Northeast Corridor Newport News, VA to Boston-South Station, MA (1024x 768 pixels)

Re: Everyone

metrarailboy1:

Thanks its in Southern Washington DC (getting closer to the Anacostia River), it would be a great railfan spot if it weren't 20 feet off the ground with walls and security cameras all around it.

That's why I railfan at L'Enfant which is about a 1/4 mi southwest (have not built yet in the route) and if you want to see that I have some videos of trains I took from there:

http://www.youtube.com/user/GulfWindProductions?feature=mhum

@tuangalimoreamtrak19:

Thanks for the compliments! Oh and just a friendly reminder, when the pic is pretty much above you, you don't need to quote it, just a FYI.

@susanaes:

Thanks for the support, whenever (if ever) I get up there (maybe in 60 years) I'll take you up on that offer, lol.:p

RooRocz:

Thanks for the support, I did crew all the way up until this year (until the homework situation and other issues finally caught up to me). The signal box is made by the amazing creator gFisher (George) and his PRR box looks almost exactly like the prototype. He modeled it back in the day when railroads ran a more interesting operation and used special facilities like that for interlockings. It actually was a perfect fit since it was a PRR box its just CSX has let it fall into disrepair. I would try to make it look decrepit but I couldn't really release it because its George's so I'm just going to leave it as is.

Hey if you want to railfan with me in the DC area hit me up sometime man!

@gfisher:

:hehe: George I wouldn't be surprised if you could write a whole book on Massachusetts railroading!

@Inn:

Thanks for the compliment and any resources you have will help immensely!:D


Happy Saturday Guys!

Davis
 
Keep up the Great Work

Hey stretch,
Your route looks very nice right now especially in Washington D.C. a place I love railfan when I am not at home in Detroit,MI. I can't even imagine what the route look like when you get in the buildings and scenery for D.C.I use take the train from D.C. to Ashland,VA once or more a year to
go see my ex girlfriend and your route look just like the real thing mile by mile (so far by tracks,signals and trackside structure.) Interstate 395 need a little work though.By the way your route is 10x better than MSTS route.


Keep up the great route and don't give up !!!!!!!:)
 
Beautiful route, my friend. Never on my best day could I even come close to what you've been doing. Just a masterpiece.
As for Tuan.....Google his name. I don't think Amtrak hires 5th-6th graders.
 
Tremain,

Thank you very much for your kind words, I was actually in Ashland this summer to go railfanning too. In regards to I-395 I know thats's a weak point in the scenery but there is not a hell of a lot I can do. I'm going to throw up more details like gaurd rails (and possibly road signage) to improve its looks, also maybe some additional vegetation.

Royane,

Thanks Chris, I'm glad you like it!

Tomahawk368,

Thanks and I pretty much figured too, I googled it, ROFL.

Davis
 
So what was the original name of that portion of the MBTA commuter rail that connects Rockport and Gloucester?

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Eastern Railroad of Massachusetts' Gloucester Branch which became the B&M Gloucester Branch as featured in Kalmbach's [/FONT]Classic Railroads you can Model?

William
 
Tremain,

Thank you very much for your kind words, I was actually in Ashland this summer to go railfanning too. In regards to I-395 I know thats's a weak point in the scenery but there is not a hell of a lot I can do. I'm going to throw up more details like gaurd rails (and possibly road signage) to improve its looks, also maybe some additional vegetation.

Royane,

Thanks Chris, I'm glad you like it!

Tomahawk368,

Thanks and I pretty much figured too, I googled it, ROFL.

Davis

As beautiful as your route is, I recommend (as a scenery designer for FS) not to get too caught up in minutiae. Just get the route done and tweak it later. Remember, Trainz is rare in that it allows you to make additions, changes and perfections later and version them appropriately, unlike many other programs. I don't remember if I mentioned this previously but I just wanted to give you a head's up as someone who's been there and done that.

The thing is, I'm going to have to take my own advice when I do my R-3 route and I have already printed stickies and affixed them onto my monitor as a reminder! lol :)
 
@gfisher:

I've never even been on MBTA so I'm eager to know the answer, the question is still reserved for just susanaes.;)

@marinemania:

Haha thanks I'll try, this game is for fun and not a life priority so as long as I'm still enjoying it then I'll keep it rolling!

@RRSignal:

Thanks man, that's what I've been trying to discipline myself to do but some areas I just can't seem to move on from (even if I'm going back) because they just aren't right in my head. Good luck on your SEPTA route!

-------------------------

Whoops tree branch got in the way but oh well here's some basic textures and vegetation going in:
strench707_20100906_0000.jpg



Davis:wave:
 
Since susanaes seems to have gotten shy, the answer is the Rockport Railroad. When the Eastern Railroad extended a branch line to Gloucester, the line terminated there and they had a turntable and some engine facilities. Rockport merchants wanted a connection to the railroad so they took up a subscription and built the 3.5 mile line to Gloucester. Upon completion it was aquired by the Eastern Railroad, which was itself later aquired by the Boston & Maine. I believe that PanAm Railroad still has freight trackage rights into Rockport, although it has been embargoed for almost thirty years since the Salem bridge burned (it was rebuilt by the MBTA).
 
What kind of freight would the pre-MBTA railroads over those tracks haul? Just goods from the cities in small local trains or was there a big industry there that needed to deliveries or exports?

Davis
 
Small local freight. The Rockport Railroad was originally chartered in 1853, but it wasn't built until 1860, at which time Rockport had a large cotton mill in its downtown, as well as a granite industry. The mill, which was built of wood burned down in about 1865, although the granite mill administration building survived and is today our public library. (says George putting on his old Chairman of the Historic Distric Commission hat) Up until the late 1970's we would get about one local freight a week with supplies like lumber and animal feed for the farmers that were still left. Gloucester had two or three sidings at cold storage warehouses and the LePages glue company. It probably also had a coal dock somewhere for home heating at least through the 1920's, but that is long gone.


PS Check out The Rail Lines of Southern New England by Ronald Dale Karr
 
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Very cool it sounds like you take a lot of pride in your town! Are there any remnants of the old industrial tracks and spurs that used to serve those industries, that would be pretty cool to check out!

Davis
 
Approaching the First Street Tunnel SB

The area is not done scenery-wise but I was driving and I figured I'd grab a shot:

strench707_20100906_0001.jpg


I wish I could find a decent photo sharing site that allows bigger pictures, because on my wide computer screen it looks so much cooler.

Any ideas for a new site please post, I'm using photobucket ATM.

Davis
 
Gfisher.. Although would you know that most the engineers hate doing Rockport? :) The new layout (If it ever gets done in Rockport) should be nice thou! Such a dumpy station..

You should make a MBTA route gfisher..
 
It's on my list. I have the terrain done for all of Essex County plus part of Suffolk (Boston). One of these days I'll do it. And it is a crummy little station, a mere bus shelter.
 
:) Your Welcome,
I couldn't go to Ashland,VA this year because of a College Fair over the summer.I-395 round the L'Enfant Area is hard to do though in a simulator.Are you still in the D.C. Area on your route ?
 
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