Quesstions Regarding Modifying Dermmy's East Kentucky 3 (EK3)

[jordon412]

Questions Regarding Modifying Dermmy's East Kentucky 3 (EK3)

I've got several questions regarding Dermmy's EK3 Route:
1. On the prototype, what's the name of the division or subdivision does this route represent?
2. Was there ever a roundhouse or engine house/engine shed at the yard in Hazard, Kentucky?
3. If there was a roundhouse or engine house/engine shed in Hazard, are there any pictures of it?
4. Was there a water tower/water column at Hazard also?
5. What type of switchstands were used? I plan on using the following switches:
For manual switches:
up8328's 'New Century Switch M50A Yellow/Green Left (no ballast)', <KUID:378673:102270>
up8238's 'New Century Switch M50A Yellow/Green Right (no ballast)',<KUID:378673:102271>
For powered switches:
BNSF50's 'Switch Machine US & S', <KUID2:39134:102368:1>
6. Would the switchstands listed above be correct for the route or are there some switchstands that match the ones used on the prototype?
Can someone provide any help?

 

[jordon412]

Can someone help me out? I've got several questions that I'd like some help finding the answers.

 

[JCitron]

The route is based loosely on the C&O using and old Hog map data from the region.

Here's a Bing map of the area.

http://binged.it/1PRJZYz

From what I can tell in the Bing image, there very well may have been a roundhouse located where that parking lot is today along with other engine repair facilities.

The switches will be fine as they are more prototypical for North America.

As far as prototype switches, I can't tell you, though the WM switch stands found over at the Erecting Hall might be useful, though they are for the WM and not the C&O.

I have taken the same route and heavily modified it by changing out the track and extending the route in three directions. The branch to Tilford Mines now has a mainline as well as the coalmine branch. The line to Carr's Fork and Carr's Creek now has a portal on the end, and the line out of Typo and beyond connects via a tunnel to Dave Snow's Ozark Valley.

John

 

[jordon412]

I was basing the switchstands via Street View on Google Maps of the yard of Hazard, Kentucky. However, I've instead gone with 'New Century M51A Red/Green Left' and 'New Century M51A Red/Green Right'. The difference between the M50A and M51A is that the M51A has that big yellow handle found on switchstands on several railroads across the country. The difference between Yellow/Green switchstands and Red/Green switchstands is that the yellow has been replaced with red. Otherwise, they're identical. I went with the Red/Green instead of the correct Yellow/Green is that the yellow was a very pale yellow and the green was a 'baby puke green', which I didn't like that much.
As for the track, I'm keeping it the same, but I'm adjusting the curves because the radius for the curve is not constant, meaning the curve starts off with a sharp radius and then becomes wider as it gets near the center of the curve, then gets sharper as you get to the other end of the curve. By using a combination of the 'FT' and the 'S_FT' sectional track, I'm able to get more 'uniform' curves, being the same radius thru the entire curve.
I also replaced the crossings with BNSF50's railroad crossings, except the 'ProXing' that are on a grade, which BNSF50's crossings are unable to do. I also added the ATLS system on the bridge that both the track and road shares on one of the branchlines.

 

[JCitron]

I know what you mean about the switch stand colors. I use the M51As myself instead of the others as well.

The track he used is okay, but it's not all North American if that makes a difference for you. He used a Russian track and it's actually not even standard gauge. You'll notice that on the sidings where they are actually a bit wider. You can see that when they butt together. I've fiddled with my curves and grades so much now, I can't remember if they're the same as the original.

I did the same for the regular crossings as well and the bridge crossing I also installed an ATLS system. It took some fiddling to get the crossing barriers in the right place so that cars don't get caught on the bridge at the same time. It still happens though and I have the trains creep slowly across the bridge when there is traffic.

This really is a great route and you can have a lot of fun operating it. I setup my portals as both run-throughs of some Amtrak trains and some run-through mixed freights along with empty coal trains. I then catch the empties and bring the cars up to the mines, and switch out the loaded cars back on the through freights. I also have some extra empties in the yard at Denton, Jeff, and Hazard so I don't have to keep waiting for freights to come through. I'll get these loaded up then watch for the traffic.

With this operation, I've had a good operating session that has lasted all afternoon and then some.

John

 

[jordon412]

I changed the region from 'USA' to 'd Gardarika' so that I don't have to worry about cars on the road. I found that a problem when I placed one of BNSF50's crossings at the place called 'LOTHAIR': the gates aren't completely down by the time the train comes thru. I therefore lowered the speed in the area from 25 to 20MPH, and also changed the 'Gate Delay' on BNSF50's crossings from the default '5' to '3'. Now the gates are completely down by the time the train passes thru them. I also changed the gate delay on every one of BNSF50's crossings on the route. Also, got any suggestions for replacement track?

 

[JCitron]

You have to slow things down around Lothair anyway. With the default speed, the AI SPAD over at the junction with the branch. I find 20 mph to be a good speed overall around that curve anyway. The 25 mph was too fast and I felt like I was going to topple over.

Do you have any of the recent Jointed Rail routes? I used their NS 5 track for the main lines. I can't remember where that came from though, but it looks good and loads pretty well. The alternative is Simulator Train's ST-series track. In particular his rusty track is good for yards and the dark black track is a good replacement around the coal breakers/loaders. This is a free download, but I'm not sure about the other. If you're looking for a free track in the interim, check out SAM track. His SAM Track - iii/B class 3 v1 series are pretty good. The rusty track has a nice look about it, and the main line track is nice and varied. He also has a no-screw series meaning it's more North American looking because we don't use the automatic track laying machines all over like they do in Europe, though I did see some track that looks just like this recently in our commuter territory.

The coal loaders can be a problem. They are not attached to the objects above and are a FT track object like a MIN. I ended up creating my own replacement to make them height adjustable because they tend to float. This isn't too noticeable in TS12, but if you look at this in T:ANE, you can see the shadows under the track and other floating splines.

I've never played with the gate delay and I'll have to fiddle around with that myself. It is definitely a problem with the gates coming down too late on faster track. D' Gardarika... It sounds interesting exotic place....

John

 

[jordon412]

<snip>

Do you have any of the recent Jointed Rail routes? I used their NS 5 track for the main lines.
<snip>

I've never played with the gate delay and I'll have to fiddle around with that myself. It is definitely a problem with the gates coming down too late on faster track. D' Gardarika... It sounds interesting exotic place....

I did download Norfolksouthern37's '5m Fill Track', <KUID:45324:38001>, 'Dual 5m Fill Standard Gauge Track', <KUID:45324:38005>, 'Dual Standard Gauge Track', <KUID:45324:38004>, 'Dual Standard Gauge Track Old', <KUID:45324:38006>, 'Standard Gauge Track', <KUID:45324:38003>, and 'Standard Gauge Track Old', <KUID:45324:38002>, off the DLS.
FYI, if you go decide to modify JR's Mojave Sub, you'll find that the region is 'D Gardarika' also.

 

[JCitron]

That's good to know regarding the Mojave Sub.

The traffic isn't so bad in T:ANE as it was in TS12. I get very few cars compared to same routes in TS12.

Their track you listed is fine, though it's the track also found built-in in TS12 with the Mojave Sub. Their NS track is a white ballast track, and the ST track has a reddish tinge ballast with uneven ties, which is good for sidings and places that you want to show are less used, or poorly maintained.

 

[rivethed]

...there very well may have been a roundhouse located where that parking lot is today along with other engine repair facilities.

John

I have been tinkering with another site for maps, and a 1952 map shows the round house there. The image is an old aerial, but I count 8-10 bays for the roundhouse. 1949 topo does not show it, but a 1956 topo does.
Search Historic Aerials.

 

[JCitron]

I have been tinkering with another site for maps, and a 1952 map shows the round house there. The image is an old aerial, but I count 8-10 bays for the roundhouse. 1949 topo does not show it, but a 1956 topo does.
Search Historic Aerials.

Nice catch!! I love that website!