Buckingham Branch RR

skidmark22

Retired MX Mis.Test Pilot
First shot. Just started on this route and I have a question. What is the width (or height) of a board in miles?

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What about the turnouts? To me they look a little sharp.
That is something I am working on but my biggest problem is this. Things are so scattered about and with strange labels, I am having one heck of a time finding things I need. It would sure help if things were all together. Like all houses in one area, all roads in one spot, all RR crossing in the same area and labeled the same. Unless you know the exact terminology for what you are looking for, it is almost hopeless. Looks like this is going to be a very long and slow process just to get the basics.
 
The turnouts look ok to me... it isn't unusual for me to see some tight-radius curves like that in spots where the track terminates, and the vehicles are creeping in and out.

Hell, I've seen a train in El Paso, running on track in the street, make a tight left turn at an intersection that I thought was insanely tight... much tighter than that.

Give those sections a very small speed limit, like 3mph, and it should look ok... (and use relatively short rolling stock too)

-- Smoovious
 
Slowly but surely, working it out. This is the western end of the route at a little town named Dillwyn. I am still searching for the right track to use. Are the turnouts looking better?

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Hey Skid,

Looks like you have the work cut out for ya. what kind of industry (if any) do you plan on including in this route? Keep us posted.

-Evan
 
Hey Skid,

Looks like you have the work cut out for ya. what kind of industry (if any) do you plan on including in this route? Keep us posted.

-Evan
There are 3 lumber/wood operations, some mining industry (kyanite from Willis Mountain) and a plant that makes solite in a 15 mile stretch. There is about an 10 mile stretch with nothing but track and woodland. I might shorten it up a little. Buckingham Branch recently took over a stretch of track from Richmond, through Charlottesville to Clifton Forge, VA that use to be controlled by CSX.

You can find out more about BBR at http://www.buckinghambranch.com/
 
I have a question. When using the fence splines, how do you get a 90 degree corner? I just can't figure it out. :confused:

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The way i do it is do one side, coming in from the first angle meet with the second, then split the spline, it shud give you a 90 degree angle or there abouts not found any other ways of doing it better, if there are id also love to know :). Keep up the good work!! :).
 
Just about finished with the west end of the route and the little town of Dillwyn. I haven't decided yet if I am going to go with those backdrops, some different ones or none at all.

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The way i do it is do one side, coming in from the first angle meet with the second, then split the spline, it shud give you a 90 degree angle or there abouts not found any other ways of doing it better, if there are id also love to know :). Keep up the good work!! :).

Split spline works well, or you can hold down the shift key while applying the intersecting spline, that works as well.

Oh, and nice job Skid (may I call you Skid)?
 
Hey Skid,

Things are looking great. You must be working on this route a lot! You have a nice looking town with the backround, I am having the hardest time trying to build a decent looking town.

Keep it up,

-Evan
 
Thanks all. Your words of encouragement helps.

I am slowly working my way to the east. I have one board about 90% complete and the second at around 50%. My trouble is still finding the things I need due to things being all cluttered in the program with no way to organize.:'( You might have noticed that I am not putting any signals or signs of any kind on the route. Not being a railroad person until recently, I have no idea what is proper to put at what place. When I finish the layout, anyone who wants to take on that job will be more than welcome.

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All is quiet on Buckingham Branch (Part1)

No trains moving on the Buckingham Branch RR this morning and things are quiet in Dillwyn..

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Continued in Part 2
 
For signalling you should have a look at what signals you'd like to use, then google for railroad signalling in the area where those signals come from. You'll be amazed what you learn from that! Also can use google to find out what railway signs are used in that same area, and what they mean.

For speed signs I'd test drive the route and see what speeds I can use when going around a bend or turnout, without it looking very unrealistic. Soon as you get the idea you're being tossed left/right like in a rollercoaster when in a bend, then you're driving way too fast. Some routes make you feel like you're tilting over to the right in a lefthand curve. That too I think means you're driving too fast.

To give you a bit of an indication: from the top of my head, in the Netherlands any curve with a maxiumum speed of over 40km/h is to have a radius of 650m and more.

If you want to place mileposts, there is a track scanner available on the DLS that you can use to measure the distance between two points. makes it easier to put mileposts in.

Hope this helped a bit. :)
 
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