New York Division-Bergen Line - Part Deux!

[buzz456]

No it tastes like oranges...................................

[ET44C4]

I finally installed the route via your download link due to the fact that I couldn't get Steam to install it. I do not own the German route as of yet, but after running your route, I have been left in amazement. The amount of detail put into all of the scenery and little areas makes this route stand out. It is by far one of the best routes I have ever driven on. Spectacular work Minerman!

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[minerman146]

Sadly I do not live in the New York area so I can't taste this in it's original recipe. Can you use anything other then Orange County Milk?

Eric - Well, I supposed any good Holstein will do and the powdered version wouldn't cut it. Just add more Stoli!

No it tastes like oranges...................................

I believe that is milk form the "other" Orange County, you know the one out West. But I got you covered:

Buzz's "da moderator" Creamcicle.
Add ice to shaker
3 parts Grey Goose
1 part Cointreau
2 parts fine Orange County (NEW YORK) half and half
Shake and return to glass or bucket.
Rim container with one-half orange slice
Use other half orange slice as garnish

Tastes great and prevents SCURVY!

I finally installed the route via your download link due to the fact that I couldn't get Steam to install it. I do not own the German route as of yet, but after running your route, I have been left in amazement. The amount of detail put into all of the scenery and little areas makes this route stand out. It is by far one of the best routes I have ever driven on. Spectacular work Minerman!

I didn't see this one coming ET44C4! Thank You ! And yes - you get it. Its all the little out of the way places that make the route natural. Its very fun to do - I always hope you guys just catch these little scenes out of the corner of your eye and not think anything more about it !

Carry on gents!

[minerman146]

It appears I have resolved the QD issue. I have added back 60% of the previous QDs and 40% of the rolling stock. Each have been tested, details added where applicable and all that. This issue was time consuming and impacted negatively on scenery expansion. Work will start again on that for Saturday. Update will be out on 9.2.2017 in the AM.
*Note: Yard Signals are buried at CH and SF: Check your switches and Tab to clear the yard.

*ROUTE UPDATED*

The Minermen present:

Route Update Number 176
New York Division-Bergen Line 9.9.1.1: DairyLand

Additions: Scene Detail for QD.

QDs:
Cambpell Hall-Croxton
Hamptonburgh-Hoboken
Suffern-Hoboken
Hillburn-Croxton
Hillburn-Campbell Hall
Hoboken-Suffern
Hoboken-Campbell Hall
Croxton IMF-West

Fixes: QD Scenario causing player system crash, remove and replace with tested QD
Some shots from testing:

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[Overshoe]

I just took a little ride from Campbell Hall to Tuxedo. Frame rates were very good 60-70 in the cab. 40-60 outside. The trees did not seem to be a problem. Fps dropped when other 3D objects were in the scene. I found one glitch. The signal just North of Arden (43.12?) was floating high above the scenery. I'll try to finish the run to Croxton from Tuxedo tomorrow.

[minerman146]

I just took a little ride from Campbell Hall to Tuxedo. Frame rates were very good 60-70 in the cab. 40-60 outside. The trees did not seem to be a problem. Fps dropped when other 3D objects were in the scene. I found one glitch. The signal just North of Arden (43.12?) was floating high above the scenery. I'll try to finish the run to Croxton from Tuxedo tomorrow.

Ha! Thanks Tom. I saw it too. That was my doing while I was verifying the signal points at NJ. That will be fixed in the next update. It was really high in the sky wasn't it.

Thank you for the FPS report - you have a decent rig (better than mine) and your numbers show it. Actually, the primary difference is the my i3 processor.

[minerman146]

I am pleased to report that the replacement QD is working swimmingly well. I have had zero performance issues reported with it. However, I must advise trains departing from Hillburn to Campbell Hall to watch their switch alignment on yard entry. I had a bad thing happen when I arrived in the yard. Lets just say that not only was DOT and FRA involved but the EPA was all over me after my incident. Fortunately, the virtual fireball didn't sear me like the well-done steaks my wife likes!

As previously noted, its time to start talking about what's next with the Bergen after Campbell Hall. I have heard from those who want to run push-pulls 90 miles in one direction. Their argument was not compelling. To sum, it was "just do it". They did not figure out the answer as they didn't know the question. Can one build a fully functioning virtual railroad that has sessions that be practically played in an evening? Can it be believable, realistic and most of all - compelling. If you want to sit in the cab for an hour an half - or more, you need a reason! Gentlemen, were going to find that out.

As you, dear reader, are aware, I wanted to build the full New York Division of the Erie Lackawanna. I thought if I built this well enough I could draw attention from the powers at be or from independents to make the dream, a reality. We had limited success in doing so, but not enough to create a full package in a single download. I remain, optimistic that this may one day happen. Its just not now. I understand the interest level is limited - its always been that way. But this dream, is just a part of what I wanted to do. I wanted to also recreate the flow of traffic, the operations of a working part of the railroad and we now have enough track, and enough scenery to do it.

We are soon to complete a working representation, as it exists today, for the Norfolk Southern in the Southern Tier of New York. This is a bold statement considering the Main line is missing from Patterson East. But nonetheless, we have, at least, 2/3 of it. So, now I can talk about what happens next and what we are going to do. Lets go to the map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1gEQfMvlUaFK01kBJu2BTkII8_Os&hl=en_US&ll=41.13664963602307%2C-74.37626125000003&z=9

Look at the branch lines and sidings. They are there for a reason. I built them for a purpose: to grab the largest amount of consignees I could to replicate real traffic. Not through traffic, not made up traffic, not to run circus trains or custom painted excursion consists for my own pleasure, but for consignees. The Railroad makes its' money solely from the customer. It exists for the customer. Without the consignee, there is no purpose. To get to the consignees I have spent months of extra time to get the tracks laid to reach these customers and build the scenery around them, even though there were clearly off the mainline. (i.e. the Pascack and the Piermont) On this route, our mission has always been to reach them all; old and new, the defunct, the forgotten, the out of the way, the smelly and the eyesores of every grimy berg from Jersey City to the Town of Walkill. So, I say here: we shall build consists that are logical and appropriate, deliver them to their local station, deliver fulls to the customer, pull empties and return those cars back for staging to their home road. And we can, because I have also documented all the consignees! Operations Guide: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4DCtRvSOWHJZEd5RUNZaGFJNDQ Operations = Cool.

Just yesterday, I found myself with a few hours of spare time. I took a drive to the future of the Bergen Line, the reason for Campbell Hall to exist today. By my count and observation there are 7 live and 2 defunct customers spread out on 2 spurs. The first is nine miles long and terminates in Walden, NY. The second is 6 miles long and passes through Maybrook, NY. This extension increases our customer count to 58 unique businesses that are supported directly and indirectly by Norfolk Southern. YOU will LOVE the scenery here. Check this picture out.

Walden_20170901_114622.jpg

One of the things about the Bergen - it has it all. I know of a lot of guys that go ga-ga over this kind of short line running. We got 15 miles of this kinda stuff in the works for you.

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I admit, I was skeptical that we could have enough local traffic out of just Campbell Hall to be interesting. After my field, trip and what I saw - this effort is completely justified for operations. So, I am standing on Clinton St. In Walden, looking at this scene below. And I am thinking, the guys are gonna love this place if I can pull it off.

Clinton Steet_20170901_121415.jpg

Then I hear something - then I SEE something: https://youtu.be/xlINlAMcvfo
I guess it was meant to be - and not to shabby for just standing there like a doof for 10 minutes taking pictures of some street! After the train passed, I spoke to a father, who had 2 children in tow, who approached from the other side of the track. I said " these trains must drive you guys nuts." He said, "We're used to them. That one is a short one - usually there are about 8 cars on a train - 2 or three times a day" . We exchanged pleasantries and he and his children proceeded on their journey. Me, well, I was grinning ear to ear and satisfied that I would be doing the right thing spending the time to bring Train Simulator to Walden and to all of you.

Yep, and that's me saying "Where did that come from?"

[ET44C4]

Looks and sounds great!

[minerman146]

No doubt - its been a great weekend. The weather is flawless here in Southern NY. As you can read - I am gearing up for the next phase of construction on the Bergen. With my field trip and review of satellite images, I can say that this part of the line - Campbell Hall and the Montgomery Branch will be the place you will want to drive in. I am really excited about this build. Imagine the scenery of the Piermont line but with a kicker - 3 complete Villages - with all the street detail you know and love and 10 - count em', TEN consignees to deliver to from CH. Were going to have another 10 miles of scenery headed North. You get the Towns of Montgomery, Maybrook and Walden. You get farms, wetlands, forests, crossings, switch backs and even more trees. We got 5 lumber yards, 2 Chemical Plants and 3 manufacturers on 2 spurs. 1 is 9 miles the other 6. The only drawback I see (there has to be one) is this is all 10mph territory with marginal track. This means if you go to Walden - its a 2 hour run. Its also a draw back for me. You are going so slow, you will see everything and that means detail. To make it even more interesting - I am locating as many dips and rises in the track that I can find, super-elevating every curve and I am going to junk up the track so bad - your coffee will never make the trip!

Lets go the pictures: CH is just a taste of the scenery yet to come....

I am loving driving around the Wye and it gives me something to do while I check scenery. The pictures don't show it - but the view from the cab is outta-this-world!

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This should take 3 or 4 months to do and then that's it. I told my story and covered every trick my Dad ever complained about(on the New York Division). And I like to think I put not only the Hudson Valley back on the map as an example of a magnificent patch of earth, but made all of you aware of the rich railroad heritage of the Southern Tier.

[ex-railwayman]

Just been tootling around Suffern Yard switching for a while with a CR C36-7i on full volume with a string of boxcars from RRMods, which also have a brilliant audio soundpack as well, it was a noisy, but, highly enjoyable 30 minutes.

Cheerz. ex-railwayman. Steve.

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[NStrains]

Minerman I am very excited to hear that these two branches will indeed be made!!! Your level of detail and quality, I'm sure, will do them both very good justice!

Are you still going to do the Carlton Hill area as well?

[ex-railwayman]

Had a little playtime up at Campbell Hall, I worked a local round the Wye and then reversed a Dash 9 in from the station end and took off, the amount of vegetation and forests is quite staggering, I ambled along with the frame rates jumping between 27 and 35, so, not too shabby for the volume of assets, I only drove up to Salisbury Mills Station you can see the attention to detail along the way is outstanding, well done chaps, keep going.........

Cheerz. Steve.

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[NStrains]

Hey ex-railwayman, where did you get those brown TBOX repaints from? I'm assuming they are repaints of RRmods 60' Hi-Cube box cars...

[ex-railwayman]

Now, where do you think I got them from, Jessie's back reskinning again, need I say more.......

Cheerz. ex.

[NStrains]

Now, where do you think I got them from, Jessie's back reskinning again, need I say more.......

Cheerz. ex.

I NEED them!!!