The How to Design a 1950’s North American themed Trainz layout thread

I have a couple of 'Transition Era' routes, which often feature the houses on the Norfolk and Western route. I also use bnsf's 50's era NRC railroad crossings. The only problem with it is that Jointed Rail's wooden crossing boards are not on the DLS, so I go with the rubber crossings available on the DLS. Not prototypical, but it's either that or concrete rubber crossings. I also try to focus on having them being able to make minor changes (i.e. railroad crossings, junctions, etc.) to make it represent the present day.
 
It would be like doing a UK route with Jointed Rail Track. If you are trying to recreate the '50 US railroading it is wrong. There is no "creativity" involved.

I beta tested the CMTM version of his "Cattaraugus" route and after touring about for a couple actual days on the railroad that track is wrong for a '50's railroad.

Harold

someone's grumpy...
 
Yep, conceded. It works well, looks great, and I use it on ALL my layouts and that is not going to change. I try for "close" not perfect.....

And I do like your routes. Have download several and as long as I didn't zoom in "to" close to the track, they look great (other than the track) :).
 
someone's grumpy...
No just don't like fixable things that are "wrong". European bolted track just looks awful.

I guess it fits in to that old adage "It is my Giggle and Heehaw and I can do what I want".

And I do like your routes. Have download several and as long as I didn't zoom in "to" close to the track, they look great (other than the track) :).

Agreed

Harold
 
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My NE Mass Route is a 50's era ongoing project. TS12 is a pleasure to work with; allowing lots of detail to be packed onto the boards. However TS12 asset choices are slimmer than TS10; thus reducing the availabe content. And it's not just automotive assets that are slim. Properly lettered 40 and 50 foot rolling stock is wanting also. Billboard lettering was not common. We could use some TS12 content withe the older railroad logo's adorning the sides: like the New York Central Oval, the Pennsylvsnia Keystone, The Canadian National Maple Leaf, New Haven script, simple Boston & Maine letering, etc. We could use some more wood reefers with ice hatches (mechanical refrigeration was in its infancy) like American Refrigerated Transit and other lessor logos. I am thankfull we have a Susquehanna 'Suzie Q' but still geedy for more. The Southern and ACL were common on the Eastern seaboard and Sate Fe, which had a whole plethora of lettering schemes, was everywhere!
I am hoping Majekear is reading this............:)
 
For those looking for a good alternative high quality/detail U.S. track for use in the 1950s era I found these by jmann while doing some research on the DLS:

Track (Bridge),<kuid:77174:100250>
Track (Jointed Rail),<kuid:77174:100379>
Track (Welded Rail),<kuid2:77174:100303:1>

I looked at them and was impressed, especially with the jointed one which would be most appropriate to the 1950s....

Note: He also has a matching ballast texture to go with them:

Ballast_Grey,<kuid:77174:100300>
 
I also have some track I've been using on my route. They are reskins of simulatortrain's.

<kuid2:135229:100287:2>
<kuid:135229:100286>
<kuid:135229:100018>
<kuid:135229:100284>
<kuid:135229:100283>
<kuid:135229:100282>

Here's the matching ballest textures:

<kuid:135229:100280>
<kuid:135229:100250>
 
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I am trying to unload coal on the high line at the power plant. When I try to send a train there it says "Path not Found". I have also driven a train to the power plant and coal cars will not unload. I checked in surveryor and there is an industry there B12 Bulk or B12 Fuel and it is setup, but trains cannot find the industry to unload. Any ideas what might be wrong? Thanks
 
I am trying to unload coal on the high line at the power plant. When I try to send a train there it says "Path not Found". I have also driven a train to the power plant and coal cars will not unload. I checked in surveryor and there is an industry there B12 Bulk or B12 Fuel and it is setup, but trains cannot find the industry to unload. Any ideas what might be wrong? Thanks

You are right there is a problem and I am looking into it. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

BTW all the 1950's parked car items I mentioned above are now available for dowload on the DLS.....

I uploaded a new high quality/detail U.S. track yesterday to the DLS. It is standard gauge, has baseplates and rail spikes. Should be available for download in about 48 hours or so. It should work well on 1950s layouts.....
 
Once again, Bob, you have nailed it. I already spend way too much time on the Clinchfield and the New England Coastal and now you give me another addiction. The feel of the railroad is authentic and there seems to be plenty to do. I do have a question. If I am modeling the late fifties on this route, do you know which railroads would be appropriate. Monon, Nickel Plate, N&W, DTI, Big4,? Not sure what roads were active in SW Indiana. Any ideas?
 
Here's a list. Hopefully it'll be a starting point:

Railroads that dissappeared during the 50's:
Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans Railroad (1898-1951), succeeded by Illinois Central
Winona Railroad (1926-1952), unknown if secceeded or abandoned
Grand Rapids and Indiana Railway (1896-1954), succeeded by Penndel Company
Louisville Bridge and Terminal Railway (1918-1954), succeeded by Penndel Company
South Chicago and Southern Railroad (1901-1954), succeeded by Penndel Company
Chicago, Indianapolis and Louisville Railway (1897-1956), succeeded by Monon Railroad
Cook Transit Company (1947-1956), unknown if succeeded or abandoned
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad (1917-1956), succeeded by Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad
Indiana Northern Railway (1891-1959), succeeded by New Jersey, Indiana and Illinois Railroad

Railroads that began in the 50's:
Penndel Company (1954-1976), succeeded by Conrail
Monon Railroad (1956-1971), succeeded by Louisville and Nashville
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad (1956-1976), succeeded by Conrail

Railroads that neither began nor ended in the 50's:
Erie Railroad (1941-1960)
Nickel Plate (1887-1964)
New York Central (1914-1968)
Louisville and Jeffersonville Bridge and Railroad Company (1917-1968)
Pennsylvania Railroad (1918-1968)
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad (1940-1969)
Illinois Central Railroad (1886-1972)
Michigan Central Railroad (1846-1976)
Indianapolis Union Railway (1853-1976)
Joliet and Northern Indiana Railroad (1854-1976)
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway (1862-1976)
Fort Wayne and Jackson Railroad (1880-1976)
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway (1889-1976)
Peoria and Eastern Railway (1890-1976)
Central Indiana Railway (1903-1976)
Twin Branch Railroad (1925-1978)
Kentucky and Indiana Terminal Railroad (1910-1981)
Lake Erie and Fort Wayne Railroad (1904-1982)
Louisville and Nashville Railroad (1880-1983)
New Jersey, Indiana and Illinois Railroad (1902-1983)
Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (1928-1985)
Baltimore and Ohio (1874-1987)
Ferdinand Railroad (1911-1987)
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (1921-1987)
Dayton and Union Railroad (1863-1989)
Southern Railway (1900-1990)
Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Western Railroad (1915-1990)
Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad (1925-1990)
Wabash Railroad (1942-1991)
Muncie and Western Railroad (1902-1995)
Louisville, New Albany and Corydan Railroad (1887-2006)
Algers, Winslow and Western Railway (1927-2007)
 
If I am modeling the late fifties on this route, do you know which railroads would be appropriate. Monon, Nickel Plate, N&W, DTI, Big4,? Not sure what roads were active in SW Indiana. Any ideas?

There were a large number of railroads operating in and thru Indiana during the 1950s. The list above provided by jordon412 is a good place to start.
 
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. . . . The list above provided by jordan412 is a good place to start.

I have to tell you the same thing I tell everyone else who puts my name in a post: it's jordon412, not jordan412. Drives me crazy whenever people spell my name incorrectly!
 
Jordon, Thanks for the list. It is a good starting point. Do you know of any on-line resource that would be more inclusive for other locations as well? I am working the SOO Line Schiller Park yard and want to make sure all the 5,000 plus freight cars going thru there in a weeks time are from appropriate railroads.

David
 
Thanks Jordon412. Good starting point. Also, Bob I found a workaround for the powerplant problem. Break the spline on the bridge track that is installed over the pier track. Insert a 'lars2 CDK 60m Coal Mine track and raise it to the proper height. Mine was 30.04. It was the only coal unloading track, that I could find that lets you raise it. reconnect the bridge track and voila....joy.
Mark
 
Jordon, Thanks for the list. It is a good starting point. Do you know of any on-line resource that would be more inclusive for other locations as well?


Well, I'm not Jordon, but Wikipedia has resources not always noted. For example, compare the list of Indiana railroads Jordon listed, with those listed on the page <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indiana_railroads>; and I've found similar lists for many other states, including Illinois.

ns


 
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