Railworks America

Hello Everybody!

I thought I would start this thread to post all current and future narrow gauge projects.

This is from a post in the Rolling Stock Design Forum

ryan9550 wrote:A couple of weeks ago, I came across and bought a box of "Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette" model railroad magazines at a flea market by me. They have plans for various narrow gauge and some standard gauge equipment as well as other model railroad things. They have inspired me to look into narrow gauge trains to make for the game.

Here's the first one: a flat car w/stakes gauged to the Corris Railway and old Project Platform track (which is 2'3")

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The only problem is I don't know where to find plans for US engines for this gauge, I might have to freelance something. 3 Foot gauge is a bit easier to find plans for locomotives.

Let me know what you think about having some more narrow gauge stuff for the game, both "2 Foot Gauge" and 3 Foot Gauge. Thanks

Here's what I've got so far: A 35ft flat car w/stakes

A 35ft Tank Car

Here's something that can only be described as a frankenstein of a locomotive

I don't think I should be allowed full "creative" freedom over freelancing a locomotive Because what happens is I mash together a GP9 and a RS3 from my "Parts Bin".

All jokes aside, what does everybody think? These 3 projects are gauged for the Corris Railway add-on's 2ft 3" track. I fully intend on doing 3 Foot Gauge cars and locomotives as well.

Thanks for reading!

While new projects are ALWAYS welcome, not sure of the uptake on Corris gauge in thew US, although "standard" narrow would ne much appreciated I am sure...

I think the reason for lack of feedback is that many projects start, and users become engaged in them, only to have them wither and die and become vapourware, even projects late in development. It is nothing personal I am sure, just caution

Get something out there and see how it goes, cos if you are waiting on the adulation and cheers of the crowd before you start, you may be waiting a while






edit for typo (again)

The 2'3" gauge (as in Corris and Project Platform) came about because several UK (actually Welsh) real narrow gauge routes revolved around 2 ft or 2'3" gauge, among them the Talyllyn Railway (which exists as a great route in TS2017) and the Ffestiniog Railway combined with the Welsh Highland railway - currently being constructed and expected to be released "shortly" (whatever that may mean!). So there is a fairly decent inventory of 2"3" gauge equipment based on UK practices, with more on the way. I want to stress that such rolling stock is quite unique and specifc to those railways and their environment (largely slate quarrying), so some of the drafts that you have above would not fit in on those routes (plus, they have very limited clearances regarding width and height of vehicles).

But this gauge was never taken up (at least to any degree as far as I am aware) in the US, where 3ft gauge became the norm - as in Cedar Creek (available in TS2017) and other significant railroads such as the Cass Scenic Railroad (a former logging railroad) in WV.

You may also be aware of Britkits (Dick Cowen) who has produced 3ft narrow gauge stock including other logging-related vehicles, and a variety of Shays plus other steam locos for this gauge.

My recommendation therefore would be to focus on 3ft gauge and aim for the American market, as I don't think your proposals would strike a chord with the UK trainsimmers in 2"3"" gauge!

(and I speak as a Brit who has lived in the US for nearly 18 years, so I see it from both sides!)

Chris

ChrisOnline wrote:The 2'3" gauge (as in Corris and Project Platform) came about because several UK (actually Welsh) real narrow gauge routes revolved around 2 ft or 2'3" gauge, among them the Talyllyn Railway (which exists as a great route in TS2017) and the Ffestiniog Railway combined with the Welsh Highland railway - currently being constructed and expected to be released "shortly" (whatever that may mean!). So there is a fairly decent inventory of 2"3" gauge equipment based on UK practices, with more on the way. I want to stress that such rolling stock is quite unique and specifc to those railways and their environment (largely slate quarrying), so some of the drafts that you have above would not fit in on those routes (plus, they have very limited clearances regarding width and height of vehicles).

But this gauge was never taken up (at least to any degree as far as I am aware) in the US, where 3ft gauge became the norm - as in Cedar Creek (available in TS2017) and other significant railroads such as the Cass Scenic Railroad (a former logging railroad) in WV.

You may also be aware of Britkits (Dick Cowen) who has produced 3ft narrow gauge stock including other logging-related vehicles, and a variety of Shays plus other steam locos for this gauge.

My recommendation therefore would be to focus on 3ft gauge and aim for the American market, as I don't think your proposals would strike a chord with the UK trainsimmers in 2"3"" gauge!

(and I speak as a Brit who has lived in the US for nearly 18 years, so I see it from both sides!)

Chris

I don't want to sound rude, but I chose to use the Corris gauge track is because there isn't any US 2ft gauge track for the game. I just wish I had the creativity and patience to freelance a US 2ft gauge route. I do plan on making 3ft gauge locomotives and rolling stock though.

Thanks for taking the time to respond

There was significant 2-foot gauge trackage in the State of Maine, as well as in other places in the United States, so its not entirely unheard of!

ryan9550 wrote:I don't want to sound rude, but I chose to use the Corris gauge track is because there isn't any US 2ft gauge track for the game. I just wish I had the creativity and patience to freelance a US 2ft gauge route. I do plan on making 3ft gauge locomotives and rolling stock though.

OK sorry, I must have misunderstood what you were saying

Edit; wrong thread sorry

thebigroyboyski wrote:What you need to do is have a play with the coupler matrix.
As the positioning is very sensitive to small adjustments the best way i found was to try with big numbers first and start with the coupler sitting outside the wagon.
Once you've brought it back to where you're happy then set the coupled position ( i can't remember its proper name off hand sorry ).
It does take a bit of time to get it right but if you stick to setting one position at a time it'll come pretty quickly.

There is a handy guide to using the matrix here if your not to sure, http://railworksamerica.com/index.php/l ... t-position
It doesn't deal with couplers but the positioning is the same.

Thanks, it was the "Front Pivot x" and the "Rear Pivot X" that was causing them to look like that. I adjusted the numbers and it was fixed. Now I should be able to go about making rolling stock without too many issues.

ryan9550 wrote:

thebigroyboyski wrote:What you need to do is have a play with the coupler matrix.
As the positioning is very sensitive to small adjustments the best way i found was to try with big numbers first and start with the coupler sitting outside the wagon.
Once you've brought it back to where you're happy then set the coupled position ( i can't remember its proper name off hand sorry ).
It does take a bit of time to get it right but if you stick to setting one position at a time it'll come pretty quickly.

There is a handy guide to using the matrix here if your not to sure, http://railworksamerica.com/index.php/l ... t-position
It doesn't deal with couplers but the positioning is the same.

Thanks, it was the "Front Pivot x" and the "Rear Pivot X" that was causing them to look like that. I adjusted the numbers and it was fixed. Now I should be able to go about making rolling stock without too many issues.

Glad you got it sorted.
Did I post in the wrong thread?
I can't seem to find your problem one

thebigroyboyski wrote:
Glad you got it sorted.
Did I post in the wrong thread?
I can't seem to find your problem one

I had deleted probably as you were posting. I was going to try a few more things then post it again if was still stuck. Thanks again.

Here's what I was working on, it's a 3ft gauge flatcar. It's going to take some playing around with the numbers to get the couplers just right.

That's probably what happened.
I started writing then stopped for my dinner before posting.
It's looking good. I like the truck detail, really looks all bolted together
What program are you building with?
If it's Blender is the model exported without a texture?

Thanks, I'm really proud of how the trucks came out.

I'm using Blender. As for the textures, all I did was just UV unwrap everything and bake an ambient occlusion texture onto it in blender.

Looks good!

Here's my latest narrow gauge creation. A 3ft gauge 0-8-0T Outside Frame steam locomotive.

This fits in with my vision of having various types of freelanced steam locomotives because, as far as I know, this engine is purely fictional. It's based on this drawing by gunslinger87 on deviant art

Here's some more pictures
There's still a lot more to add, but so far I think it's coming along nicely. I was also thinking of making some alternate wheel arrangements based on this design. Let me know if I should add anything to this that's not in the drawing.

Thanks for reading

Looks good, how's the other locomotives coming along?