The Snake Path

[BDWorkshop]

The Lehigh Valleys Snake Path Route.
From Coxton to Sayre


I said I wouldn't post anything until I had something to show. Well, I just finished day 1 of the track work on this route. I'm starting in the southern end of the route at Pittston, PA. I'll work north all the way to Sayre, PA. The first pictures are of the track work of Coxton Yard.


Looking North


Looking South. The tracks to the far left are the tracks leading to the hump yard. I'll be working on this tomorrow.

[BillS]

Looks like an interesting project.

[BDWorkshop]

Here is a bit more information.

This route is the main line of the Lehigh Valley. It was called the Snake Path from it's twisting and turning path it takes following the Susquehanna River. I'm modeling this route as it was in the late 1950's and early 1960's. The route will start in Coxton Yard and travel about 90 miles north to the Sayre Shops. If there is interest in the route, I will continue the project by adding the West Pittston Branch and later the Montrose Branch. The first phase of this project will be completing all the track work. The second phase will be adding all the bridges, then crossing, then signals and so on.
The base template route for this project is the Horseshoe Curve Route. This was done because of the age and the location of that route. It seems to be the closest content match to this project.
I'm planning on hunting down what ever freeware content that can be used. The rest I will make in Blender. Look for some new content down the road.

[BDWorkshop]

I'm learning that laying track in Railworks can be a daunting task. I'm having a hard time matching the track work of the track diagram that I have. I'm sure that it doesn't help that the rail yard that I'm building is on one big curve.
I've also notice that I'm getting occasional game crashes while trying to adjust the height of the track. I don't know if this is a Railworks issue or a computer issue. Since my system is a new gaming PC (Digital Storm/Bolt II), I'm guessing that it a Railworks issue.
Even though I'm having a few problems, I still enjoying working on it.
More pictures coming soon.

[BoostedFridge]

Be sure to save often! The crashes can be quite annoying, and erase a lot of progress in an instant.

[BDWorkshop]

Be sure to save often! The crashes can be quite annoying, and erase a lot of progress in an instant.

Yes, I've learned this lesson already...the hard way.

[BDWorkshop]

A little update...I got a bit more done on Coxton Yard. I'm about halfway done with the yard at this point. I still have the hump yard to make plus two more smaller yards (sections). After that I can start on the actual main line.

[JohnTrainHead]

That's a neat yard.

[BDWorkshop]

That's a neat yard.

Thanks.

I'm working on adding a 17 track hump yard. In using the Horseshoe Curve track rules, I may have a big challenge on my hands making this hump yard. That reminds me...Is it even possible to run a hump yard in Railworks?

[Chacal]

No.
You can make the hump yard but there's not gonna be any humpin'.

[BDWorkshop]

No.
You can make the hump yard but there's not gonna be any humpin'.

I can't help but wonder if the effort of building this hump yard is really worth it. The hump yard at Coxton was taken out in 1965. I could model the yard in the post hump yard era. This would also mean I would need to start over. I need some input from other route creators on this question. Ok route creators...what do you think?

[DrewG]

I'd say if it's not terribly hard, add it. You've done quite a bit on the yard already and it's not really worth starting over. If it's too hard making the hump, maybe you could 're-invent' it into a flat yard.

[BDWorkshop]

Ok, I added the hump yard...well, one end of it anyway. The other end should be an even greater challenge, but I'll worry about that when I get to it. For now I can move on to another section, the Riverside Yard and the coaling area.

[BDWorkshop]

After a day or two of taking a break on this project, I'm heading back to this project. I now have about a good week of track building experience under my belt. I did discover a few problems with my old track work so I'm starting over with a clean slate. I guess my first attempt at this yard can be considered my practice route. At least I'm more comfortable with the track building process this time around. Let's see what I can do.

[BDWorkshop]

Work has been continuing on this project. I started over with the track work of Coxton Yard. This time I matching the track diagram as close as I can. I had much better results this time around. Here is an updated screenshot of Coxton Yard. The track work is how it looked in the late 1950's. Prior to 1965, the yard still had it's steam service and a hump yard that was still active. Since the hump yard is on a grade it will be more difficult to make, so I'm saving that for last. More coming soon.