New York Division-Bergen Line

[NStrains]

[minerman146]

"Build it and they will come" I have heard that voice before!

Here are some preview shots of Southfields, NY. I am deferring update as we had a short week. By next week we will be a bit close to Harriman.
In the meantime enjoy.

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[NStrains]

That first shot...

[minerman146]

That first shot...

I know ... that was the 'money' shot. I could explain in detail what I am doing and why with the scenery. However it takes about 6 Beers and 4 hours to explain. The short story - I don't see the results until a section is done. I work section by section detailing away from the track, drop the asset block of distant trees in, go back, check every foot and detail some more. THEN I take a ride - this could be after 3 or even 5 days of work between rides, so I can get the full affect.

Back to the shot: That long distance shot is the quintessential Bergen Line: Deep, distant, scenery with dead on topo. I catch all the bumps and the up and down of the track and land. And its all hand formed - no SRTM.

When you pull back like that.... yeah... that's what were talking about! Actually I wish we could talk about it - ask NYWhisky, I can talk for HOURS about what I do. Its interesting... really!

Thank NS for the comment. You know I love the attention - its keeps me motivated!

[buzz456]

The MRL was all done with strm however I still find myself running up and down the track I bet ten times before I say good enough and move on after doing a section. And then maybe later I'll still go back and add stuff.

[minerman146]

Buzz, I hear you. You end up looking at the ground ALOT in route building, in particular, to get it line up right with assets. It does take a while to get to the good enough point. But correctly me if I am wrong, "good enough" comes right after "done enough"

Hand forming in a way that that there is fidelity to the actual terrain is tedious to say the least. I do not recommend doing it the way I do. It was a mistake as back in 2014 I didn't know what SRTM was!

[NStrains]

But you know what? The hand forming of the topo makes a huge difference. Especially to someone like me who hates seeing topo that's just roughed in. The quality of detail in the topo alone makes your work special!

[minerman146]

But you know what? The hand forming of the topo makes a huge difference. Especially to someone like me who hates seeing topo that's just roughed in. The quality of detail in the topo alone makes your work special!

THIS!
So many times, 1230 or 1am I nod off with my mouse in hand... what am I doing? smoothing the contours of a hill as it transitions in a valley.
Yep, so with hand forming, the choice is yours, butcher and hope the trees hide it and no one will go on Spring Weather. Or, you just do it, and go even further in the hope that someone notices, finally, the insane slopes that you recreate using topo maps, sat photos and google earth.

I choose insanity!

I have to run up the Ramapo for the second time doing this... this time its better, much better. If you are noticing this - aw man - thanks! I cant really tell if you guys notice all this fine detail - unless you tell me and hopefully show me through your pictures. The terrain really makes the train look better and so much more believable. I don't care what you drive on the Bergen, but when you do drive, I want you to go, yeah this is real terrain -wow

[NYWhiskey]

yeah... that's what were talking about! Actually I wish we could talk about it - ask NYWhisky, I can talk for HOURS about what I do. Its interesting... really!

Thank NS for the comment. You know I love the attention - its keeps me motivated!

[NStrains]

Weather mod, GEVO mod, Roadrailers and the Bergen Line.

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[NStrains]

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[minerman146]

Status Update:
Topo is now done to Arden, NY. What this means is I have just 6 miles to go to complete the rework of the original route. After that its just 6 more miles to Cornwall-Salisbury Mills station and the Moodna. Since June 16th I have relaid and superelevated 18 miles of track, and completely reworked the scenery, topo, roads, buildings, bridges on an area 1 mile wide by 12 miles long. I count the worked area as one that has had topo, terrain painting and trees at a minimum. So accounting for my vacation this work was done in 3 months. This makes my pace 1 square mile a week. Once I get to the Newburg Junction, I have to go West to rework Harriman, which is roughly 60 feet to high. I am trying to avoid wiping out all the buildings and road, but given what happened in Sloatsburg and Tuxedo, I will likely end up rebuilding 90% of Harriman and Woodbury.

I have a few weeks before I get deep into working on Harriman. Given that once I pass through here I am not coming back. I have one user that has requested going to Monroe, NY. The is the OLD Main that got shut down in 1987. Currently, we have but one customer, Nepera Chemical in place, in Harriman, after that the next customer is in Chester, about 10 miles away. If anyone wants me to push up to Monroe, let me know. My EL dream, includes the original main line and stations for Monroe, Chester, Goshen, Middletown and Otisville. While we have Nepera, the only real purpose shooting out further west would be for AI trains. I am throwing this out there and its open for discussion.

Highland Mills, the Moodna and Beyond.
Where do I stop? The New York Division is 89 miles from Hoboken, Jersey City to Port Jervis, NY and Milepost 45 is at Newburg Jct. For perspective, NJ is 1.5 miles from the overpass on Arden Rd. I installed last night. The Moodna is 10.5 miles away. Campbell Hall, NY, the potential end of the route is TWENTY-THREE Miles away. The Bergen would be, at that point 66 miles long, with 2/3 of the New York Division Completed (On the Graham Line). At Campbell Hall we get another Station for a new total of 24, interchange with the Middletown and New Jersey RR and if we install a branch line, we get MQ, Maybrook and interchange with the LNE and NYNH&H (If its 1972). That branch would be 7 miles long to grab, what looks like about 4 customers. This would justify NS freight runs from Croxton to Cambell Hall.

So, if I build all of this are you guys going to do anything more than running Metro North trains from Campbell Hall to Hoboken? Is there anyone on this board who is seriously working out freight scenarios for the Bergen? I have my own ideas, I need to get an idea of the interest here. I envision this route is capable for up to 30 scenarios, that's what I want to see and I want to play them all.

So if we do the math in about 6 months you get all this. I, of course, reserve the right to have a nervous breakdown and call it quits. But I will commit to sections as we move West. At the moment, I am 100% committed to get to Highland Mills and do Harriman. I am at 80% for the Moodna and at 30% for Campbell hall. Its a huge undertaking.

What say you?

[NStrains]

I say cover Moodna and call it good.

[Overshoe]

I say cover Moodna and call it good.

I agree. That will give us plenty to play with and perhaps save you from a nervous breakdown :)

And there's nothing to stop you from picking it up again in 6 months or a year and adding more in a new version.

The thing is, as it stands now, it is in my top 3 routes, so anything else you do with it is icing on the cake.

[buzz456]

You do understand that one of the reason scenario builders haven't jumped on this is the fear that they will make one and then you'll change something that will screw up their scenario? Besides I have been having so much fun just cruising around so far...........