Railworks America

This is a formal presentation of the Bergen Line for scenario builders. The route is finally nearing completion. As we proceed towards the end of the line, the opportunity is now to fine tune this route for maximum scenario enjoyment. The purpose of this thread is multi-fold. 1. As the route builder, what can be done to optimize the route for performance? 2.Errors - they are out there: let's find them and resolve them before we close this window of opportunity before finalization. 3. Where can the prospective scenario builder - create scenarios on the Bergen, without fear that they will be ruined when I relay track? 4. Ideas - What are the operational possibilities on the Bergen. Can we create more?

So, you have questions. Lets cut to the first one: when will the Bergen be final? Currently, I am moving at a rate of 1 square mile per week. Our minimum goal is to cross the Moodna Creek and add the Cornwall-Salisbury Mills Station, that destination is 10.5 Miles away, so lets call it 12 weeks. December of 2016 and done. This can change - I am listening to you. If we decide together to go another 13 miles to Campbell Hall, NY that will be another 4 months or April of 2017. I will work with you. Next, Where can you build scenarios now? The entirely of the Bergen Line from Suffern to Hoboken is ready for scenarios barring any errors. West of Suffern is under construction. What era is this, you have stuff here that has been gone for 30 years? True, that is on purpose. For Modern era you are fine from Suffern to Hoboken. You can ignore the Ford Plant. Remember the scenery is all modern and up to date. Hoboken is before September 2001. West of Suffern, some of the track has been backdated to 1975.

Post your comments, concerns and problems here. Any issues that arise that need changes to the route will be posted here and on my steam page. When corrected the original post will be reposted by me, and marked *RESOLVED* once we have user confirmation that the issue has been corrected.

Discussions concerning the Erie Lackawanna and continuing progress on the Bergen will be posted on my thread in the WIP section. This thread is for scenarios.

With that said, I look forward to working with you to make this the best darn route out there.

MM.

You probably have published this already, but the one essential tool for freight scenario builders is a list of client industries, with what they receive and what they ship.

Chacal, I have not published my guide for the Bergen yet its in process. But your right I am working on it!
Here is an interesting statistic: Named Customers. These are all the customers currently on the Bergen. The sidings for these customers are a bit higher than the overall number, given some have multiple sidings i.e. Ford which has 13 tracks and 8 auto rack loading tracks.
I have been touting over 50 customers for the past 6 months. Unfortunately, I was exaggerating, but only by a little, its 45, with potential for another 10 in Woodridge.

State of New Jersey

Jersey City
North American Plywood
KNF Flexpak Corp.

Secuacus
Hartz Mountain LTD
Command Web Offset
Ferragamo USA

East Rutherford
I.Candy&Galore (fictional)
Volvo North America
Global Logistics
Tri-Instruments
Haviland USA
Beavex
AMB Highway
Marathon Corp.
Powerline LTD.
Dubois Chemical (1970s owner - now Diamond Chemical)
Foamex International
CCA Industries
Apple Corrugated, LTD
Reddy Raw
US INK (1970s - now Sun Chemical)

Woodridge
R. Sullivan & Company (Fictional) (Pre-1980s was Curtis-Wright)

Garfield
Passaic Woolen (Closed 1970s)
Atlantic Coast Fiber
Gemini Plastics
Saddle Brook
LAK Warehousing
Sealed Air Products
Elite Home Products
Belden Tri-State
Enterprise Corrugated Container (Now Island Container)

Elmwood Park
East Coast Coil
Fair Lawn
Zerega Pasta ( I remember delivering flour here with my Dad in the 1970s same company!)
Glen Rock Lumber
Nabisco (now Mondelez International)
MISSING ONE ON THE NABISCO SPUR

Hawthorne
Nexus Plastics

Waldwick
DeMartini Lumber

Allendale
Andersen Logistics (Semi-Fictional Current Customer does not have siding)

Ramsey
Ramsey Building&Paver Supply (Semi-Fictional has siding appears abandoned)

Mahwah
Weyerhauser (Semi-Fictional siding appears abandoned was original customer)
Ford Motor Company (Semi-Fictional-plant closed in 1980)

State of New York

Suffern
PAR Pharmaceuticals
Manhattan Beer
Clayton Container (semi-fictional current customer inactive siding)

Tallman
Dykes lumber (semi-fictional current customer inactive siding)

Sloatsburg
Rockland Standard Gear (semi-fictional current customer no siding)

Harriman
Nepera Chemical Company (Closed 2005)

That's a hefty list of industries, but as a scenario maker, I'd also like to know what types of freight cars are needed by each of the industries. When the original versions of Rich Garber's Rascal & Cottonwood and Colton & Northern routes appeared, Kevin R, Wilson-Smith published very thorough guides to their industries that are still available in the RWA file library. Search for his name or the route name. As far as I know, nothing similar to Wilson's superb and imaginative work has been done since, but I'll welcome being told otherwise. Without such analysis, scenario makers have to guess a great deal of the time, which is also interesting, but I, for one, would certainly value a more thorough guide on which to base my efforts.

OldProf wrote:That's a hefty list of industries, but as a scenario maker, I'd also like to know what types of freight cars are needed by each of the industries. When the original versions of Rich Garber's Rascal & Cottonwood and Colton & Northern routes appeared, Kevin R, Wilson-Smith published very thorough guides to their industries that are still available in the RWA file library. Search for his name or the route name. As far as I know, nothing similar to Wilson's superb and imaginative work has been done since, but I'll welcome being told otherwise. Without such analysis, scenario makers have to guess a great deal of the time, which is also interesting, but I, for one, would certainly value a more thorough guide on which to base my efforts.

Old Prof, I was showing proof that I had done just a little of the work needed for to get you a comprehensive list. Over the past few years, I have gathered bits a pieces of information regarding this list of businesses. This will form the basis of my consignee list. Whatever I can get accurate I will, the rest I will have to wing it. So your looking for a list like this?

Consignee
FOB (Freight on Board)
Bill of Lading ( product )
Car Count
Frequency
Interchange

And then any special instructions regarding 2 track Consignees

MM

What railroads are running nowadays those tracks besides NS, Amtrak and NJT?
Do you see CSX or even UP, CN or CP?

Who are serving those insdustries. Is that NS or Class II Railroads?

jalsina wrote:What railroads are running nowadays those tracks besides NS, Amtrak and NJT?
Do you see CSX or even UP, CN or CP?

Who are serving those insdustries. Is that NS or Class II Railroads?

Industries are served by 3 Railroads on the Bergen
Norfolk Southern - 100%
New York Susquehanna & Western (4 Customers in Saddelbrook, NJ)
New York & Green Wood Lake (2 Customers in Passaic, NJ) This is the Dundee Spur

So, No UP, CN or CP
CSX is represented down in Jersey City - At North Bergen Yard (No Scenery but track)

I think this is pretty cool. This route has real (but baby sized) interchange.

minerman146 wrote:

OldProf wrote:That's a hefty list of industries, but as a scenario maker, I'd also like to know what types of freight cars are needed by each of the industries. When the original versions of Rich Garber's Rascal & Cottonwood and Colton & Northern routes appeared, Kevin R, Wilson-Smith published very thorough guides to their industries that are still available in the RWA file library. Search for his name or the route name. As far as I know, nothing similar to Wilson's superb and imaginative work has been done since, but I'll welcome being told otherwise. Without such analysis, scenario makers have to guess a great deal of the time, which is also interesting, but I, for one, would certainly value a more thorough guide on which to base my efforts.

Old Prof, I was showing proof that I had done just a little of the work needed for to get you a comprehensive list. Over the past few years, I have gathered bits a pieces of information regarding this list of businesses. This will form the basis of my consignee list. Whatever I can get accurate I will, the rest I will have to wing it. So your looking for a list like this?

Consignee
FOB (Freight on Board)
Bill of Lading ( product )
Car Count
Frequency
Interchange

And then any special instructions regarding 2 track Consignees

MM

That's really much better than what I had in mind! I think that all of us who enjoy making switching scenarios would appreciate a list such as this for yours and any other route that offers switching possibilities.

I think just knowing what each industry sends and receives, and in what type of car, would be enough for building freight scenarios.
Type of car is for the task list, and cargo is for instructions to the player.

Since we were discussing how to create scenarios for the Bergen and what you might need as background information, it a good time to put up a draft of my Ops Guide. I started this about 2 years ago and its my vision for this route and how it can be used to its fullest potential. This version does not include consignees at this stage. I will be developing this document further. This will be included with the route on finalization on Steam and I hope in the route folder itself.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4DCtRvSOWHJZEd5RUNZaGFJNDQ/view?usp=sharing

This definitely gives away my original purpose of the route.
Enjoy.
MM

Cool. This will help scenario builders tremendously.
I like that it has the look and feel of old RR documents.

Work continues on the Operations Guide. Currently, I am working on the Local Traffic section that concerns consignees and what they receive and ship. Below I have reproduced the format as it appears in the guide. This work is actually staring to show how operations worked and will work on the Bergen. What I have learned is that, for this route, all freight traffic originates and terminates in Croxton as it does today. In addition, through my research, you will see how cars are distributed to stations along the line prior to final delivery. The Ops guide is going to account for fulls and empties and how these are handled. This is really interesting stuff.

This is an example of a single customers receiving. They also received other types of loads and cars and I am creating a very brief waybill for you to use. Let me know if this format will work.

Consignee: PAR Pharmaceuticals (2 Track, Private)
Final Destination: Suffern, New York
No. Cars: 2 Type: Covered Hopper
Commodity: Sodium Bicarbonate
Frequency: Weekly
To Station: Suffern, New York
From Station: Jersey City, New Jersey

So this industry receives 2 hoppers of sodium bicarbonate weekly from Suffern?
And it ships something to Jersey City? In hoppers too?

I think what he means is that the 2 cars a week come from Jersey City, to Suffern yard, then to the customer.

NStrains wrote:I think what he means is that the 2 cars a week come from Jersey City, to Suffern yard, then to the customer.

That is correct. That is how the Waybills read on the Erie Lackawanna. Importantly, what this shows is that trains run to from Croxton to feed "stations" with full cars and take a way empties, local crews then go from the local yard or siding then deliver to customer.

Please review my Operations Guide I have expanded it. When you see the expanded list of consignees, it will be more understandable. A number of customers get different loads, I show each load type as a separate entry. This is really very exciting - I can "see" how operations were done. I am using source material form the Erie Lackawanna and my father who was an engineer on this route to create this guide. This document was part of my original vision for the Bergen.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4DCtR ... sp=sharing