You have some time on your hands? Are you a Train Simulator fan? Interested in historical railroads? Want to get into this interesting project? I’m looking for partners for a route project that is around 10+ years in the making. I’m creating a route in Train Simulator Classic that is based off a electric interurban that ran in the coal regions of NE Pennsylvania. The era is around 1950, and the 19 mile electric railroad serves both freight and passenger service. Currently the finishing touches are being made on the track work for the route. I’ve made around 200 models made for the route. That includes most of the infrastructure buildings, bridges and rolling stock. However they need to be transferred and updated from another rail sim. This will be my main focus. I’ll need help to finish this long-term project as I’m fairly new to the Train Simulator Classic sim. If you can bring something to the project… be it a model builder, route builder, scenario maker, or re-skinner then contact me. Knowledge of Blender, TSC or the Briage exporter is a plus. Interest in historical railroads is a big plus. No games, just looking for others like me that share the same interests in this hobby.
You would be better asking on Railworks America as you would find more enthusiasm for a project like that. http://railworksamerica.com/
Good luck with your project! Seems there's mostly players on this forum. Railworksamerica is indeed where the devs are hanging around! I could only apply as a bug-tracking beta tester
I registered at RWA about a month ago, now the site won't accept my log in for some reason. It also tells me that that I'm not allowed to retrieve my password. One doesn't need that much aggravation just to signup to some forums.
I've been watching a lot of TSC videos. I have to admit it, Most of the routes I've seen are very generic. One video of the B&O Mountain Subdivision I found that the flora looked very realistic but the railroads infrastructure (for what I've seen to this point) was generic. On the other end of the spectrum was the Sacramento Northern, where the track detail was good but the scenery was far too generic. One odd note...The Horseshoe Curve doesn't have one pine tree on it! However this is the default route I made my project on. What sets my project aside from all the others is that this route is more of a model railroad then a rail sim. It based on all the research I've discovered over the years about this interurban. All passenger stops, all industries, all the bridges are modeled. Models aren't recycled through out the route. Each item was built from a ton of reference pictures I've collected over the years. Historical correctness and model quality are top priority on his project. I hope TSC can keep up with the graphics. Whether I find some folks or not to share this project with, I will continue working on it...it just may take me longer. Currently, I'm still in finishing stages of adding the track work to the route. I'll start posting pictures of the route once the models start getting added. I'm hoping there are some older fans out there, like me that will create an interest in this type of project moving forward.
If there is a talented locomotive model maker out there that would like a side project and donate some time. I'm in need of some L&WV rolling stock made. Again the models are made and completed. They just need to be adapted to TSC. I have complete Blender models of a trolley, combine trolley and a freight motor. Right now I'm knee deep into learning how to get basic models into the program so I need to find a loco expert to take over this part. You will have plenty of time to complete this task as I'm just getting started myself. Contact me if interested.
Here is a sample map of the L&WV Project. The track work is just about finished. More details are coming soon.
As Torfmeister said we are mostly players on this forum. So you have two choices - bite the bullet and contact the Admins at RWA or give up. In the same way signing up to this forum has enabled you to put your request out. Another option might be to contact the owner of Golder-Age-Rails http://golden-age-rails.com/rwroll.html
Or another option is to go to discord and the Train Sim Modding server branch of the Train Sim Community server. https://discord.gg/PCAYPN6NAZ There are a lot of helpful people who might be able to teach you how to do things like scripting and exporting locomotives. In addition I'm also available to help teach some things regarding exporting scenery, as I know a bit about it.
Thanks, but that was already done. I basically got attacked for just asking. Most on Discord are far too young there to be interested in this type of project. I do use Discord to for help with the exporter however. Overall my plans are to stay right here. If I find some help or not I will continue to share the details of this project. Maybe once I start posting progress shots I'll gather some interests. I'd rather have people help me that find the project interesting then help me just because I asked for help. This project is very historically detailed and deserves some quality in it's production.
Here are some maps of the L&WV project. All the track work is finished. I can now start with adding all the Blender models. I'll post more screenshots as interesting scenes are generated. Most of the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton Yard scenes have all their infrastructure buildings made. It's just a matter of updating and importing the models into TSC. The Minooka Branch buildings will need to be made.
So you cannot be bothered sorting out your RWA Account which does exist? A lot of people forget their passwords on all sites which is why a Password Reset it in place. We seen only a limited number of posts on US Rolling Stock and Routes. I have an interest in European Railways but there is only a limited number here that take notice of the routes. So I will ask on a European Forum
If you recall in my original post, I said password reset will not work for my username. Why? I have no idea. My time is better spent on other things then emailing forum admins on a forum that I might or might not even use. In all the time I spent making content I found that very few forums are really helpful. Far too many of these forums are filled with young trolls and forum mod gods that are willing to silence you if they don't like your opinions. It's sad but that is the world we live in today.
This happened faster then I originally thought it would...but here is the first model. This is the L&WV Wilkes-Barre Passenger Station. Built in 1903 this was the most southern end of the Laurel Line. It once sat on Market Street in the southside of Wilkes-Barre PA. After passenger service ended on the line in 1953, the passenger station was converted into a taxi station. It was left standing until Hurricane Agnus wipe out this section of the city with severe flooding in 1972. Today a local newspaper occupies this location. More coming soon.
I did recall your original post and I was suggesting contacting the RWA Admins to ask them to reset your password In the past I have found the RWA helpful but you have decided they beneath you and not worth your time. Even though you have not posted a question on any of the forums S.E.P. (Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy)
You are the person being rude - sticking your nose in where every you feel like it. So you give a helpful answer instead of a snipe
I was able to get another model imported into TSC. Model #2 is the Lehigh Beef Company Building. Sometime in the 1930's, the Laurel Line leased out some railyard property. This was one of 3 meat dressers located in the Wilkes-Barre L&WV Railyard. The Lehigh Beef Company was the smallest of the 3.
Model #3 is done. This is another meat packing plant that's located in the L&WV Wilkes-Barre Railyard. Wilson & Company was a big meat packer company back in the 1950's. I'm sure older railfans have seen the Wilson rolling stock refers. Yes, these are the same folks that make the sports equipment.
Here the second model for the day and the 4th for the route. This is the Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley Wilkes-Barre Freight Depot Building. Built in 1903, it was an original building in Wilkes-Barre railyard. By the 1950's the freight house was leased out to the Swift Company as storage.
Looking good, you keep reminding me not to be so lazy and fire up Blender again and start creating some assets, but then I forget and get lazy again.
As a reminder I'm still looking for someone with loco knowledge to set up the rolling stock for this project. The models are already complete, they just need to be textured and imported into TSC. I know nothing about this process so I feel it's best to find somebody that is proficient in working with locos that would like to donate their time and effort on this project. The Laurel Line rolling stock consist of a freight motors, basic trolley and combination trolley. These items are pictured below. The basic L&WV trolley was numbered #31 to #39 all units are identical. There where three combination trolleys, numbers #114 to #116. There were three freight motors #401, #402 and #403. All units were identical with the exception of HPS and the position of the headlight. If interested or have questions contact me. More models are coming soon.
Building #4 has been imported onto the route . This is the Swift & Company Building. This was the 3rd meat dresser plant in the L&WV Wilkes-Barre Rail Yard. A small triangle shaped building sat beside the Swift Plant. I believe this was Swift's Warehouse. I had to make the details of that small building from just one reference picture, so I built it to match the plant building.
Building (model) #5 This is the Thomas C. Thomas produce distributor. This building was built around 1948 and was one of the major shippers on the L&WV. It was located just outside of the L&WV Wilkes-Barre rail yard across North Pennsylvania Ave. While the building still stands today it's now owned by the city of Wilkes-Barre for city business.
One more model for today...This is the Bravman Furniture Building. This building sits right beside the Thomas C. Thomas Building I posted about earlier. it appears to be an old factory from the late 1800's. I could never figure out if Bravman actually shipped along the L&WV but it did have a rail dock on the line.
Here is the latest model. I can recall this model took a while to do. It the Luzerne Country Courthouse. It was built in 1908. The L&WV had it's main line go directly behind this building. Today the tracks where the trolleys once ran is a parking lot. Since it was so close to the track I had to model it.
Moving along, here is the first of many bridge models on the L&WV Route. This model was slightly delayed due to me learning how to make a loft in TSC...my bridges needed a check rail! This is the Mill Creek Bridge just outside of the Wilkes-Barre City limits along the Susquehanna River. When the Laurel Line was built in 1903, it was in an area that already had many established rail lines, so the Laurel Line built it's right of way where ever they could find room. This is evident from all the bridge work that had to be done. The remains of this bridge still stand today all though the bridge embankment were dug out a long time ago.
The next model is the first road bridge in a long set. This is the North Street Bridge. Built in the late 1800's, it was still standing in the early 1950's. By the late 1950's the bridge was replaced with a newer structure. That bridge was brought down by the raging waters of the Susquehanna River during 1972's Hurricane Agnus Flood event. Another new structure was built called the Pierce Street Bridge that occupies that space today. The final picture show the relation between the North Street Bridge, The Luzerne Country Courthouse and the L&WV's. Laurel Line.
So far nothing...but I'm just getting started. I'm keeping a watch on the frame rates. It's important to the project to keep the railroad's infrastructure or anything close to the track detailed. By the time I get into the background scenery, I will be making or looking for very low poly content.
Here's the next model...This is the Prospect Viaduct. What is a viaduct you might ask? A viaduct is a land only bridge that crosses no water. This was the second longest bridge on the L&WV. With a length of 168.8m/554ft, the bridge was named for a big coal breaker building that sat on it's north end...the Lehigh Valley Coal Company Prospect Breaker.
Since my last post I've decided to take another approach on my project. I've decided to concentrate on smaller areas to complete adding the details (models) before moving on. I reset the map and created a marker list so I can jump to areas being worked on more easily. My first area the I'm working on is the Wilkes-Barre city limits area. This is about a mile of track that was power by overhead wire. Since this is a urban area it will take some time to finish all the models. There seems to be a lack of 50's era buildings and industry to choose from in TSC so there are many new models to come. I'm still looking for a interested person that willing to donate some time to get my rolling stock models into the sim. The picture below will basically be downtown Wilkes-Barre of 1950. I will generally finish this scene before working on the next section. I've already started adding details and models to scene. I have about 8 more new building models planned plus a new passenger stop. Hopefully by the time I finish this scene I can actually move some L&WV rolling stock on it.
It's been a while since I posted. This building model was finished, only to find the building far out of scale when exported into TSC. The 4 floor building towered over all my other four story buildings. I tried to rescale the model but it made the windows and doors out of scale. In the end I started the model over again, here are the end results. This is the what I'm calling the American Stores Co. Building. For the US citizens you might remember this companies predecessors, Acme and Super Saver Stores. The building looks to build in the 1910s to 1920s, and was located on Bennett Street in Wilke-Barre PA. I was serviced by the Lehigh Valley's Canal Branch who tracks paralleled the L&WV tracks through this section of Wilkes-Barre. Interesting note. The L&WV and Lehigh Valley Canal Branch tracks were located on what was an actual canal that ran through the s treets of Wilkes-Barre in the 1800s.
Off on a slight tangent but spurred by your last post, everyone now says "Get trucks off the road, put everything on rail it's the much 'greener' option", well I say bring back the canal system, much more efficient at moving freight over distance than anything else, and I've yet to see a horse drawn freight train.. Sorry, carry on. Edit: I now want a Canal barge Simulator..
That's just fine. Actually the with all the canals that once was in the area it was ultimately found that the Susquehanna River in this area was too shallow to do any real shipping on but I can image many tried anyway.
Well with global warming and rising sea levels we might need some canals for somewhere for all this extra water to go? TBF we had a great canal network in the UK it's a shame more of them weren't maintained and all of them used for more than just leisure craft.
The Iron Horse came and the canal system were no longer completive. The trucks & buses came and the railroads was no longer completive. The world's industrial strategy is contently adjusting itself. You never know...the way things look today, there could be a time where we need to go back to a canal system.
I have PMed RWA Admin and they said that they can join you. They just need to know your login name and email address. If you PM them to me I shall let them know or you can post it on here.
This looks very promising and unique. Be wary of rwa, it used to be ok but now its a shadow of its former self with highly questionable people "in charge" - likely wont get much help from there in terms of what you're looking for. Its basically a few old hats and their bootlickers, echo chamber etc. So you essentially need textures? Have you got physics, sounds and general scripting down? I'll certainly share this thread/project with whomever I can. Would love to see this thing come to fruition.
