Rattlesnake Valley: A Rebuild of Two Classics

[spiffy101]

Hey,
I have been working on this for a few weeks now. I haven't gotten far, but I'm experimenting with a lot of new content on this route. I often upgrade routes to my "standards", but I decided to take it to a new level this time. The route is a combination of the classic Highland Valley and City and Country USA with a custom yard in-between. While I have lots more to go, critism along the way, I believe, will require less touch-ups at the end. Here it is:

One key feature of this route is that it will be industry-interactive. Here, we see the coal storage pit for the Techapi Steel Mill. Due to space constrictions, this complex network of conveyors was built to supply the mill with coal.

This is the progress on Blue Sky. I designed the area as a sort of highway rest stop. This area still needs a lot of work.

This is a shot of the Railroad-themed Hotel in Blue Sky.

Rattlesnake is the main city on the line. This is where most of the work has done. I'm experimenting with using Dmdrake's buildings and the new YARN road system. All of the buildings in the front row have 3D details and nightmode, and I'm working on trying to keep the city looking good, but staying relatively computer-friendly.
(Continued)
http://www.majhost.com/gallery/Spiffy101/Trainz/Rattlesnake-Valley/ccusa3_conveyor.jpg

 

[brickbuilder711]

Hey,
I have been working on this for a few weeks now. I haven't gotten far, but I'm experimenting with a lot of new content on this route. I often upgrade routes to my "standards", but I decided to take it to a new level this time. The route is a combination of the classic Highland Valley and City and Country USA with a custom yard in-between. While I have lots more to go, critism along the way, I believe, will require less touch-ups at the end. Here it is:

One key feature of this route is that it will be industry-interactive. Here, we see the coal storage pit for the Techapi Steel Mill. Due to space constrictions, this complex network of conveyors was built to supply the mill with coal.

This is the progress on Blue Sky. I designed the area as a sort of highway rest stop. This area still needs a lot of work.

This is a shot of the Railroad-themed Hotel in Blue Sky.

Rattlesnake is the main city on the line. This is where most of the work has done. I'm experimenting with using Dmdrake's buildings and the new YARN road system. All of the buildings in the front row have 3D details and nightmode, and I'm working on trying to keep the city looking good, but staying relatively computer-friendly.
(Continued)

Amazing job on the route! I especially like the coal mine and the rest stop!

 

[spiffy101]

A shot of the South side of the city. I still need to set up the intersections and add scenery and other details.

With the terminal in the foreground, this is probably the most complete section of city. The tall buildings in the top-right are from HP-trainz.

More city.

The shot of the front of the terminal.

Anyway, all critism is appreciated. I still need to retexture, landscape, replace track, and build everything else, but this is what I have so far. I want to get the city and the nearby suburbs done first so that I can focus more on the other areas of the layout. As for a release date, if I ever get around to it, it is looking like maybe 2010

 

[freightcar2]

Nice! Did you make this by merging Highland Valley and City and Country USA?

 

[spiffy101]

Amazing job on the route! I especially like the coal mine and the rest stop!

Thanks. I probably need to add some more conveyor supports, and I want to expand the hotel at the rest stop and replace a few buildings. I'm really looking forward to the yard, which will have full diesel and steam service facilities.

 

[spiffy101]

Nice! Did you make this by merging Highland Valley and City and Country USA?

The plan is to have Highland Valley and City and Country USA both rebuilt with a 10+ baseboard super yard in-between. I have done a little work on Highland Valley, but I am going to keep the routes seperate until they're both completed. My computer is not so super.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Thanks. I probably need to add some more conveyor supports, and I want to expand the hotel at the rest stop and replace a few buildings. I'm really looking forward to the yard, which will have full diesel and steam service facilities.

A 10+ baseboard yard sounds really good! I'm looking forward to it!

 

[freightcar2]

The plan is to have Highland Valley and City and Country USA both rebuilt with a 10+ baseboard super yard in-between. I have done a little work on Highland Valley, but I am going to keep the routes seperate until they're both completed. My computer is not so super.

You do realise that merging routes will cause track to disconnect from each other (especially near industires) so that might not be such a good idea.

 

[spiffy101]

You do realise that merging routes will cause track to disconnect from each other (especially near industires) so that might not be such a good idea.

I'll check everything over. It shouldn't be to much of a problem.

 

[spiffy101]

Some modifications to the Rail Hotel have been made. I'm thinking of installing more of Magicland's Coach splines, but I think it looks pretty good.The gas station has been changed, but I'm still not happy with it. The roads have been changed to YARN. The station and "Marshall's Storage and Shipping" facility needs to be added.

 

[David111767]

Try shortening the passenger car. Its a little too long.

 

[tdstaylor]

Suggestion...

Just a little suggestion for the train motel..... How about a mini-railroad around the property? There are a few 15 inch gauge things in the DLS. (At least there SHOULD be... ) EDIT: And this looks like an EXELLENT route... Can't wait to see the new Highland Valley!

 

[spiffy101]

Try shortening the passenger car. Its a little too long.

Actually, Bendorsey has released a line of static coaches, so I'm going to rebuild the motel again.

 

[spiffy101]

Just a little suggestion for the train motel..... How about a mini-railroad around the property? There are a few 15 inch gauge things in the DLS. (At least there SHOULD be... ) EDIT: And this looks like an EXELLENT route... Can't wait to see the new Highland Valley!

Thanks for the complement. I thought about a little railroad. I'm thinking I could build a pretty nice little layout.

 

[spiffy101]

Another rebuild of the rail hotel. I think it looks pretty good. Thanks Bendorsey for making these awesome static railcars. Also, a 10 1/4 inch guage train is being built in the back, but I'm thinking of resizing to 24"

 

[brickbuilder711]

Looking good!

 

[StorkNest]

Just had a thought seeing the hotel. Unfortunately, someone would have to make the items needed so you could have a shrunken version of an engine with a driver who sat on it like those places that have them and they drive you around in shrunken railcars.
Maybe get a small unique engine and those passenger gondolas, they would go with the hotel.

 

[spiffy101]

Just had a thought seeing the hotel. Unfortunately, someone would have to make the items needed so you could have a shrunken version of an engine with a driver who sat on it like those places that have them and they drive you around in shrunken railcars.
Maybe get a small unique engine and those passenger gondolas, they would go with the hotel.

Thanks for the recomendation. I think I'll just stick with 10.25 inch.

 

[tdstaylor]

Hey Spiffy, do me a favor... Get me a room there, would ya? Or better yet, a job there! :hehe:

 

[spiffy101]

Hey Spiffy, do me a favor... Get me a room there, would ya? Or better yet, a job there! :hehe:

I'll need a credit card or a resume The best part of this railroad is the gurantee of at least one steam powered train per day.