Proposed Route

[Riptrack59]

As I was answering a post in the "group forming" post, I realized that I might as well show what I spent so much time researching.
I am hooked up to Dropbox so I should be able to show some info on it.
Basic History...

Laurel Line History.txt

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u8mr6ex5hvjhhto/Project%20Poster.jpg
A while back I made this Google Earth map of my project. If you have Google Earth, you can download this map here...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yxl54cx0v3fys1u/The%20Laurel%20Line%20V2.1.kmz

Anything that is on the map I plan to add to the route.

For the project I plan to re-make all the buildings. This is due to the fact that when I originally made the buildings in Blender, my Blender skill are not what they are today. I also have the trolleys, combinations and freight motors partially done in Blender. I will definitely need help getting these into TS2014. I have a Dropbox account full of reference pictures, maps and other details to aid in the making of this route. If anybody that would like to help, please let me know.

[artimrj]

Good luck. When you ready to put together a team for building the route let me know and I will explain to you how to do it as a group effort. We did the NERW route as a team and are currently working on another one.

[Riptrack59]

Good luck. When you ready to put together a team for building the route let me know and I will explain to you how to do it as a group effort. We did the NERW route as a team and are currently working on another one.

Thanks, I'll do that.

More about this route...I've always felt that this route is the perfect route for a rail simulator. It has something for every kind of train fan. It has passenger and freight service, it has bridges tunnels and viaducts, it runs through wilderness areas as well as city and suburban areas. This railroad also has connections with three class 1 railroads so there are tons of ideas for driving scenarios. All this packed into a 19 mile railroad.

[Riptrack59]

Here is a blender render of the passenger coach I've been working on...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wliysev93ze89gj/lwvcoach1.jpg
It's a bit rough and needs to be cleaned up but it's a start. I have the combination trolley and the freight motor being worked on.

[Riptrack59]

Here is another Blender render...This is of the L&WV Freight Motor. The attachments on this unit where made by someone else, the boxcab itself was made by me.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wegeu4frzevdtq3/freightmotor.jpg

The L&WV had three identical boxcabs...#401, #402 and #403.

[imphantum]

If you go to http://www.historicaerials.com/ just type in "Luzerne County Courthouse"as a reference and you'll see the line. You can follow the line and see what it looked like back in 1966, just a tip

[Riptrack59]

If you go to http://www.historicaerials.com/ just type in "Luzerne County Courthouse"as a reference and you'll see the line. You can follow the line and see what it looked like back in 1966, just a tip

By 1966 it was reduced to a one tracked freight line. I've been using aerial photos from 1939 and 1959 that are located here...
http://www.pennpilot.psu.edu/
I also have topo maps from 1947 and a boat load of reference pictures that I've been collecting over the years.
Here is an interesting pic from the Laurel Line DVD...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/91tbw937oqu0cjt/102%20Behind%20The%20Luzerne%20Co.%20Courthouse.jpg
It is a picture of the line in the very early 1950's at show the section of track that went around the Luzerne County Courthouse...by the way that courthouse is one building I don't look forward to modeling!

[Riptrack59]

I have one person signed on but I'm looking for at least another three people before I get the ball rolling on this project. If interesting in joining or if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
In the mean time I thought I'd share another picture from the Laurel Line. This is a picture of the Avoca Viaduct.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tmbnzizv0eid0mk/050%20Avoca%20Viaduct.jpg
This is the biggest bridge on the Laurel Line. Built was built in 1903, it was used to carry the Laurel Line over US Route 11, Delaware & Hudson RR, Lehigh Valley RR and a rail spur leading to a nearby coal breaker called the Heidelberg Breaker. The overall length of the viaduct was 682 feet. The bridge was taken down in 1965-68. The bulk of the bridge was taken down in 1965 but for some reason the middle span was left in place until 1968. The stone work of the bridge's ends were left in place until 2012 when they were dug out in a road widening project.

[Riptrack59]

After a bit of confusion over on the UK Train Sim Forums, I posted there about this project. It's awaiting approval since I'm a newbie to the forum.

While I was posting, I realized that I'm going to need somebody on the team that knows there way around the TS2014 route editor so It's not just model builders that I'm looking for.


Today's picture is that of the Scranton Yard sometime in the late 40's early 50's.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cfzn7cr8twrtjrx/006%20Scranton%20Yard.jpg

[Riptrack59]

Hi folks and train enthusiasts,
So far I've got very little successes in find a team for this project so I've decided to start the project myself.
I spent some time creating the land terrain for the route. Once I'm done with that I'd like to start the track works. This will include 3rd rail and overhead trolley wire.
Now from what I understand about 3rd rail in TS2014 is that the 3rd rail is separate and can be added to the track and the overhead wire is attached to the track.
Based on this knowledge, where can I find the best looking track with matching 3rd rail and matching track with overhead wire?

[Riptrack59]

I never did manage to get a group together for this project, so I dropped the idea. I did manage to hook up with a partner from the original Laurel Line Trainz project and we decided to finish the project. The project will be hosted here.
http://www.elvastower.com/forums/
This will be my last Trainz project (effort). Once it's done I'll be moving to TS2014, but I can't really say what I will be working on just yet.

[Riptrack59]

It's looking like I'm going to try to tackle this project but not with a group...just by myself. To start I'm just focusing on the mapping and the track work... which brings me to a couple of questions about 3rd rail track.

1. Is it better to use 3rd rail track or use regular track and adding a matching third rail to it?

2. If using 3rd rail track is better, anybody know where I can find some wooden 3rd rail tracks?