So I've found a .pdf file of CSX's Huntington Division Timetable that features the CSX Rockhouse Division, which Checkrail.com's Dermmy made and named 'EK3 Sub'. Now There are some significant differences between Dermmy's route and the prototype, such as being a double-track mainline and some branchlines to coal mines that no longer exist. My question is: If I'm going to take Dermmy's EK3 route and use it as a starting point for a more prototypical route, how close to the prototype should I get? Should I have it be 100% prototypical? This would result in eliminating several branches and multiple coal mines, converting double-track to single-track, 3-aspect signals to searchlight signals, etc. Should I make it more like the prototype yet keep some of the non-prototypical aspects of the route?
How Prototypical should I make this Route?
- Thread starter jordon412
- Start date
Real railways change over time. Branch lines and sidings are built and then closed. Even mainline track can be duplicated and later, as the economics and technology change, one track can become redundant and be removed.
When I prototype I pick an era (e.g. a decade) as well as a route. It may not be the same decade as on the maps and track plans I have. In the absence of historical data (written accounts, photos) I have to make educated guesses and use poetic licence. If your route and era are little known then who is going to nit pick ("that siding was longer", "that's not correct", "that never existed", etc)?
As the two previous posters have pointed out, who are you building it for? If it is for others then some will never be satisfied. If it is for yourself then you please yourself and others can take it or leave it.
When I prototype I pick an era (e.g. a decade) as well as a route. It may not be the same decade as on the maps and track plans I have. In the absence of historical data (written accounts, photos) I have to make educated guesses and use poetic licence. If your route and era are little known then who is going to nit pick ("that siding was longer", "that's not correct", "that never existed", etc)?
As the two previous posters have pointed out, who are you building it for? If it is for others then some will never be satisfied. If it is for yourself then you please yourself and others can take it or leave it.
cascaderailroad
New member
You are going to want to add those sidings, branchlines, and industrial tracks back in at some later point, to make the route running more interesting. Using older signals and wood track would make for old time running of yesteryear
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