Great Lakes Central Railroad - Screenshots

[bryinmich]

Hi everyone!

Here is my WIP screenshots of the GLC (Great Lakes Central) railroad. I am just starting out and have started in my hometown of Cadillac, MI; a major interchange on the GLC in northern Michigan. Cadillac includes two yards for the GLC (the original T&SBY [Tuscola & Saginaw Bay] yard and the former NMR [Northern Michigan Railroad; ex GR&I (Grand Rapids & Indiana)] yard on the northern branch that ends in Petoskey, MI). The Yuma Branch leads west out of the main GLC yard, towards the sand pits of Yuma.

So here is the first screenshot with a real world image of the same area from Virtual Earth:

...and the TS2009 Surveyor image of roughly the same area:

So thanks for looking and I'll update periodically with new screenshots of my work. I hope to take my time so don't expect this anytime soon.



NOTE: All pics are shrunk down from 1680x1050 to make more convenient for those w/ smaller monitors and resolutions. They might appear somewhat "grainy" but I assure you in route they are not. I might post some full resolution ones as the route gets further along.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Hi everyone!

Here is my WIP screenshots of the GLC (Great Lakes Central) railroad. I am just starting out and have started in my hometown of Cadillac, MI; a major interchange on the GLC in northern Michigan. Cadillac includes two yards for the GLC (the original T&SBY [Tuscola & Saginaw Bay] yard and the former NMR [Northern Michigan Railroad; ex GR&I (Grand Rapids & Indiana)] yard on the northern branch that ends in Petoskey, MI). The Yuma Branch leads west out of the main GLC yard, towards the sand pits of Yuma.

So here is the first screenshot with a real world image of the same area from Virtual Earth:



...and the TS2009 Surveyor image of roughly the same area:



So thanks for looking and I'll update periodically with new screenshots of my work. I hope to take my time so don't expect this anytime soon.

Very nice so far!

As you know I have TS2009 too, and if you want to chat ingame with me you can! On the upper right hand corner there is a button with a person on it, if it is green, you are able to chat!

You will need to add buddies in order to do so.

Meanwhile, keep up the great work! I will be extremely patient.

 

[bryinmich]

Very nice so far!

As you know I have TS2009 too, and if you want to chat ingame with me you can! On the upper right hand corner there is a button with a person on it, if it is green, you are able to chat!

You will need to add buddies in order to do so.

Meanwhile, keep up the great work! I will be extremely patient.

Ok great thanks. When I get on next I'll try and remember to do that. Thanks I hope I have the patience! lol

 

[bryinmich]

CLC Crosses the Huron River at Ann Arbor, MI

The GLC at it's humble beginnings in Ann Arbor, MI. The line at bottom of the picture is the NS (Norfolk Southern) line leading from Detroit (east, or right side of screen) to Kalamazoo (west). There is a dam and a small park with a walk / bike path that leads north and east (into the trees) along the Huron River.

I'm trying to keep as faithful to the original as possible. Microsoft Virtual Earth sure helps in this regard as they have awesome resolution in the Ann Arbor area!

I have recently found some great pictures of the historical metal deck girder bridge. I have the one pictured above as simply a stop-gap until I can change it out, which I'm going to do next.

 

[jadebullet]

Wow, it looks like you are off to a great start.

 

[WCL]

Wow....I do must say thats lookin really really nice :Y:

 

[bryinmich]

Thanks Jadebullet and WCL for the compliments. Yah it's going. I've found some pics of Argos Pond and Argos Dam (which its future is in question. The city of Ann Arbor wants to tear it out, but UofM uses the pond for rowing training; which they're highly ranked in rowing, not to mention some other rowing clubs, recreational rowers and area high school rowing programs...but I digress...).

I've replaced the railroad bridge with a more appropriate to the prototype one. I'm also working on some more details, just to get an idea of how my route is going to look and set the mood for me to continue on, which is not in question. More pics to come!

 

[illinoiscentral]

Ah.. yes the virtual earth. Backyard & I are using the same approach for our CNO&TP route.

 

[bryinmich]

UPDATE

I have done alot of work around Argos Dam and the GLC railway bridge that crosses Argos Pond over the Huron River. The new bridge closely resembles the original. I found some great pics of it on the internet.

Link: http://www.historicbridges.org/other/annarbor/

Here's my screenshot:

Argos Dam is visible in the center, with the Huron River flowing outwards and it makes a sharp bend to the east and past a riverside park to the south and a tree-lined walkway to the north. The dam backs up the Huron River forming Argos Pond behind. This shot is taken from the NS line and joining walkway, looking north. I have a grain train heading north on the GLC from downtown Ann Arbor in this shot.

An aerial view shows the GLC crossing old US-23 (Main Street), the Kalamazoo-Detroit NS line, and Argos Pond. (Compare to earlier shot taken yesterday!)

 

[jadebullet]

This is looking really good. Keep up the good work.

 

[DaSnakke]

Guys, sorry for this, but, where can I find the track in the last pics? Thanks.

 

[bryinmich]

This is looking really good. Keep up the good work.

Thank you for the compliment Jadebullet! I'm learning as I go, as this is my first route I've ever built.

Guys, sorry for this, but, where can I find the track in the last pics? Thanks.

It's availble from the Auran DLS (I used the CMv2.0 w/ TS2009 WBE). Type in norfolksouthern37 under Author search. ns37 did the best job I've seen yet on realistic looking US rails. There are many other good ones as well but the light ballast is perfect for my needs. Thanks norfolksouthern37!

 

[PerRock]

I thought that spot looked familiar..... 'cause thats just down the street from my work. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this project. If you need anyone to do some scouting of the area let me know I might be able to squeeze some railfaning into my schedule (not that i really need an excuse to.)

peter

 

[LVman]

bryinmich, awesome work so far! If you want a closer match for the bridge, I suggest looking up Maddy25 on the DLS. She has a perfect example of a Plate girder, just like in that picture. Although, you need to position the piers yourself.
Good Luck.
Sean

 

[PerRock]

bryinmich, awesome work so far! If you want a closer match for the bridge, I suggest looking up Maddy25 on the DLS. She has a perfect example of a Plate girder, just like in that picture. Although, you need to position the piers yourself.
Good Luck.
Sean

I'd second that as well as look into her thru girder bridges for the part crossing the NS Michigan Line.

A little info for others about that spot:

-Just south east of Argo Dam is the Amtrak Station and the old Michigan Central Station (now a fancy restaurant).
- The Artrain used to be (before it was sold) parked when not on tour imediately north of the bridge on the Michigan Line.
-If you paddle out underneath the bridge (about middle) you can see an old train wheel from when an Ann Arbor RR train fell off the bridge.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...530575976694607705.00000113038eff7989474&z=12

peter

 

[bryinmich]

I thought that spot looked familiar..... 'cause thats just down the street from my work. I will definitely be keeping an eye on this project. If you need anyone to do some scouting of the area let me know I might be able to squeeze some railfaning into my schedule (not that i really need an excuse to.)

peter

Wow great! I might just take you up on that offer. I'm glad that I'm getting it as acurate as I can. I'll try and do more to make it even moreso. I plan that on as much of the route as I can, but this area is just too impressive to not do it justice.

bryinmich, awesome work so far! If you want a closer match for the bridge, I suggest looking up Maddy25 on the DLS. She has a perfect example of a Plate girder, just like in that picture. Although, you need to position the piers yourself.
Good Luck.
Sean

Thanks LVman! I'll definitely check out Maddy25's work then. Definitely anything to make it closer resemble the prototype is alright by me. Ok I think MS Virtual Earth has good enough detail and with the other site I found placing those piers should not be a problem.

A little info for others about that spot:

-Just south east of Argo Dam is the Amtrak Station and the old Michigan Central Station (now a fancy restaurant).
- The Artrain used to be (before it was sold) parked when not on tour imediately north of the bridge on the Michigan Line.
-If you paddle out underneath the bridge (about middle) you can see an old train wheel from when an Ann Arbor RR train fell off the bridge.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...ff7989474&z=12

peter

Thanks for the maplink and the info PerRock! I've heard about the ArTrain but I'll have to do more looking into that. I did not know there was an accident there in the past. I'll look into that as well for a more historical perspective.

Going to take the discussion over to my Route discussion thread below:

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?p=402602#post402602

 

[bryinmich]

Rhetech, Inc.

A new screenshot of WIP for the GLC siding that services Rhetech Inc., located on E North Territorial Rd. southeast of Whitmore Lake, MI.

"CEFX hoppers are backed into the siding by the GLC's leased GP38-2 locomotives GMTX #2663 and 2675."

"With the hoppers loaded and hauled away the next day, it's another work day at Rhetech, Inc."

Here's a better shot looking north in to the Intermodal yard and loading docks of Rhetech, Inc. The GLC / Rhetech Yard is to the left of the building, a small section of track is barely visible.

Note: The model of Rhetech Inc. is using 3x TycoPlastics model by ronin13 available on the DLS <kuid2:97212:5141:1> Thanks ronin13!

 

[cascaderailroad]

Nice

Is that topography generated from a DEM, or by hand ? Nice route ! So it's made with Trainz2009 ?...Looks awesome.

 

[bryinmich]

Is that topography generated from a DEM, or by hand ? Nice route ! So it's made with Trainz2009 ?...Looks awesome.

DEM; Thanks!; TS2009 WBE.

It's alot of work but the payoff is really showing. Trying to research the industries off the internet is kind of fun...but likewise a bit difficult. This takes some time, but it helps to put a name with the face.

More to come...

 

[chrisracer8903]

Very nice work! It's nice to see another Michigan route being done and not by me. After seeing your screenshots of the Huron River Bridge over the NS Michigan Line, I noticed your modeling part of the Ann Arbor Railroad, too. Are you including it all the way down to Toledo or just to Osmer Siding where the GLC and AA interchange?