Hi everyone,
For some of the newer members (and any one else
)who do not know the history of this project here is a little story
Some years ago the idea of creating the entire Sydney Rail Network was started on the old forum. As time went on, this project "died" but eventual it was started again with many members thinking about the idea with renewed interest (this was just over 12 months ago). Also at the same time Roy (rjord1) started on his project currently called Cityrail 2007/2008 and more can be found here;
http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=449&highlight=CityRail
When Roy (a very brave move for 1 person) started his project he also knew about the "other" thread and the original idea. The idea of creating the entire Sydney rail network (and more) is a massive project and Roy has decided to take on this project by himself. This thread is by no means meant to be a "competition" between Roy's efforts and any other project, nor to "put down" his great effort.
When the original thread was started again I became involved (as with many others) and over a period of time I collected Topographic maps of the Network from Newcastle down to Waterfall, and out to Lithgow in the Blue Mountains with exactly the same scale. I then merged these maps (some 500 of them) together and there was an offer by Jerker to create a DEM file from these maps. There are 3 merged maps, 1 of the Sydney area, 1 of the Newcastle to Sydney and 1 of the Blue Mountains. These 3 maps have then been "altered" to meet with Jerker's requirements to create the DEM files.
BTW, Jerker also created a DEM file for the area from Nowra (south of Sydney) to Waterfall which I have and another person was working on, I have not seen this area/layout on the download station though (unless I missed it, which is possible ).
I still have all of this work and I have been in contact with Jerker to see if his offer still stands, and luckily he is still will to help out. However before he starts on the DEM file (a lot of work for him) I am wondering how much interest there is in this Project.
The original idea with this DEM file was to break up the file into the various "lines" of Sydney and then for different people to complete/create those sections of the Network. For example, someone may like to do the East Hills line out to Campbelltown, someone may like to do the northern line, from Sydney to Hornsby (I think that's the limit), someone to do the Blue Mountains and etc. Once each person has finished their section then it could be uploaded to the Download Station and as other sections become available they could then be merge together.
So if there is enough interest in this idea, I can send my work to Jerker to create the DEM file and then I will break it up for various people and forward them on. Breaking up the file will be a lot a work as well requiring the deletion of many (if not hundreds) of baseboards.
I do not feel justified in asking Jerker to spend a lot of his time in creating this file (and apart from myself in breaking it up) without much interest from people willing to do the different sections. Also needed for this project may be many others willing to create specific content for the project such as the Harbour Bridge (we may be able to use some creations from Roy for this with his permission).
In addition to the current Sydney Network I have included in this file some areas that many years ago where planed for the network but "died" for one reason or another by the Government of the day. An example of this is when the Habour Bridge was built (now 75 years old a few days ago) there was the intention of creating a line to the northern beaches of Sydney (Brookvale etc). In fact I have seen photos of the tunnels that are still there today for this line. Another area I have included is the original idea of the Eastern Suburbs line, from the City to Bondi then around to other suburbs of Randwick, Kensington and Mascot. So there is a lot of "potential" lines for the network, both old and uncompleted by the Government and the current lines.
So any one interested in this idea could they please let me know. For myself I wish to do the line from Waterfall to the City and then the Eastern Suburbs line. Our Helpdesk mate of Alan Yeomans originally wanted to do the Richmond to the City line and spent some time on this before working for Auran.
Let me know what you think.
Craig
For some of the newer members (and any one else
)who do not know the history of this project here is a little story Some years ago the idea of creating the entire Sydney Rail Network was started on the old forum. As time went on, this project "died" but eventual it was started again with many members thinking about the idea with renewed interest (this was just over 12 months ago). Also at the same time Roy (rjord1) started on his project currently called Cityrail 2007/2008 and more can be found here;
http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?t=449&highlight=CityRail
When Roy (a very brave move for 1 person) started his project he also knew about the "other" thread and the original idea. The idea of creating the entire Sydney rail network (and more) is a massive project and Roy has decided to take on this project by himself. This thread is by no means meant to be a "competition" between Roy's efforts and any other project, nor to "put down" his great effort.
When the original thread was started again I became involved (as with many others) and over a period of time I collected Topographic maps of the Network from Newcastle down to Waterfall, and out to Lithgow in the Blue Mountains with exactly the same scale. I then merged these maps (some 500 of them) together and there was an offer by Jerker to create a DEM file from these maps. There are 3 merged maps, 1 of the Sydney area, 1 of the Newcastle to Sydney and 1 of the Blue Mountains. These 3 maps have then been "altered" to meet with Jerker's requirements to create the DEM files.
BTW, Jerker also created a DEM file for the area from Nowra (south of Sydney) to Waterfall which I have and another person was working on, I have not seen this area/layout on the download station though (unless I missed it, which is possible
).I still have all of this work and I have been in contact with Jerker to see if his offer still stands, and luckily he is still will to help out. However before he starts on the DEM file (a lot of work for him) I am wondering how much interest there is in this Project.
The original idea with this DEM file was to break up the file into the various "lines" of Sydney and then for different people to complete/create those sections of the Network. For example, someone may like to do the East Hills line out to Campbelltown, someone may like to do the northern line, from Sydney to Hornsby (I think that's the limit), someone to do the Blue Mountains and etc. Once each person has finished their section then it could be uploaded to the Download Station and as other sections become available they could then be merge together.
So if there is enough interest in this idea, I can send my work to Jerker to create the DEM file and then I will break it up for various people and forward them on. Breaking up the file will be a lot a work as well requiring the deletion of many (if not hundreds) of baseboards.
I do not feel justified in asking Jerker to spend a lot of his time in creating this file (and apart from myself in breaking it up) without much interest from people willing to do the different sections. Also needed for this project may be many others willing to create specific content for the project such as the Harbour Bridge (we may be able to use some creations from Roy for this with his permission).
In addition to the current Sydney Network I have included in this file some areas that many years ago where planed for the network but "died" for one reason or another by the Government of the day. An example of this is when the Habour Bridge was built (now 75 years old a few days ago) there was the intention of creating a line to the northern beaches of Sydney (Brookvale etc). In fact I have seen photos of the tunnels that are still there today for this line. Another area I have included is the original idea of the Eastern Suburbs line, from the City to Bondi then around to other suburbs of Randwick, Kensington and Mascot. So there is a lot of "potential" lines for the network, both old and uncompleted by the Government and the current lines.
So any one interested in this idea could they please let me know. For myself I wish to do the line from Waterfall to the City and then the Eastern Suburbs line. Our Helpdesk mate of Alan Yeomans originally wanted to do the Richmond to the City line and spent some time on this before working for Auran.
Let me know what you think.
Craig