New York Division-Bergen Line: Episode III, The Erie Rises

[minerman146]

Good Evening Gents and welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Route Report. Let's get to the first order of business: a response to the last post.

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Sure its all Sunshine and daisies but this here picture is as the place stood in 2001. In accordance with my haphazard standards of time continuity here on the Bergen, I do the hard work to keep it real. I swear a quarter of my route building time is looking and maps and pictures to bring little scenes like this to you. Now, if you were to visit this site today on Cottage Street, the field in the foreground is a housing development and the silo and foundation are gone. Also, I pay tribute and each opportunity to portray Orange County New York's dairymen in a favorable light, and present their farms and live stock. I search for farms to portray. While you speeders go whizzing by in your Commuter Runs in such a rush to the city on the morning commute, might miss some of these small vignettes, others will notice. Keep and eye out for the cows -they are watching for you.

Lets go the Friday Route Update Status

[ ] Looking Strawng!
[X] You just got one, and you want another?

So, no route update this week, as expected. We are still working each day if even for just an hour to keep dropping scenery down on our sprint to Otisville. If you haven't tried the track out between Howell's Junction and Otisville, I hope you do. I love photogenic super-elevation and we got it right here. At this point is just trees and houses. I said it was boring and still think it is. For what its worth, you will see what actually lies on this landscape whether you know it or not. Its this 'based on reality' thing we got going on that gives the Bergen its 'feel'. I enjoy doing it. So, I look forward to your images and commentary about how you fall asleep on your keyboard on this section of the route. Only the truly wired remain unseduced by this route's somniferous powers.

Last up is to mention the Super Secret Spy-Squirrel Project. I get called in on the project to contribute from time to time and its usually takes several hours to produce material to keep the magic-maker rolling along. It cuts in to route time and gets me tired. I hope, hope and hope this pays off. My goal is for mind blowing but I will settle for well executed. You guys get to be the judge.

Until next time.
Carry on!

[minerman146]

I found and answer to my own question in the image below. Its about a half mile West of the tunnel, I recognize the topography.

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Now that I have found this answer anyone want to take a shot at what my problem will be?

[minerman146]

Well, it looks like I gotta put my own pictures up from now on. However, it is for a grand occasion: Michael Stephan of Golding Age of Railroading has just released an updated version of his Erie-Lackawanna GP7 MEGAPACK! Take it from me, its improved. I just blew away my old download and replaced it with the new, and I am happy to report its fully-functional and looking better than ever.
Grab it right here:http://golden-age-rails.com/packsrw/emdgp9el.html

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Power in to those curves!

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What can I say they are just picture perfect!

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And don't forget to protect that train with some Dunmore Cabooses, also at Golden Age of Railroading!

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Sakes Alive! there is lovely rolling stock to go right along with the GP7s and the cabooses!

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And there is a route to drive them on too ... Bergen Something ...Something.

[RudiJaeger]

You guys do some awesome work! (understatement of the day). Thanks to both of you

[minerman146]

It is Wednesday and time for the Weekly Route Update and Report and commentary by yours truly. Comments below are not the opinions of the Website Owner and are solely the view of this here author!
( Penn Central is STILL a disaster )

Lets go to the Route Update Status for this Friday House Intelligence Committee Edition!

[ ] Quid Pro Quo
[ ] Collusion
[ ] Whistleblower (Not the train kind silly!)
[ ] Leading the Witness
[X] Insufficient Evidence to Commit

I had to check on lawyers.com to see what the last check box means. It cost me $250 per hour, but the fine attorneys of Dewey, Rookem & Howe advise there will be no update on Friday. Now this doesn't mean any Friday. Fortunately, for another $50, I received a clarification on the meaning of "Friday" and that refers to this Friday, November 1st, 2019 and NOT all Fridays.

* note to self - be careful with guests doing the Route Update Status.

Lets bring back the route progress image and see where we are.

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It doesn't look like much on the map here, but scenery is a 95% everything East of New Vernon Road. In fact, I just placed the telegraph poles up to this point this morning. In addition, we have terrain paint and some forests out to a mile West of this position. I have been waiting to round the corner here on the last 3.52 miles to the East Tunnel Portal in Otisville. Yes, I measure the miles! Looks like another 2 weeks to get to Otisville and then 2 weeks just for Otisville. This should be about right. I am working at about 2 hours per day on average. For encouragement, below is the completed Scenery at about 1/4 mile East of New Vernon Road. You can just make out the overpass near the rear of the train. As you can see, I am driving the Classic GP7 in lovely Erie Lackawanna attire by Michael Stephan! And he likes the Erie!

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Also note they come with Non and Dynamic Brake Equipped Versions. On the Bergen you need some dynamic braking, in particular coming East down into Tuxedo and you DEFINATELY are going need it rolling in to Port Jervis! Michel is also working on a "very special project" and I hope to hear and particularly, see more of it in the near future.

Last, a big thank you to our very own Rudi (44 Tonner) Jager. He is a man who always comes through!

In closing, know that we are moving West, our game face is on and we keep fighting the good fight!
Carry On!

[minerman146]

Bored and don't know what to do on Saturday Night? Forget Captain Jack!
Get on the Bergen Line in the Spring Time for rich, full, gratifying scenery that will make you fall in love!

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And for your folks on the West Coast - look at all these trees for you to hug! Go get em!

Don't be shy - post your experience right here one of longest running threads ever, with the kind of grammatical errors only a down home earthy guy can make!
Carry On!

[minerman146]

It is Wednesday and time again for the ever popular Wednesday Route Update Report. Another week another mile as we whiz past New Vernon Road and are heading now to Carboy Road which is one mile away. I actually am liking this part of the route because of the geology change as we approach Otisville. Looking at my new Orange Arrow, we have rounded the corner to a long straight. I am thinking of canning the update map because it shows how very slow this is going!

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The good news is we have 2.42 miles to the East portal of the Tunnel. The bad news is we got 200 buildings or so to go in. I was reminded this morning to look at the map more closely, when I happened upon a cluster of 30 homes. Its true, I see what I want to see and that hurts my time estimates. No matter, we press on. You guys get all this eye candy stuff to look at.

I almost forgot... Lets go to the Route Update Status for this Friday, November 8th.

[ ] I ran out of gas!
[ ] My car had a flat tire!
[ ] I didn't have enough money for cab fare!
[ ] My tux didn't come back from the cleaners!
[ ] An old friend came from out of town!
[ ] Someone stole my car!
[ ] There was an earthquake!
[ ] A terrible flood!
[ ] Locusts!
[ ] It wasn't my fault-I swear!
[X] It was all of the above, no update, so please don't shoot me.

Here are some work in progress images, which shows off the geology, and the housing that populates the high ground. The base distant foliage is present only. Once the rest of it goes in you will barely be able to see the train. Yes, this is a wall of trees and it will be this way until we cross the Neversink River.

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In other news, Kris120 sent me a list of corrections and editions to make on the route. If you recall, a few pages ago, he was making suggestions to allow for better AI functionality and I asked him to map it out. He sent me about 25 images, that were highlighted and labeled, with footnotes! I can't thank him enough for taking the time to put that together. This saves me time, so I can get to the corrections and recommendations. I really appreciate his efforts. So, THANK YOU Kris120 for all your help!

I hope you are enjoying the work so far and getting a feel for what this part of New York State looks like. As always, every effort is made to convey the place we attempt to represent for your train driving pleasure.

As always...
Carry On!

[MaineLines]

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[minerman146]

Yay! MainLines is in da house! Thank you, I REALLY needed to see some screen shots!

[minerman146]

All human beings have a desire for continuity and predictability. Fortunately, we have a constant, and this is the Wednesday Route Report.

As for this route builder, work has been daily albeit in small 1 to 2 hours sessions. My production assessment will reflect that. Now that I have set expectation,

Lets go the Friday Route Update Status

[ ] no collusion
[ ] no quid pro quo
[ ] no high crimes or misdemeanors
[X] no route update

Well, there you have it, the unimpeachable facts. While I do have fixes to push out, I will accumulate some more before our next update. I think the day after Thanksgiving may be a good time, we still will not be beyond the Tunnel, but an update is needed, as we have not had one in a month.

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Above is the progress map. I dropped the arrow with completed scenery and put in a green box. This represents the working area I plan to fill before updating. I call this a 'big bang' work area. I had a bunch of houses to fill in. To motivate myself, I want to get through the placement of houses by solely working on them until I have done them all in the area. Then I will detail up the 2 Farms, Bungalow Colony and a Sand and Gravel business. Then I will do forests and complete the area with close up foliage and telephone/telegraph poles. I needed to change it up a bit to keep me working. At next release, I will shift the map more South & West so you guys can follow along.

I am very pleased with the work, I am taking a drive through this section every other day to see how the scenery is coming from the perspective of the train. MainLines picked up whats going on in his trip this week and his Conrail Manifest Train that not only looks at home, but looks alive with all the foliage and water features. And we have quite a bit of water feature coming along the route with the Shawangunk Creak running parallel with the line for a mile or so as it winds through the hills. These are tricky as they are just steams, and I have to not only get the elevation changes and replicate some of the erosion effects, but replicate the snake-like path as the many hills block the flow of water.

I did check the house count for this week. We have 130 structures, on hills for 2 linear kilometers. Many of them are my custom "bi-levels" and farm houses with custom porch work. Also, as we get further West, the more rural and older homes with have smoke effect to reflect the local use of woodstoves for home heating.

In closing, I hear the DTM will be making an ALCO PA sans the Pennsy antenna. I would like to remind the commercial developers that there are OTHER railroads in the North East to model. Fortunately for me and you, we have many artists right here to make our Erie dreams come true. My final picture of this post is a reminder that the Erie was an early buyer of a good number of these units. We welcome any and all work that can be showcased right here on the Bergen.

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Carry On!

[minerman146]

**SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT**

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I wanted to get this out before someone puts a "Hey, did ya know?" post here.
After 18 months of research and herding cats, I have been doing all the research to bring the General Electric U34CH and Pullman Standard "Push-Pull" Trailer and Cab Car into Train Simulator. This project is the SUPER SECRET SPY SQUIRREL PROJECT!

After one aborted effort, this one, with Cesar of DTM is a go! With the help of the United Railroad Historical Society of NJ, I was able to acquire photographs of the last U34CH to my specifications. This really helped out with the cab. My father was also a big help in identifying controls, how they worked and what they were for. (I found out that there is a hammer in the cab to whack the sand pipes when they get stuck) In addition, I developed a relationship with the PULLMAN LIBRARY at Illinois Railway Museum. They were very helpful with manifests, specifications, diagrams and so forth. I was the first person to ever request material regarding the PS coaches built for EL-NJDOT in 1971-73. My role has been research. Cesar and DTM have worked very hard to bring all the special details to life in their rendering of this unique machine. What is really cool is the Engineman master controller General Electric Model No 17KC102B6. This is modeled very faithfully in game. This even has the Motorola "Motran" Radio on it. The exterior is very faithfull as well. I have been very pleased so far with the work. Next up will be the coaches which are partially done at this time. I don't have an ETA for you, but be assured this will not be rush job. Cesar takes great care in his work!

As for myself - my goal has been to get Erie Lackawanna into the DTG portfolio and onto Steam. This project is the only shot at it. Because of "rules" only DTG routes can have content created for it and go on steam. The hook is the Morristown Line that THESE VERY UNITS ran on, first as EL-NJDOT and then and NJ Transit. I have reached out to persons in the know, and Cesar has reached out to the powers that be regarding Erie Lackawanna. EL is a Norfolk Southern heritage line and it appears they have the say so. It will be great to have the U34CH and Comet I in game on the NJCL/Morristown and here on the Bergen. I hope, hope, hope that my dream can come true, get Erie Lackawanna into the game and get the EL the recognition I believe is richly deserved. If not, I will be BEYOND disappointed after all my efforts. I don't know at this time what will happen with the EL in Train Sim/Steam. I hope it will happen!

Carry On!

[AmericanSteam]

Congratulations on your efforts in getting it this far. I will be following this, keep us posted.

[Fireexplorer249]

Really looking forward to that U34! It looks fantastic! Hopefully all goes well trying to get the EL license. As of late, DTM has really stepped up their game, so this should be really nice when done.

[minerman146]

I finally have a quiet moment Ill put up some picture that are much better than what you get in facebook. Keep in mind this is NOT finished and subject to change. But you can see the quality and FIDELITY to the original.

First Up - the master controller

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This is accurate! I hope you will agree, seeing 1969 analog technology in action is living history man! Note also, no dynamic brakes. (keep that in mind any of you hoggers who plan on swiping these for freight service over the weekend)

Next Up - 3/4 Shot

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When I saw this in the morning, I knew it was unfinished but its still looks really good. Nice paint job, the trucks look great. You can tell this is a modified GE from the Big7s that DTM has done previously.

And - the front shot.

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Here is Cesars attention to detail at work. The light arrangement tells you this is the U34CH.

Last - loving detail

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Its the little things that make a model come to life. Train Stuck need to protect your rear? Or want to toss something over the side of the bridge to see if you can hit the Moodna Creek? Why yes you can with a box of fusees and torpedoes!

That's it for today. DTM will make their own thread soon and we will go back to our regular content of Erie, Erie, Eire and, of course, the route!

Carry On!

[minerman146]

I am actually loving this project! I like to share the love and also demonstrate that I don't make up stories.
Check this out.

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You can read more about the U34CH and where we got the pictures from here: https://www.urhs.org/locomotives#/el-3372
They also are accepting donations for restoration of 3372 ( Yes, I donated!) Very nice people at the museum by the way.
AND - this unit was sitting for about 10 years on the Dundee Spur right next the shed on the New York and Greenwood Lake Railway.
Of course, you know exactly were this is because you ride the Bergen Line!

I love it when a plan comes together!

Carry on!