Get yourself a copy of TransDEM, which will get the DEM data and convert that to a Trainz route. You can then start laying track and putting things together.
This process sounds easy and for the most part it is. The issue will be time. You will need to research the area in detail, or at least enough to be able to get a gist of what you can do with the little information you have available. This information can now only be garnered from historical societies and museums since any trainmen and company folk have since moved on to the big D&RGW in the sky.
Yes, I did mention time. This will be the biggest killer of the route building, which will lead to frustration, burn-out, and eventually project death.
How do I know this?
I am currently involved in a museum project for the Hoosac Tunnel with another Trainz user. He's done the bulk of the work, though I have contributed quite a bit myself. We are lucky in some respects with this project because we have a currently working railroad, a museum and local historical society that's contributing lots and lots of information, and the VP of the B&M historical society right there assisting us with information and vetting our project as we go step-by-step to the ever increasing complexity.
Time...
We started this three years ago this coming November. The East Portal and HT&W wye area are nearly complete, but the catenary needs to be built. Yes, the custom-design stringers and poles need to be modeled along with stations, tunnel portals, and many, many other things as well.
Then there's the West Portal and North Adams... We started this once and are now redoing it again. There are many, many things that need work on this side due to the grades in the yard, custom buildings, an odd bridge, two railroads, an a now non-existent huge passenger station which was removed in the 1960s.
This coming April or May, we will be heading west again to take more pictures, talk to locals, and visit around so we can get a better handle on the things we've missed. To complicate matters, there's a museum show coming in in June that we've been invited to, to showcase our route progress!
So not to discourage you, you can see why some routes are only small segments of a much larger one. If you really want to try such an undertaking, and there's no one here to stop you, think hard first before you dive in. TransDEM, though is not a waste of money.
John
, just typing as I think lol). I appreciate. I've found one or two sites. I need to get some books too. Hmm haha. Thank you for the help. I'll have more questions and updates to come, so bare with me.