Ashtabula County, Ohio

[RiverRun]

George, please look up to the right and see where I am. It's pronounced Connyott. I live in Conneaut Harbor. The winding curve and grade going south out of Conneaut is called the Hogs Back. The Bessemer has always been the Bessemer. It was never the Pennsylvania Railroad. There is an abandoned PRR Line east of Conneaut called Thornton Junction that went south to Linesville and Stoneboro Pa.

Here's a photo of Norfolk & Western J #611 in Albion yards. It's from an excursion about 22 years ago.

Here's the covered bridge over Conneaut Creek.

 

[RiverRun]

You might like this website. Tons of historical photos of Conneaut.

http://www.conneautohio.us/

 

[zp423]

This route is looking awesome!! i had some trips proposed from last summer to come up here but i never made it this far. got some pics of astabula harbor though. i wish trainz had more routes from around cleveland may be you and jackie g could work some think out for a connection to his berea ohio route where the csx line runs through. heres some goodies http://gradecrossings.puco.ohio.gov/advanced.php go there scroll to with railroad ownership that is: and select beassmar and lake erie. this may be instresting http://rrpicturearchives.net/locThumbs.aspx?id=102604 have you seen 755 http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2213759
the good old days of ns excusions....... know im mad at the epa. there so strict about steam. i loved watching the tapes i had with 611 and 1218. and looking at the pics of them charging on the ns cleveland line
thx,
zman27

 

[RRSignal]

Hey, George! Looking beautiful. The natural elements are especially good.

 

[georgem2010]

George, please look up to the right and see where I am. It's pronounced Connyott. I live in Conneaut Harbor. The winding curve and grade going south out of Conneaut is called the Hogs Back. The Bessemer has always been the Bessemer. It was never the Pennsylvania Railroad. There is an abandoned PRR Line east of Conneaut called Thornton Junction that went south to Linesville and Stoneboro Pa.

Ahhh wow! Your information is going to be so helpful! Would you be able to continue helping me with fine details and names of places on this route, I was hoping that someone on here might live close by but this is just the jackpot! I would come and visit if I lived nearer, but a transatlantic flight is a little out of my budget right now If there is anymore information that you have that you think would aid me in the building of the route then please do let me know!

Thank you ever so much!!
And please, advise and criticism is MORE than welcome!

George

 

[H222]

George, I'd suggest changing your trees and shrubs with Tundra's trees and shrubbery - http://www.greenery.name/mstsg/mstsgd.htm?trainz,1

Quite possibly the best trees that aren't speedtrees ...

Jamie

 

[georgem2010]

George, I'd suggest changing your trees and shrubs with Tundra's trees and shrubbery

Very nice, I'll give them a look through.

Map update. Progress is slow due to exams and other commitments

Thanks.

 

[RiverRun]

Ahhh wow! Your information is going to be so helpful! Would you be able to continue helping me with fine details and names of places on this route, I was hoping that someone on here might live close by but this is just the jackpot! I would come and visit if I lived nearer, but a transatlantic flight is a little out of my budget right now If there is anymore information that you have that you think would aid me in the building of the route then please do let me know!

Thank you ever so much!!
And please, advise and criticism is MORE than welcome!

George

I'll do what I can George. The Bessemer Yard and Docks are 2 blocks away from me. You have my house in that satellite photo. One thing, your buildings look too european. And there are lots of Chevrolets here. There is no East Lakeville Cemetary. The closest cemetary is south of Liberty Street between RT 7 and South Main. Really Lakeville doesn't even exist. The harbor is North Conneaut.



In the center of this photo is the Pittsburgh & Conneaut Dock Company Administration Building. In front is a sign that has a large CN (Canadian National) logo and it says P&C Dock Company. North and South is a chain link fence. Just to the north of the admin building you'll see a company truck. That area is a scenic overlook so the people can drive there on Ford Drive and watch the ships being loaded and unloaded. All of the residential property west of the dock company was once owned by the Ford Family. I own the first house built by the Ford Family, built in 1862. Most of the homes are 2 story homes built before 1920, and were once owned by dock company employees or people that worked on the great lakes. Some of the homes have Widow's Walks by the roofs.

Final, you asked for opinions....you got Conneaut all wrong, I've looked at your screenshots and it isn't very close. Sorry, but Conneaut is a very important part of the Bessemer & Lake Erie. The place where the CSX crosses Conneaut Creek is called the Arches. There are 2 arches, and the rest of it is fill. The CSX main is former New York Central, what is called the Lake Shore Line, and it was a 4 track main. It's down to 2 now, but the profile is wide.

Here is a shot of the Arches, looking south from the harbor yard, you can see the former Nickel Plate Road/Norfolk&Western/Norfolk Southern Trestle through the Arches. Above is the 4 track CSX.

 

[georgem2010]

One thing, your buildings look too european. And there are lots of Chevrolets here. There is no East Lakeville Cemetary. The closest cemetary is south of Liberty Street between RT 7 and South Main. Really Lakeville doesn't even exist. The harbor is North Conneaut.

Hello RiverRun,

I apologize for the lack of accuracy, I had no idea. Obviously I am from England and am purely relying on google earth and photos. Regarding the cemetery, it was labled East Lakeville Cemetery on google earth so I just assumed this was correct.

Google Earth

Trainz

In regards to the houses and bridges, unfortunately I have very poor internet and I try and make do as much as i can with the default scenery and some downloaded stuff, so I can't promise to make it perfect..

The bridge I tried my best on, I couldn't find one with the grass verges on top and that would create two arches over the river.

The next screen shot shows the edge of my route at this time, I have not attempted the docks yet.

When you say I have got Conneaut all wrong, what do you mean? I have spent a long time positioning all the road, tracks etc exactly as it is shown on google earth..

Trainz

Anyway, thanks.

George

 

[RiverRun]

That cemetary is on the back side or southern side of town, and you can't see it from the ground. (trees) Route 20 crosses the viaduct from east to west, turns north, then zigzags west through town. The road in that satellite photo is route 20. It's about 2 miles south of the harbor. Only trying to help. Route 20 comes into town at Liberty Street, crosses Main Street, then goes west on State Street, hope that helps.

 

[georgem2010]

That cemetary is on the back side or southern side of town, and you can't see it from the ground. (trees) Route 20 crosses the viaduct from east to west, turns north, then zigzags west through town. The road in that satellite photo is route 20. It's about 2 miles south of the harbor. Only trying to help. Route 20 comes into town at Liberty Street, crosses Main Street, then goes west on State Street, hope that helps.

Oh I see, so where do I need more trees? Between the cemetery and railway? I hope to attempt the harbor someday soon.

Thank you,

George.

 

[stmsoccer]

Yes George I will very soon, and good to see you back



Josh

 

[RiverRun]

Okay, I see what Google did. On the right of the photo is what they call East Lakeville Cemetary. I've marked it with yellow. That is a very old cemetary and hasn't been used for about 80 years. You can't see it from the tracks. There are trees and the grade from the tracks goes uphill. The cemetary is about 60 feet higher than the RR tracks.

The Bessemer goes under Route 20, and is about 100 feet below it. So the city cemetary on the left side is about 1/4 mile southwest of the Bessemer main called the Hogs Back and about 120 feet above the railroad tracks. You can't see anything but hillside down on the Bessemer tracks. There's a nice little feeder creek that flows northeast to southwest about halfway through the curve before you cross Welton Road. The Bessemer is a constant grade from Conneaut to West Springfield Pennsylvania where there is a overpass that goes over Route 6N. From the overpass you can see the Interstate 90/6N interchange and there is a large truckstop on the east side of 6N right by the overpass. 6N goes under the Bessemer there. Between Conneaut at the Hogs Back and the Pennsylvania State Line there is a trailer park on the north side of the tracks.

 

[georgem2010]

The Bessemer goes under Route 20, and is about 100 feet below it. So that cemetary is about 1/4 mile southwest of the Bessemer main called the Hogs Back and about 120 feet below the grade of the cemetary. You can't see anything but hillside down on the Bessemer tracks. There's a nice little feeder creek that flows northeast to southwest about halfway through the curve before you cross Welton Road. The Bessemer is a constant grade from Conneaut to West Springfield Pennsylvania where there is a overpass that goes over Route 6N. From the overpass you can see the Interstate 90/6N interchange and there is a large truckstop on the east side of 6N right by the overpass. 6N goes under the Bessemer there. Between Conneaut at the Hogs Back and the Pennsylvania State Line there is a trailer park on the north side of the tracks.

Do you have any idea what that grade is? And do you have any information about the locations of the mileposts? That would be a tremendous help!

Thank you again RiverRun,

George.

 

[RiverRun]

I've been told 1.8%. Nothing on the mileposts.

 

[georgem2010]

Long time no see.

I'm sorry for the lack of commitment lately. I have just taken my higher education exams and that is the reason for my lack of work on Trainz. Anyway, I hope you can forgive me

Thanks

 

[georgem2010]

BIG UPDATE

Hello All!

70 long iron ore train en route to Conneaut Ore Docks, NS units help the regular B&LE unit.

Old disused aggregate storage/quarry. By the looks of google maps, a track did split of to this but is now a curved shaped ditch.

Thomas Drive, south view to the tracks.

Fields, shelters from the tracks by thick tree lines.

Welton Road Xing, hopeful spotter awaits the train.

Powers towards the Hog's Back practically rolling down the 1.8% grade under its own weight.

Trundling along side Conneaut Creek, only half a mile to its destination now. Beautiful

Please comment, this route seems to be one which I can keep coming back to and adding more and more baseboards... who knows, maybe I'll lay the full 139 miles of track :hehe: no DEMs used, all my own work, just me and google earth and a wagon load of photos.

George

 

[Eaglefan9727]

That is impressive...Great job

 

[RRSignal]

Looking great as always! Just got back from there.

 

[georgem2010]

Wow, it's been nearly a year. Very sorry about this :/ school has overwhelmed me. Hope to get back to this in the next few weeks. How is everyone?

George