Railworks America

I finally took the time to figure out how to use load Google map overlays in the route builder (and felt stupid for waiting this long because it's incredibly simple) and decided to start with a small switching route. Specifically, I chose the Little Kanawha River Railroad, a short line in Parkersburg, WV. The LKRR operates a small section of former B&O trackage and interchanges with CSX. As best I can, it's main customer currently is Silicon Processors, Inc. The LKRR brings in covered hoppers and tankers for Silicon Processors and also operates a transloading track that brings in lumber, pipes, steel coils, etc. as well as a barge loading track. If anyone feels like repainting the DRG&W SW1200 as LKRR 1205 (formerly an N&W unit) or LKRR 1147, I certainly wouldn't complain

For more info, check out these pages:

https://www.american-rails.com/lkrr.html
https://www.siliconprocessors.com/index.html

Just to be certain you're talking about the one from DTM right?

buzz456 wrote:Just to be certain you're talking about the one from DTM right?

Yes sir!

I have thought about doing the Parkersburg area. I am just a few miles away. But I have too many irons in the fire. I will be watching your progress!

A good start. Lot's of details and weathering to do yet.

buzz456 wrote:A good start. Lot's of details and weathering to do yet.

Screenshot_ ScaleRail Marias Pass_48.28084--113.61218_15-00-59.jpg

Screenshot_ ScaleRail Marias Pass_48.28106--113.61210_15-01-15.jpg

That's awesome Buzz, thank you! Certainly no hurry here, I've never built a route from the ground up before. I have no idea how to do elevated roads and bridges, and I'm still not efficient at raising/lowering terrain, so it's going to take me a while to get this route right. I have all the major structures on the route in place, and I'm filling in the clutter, but the terrain and the elevated roads will be the heavy lift on this one.

Lots of You tube help out there, google what you want to find and look down the list. The first items up are usually paid ads then comes the good stuff. Persevere, it is a real good feeling when you crack it.

Disregard the last post about DEM data...somehow I did NOT have the square I needed from Viewfinder Panoramas, so that's my own boneheaded move. Now that I do have it, I wish I'd figured that part out before I spent so much time already building out the route...

Some more progress after researching a few more pictures.

buzz456 wrote:Some more progress after researching a few more pictures.

Screenshot_ ScaleRail Marias Pass_48.28103--113.61192_15-27-09.jpg

Ah, brused and battered. Nice.

If there is a good thing about no where to go it makes fiddling around learning new stuff more enjoyable. My hedges and plants are asking why all the TLC so I thought I'd give them a break and work on this little gem a little more. Getting close.

Onward and upward.

Base color done, now off to the details.

Buzz, how do you get the metallic texture on your models?

Well I think I got the highway bridge that goes over the route pretty much done, next I'll place the other two smaller bridges to the west and then I'll clean up elevations around them and start filling in details...the terrain won't be as realistic, but oh well...