Cheyenne 1869 extension

[buzz456]

I've mentioned this before but additionally there is a freeware version of IOBIT Advanced System Care which is a nice utility other than the usual popups trying to sell you the subscription (normal). It has a system monitor which just sits on the top right corner of your screen and has the ability to clear your ram. I use it all the time when painting and adding scenery in route building. Clicking on F2 and then it every few minutes mostly eliminates any crashes.

[philmoberg]

...
I think, it must have been built while they build the railroad in 1868 and needed a supply station for ties and other wood stuff

The old roadbed crosses Hermosa Road here [GPS]. This was the original location of Tie Siding, which was a place where freight cars were loaded with ties, fence poles and wood harvested from the forests to the southwest. Note the width of the fill to the north, which is large enough to accommodate several sidings. A cemetery with many old graves is located nearby.

Tie-Siding, 555.2 miles from Omaha; elevation, 7,985 feet. This is a telegraph station, A well-worn and much traveled road leads hence across the prairies southward to the mountains of Diamond Peaks, in the neighborhood of which are obtained ties, fencepoles and wood. There are a few houses, and the inevitable saloon houses occupied mostly by woodchoppers and teamsters while the saloons generally take the most of their money. ... Near Tie-Siding are extensive ranches occupied by sheep during the summer. ...

One thing I missed on my initial assessment - and your information confirms that I should not have missed this - is the distance from Cheyenne and the steep climb to Sherman. Given that Tie siding rated a telegraph operator so early, it makes sense that the Union Pacific would have wanted to return their road crews to Cheyenne as soon as possible. This would have been the logical place to do that, particularly given the local supply of timber and livestock, as the railroad pushed construction through to Laramie and beyond.

After that, Tie Siding probably would have been the most logical place to stage materials for the two subsequent replacements of the Dale Creek bridge, the first with an iron trestle in 1876, and then with an iron girder bridge in 1885. From an operational standpoint, it was likely that there were at least two passing sidings from an early date, much as there are at Hermosa, on the current line just to the south. Where the spur tracks for the loading of lumber and livestock may have been is not clear, given that the aerial photos show a lot of exposed rock. Sine the line was relocated in 1901, it is not likely that much trace would be discernible, even with better imagery. Below is an excerpt from the USGS Dale Creek Quadrangle map that shows the same general area. I have highlighted the cemetery in yellow, and the location of Tie Siding in red.The contour lines are in even multiples of 100 feet (30m) With benchmark elevations (BM) to the nearest foot.

Tie Siding Dale Creek Quad.jpg

...
Within 15 months of the railroad reaching Sherman Hill, the town boasted railroad machine shops, a Wells Fargo express office, a newspaper, a millinery store and 2 two-story false fronted hotels, the Sherman House and the Summit House. They were not much as hotels but featured decent meals. Next door to the hotels was a bar.
At the moment I haven't got assets that look like the original buildings but I hope to get those someday. ...

Just behind the farm on the left the Ames Monument was built in 1882. Reeds Rock, which can be seen on the right delivered the granite to build the monument. The station building next to the roundhouse was mentioned on visitlaramie.org as the second station. I haven't found any information when or why it was built but it's foundation can be seen on google earth even today. But I think because it didn't exists on the pictures I posted two days ago, in 1869 the station was next to the water tower. ...

I just re-read Stephen Ambrose's Nothing Like It in the World, since he deals with the financial history of the transcontinental railroad projects more than most histories I've read. One point he stresses again and again is how the railroad skimped on durable construction, often at the cost of very expensive rework later. I agree with your guess as to the second station's construction, given that it had a foundation that is still visible, and would suggest that this probably was built after the machine shop, perhaps in the mid-1870s. The railroad would have tended to spend it's mone first on what ever kept it running, and secondly on whatever enhanced its image. In Wyoming's climate, it would not have been unusual for most single storey buildings to be build on timber sills laid directly on levelled ground. Indeed, if the sills were made from cedar, they would very likely have outlasted anything built on them. Even two storey commercial buildings, such as saloons and stores, would have been built this way. A foundation is a more expensive prospect, particularly when the soil is shallow and the labor is all done by pick and shovel. Only big buildings, such as stone or brick roundhouses, and buildings intended to be permanent, such as machine shops and stations of some lasting importance, would have been worth the investment in the economy of the time.

I couldn't say whether your buildings at Sherman are historically accurate, but they are quite convincing. The effect of the whole scene is quite excellent, in my opinion.

[DanSSG]

Dan, to 'reset' the games memory usage after painting a bunch, save, then click the 'play' button on the bottom right to launch the game. Once 'in game', press escape, then click 'world editor' to start editing again.

I know, but I always have to reload my google maps data. I don't know, how long it would take till I've used all my free calls for the maps API...

Dan, I used to have the same problem. Perhaps you have a scenario that loads with your route when you open it for editing? [...] Anyway, it finally occurred to me that perhaps the lock-ups were due to the extra memory required to maintain the pre-loaded scenario.

There is always a free roam scenario that's used in the route if you edit it directly. It's still the default one, that comes with the original route. Normally TS uses 2 gigs of RAM or 1700 megs if I reduce the scenery quallity by one.

I've mentioned this before but additionally there is a freeware version of IOBIT Advanced System Care which is a nice utility other than the usual popups trying to sell you the subscription (normal). It has a system monitor which just sits on the top right corner of your screen and has the ability to clear your ram. I use it all the time when painting and adding scenery in route building. Clicking on F2 and then it every few minutes mostly eliminates any crashes.

I haven't tryed your tool but the tool RAMMap which does the same and it seems to help a bit

I just re-read Stephen Ambrose's Nothing Like It in the World, since he deals with the financial history of the transcontinental railroad projects more than most histories I've read. One point he stresses again and again is how the railroad skimped on durable construction, often at the cost of very expensive rework later. I agree with your guess as to the second station's construction, given that it had a foundation that is still visible, and would suggest that this probably was built after the machine shop, perhaps in the mid-1870s. [...] I couldn't say whether your buildings at Sherman are historically accurate, but they are quite convincing. The effect of the whole scene is quite excellent, in my opinion.

I think you're right and I've moved the station building next to the water tower.

And now some pictures

On both sides of the dale creek bridge railroadmen had to cut through about a mile of granite

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.11217--105.44418_12-02-30.jpg

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.10670--105.44903_12-03-01.jpg

For the moment that's all what you'll see from the bridge until the final bridge is finished by Smokebox

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.10440--105.45525_12-04-23.jpg

On the westside of the bridge was once a water tower whos foundation is still visible today

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.10291--105.45522_12-05-17.jpg

Engineers had to slow down their trains to 4 mph or the wind would blow empty coaches from the bridge

ENLARGE-AJRI_30_Slow_sign_Dale_C.tif.jpg

Here is how this environment looks today. Credits to Eric Reuter
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ereuter/s ... 9346748560

Because I'm missing more and more (even basic) assets I can't avoid requiring an additional DLC. I think this could be the clear creek route, even if it's in the 1930s...

[jpetersjr]

I can't wait to see this finished, and would love to see a video of the route later.

[DanSSG]

I can't wait to see this finished

Well, I've no idea when the route will be finished because I don't have a destination. I'm just building west. That's why this route will be released in stages.
Depending on my time the beta for stage one (Cheyenne - Laramie) could be ready at the end of the month. Than I hope to find someone for the missing assets and try to fix some bugs ( if there are some).

Some more cuts on our way down the hill

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.09320--105.47050_12-06-38.jpg

Untill we reach Tie Siding

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.08900--105.47958_12-06-59.jpg

Let's give our engine a drink from the water tower

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.08966--105.48516_12-07-23.jpg

And have a look at this woodchoper settlement

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.09105--105.48854_12-09-06.jpg

When the railroad was build further to the west, wood was brought from the mountains in the southwest to Tie Siding, loaded on freight cars and hauled to the track builders

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.09175--105.48911_12-10-15.jpg

[ET44C4]

I love the way the scenery blends into the terrain. It looks very natural. Keep up the great work.

[DanSSG]

I love the way the scenery blends into the terrain. It looks very natural. Keep up the great work.

Thanks. I've linked some of the Clear Creek textures in my texturing file which fits very good to some the scenery objects

Starting from Tie Siding we have about two miles of 1.8% grade in front of us.

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.10115--105.49594_12-04-25.jpg

You see the wall of rocks in the background, thats the place where we cross tracks 1 and 2 of the modern route.

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.10131--105.49750_12-04-45.jpg

Today's track 3 is placed ontop the original grade of the transcontinental railroad

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.10869--105.50626_12-06-13.jpg

Some of the last rocks we pass on our way down the hill

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.11945--105.53005_12-10-02.jpg

[DanSSG]

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.12674--105.54178_12-25-23.jpg

Our next stop is Harney

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.12866--105.54565_12-26-51.jpg

which is only a simple side track with water tower for refueling trains running up the hill

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.12986--105.54681_12-28-49.jpg

The waggon road we're crossing now will be in parallel with the railroad tracks till Laramie

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.13148--105.55145_12-30-55.jpg

With farms and houses next to it. From Harney there are only 15 miles till we reach Laramie

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.16028--105.57940_12-37-57.jpg

[jgvaughan]

Definitely looking forward to this one. Will be great for running some of these old Steam locos I have.

[mrennie]

It's great to see how much progress you've made!

I'm still working on the Rogers 4-6-0 (Buffalo series) but I hope to complete it soon. Once that's out of the way, I'll do that tall trestle bridge for you.

[DanSSG]

Now that the terrain is mostly flat, we'll find some lakes...

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.17652--105.58597_12-15-40.jpg

and rivers on our way to our next stop...

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.20002--105.60164_12-22-01.jpg

which is the small town Red Buttes

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.20322--105.60224_12-24-32.jpg

It even has some passengers waiting at the station. These are from Clear Creek

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.20295--105.60159_12-23-52.jpg

Now there are only 6 miles left till we pass Fort Sanders and another 2 miles till Laramie

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.21366--105.60353_12-29-45.jpg

Does somebody know if there already exist some assets to build a fort or do I have to add this to my list of assets that need to be created?

Definitely looking forward to this one. Will be great for running some of these old Steam locos I have.

Yes, it surely will I think everything between Jupiter / 119 and Connie will be a good choice. Or do you know other locos that will fit in this time period?

It's great to see how much progress you've made!

I'm still working on the Rogers 4-6-0 (Buffalo series) but I hope to complete it soon. Once that's out of the way, I'll do that tall trestle bridge for you.

Thanks. Take all the time you need. I'm not in a hurry and for the beta it wouldn't matter if the current bridge is still hovering in the gulch

[DanSSG]

Today I started building Laramy City.
Unfortunatly there aren't many detail pictures of the machine shop, roundhouse or depot building but here is a drawing how Laramie looked 1875

180-1875-Dura.jpg

Work in progress. Just ignore the rails in the middle of the streets

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.30975--105.59644_12-22-32.jpg

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.30978--105.59686_12-22-28.jpg

Screenshot_1 Cheyenne 1869 extension_41.31181--105.59657_12-23-46.jpg

[mrennie]

I came across the following website when I was making the Cheyenne 1869 route. It also has useful information on Laramie, including photos taken around 1870.

http://wyomingtalesandtrails.com/photos6.html

[qrfan3]

You may have a few of these....but some more of Laramie for folks to see.
Click to enlarge.

Machine Shops.JPG

Laramie.JPG

Union Pacific Railroad flatcars, roundhouse and machine shop in Laramie, about the time the town was founded in 1868.jpg

[qrfan3]

Just a couple more....don't want to clog up your posts / threads on your WIP.

Laramie Depot 1885.JPG

Laramie Hotel.JPG

Windmill.JPG