Announcing BNSF Stevens Pass

[fecrails]

Amazing attention to detail! Thanks for posting.

[BNSFdude]

A route with lots of custom made buildings that lend it grace and character. Much needed amongst the somewhat lookalike DLC coming from RSC lately.

Thankfully, you guys have earned your spurs in 3D design for other sims, and it shows.

Those high and wide detectors talk in prototype and some other sims. But I don't know if more cab audio and random defects are much appreciated by the Railworks players.

Nevertheless, there is little doubt this route will be at the top of the wish list for most of us by Christmas.

We can have talking defect detectors. They work rather simply too. Getting it to do RANDOM defects may be a challenge, but for scenarios sakes, I can custom tailor defect detectors to say anything I want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x7lwcTdXCo

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Even when a detector announcing itself when the loco passes and a "no defects" message when the EOT passes is fine.

But many report temperature, speed and number of axles.
Some newer routes have talking detectors, but none have real time speed and axle count IIRC. I believe there isn't even an external messaging protocol in the simulation engine and consist messages allow only a few locomotive parameters to be passed along the train. But who knows what the new lua functions in TS2014 will bring?

One small question: do high and wide detectors use visible laser beams at night?

[buzz456]

No.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

That's a pity. I thought the beams would make a good effect at night.

We can always pretend or use a small floodlight to light up the whole detector structure or have it posts covered in reflective markers.

[raptorengineer]

ah so your using that station cool. I think the other station is there but move down and boreded up. it was in msts SLI steven pass route. will it be just one or will you have other one as well all boreded up and move down little. that be kinda cool.

[arizonachris]

This route is looking absolutely fantastic. Just what I would have expected of Rick and team, and Michael. Definately #1 on my "gotta have it!" list.

[BoostedFridge]

Fantastic work guys!! I love the accuracy, and detail on the buildings in Skykomish! I'm very familiar with this line, and I think its great you're doing it justice in this route!

[ErikGorbiHamilton]

A route with lots of custom made buildings that lend it grace and character. Much needed amongst the somewhat lookalike DLC coming from RSC lately.

Thankfully, you guys have earned your spurs in 3D design for other sims, and it shows.

Those high and wide detectors talk in prototype and some other sims. But I don't know if more cab audio and random defects are much appreciated by the Railworks players.

Nevertheless, there is little doubt this route will be at the top of the wish list for most of us by Christmas.

We can have talking defect detectors. They work rather simply too. Getting it to do RANDOM defects may be a challenge, but for scenarios sakes, I can custom tailor defect detectors to say anything I want.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x7lwcTdXCo

Yesterday while out and about with dad, we watched a M-EVEPAS4 27 roll by at 37th street just north of Auburn Wa in Kent Wa. While taking a break the the Auburn "Crew Shack" at the yard the same train got hit with the High Wide detector. It was my first time hearing a train getting a defect .
"BNSF Detector, MILEPOST, 100.6. You have a Defect."
after a 35 minute wait:
"BNSF Detector, MILEPOST, 100.6. You have a Defect. Excessive Alarms. Train too slow."

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

So that was either a false alarm or an inconclusive alarm as there was no axle count given?

I believe according to the rules, the crew must stop the train and give all cars a visual inspection?

[BNSFdude]

So that was either a false alarm or an inconclusive alarm as there was no axle count given?

I believe according to the rules, the crew must stop the train and give all cars a visual inspection?

Yes sir. It sucks.

[ricksan]

The Stevens Pass Route features a multitude of bridges. Many of them are simple deck-plate girder bridges only a few tens of meters long. Some of them aren't even railroad bridges. Here are a few of the more interesting ones, working our way from east to west -- oh, and with none of those distracting trains!



Besides being fairly unique, the Sellar Bridge in Wenatchee is important in that it's only one of two bridges in town that cross the mighty Columbia River.



Being close to the road, this railroad bridge near Dryden is frequently photographed.



At this location up in the Cascades, the railroad makes a hairpin turn following the contours and crossing the Foss River here.



Miller Creek, just west of Skykomish, often floods in the Spring, so the railroad is elevated for a ways. The road bridge beyond is now closed due to safety concerns. In the background is Miller Quarry, a major source of ballast for the railroad.



This bridge over the Skykomish River has an interesting offset design.



Sunset Falls. Anybody for a kayak ride? (Yes, it's actually been done!)



Another hairpin turn at Index. This bridge was fun to build: it's on a grade and a curved track with superelevation runs within it. At Outdoor Adventures, the red building, you can get one of those kayaks I mentioned. Just west of here you can also try your hand at the Index Town Wall, following near vertical routes with names like Perverse Traverse, Toxic Shock, Godzilla, Brain Cramps, Fang Overhang -- you get the idea.

(Continued)

[ricksan]

Continuing our east-to-west bridge tour.



Interesting way to hop over US 2.



Another Skykomish River crossing featuring the new bridge, what remains of the old bridge, and US 2 in the background.



US 2 crosses alongside the railroad in a few places, such as here at Sultan.



This curved trestle, on the mostly abandoned Woodinville Sub, crosses over the Scenic Sub and on into the town of Snohomish.



The footbridge at Lowell provides access to a wetlands park along the banks of the Snohomish River.



Another footbridge. This one is used to access a tiny strip of Howarth Park bordering Puget Sound that would otherwise be isolated by the railroad.



State Road 529 crosses the mouth of the Snohomish River over this string of bridges at the north tip of Everett. The railroad (Bellingham Sub) crosses via a swing bridge on its way north to Vancouver, BC.

Hope you enjoyed the tour!

[arizonachris]

Fantastic stuff once again, Rick! I love it!

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

AZChris is right, this looks really good and realistic with those offset piers and supports, a master modeler at work.
Those bridges in WP's Feather River Canyon for MSTS are also extremely well done and the work of Mr Grout.

One small question: no problems with the TS2014 upgrade on your end, guys?