http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tamalpais_and_Muir_Woods_Railway
This would make an interesting route for a someday project.
John
This would make an interesting route for a someday project.
John
Mount Tamalpais and Muir Woods Railway
- Thread starter JCitron
- Start date
cascaderailroad
New member
I have the book: "The Crookedest RR in the World".
https://archive.org/details/MountTam1917
Passengers actually had top get out and push the train if it stalled, as it was a downhill run away roller coaster, gravity RR, with locos only pushing the cars uphill.
As was the Reading Mt Penn Gravity RR
And the Mauch Chunk/Mahanoy inclined plane was powered by a cable pulled pig
The Mount Lowe RR, and the Mount Washington COG Rwy would also make great routes in Trainz
https://archive.org/details/MountTam1917
Passengers actually had top get out and push the train if it stalled, as it was a downhill run away roller coaster, gravity RR, with locos only pushing the cars uphill.
As was the Reading Mt Penn Gravity RR
And the Mauch Chunk/Mahanoy inclined plane was powered by a cable pulled pig
The Mount Lowe RR, and the Mount Washington COG Rwy would also make great routes in Trainz
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Reminds me of the Mount Snowden Railway in Wales. http://www.snowdonrailway.co.uk/ A "must do" if you are in that part of the world.
I'm assuming this was standard gauge? (The Wiki article doesn't make it clear but the track looks it). Given the gradients this might be also ideal to build as an electrified traction or trolley route, bringing it into the modern day, indeed the history seems to suggest that was considered at one stage. Messing about in Transdem and Open Street Map, with the map from this site: http://hunza1.tripod.com/tamalpais/ (beware of pop-ups) I was able to trace about 90% of the route fairly accurately. It's not so crystal clear on US Topo maps however.
cascaderailroad
New member
What I like about the line that a skilled brakeman controlled the roller coaster train (with no loco), a runaway consist radio flyer wagons, all free rolling, all the way downhill, for miles ... It was a roller coaster wonder of the world !
See Movie ---> https://archive.org/details/MountTam1917
See Movie ---> https://archive.org/details/MountTam1917
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Looks like it would have been a bit more comfortable than this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImGJv7WMmUo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImGJv7WMmUo
This was standard gauge and was supposed to become an electric line later, but they never got around to electrifying the route!
I didn't take a look, but perhaps the historic topographic maps may have a bit more to see than the recent ones. The latest versions of TransDem automatically place the maps by extracting the information from the GeoPDF files. You need to install a second application because TD calls up the application for processing, but everything is magic.
Here's the link to the downloader:
http://store.usgs.gov/b2c_usgs/usgs...rd&carea=$ROOT&layout=6_1_61_48&uiarea=2)/.do
It's a lot easier to use than it looks - typical of a government website!
Here's the actual PDF from 1941, the most recent of the oldest maps. The 1897 maps are lower resolution.
http://ims.er.usgs.gov/gda_services/download?item_id=5504703
The line connected to the Northwestern Pacific at Altamont and ran up through Mill Valley. The original grade became a street in Mill Valley and it's pretty obvious where the multiple folds are on the ROW. This is quite visible on the 1941 map which was only a decade after the line's demise.
John
Managed to get most of the mountain section track laid yesterday. A few compromises and in some sections the terrain will need fudging as even the 25m DEM does not completely match the course of the line. Several sections where it was necessary to go to 7% with the gradient, which definitely puts this in the preserve of Shay locos or electric traction. Also (unfortunately) the only Redwood and Sequoia trees on the DLS are the old ones by Dave Drake and Talltreez which sadly look almost transparent in TS12. So will have to substitute alternate conifers from McGuirrel and the later JVC models.
I suppose NED 1/3 arc sec (10m) should be available.
cascaderailroad
New member
I would like to see the maps, I have never traced the line on Google Earth, but I think it was pretty long run up the mountain (the "sleeping maiden"), several miles.
cascaderailroad
New member
I agree ... and there are many historic RR's that are equal to this RR, and deserve the same attention
Mt Lowe
Mt Washington COG Rwy
Reading Gravity Rwy
Mauch Chunk Inclined plane
Mahanoy Inclined plane
Johnstown Inclined plane
Allegheny Portage Inclined plane(s)
Mt Lowe
Mt Washington COG Rwy
Reading Gravity Rwy
Mauch Chunk Inclined plane
Mahanoy Inclined plane
Johnstown Inclined plane
Allegheny Portage Inclined plane(s)
These would be cool. While visiting the Lehigh Valley this past summer, I saw part of the Mauch Chunk Incline Plain. I've driven up Mt Washington, but never took the train. That would be an interesting route too with the cog locomotives. Sadly, they are running small diesels now and retiring the steam engines.
John
I started the same line in TRS04. I never got very far but I have the basic track laid out somewhere on the hard drive.
Tallulah Falls also comes to mind. It's supposed to be some beautiful scenery.