The Bermuda Railway... Neat little railroad with unique equipment.

[Roy3b3]

I've been working on the St George area of Bermuda and have included a couple of screenshots. One was from the Airport looking towards the docks and the second was taken from a tree looking towards the dock where international shipping ties up.

http://imageshack.com/a/img911/6476/CT6Tuz.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img661/512/SCenP2.jpg

I've also included the progress on my website .... http://royburnell.com/id30.html

Roy3b3

 

[JCitron]

This is great, Roy! I even recognize the area.

My progress has been a bit slower with the TANE beta testing and other projects, but I did lay my track from Somerset back to Hamilton so now I could say my main line is in place. I took a look at the aerial image where a road once went over to the airport from St. Georges. This would make a perfect connection for the rail line over that way. I think I will do that before moving on with the leveling and scenicking of the line.

John

 

[Roy3b3]

Hi Guys, I haven't had much spare time lately to look-in at my Bermuda layout; but today I was able to put about 6 hours to tidying up St George's and the Airport. I've installed the fuel depot and run a line to the airport and a boat building warehouse. I also installed a quarry in Castle Harbour. There is so much detail to take care of which will impact on overall performance; so I may have to tone it down and spread things out. I've attached a few screenies, but after looking at them again, I may have to make some adjustments to the format, to improve the quality of the view. I want it to display clearly, particularly if I go ahead with an aircraft view as well. If there are any suggestions on how I can achieve that, please let me know.

http://imageshack.com/a/img540/8490/hbSecE.jpg A view of the coastline
http://imageshack.com/a/img910/5756/6Mec09.jpg A cricket match at Baileys Bay
http://imageshack.com/a/img661/385/4wPDHq.jpg The Airport
http://imageshack.com/a/img538/677/gvYGIX.jpg The Quarry at Castle Harbour
http://imageshack.com/a/img901/5119/JGfo9J.jpg An aerial of St George's
http://imageshack.com/a/img538/1653/O5gRzx.jpg Ditto
http://imageshack.com/a/img538/8053/nq1EEb.jpg Bermuda International Airport
http://imageshack.com/a/img537/8683/qGuqmy.jpg Ditto

It's a big job but I'm enjoying it. Cheers,
Roy3b3

 

[Roy3b3]

Just an update on Bermuda - I've been a bit slack lately regarding my "Bermuda Railway" route; what with the recent installation of T:ANE and awaiting some feedback information from Simon in Bermuda.

Simon has now informed me that he didn't believe there were any sidings at the cement works, and this is mainly because the Railway didn't have freight cars that could handle cement. They did have a couple of Boxcars and some Gondolas which was to handle light freight and operated from a Freight House at Richmond Road, which would have a short siding.

There was also a siding at the Oil Docks and they had a single Tank car to transport oil to the South Shore Elbow Beach hotel via Ord Road Station, where there was a dedicated siding to receive it. From there they had a short pipeline over the hill to the hotel. A lot of the oil today, is pumped through a pipeline to the electric company’s generating station north of Hamilton.

I raised a question about the logging of cedar on Bermuda. Simon said,... "Most Bermuda cedar was lost because of a blight during and just after World War II; about 90%, I believe. Casuarina trees have been planted to replace them. A fair amount of cedar wood was apparently saved when the dead trees were removed, but probably not enough for much boat building, and I imagine it is long gone. You still see small Bermuda cedar souvenirs since there are some trees left."

Simon answered all the questions I had, so there is now no excuse for me but, to get on with the job of finishing this layout.
However, if I get T:ANE to work as I would like, then I may re-do it all again,... or maybe upload it from TS12.
Cheers,
Roy3b3

 

[cressjl]

Wow, I just noticed your thread. I didn't realize that anyone would be reconstructing the old rail line. This is a great contribution to the preservation of history. I can see that you have your hands full with this project! I appreciate your pictures; you are well on your way!

 

[MeowRailroad]

I was just thinking about how there was some uncertainty about rolling stock, I don't know if it's been resolved, but I think US stock should be used. It's closer to the actual stock.

 

[Roy3b3]

Thanks Joel, Meow,
It's quite a picturesque place in all directions, however I started creating it in TS12. Now that we have T:ANE at our disposal with much better graphics, it may be more prudent for me to start it again from scratch in the new format.

Also, to get rolling stock or housing to match what was in existence way back then, is rather difficult. There is nothing around that comes close to the Railmotors they had in use in the 1940s. The Railmotors were specially built for Bermuda by the Drewry Car Company in London. They produced a 120hp Power Van (Parcel Van) and several Powered Coaches that were run on 6 cyl internal combustion petrol engines, front and rear.

Because of this, it's impossible making it to meet 'Preservation of History' standards, so I'll have to make do, compromise and with a touch of authors licence, make it something pleasing to run. It all takes time and we'll see what happens.
Cheers and thanks for your comments.
Roy3b3

 

[JCitron]

Roy,

I'm glad you're still pushing at the project. My go at the route got sidetracked as I repair content for T:ANE.

Once things settle down with that I think I too might redo the route in that version, although the track and what little I have done, should import fine.

John

 

[normhart]

I've already lost track of which of you is doing what version of the Bermuda Railway but if one of you is considering narrow gauge I would like to point out Foxlee's Recommendations... http://bermudarailway.net/then/history/deciding/deciding.html

I think the locomotives already exist in trainz somewhere and probably most of the rolling stock too. (they'd need a repaint of course) I am not suggesting you use his route but his suggestions for a 3'6" gauge and the rolling stock are nice.

 

[Vern]

Thought I'd necro this thread as the topic came up in JMB's "Island" railway discussion.

Sad to say it seems all of us who were working on Bermuda have either dropped the projects or at least put on hiatus.

In my case it was the transition from TS12 to TANE and I was getting a bit angsty about creating the route with assets which wouldn't step forward into the new version. Hence lots of default Speedtrees everywhere which looked (and still look) pug ugly, couldn't use the older third party trees as there was no forward compatibility. I also probably got distracted by thoughts of another project and, well, somehow it rolled off the grid and lost in an uninstall/reinstall.

Now we can roll the clock forward 12 months. TANE is starting to bed in and we have a good selection of new tree assets and of course Protrack to play with. So I will definitely think about reviving the project in the next month or two, alongside the other route building I have ongoing at present. It's nice to have a relatively small (not necessarily easier!) little project ticking alongside the behemoths.

 

[Roy3b3]

Thought I'd necro this thread as the topic came up in JMB's "Island" railway discussion.

Sad to say it seems all of us who were working on Bermuda have either dropped the projects or at least put on hiatus.

In my case it was the transition from TS12 to TANE and I was getting a bit angsty about creating the route with assets which wouldn't step forward into the new version. Hence lots of default Speedtrees everywhere which looked (and still look) pug ugly, couldn't use the older third party trees as there was no forward compatibility. I also probably got distracted by thoughts of another project and, well, somehow it rolled off the grid and lost in an uninstall/reinstall.

Now we can roll the clock forward 12 months. TANE is starting to bed in and we have a good selection of new tree assets and of course Protrack to play with. So I will definitely think about reviving the project in the next month or two, alongside the other route building I have ongoing at present. It's nice to have a relatively small (not necessarily easier!) little project ticking alongside the behemoths.

Hi Vern,
Last night, I couldn't help myself from re-reading this thread from 12 months ago and checking some of the screenshots I'd initially put up. Although I had set the TS12 project aside, there's still an attraction to complete what I had started, or more importantly, what JCitron had initially started with his TranDem map of Bermuda.

At the time, my Bermuda file showed up with some faulty assets and I was concerned that if I did complete the route, I may not be able to upload it and it could be a wasted effort.

That being said, I now feel I should brush the cobwebs off, check my TS12 files again to determine whether I can eliminate any errors, then do an upload to T:ANE and then see how it looks. If I can't eliminate the errors, then it means starting from scratch again.

Although the Island is under 30 miles long, there is still a huge amount of scenery detail to cover on the route if it is to look attractive.

At the same time, I'm currently working on an Australian route, which I definitely want to complete.

I'll definitely look at it again, but it may be in a couple of months time. I'm willing to give any support if required.

Cheers,
Roy

 

[Roy3b3]

Just checked my TS12 file on Bermuda and any 'errors' I had previously, have mysteriously disappeared. Maybe some Database repairs over the past 12 months might have rectified any faults. So far so good.

A few screenshots of what sections I have progressed to are shown here. When I think how long it took to do this (about 3 months) and then I look at what has to be done, it looks like another years work. I'd have to be brave!

One of the many golf courses.

A bridge links two island communities

Another view from the opposite side

Yet another golf course

A plantation owners property and his 'run-around' tied up at the jetty

The market place at St Georges

The British influence is still present.
Cheers,
Roy3b3

 

[Vern]

I don't think my effort had quite reached that level of detail though I do remember spending quite a bit of time on the airport, especially as the DEM where the runway and taxiways are isn't completely level! Hopefully in the next few months then, we'll have not one Bermuda route but three - all with a slightly different take on the prototype. I think it would be quite a good place to imagine the old Hastings DEMU's were sent to enter a period of more gentle service!

 

[Roy3b3]

I attempted to upload my TS12 version of 'Bermuda' into T:ANE and ran into a few texture problems plus a couple of assets that were not T:ANE happy. I earmarked them and deleted my T:ANE upload. Then opening TS12 again I was able to delete the obsolete assets; then did a swap from some of the old textures and trees with more common ones. Saved it and uploaded it into T:ANE, this time with no problems at all. Nearly all the work I'd done previously is still intact and the route is ready for the next stage.

That being said, I've still got to find some time to spend on the project. Here's a T:ANE screenshot, which shows the 'loss of textures' and it looks like I've still got to find a way to get the colours right, and in particular the water. It's quite difficult trying to get two different 'blue' (shallow and deep) colours for water. In real life, the water can look quite spectacular on a cloudless day.

Now after rectifying the 'missing' textures

Gotta fix those trees up too. Bermuda is not dead yet!

Cheers,
Roy.

 

[Vern]

Mega necro I know, but I take it none of the previous Bermuda Railway attempts (including mine) got anywhere?

Maybe time to dust it off again...

 

[JCitron]

Mega necro I know, but I take it none of the previous Bermuda Railway attempts (including mine) got anywhere?

Maybe time to dust it off again...

Give it a try, maybe you'll have better luck than I did. Mine died a painful death after several attempts to resuscitate the poor route multiple times. The funny thing is, I was thinking about it the other day.

 

[JCitron]

Well, I found my old route archive. I'm going to take a peek at it and see what's up. Maybe I can make something out of it.

Thank you, Vern for getting me started on an old project again.

 

[Vern]

Good luck John. Unfortunately I lost most of the resources I had gathered in a big laptop crash and emergency reformat a couple of years ago. Although the main Bermuda Railway site is still there I couldn’t find the detailed description to plot the course on Google Earth, well the section through Hamilton, to make the kml file for Transdem. And there are next to no historic topographic maps of Bermuda, not even on the Perry Castenada archive site. However, I might still take a dabble and use best guess as regards the course of the line. I mean the DEM data was never that good either, where the tunnel should be by Bermudiana Hotel was dead flat.

 

[JCitron]

Good luck John. Unfortunately I lost most of the resources I had gathered in a big laptop crash and emergency reformat a couple of years ago. Although the main Bermuda Railway site is still there I couldn’t find the detailed description to plot the course on Google Earth, well the section through Hamilton, to make the kml file for Transdem. And there are next to no historic topographic maps of Bermuda, not even on the Perry Castenada archive site. However, I might still take a dabble and use best guess as regards the course of the line. I mean the DEM data was never that good either, where the tunnel should be by Bermudiana Hotel was dead flat.

I found my source files if you are interested in them.

Thanks, I'll need it! The imagery resolution is so low resolution though it gives me a headache and I'm trying to figure out how to use UTM times.

I noticed the same with the terrain and I have a feeling the only thing we can do is fake the tracks going into Hamilton and other places due to being gone for so long.

 

[martinvk]

Wow, another trail to railway project. Had a look at current Google Map images and with Street Views, you almost get to see individual blades of grass.
One advantage with vague historical data is that you can let you imagination fill-in the details and no one will be able to prove you wrong. That way you can also correct historical mistakes and complete missing parts that were never built because of budget or other restraints.