"The Kab Fourword Railroad" - work in progress
I've taken the first tentative steps on a new Trainz model railroad. The working title is "The Kab Fourword Railroad". It has its original in a Private Message asking if I was interested in making a Trainz layout based on a HO scale model layout of the Southern Pacific Cascade Crossing route. The track plan of the HO scale model layout is here:
http://spcascade.com/Track Plan/TrackPlan.html
and images here:
http://spcascade.com/ACDC Construction Album/index.html
I declined the suggestion of replicating this in Trainz, mainly because most of the HO layout was occupied by sorting yards and spurs with very little scenic running sections. It's also on two levels which is fiendishly difficult to achieve in Trainz.
But since then I've been thinking about my next Trainz layout. Cascade Crossing had many long tunnels.
Running conventional steam locomotive on this route resulted in toxic exhaust fumes entering the cab, making an extremely dangerous environment for locomotive crews. Placing the cab at the front of the locomotive overcame this problem so in the days of steam the Cascade Crossing freight trains were worked by Cab Forward locomotives.
I thought it might be worth while making a layout to run the Trainz Cab Forwards, see here:
https://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthread.php?144060-SP-Cab-Forward-AC-12-4294-Brass-brass-model
I wanted to make a smallish layout (three or four baseboards) with steep grades, sharp curves, trestles and several tunnels. I've got thus far:
Track plan (subject to modifications):
My thinking is that it might represent a division point where locomotives are exchanged - taking off the locomotives used over the plains and replacing them with Cab Forwards for the steep grades and tunnels. Hence the long spurs in the yard and locomotive depot with turntable fuel facilities (at the bottom):
The track work, just two dimensional at the moment:
If you look at the track plan it can be run as a continuous loop. Or as an out and home. Or as a dumb bell (loops at the end of a running section). The long straight sections of track are placeholders. The final should will have more curves and possibly a mine or two, logging camp, stock yards, ... up on the Kab plateau. Something to justify the line's existence in addition to being part of the SP transcontinental route. Maybe the depot at Fourword will be part of a small port with some industries. Possibly a barge ferry that links to another (not modelled) railroad.
I have a mental mage of what it should look like. All I have to do is pluck up the courage to start on the grades. I fear that part will be a challenge.
Phil