other interesting part, is where the M&NJ comes in, at the moment I have no idea whose track that is, but I will find out. I am looking for Erie justification, that will seal the deal for me. So, up in CH, you may get a branch line going to Middletown (to the south) and another 2 branch lines up to Walden and Montgomery a 9 and 6 mile run respectively. (M&NJ Map:http://www.mnjrr.com/images/mnj-map2.pdf). That run may be to costly as I could get past Otisville with the same effort. I think, I will save these proposed extensions during the 'discussion' period after I reach CH.

Time to build!

[JackD]

minerman,

Thanks for your tip on increasing depth of field in settings! Thought it was set to max- -wrong. Reset to max and, as if by magic, the Moodna scenery is now a Woodpecker's dream. Great work!!!

Your future plans sound good to me. Though having never been to the subject area, this route still has a special feel to it because it mirrors reality. I keep being drawn back to it for that reason. Your top quality work has definitely paid off!

JackD

[JackD]

NStrains,

It is well past time for me to thank you for all the great pics you have showered on us! They are a wonderful addition to our enjoyment of the progress of this great route.

Please keep your shutter clicking!

JackD

[NStrains]

NStrains,

It is well past time for me to thank you for all the great pics you have showered on us! They are a wonderful addition to our enjoyment of the progress of this great route.

Please keep your shutter clicking!

JackD

JackD,

Thank you for the kind words! Sometimes I feel as if I post too many shots too often. It's nice to know that's not really the case and is just my own thoughts.

I also think it's time for me to give the North-end (North of Suffern) a little break and get back to exploring everything South of Suffern. You know, for quality assurance...

[NStrains]

Thank you NS, I am inspired! And I am inspired to fix that tilty embankment in your last shot!

I do have a small problem, I planned on ending the route at version 10! I am at 9.9 now. So, I will be using 9.9.0.1 in the next update. If I have a 'big' release, I will enter a number after the second decimal. This is going to be long 10 miles to CH.

The response to the trestle was not as strong as I had hoped. Frankly, I am really pleased with the work, I keep flying around the bridge, looking for ways to make the distant scenery look even better. On the other hand, I see that, while scenic, this is the boring part of the route. I had the same problem when I was on the line. Once you get to Suffern, THEN, it gets interesting.

CH will be a worthwhile destination. Maybrook is very interesting and I am toying around with making it look as it did in 1972. The other interesting part, is where the M&NJ comes in, at the moment I have no idea whose track that is, but I will find out. I am looking for Erie justification, that will seal the deal for me. So, up in CH, you may get a branch line going to Middletown (to the south) and another 2 branch lines up to Walden and Montgomery a 9 and 6 mile run respectively. (M&NJ Map:http://www.mnjrr.com/images/mnj-map2.pdf). That run may be to costly as I could get past Otisville with the same effort. I think, I will save these proposed extensions during the 'discussion' period after I reach CH.

Time to build!

MM, I didn't even catch that issue you pointed out!

I do agree with you though. I thought for sure there would be several other people who would be posting shots of the Moodna. Maybe they are just basking in all 3,200ft of it's steel glory!
Don't call this section boring though! Just because it's not as "busy" as everything South of Suffern, doesn't make it any less interesting. The scenery North of Suffern definitely makes up for the lack of industry to keep busy with.

[JackD]

NStrains,

"You know, for quality assurance..." We must keep minerman on his toes . . . sometimes I feel he takes too many breaks to go to his "job'".

JackD

[minerman146]

NStrains,

"You know, for quality assurance..." We must keep minerman on his toes . . . sometimes I feel he takes too many breaks to go to his "job'".

JackD

I again am at one of my very very long breaks at my day job! I also have a response to your comment earlier:

Though having never been to the subject area, this route still has a special feel to it because it mirrors reality. I keep being drawn back to it for that reason.

Jack, I have the same experience. I have to force myself to stay in edit mode so I don't start flying around and looking at all this scenery. I made it but it shocks me how it looks - a very strange experience. You are touching on what the route has become - that special feel - mirroring reality. I didn't think it could be done. And with TSW, I was so concerned about how great it looks. After looking at it, I realized its not just new software that makes it "life-like", its what we do every day on the Bergen that does it. I'm constantly change proportion, height and rotation on the foliage to create randomness. And I am making shadow with the dark grass color. All to bring out the scenery and create depth and a sense of distance. I purposely make sure that if there are objects that accentuate depth of field, I put it in. I want you to perceive distance.

I think I am actually pulling it off. I know this because I don't want to leave that Moodna scene. For example, when rolling East form the Station, do you look over the sides of bridge? The scenery that is there, was put there by design, so you can look down form the cab window. I thought about how I was going to mix the 2D and 3D trees and brush for months. Does the thought in it show? I am always curious about your experience - I know its hard to describe - I have the same issue.

Your comment really stuck a chord with me. "Being drawn back to it" Yes, like that - I get the same thing.