the best way to "kitbash" an underground/below-street-level station?

[sawyer811]

Oh. how I love the part of the week where I get a stupid Idea :hehe: whilst perusing an older copy of Model Railroader recently, I re-read the article that showed George Sellios' F&SM as it Finally reached Manchester. In it, one of the photos showed his newly-built station, which was a below-ground subway-ish style affair with stone arches on the isle side to allow visitors to see in it; the caption for the picture said that the station was reminiscent of one on John Allen's famous Gorre & Daphetid line. Several google searches later....

I'd love to build something like this into one of my railroads, however, I'm at a loss as to how to go about it. Most of the assets and ways I've SEEN people do this are two obvious; either there's bloody gigantic dighole, or some garish overlay that hides the tracks subway-style. I'd rather like to blend this into some already-built urban scenery if possible, and I wondered if anybody out there has any good tips on how to accomplish this without the subterrainean urban renewal looking out of place, of you will....

Note that this isn't a TRULY serious endeavor, I just wanted to see if I could do this, and ended up spiraling down from there...typical me, in essence. any thoughts would be appreciated...

so long for now, from your friendly neighborhood nutcase!!

 

[slabay]

I did an entire subway line this way: You only need a dighole to get underground. Once you are there, you are good. Just use tunnel track and sink your stations below ground level adjusting the height, no digging required. Use wireframe mode so you can see what you are doing. You will stil need some sort of roof over your stations so you can't see up and through the ground from below, but it will be underground too and not visible. Too bad I don't still have the route, I could have shown pics. I used elevated tracks getting to the center of the city, then it dropped through the digholes to tunnels.

 

[JCitron]

I did a station similar to Scott's awhile ago. I placed grass and road splines above the station to simulate a concourse for the upper level train station since this was a two-level affair. This was back when there weren't any layers which made placing things awful. Check out the various subway stations which might be helpful. The Russian guys have done an awesome job at them. The k_-series assets are great for this. The alternative is to use AJS invisible stations and put all the splines in place to make the platforms, etc.

John

 

[slabay]

This was back when there weren't any layers which made placing things awful.

Ugh! I don't have the route anymore because upgrading from TS09 to TS09SP4 copletely hosed my route (I know. No backups.). Anyhow, same deal. No layers. So, yeah, you'll want to be doing this in TS10 or higher.......

 

[justinroth]

I have done sections where a yard runs under the city, I used a concrete slab and bridge splines for the I beam girders

 

[H222]

Oh. how I love the part of the week where I get a stupid Idea :hehe: whilst perusing an older copy of Model Railroader recently, I re-read the article that showed George Sellios' F&SM as it Finally reached Manchester. In it, one of the photos showed his newly-built station, which was a below-ground subway-ish style affair with stone arches on the isle side to allow visitors to see in it; the caption for the picture said that the station was reminiscent of one on John Allen's famous Gorre & Daphetid line. Several google searches later....

I'd love to build something like this into one of my railroads, however, I'm at a loss as to how to go about it. Most of the assets and ways I've SEEN people do this are two obvious; either there's bloody gigantic dighole, or some garish overlay that hides the tracks subway-style. I'd rather like to blend this into some already-built urban scenery if possible, and I wondered if anybody out there has any good tips on how to accomplish this without the subterrainean urban renewal looking out of place, of you will....

Note that this isn't a TRULY serious endeavor, I just wanted to see if I could do this, and ended up spiraling down from there...typical me, in essence. any thoughts would be appreciated...

so long for now, from your friendly neighborhood nutcase!!

I suggest lowering the ground you're building to the height your track will be and then lay concrete slabs over the top. (give it clearance of course)

Jamie :wave:

 

[sawyer811]

hmm...concrete slabs and digholes...I'm just glad I'm not the only psycho who's tried this!

I guess half the problem Is the stations I tend to use; I prefer Bendorsey's MTC platforms for non-attached stations. However, after reading through this, I think I might have a few good Ideas. Will take some finnagleing in Surveyor (one of the things I have little to no patience for, especially since my mouse's sensitivity leaves something to be desired... ) Now, it's off to ye-olde suveryor mode I go!! Thansk Guys! :wave:

 

[mezzoprezzo]

~snip~ especially since my mouse's sensitivity leaves something to be desired..~snip~

No excuse!

Change it Windows Control Panel>Mouse>Pointer Options and slide pointer speed bar to a slower position.

Changing the compass speed in Trainz Surveyor Options might also help.

Good luck in Surveyor. It’s one of my favourite places!

 

[ray_whiley]

Just seen this after a few days 'away'. You might like to look at my Paris Metro stations made for TRS2004 but certainly OK in 2010. Look for 'Metro' on the DS and remember to check 2004.

Ray

 

[JCitron]

I may have another go at one of these things. I'm working on, well in the planning stages right now, a metro-transit system that will have some multi-level stations underground. The route is similar to Boston's MBTA subway and trolley system. There will be a street-running trolley line that enters underground and then connects with a multi-level inter-connecting subway/trolley station complex then continues out of the city again.

When I get to the station complex, I'll post some pictures. I think the layers may working on this type of setup much more pleasurable than it was in TRS2006 or TRS2009.

Ray, I'll check out your Metro stations. I most likely could use something like that.

John

 

[big_b]

Here are a few pics of a route under construction underground areas kitbashed
digouts for stations approx minus -10 just deep enough to be below ground
covers --dirt slab -- hide with some sort of buildings etc
walls - ajs subsurface -- have own roof attached
tunnels - 1trck black -- with digholes

view from above ground

exposed work area

View from u/g as seen in driver etc

 

[ray_whiley]

John - if you would like to use any of my Metro stations but would prefer different textures, please feel free to reskin (as with any of my creations). It has already been done very sucessfully by another Trainz friend for a US subway system. The same goes for the tunnels and tunnel entrance.

Ray

 

[JCitron]

Thank you, Ray. I'll keep that in mind.

John

 

[ray_whiley]

John - if you do reskin, please let me see the result as I would be very interested.

Actually, you have caused me to think about doing some reskins myself for a different system. The problem might be clearances between platforms and tracks. Unfortunately I seem to have lost the original GMax meshes when my old computer let me down.

Ray