Roberts Bank Superport (WIP)

[Ccarruth]

Well, seeing as the launch of SimCity has been such a massive failure, I've got time to come back to Railworks.

I've been slowly working away at the CP Cranbrook Sub through south east BC to teach myself some route building, but now we need someplace for all that coal to be shipped to.

Enter the Roberts Bank Terminal WIP.

Roberts Bank Terminal Superport in Delta, BC, is North America's largest bulk coal and Canada's busiest container port, moving 20 million tonnes of coal and 2.4 million TEU (twenty foot equivilant) containers per year. Served by road and rail links with CP, CN, and BNSF, it's the destination of choice for coal from BC, Montana and Wyoming being shipped overseas.

The main focus of the route will be the massive coal and container facility, with lots of opportunity for loading, unloading, and sorting/shunting. I'm also planning to include some of the industrial sidings and auto rack facilities in Richmond, and the mainline south to the US border at Peace Arch. I'll be staying close to the border to save myself having to model too much of the suburbia of Metro Vancouver.

The Cranbrook Sub may see the light of day as well, but as there is little to do other than go a-to-b, I figured a 'busier' route would make things more interesting. I've also got a 7 month old, which means despite 2 weeks of holidays, progress may come in bits here and there.

[thecanadianrail]

This sounds very interesting and I can't wait to see some wip pictures! There is also a rw utility that enables you to combine 2 routes into one so maby down the road you might look into that?

[okanaganrailfan]

Very cool. I'm looking forward to your progress.

[emdsd90mac]

I looked at this on Google Earth and it will definitly be an impressive addition to RW. Do you plan to build the large machines that move back and forth in the coal field?

[Ccarruth]

I doubt I'll be custom making items as its beyond the time and energy I have thanks to the baby (she's so selfish!)
But I think I can get pretty close with some creative use of existing assets.
Though if anyone has a desire to model massive coal conveyors I'd love to hear from you.

[emdsd90mac]

Can you get some good photos of them or tell me exactly what they are called? I might be able to have a crack at them. I have been messing around with stuff and getting a little better at the modeling thing.

[thecanadianrail]

Im a little curious about your other route, what level of dem did you use for it? 1arc, 1/3arc, or 1/9arc?

[Ccarruth]

The 1/3 data from the canadian government data site.

[thecanadianrail]

The 1/3 data from the canadian government data site.

ah, I was never able to figure out how to get their data to work from the site and the only other data is in 1arc/second and that's horrible to try and use lol. maybe after I finish up the RMR and the MRL I will do the project I have always wanted to do, CN's mainline between Edmonton and Jasper.

[Ccarruth]

By using the info of a couple different tutorials I've been able to get the Canadian DEM to work for me.

Basically:
1- download Canadian DEM
2- Stitch all maps together with Microdem and save as a .bil
3- create terrain tiles using ReDem

I've seen other tutorials using other programs, I spent the few dollars on ReDem as this process works for me. I usually end up with a couple wonky tiles but they're easy enough to hand terraform in Railworks.

I can write a more thorough explanation if you like, but it makes use of paid programs (I spent $14 total). But to me that $14 was worth no more frustration and headaches!

[thecanadianrail]

By using the info of a couple different tutorials I've been able to get the Canadian DEM to work for me.

Basically:
1- download Canadian DEM
2- Stitch all maps together with Microdem and save as a .bil
3- create terrain tiles using ReDem

I've seen other tutorials using other programs, I spent the few dollars on ReDem as this process works for me. I usually end up with a couple wonky tiles but they're easy enough to hand terraform in Railworks.

I can write a more thorough explanation if you like, but it makes use of paid programs (I spent $14 total). But to me that $14 was worth no more frustration and headaches!

That's helpful, maybe down the road when my current projects are closer to being released I would be interested in that tutorial.

[Ccarruth]

A couple screen shots of the Roberts Bank jutting out into the waters of the Straight of Georgia.

Screenshot_Roberts Bank_49.01657--123.17357_12-00-15.jpg

The coal yard slowly filling

Screenshot_Roberts Bank_49.01986--123.16115_12-00-27.jpg

the container yard sitting empty

Screenshot_Roberts Bank_49.02840--123.15028_12-00-45.jpg

The causeway out from shore with the rail yard

Obviously lots of scenery work left to do. Track laying is complete through the port, causeway, and to the Hwy 99 & 91 interchange. The line will continue south across Mud Bay, through Crescent Beach and White Rock, and will end at an inspection yard at the US border. The line will also start heading east through Surrey and to the farms of Langley, north to the Fraser River Docks at North Delta, and some real and fictional industrial spurs.

[Ccarruth]

Well, the Windows Fail Farie visited me, requiring a nasty factory reset.

I'm not too keen on repeating what I'd already built, so I may start on something new once I get back to functioning status.

Also should probably start backing up to an external drive...

[emdsd90mac]

You lost everything?

[CSX2057]

I hope you backed up your route.