Two Upcoming South Florida Routes

[brickbuilder711]

That is really cool! I like the creativity with the monorail paralleling US1.

I have another session to do shortly, this one may be Train 222 again, but with specialties.

I will see you at the FECRS convention.

One more thing, I must add that the South Bay Connection is good also because of the new ToFC terminal there! Hmm... a new way to go to Orlando and Tampa Bay!

@ braintrainz, will you be at the convention? I am very likely to go.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Train 222: Rock and Intermodal

Friday was a really nice day, so after school, I went out and followed 222.

This is the portion where other areas shine. These are also WiP places so any constructive criticism is welcome.

We start from a different perspective: W 21st Street and W 8th Avenue. Once the route comes out a railfan will be visible by the white and dark red warehouse, much like a YouTube video of this train taken on December 29, 2007.

Next, the gates drop as we stand by the North Miami DD.

Next we hit a recently modified Hollywood...

After hearing the Dania DD on the Radio, we see 222 at SW 24th Street and Broward Blvd.

The culmination of our trip: Pompano Beach.

Atlantic Blvd.

NW 36th Street and the DD

Finally, Hillsboro Blvd as 222 passes Deerfield Beach, to be shortly followed by Villa Rica, Boynton, Lake Worth, West Palm, and all points further on to eventually end up at Jacksonville.

That's all for today. The route is still up to the West Palm Beach county line, and this week, all industries will be added, and eventually Port Everglades will join us as well as Port of Miami.

If you were to get the route today, you would end up with 3 defect detectors, 50 miles of track, and select unfinished sectors.

 

[DerCaptain]

Well, that really does look like Florida . I would love to see that in the game. Sometimes it is just nice to see the pavement and cars, not to see the backround of the country.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Thanks! Would you like to beta test the route?

Beta testing is getting the opportunity to assist in making sure the route is perfect for release by getting the route in advance Also, welcome to the Trainz community!

 

[FECrailway_Richard]

The monorail also runs above the median of US 27.

The one car that I haven't been able to find is the raw sugar cane hopper.

The tracks out there are loaded with them, and old red FEC boxcars.

That is really cool! I like the creativity with the monorail paralleling US1.

I have another session to do shortly, this one may be Train 222 again, but with specialties.

I will see you at the FECRS convention.

One more thing, I must add that the South Bay Connection is good also because of the new ToFC terminal there! Hmm... a new way to go to Orlando and Tampa Bay!

To braintrainz, will you be at the convention? I am very likely to go.

 

[gisa]

Nice shots brickbuilder. I can't really suggest anything, but I have a possible suggestion...try not to switch to too many roads in a short area (5th pic) because even though the roads in trainz are decent, there's no real way to blend them into each other easily. I have the same problem so I try to keep them the same or similar and if I change them, it's no more than 2 types in one area (maybe 3 if I use a dusty road).

Keep up the great work!

:wave:

Gisa ^^

 

[NorfolkSouthern9708]

Hey brickbuilder, good luck with hurricane ike.

 

[engine49]

lol ya that would be a problem brickbuilder

 

[brickbuilder711]

lol ya that would be a problem brickbuilder

Hey brickbuilder, good luck with hurricane ike.

Nice shots brickbuilder. I can't really suggest anything, but I have a possible suggestion...try not to switch to too many roads in a short area (5th pic) because even though the roads in trainz are decent, there's no real way to blend them into each other easily. I have the same problem so I try to keep them the same or similar and if I change them, it's no more than 2 types in one area (maybe 3 if I use a dusty road).

Keep up the great work!

:wave:

Gisa ^^

The monorail also runs above the median of US 27.

The one car that I haven't been able to find is the raw sugar cane hopper.

(image)

(image)

The tracks out there are loaded with them, and old red FEC boxcars.

@FECRailway_Richard: I'm hoping that a content creator can design the Sugar Cane hoppers. My route's north end will be north of Ft. Pierce, so I would like to include SCFE.

@gisa: I have been replacing the lower level roads at the crossings one by one with the Boulevard with Centerline so the road can stay constant and the crossing can stay intact. The double solid line may be reconfigured along with the Boulevard to be a 3way intersection. I welcome constructive criticism, and thank you for the tip!

@NorfolkSouthern9708: Thanks. Update: Ike has spared us in South Florida. (I have also said that FEC would pull trains, but due to a southward course, FEC operations are intact!).

@engine49: Yeah it would...

 

[brickbuilder711]

News!

Luckily South Florida was spared from Hurricane Ike, and hopefully us South Florida Trainzers are doing alright!

There is a high-poly DEM template on the DLS called "Miami - Key West". Should I redo CSX Miami Sub, I will follow the template, or even I would just do the Homestead Sub with Hialeah Yard and merge with more northern routes. I'm not saying that I will switch to this, as it is long-term.

Miami-based locals should be completely possible as I'm heading to Hialeah Yard to continue work around the area including the industries by Iris.

If anyone is attending the FECRS convention, you would have a lot to look forward to as I will offer a beta version of the route as it is from Miami to near Boca.

 

[brickbuilder711]

Hialeah industries were mapped and scenery was put in, but unfortunately I only have a couple of map shots.

You can see the textures and track ends in this one

Hialeah Yard

I am going to have the "Downtown Job" session coming soon. Stay tuned! :wave:

 

[FECrailway_Richard]

Nice abbreviated verison of the Hialeah Yard! It would have saved me a lot of walking if things had been that close to each other.

Your badge is ready for the convention, and there are folks looking forward to meeting you.

Here is an image of the 3 tier commuter system in FEC2020.

We are looking southeast. The road on the left is US Highway #1 in Boynton Beach.

The lowest tier is the local bus system that runs along US1 with "potential" stops every 1/8th mile. The bus only stations are little more than a covered bench.

The middle level (or city level) is the monorail system with stations every 1-2 miles. Some are smaller than others, but always include a bus stop.

The monorails are unmanned, and travel 3 to 6 stations before the reverse their course. even though the entire monorail system is interconnected, no two monorails travel the same section of the beamway.

The monorails reverse their travel at the transportation hubs which are stations for bus, monorail, and express rail service located every 4 to 6 miles.

If a person has a long distance to travel, they may choose to ride the Express Rail Service to the closest transportation hub. They can can then either transfer to the monorail or the bus depending on how close they are to their final destination.

The could ride the bus or the monorails over the entire distance of the line; although it would take longer with all of the frequent stops. Using the 3 tier system in proper combination takes you quickly to and within a short walking distance of your destination.

The transportation hubs also have bike lockers to allow commuters to store thier bikes to ride home. Bikes can also be taken with you on all three forms of transportation if they are needed at the other end.

Larger, busier transportation hubs included resturants and stores.

 

[braintrainz]

@ brickbuilder: wow theirs been some great progress on the layout it looks good !
Im sorry I couldn't reply sooner, It does look unlikely for a convention meet for me im afraid. Sigh... theirs always next time i suppose.

@ FECrailway_Richard: Now that's a cool concept ! I find it amazing that you can create such a plausible transportation system for the tri state area; If only our state would wake up and see the potental..

 

[FECrailway_Richard]

@ FECrailway_Richard: Now that's a cool concept ! I find it amazing that you can create such a plausible transportation system for the tri state area; If only our state would wake up and see the potental..

Sadly, it's a case of ignoring suggestions rather than the inability to think of any. Scott Seeburger of the FDOT was less than 20 feet away from me when I suggested this 3 tier system, and the South Bay Bypass route for the heavy through frieghts. My suggestions became part of the public record of the South Florida East Coast Corridor Study.

That's the great thing about Trainz. It can be a game for some; but it is also a power visualization tool to solving real life issues.

By building a virtual South Florida in Trainz you can easily see the differances between the existing Tri-Rail on the CSX verses Tri-Rail being laid on top of the existing freight service on the FEC.

My part of Palm Beach County has most major east-west roads (golf, Woolbright, Boynton Beach, Gateway, Hypoluxo, and Lantana) as overpasses to the CSX. But these are all grade crossings on the FEC. There is nearly one thousand grade crossings along the FEC's 351 mile mainline.

Simply adding passenger trains on the FEC will increase traffic congestion. A significant portion of any new commuter service needs to go up in the air over these major roadways via monorails. It also provides a comprise to those residents petitioning against noise levels.

It appears to me that most governmental advisors look for the simplest low cost approach regardless of its unlikely success due to obvious obsticals.

Those people without adequate transportation, use whatever system is available. But for a proposed improved commuter service to have any chance to pay for itself, it must encourage those who normally drive everywhere to leave their cars behind. The system must be fast, clean, safe, and seamless taking you right to where you want to go.

I welcome deverse ideas, but let's build them in Trainz first and see how they roll before we waste taxpayer's money.

 

[brickbuilder711]

290 - "Open House Rock"

So it was Wednesday and I was off to railfan before my school had Open House. I left too late to reasonably pace 222 so I was down to Train 290. 290 goes from Medley, FL to Fort Pierce, FL and turns as 191 through the evening only on Mondays and Wednesdays. We start off at Medley and race to Hialeah to see my favorite shot to date, thus :udrool: at my own shot! :hehe:

Now, for my favorite shot!

That was much like the YouTube video of 222 thru dusk...

The journey had to be cut short at MP 348.8, Hollywood. But what was among the first ever trains to be shown through this place had the same vantage point as this one. We look east as the journey concludes.

North Miami DD has this with 168 axles (Short) as 42mph.

 

[brickbuilder711]

@ brickbuilder: wow theirs been some great progress on the layout it looks good !
Im sorry I couldn't reply sooner, It does look unlikely for a convention meet for me im afraid. Sigh... theirs always next time i suppose.

Nice abbreviated verison of the Hialeah Yard! It would have saved me a lot of walking if things had been that close to each other.

Your badge is ready for the convention, and there are folks looking forward to meeting you.

Here is an image of the 3 tier commuter system in FEC2020.

We are looking southeast. The road on the left is US Highway #1 in Boynton Beach.

The lowest tier is the local bus system that runs along US1 with "potential" stops every 1/8th mile. The bus only stations are little more than a covered bench.

The middle level (or city level) is the monorail system with stations every 1-2 miles. Some are smaller than others, but always include a bus stop.

The monorails are unmanned, and travel 3 to 6 stations before the reverse their course. even though the entire monorail system is interconnected, no two monorails travel the same section of the beamway.

If a person has a long distance to travel, they may choose to ride the Express Rail Service to the closest transportation hub. They can can then either transfer to the monorail or the bus depending on how close they are to their final destination.

Larger, busier transportation hubs included resturants and stores.

Sadly, it's a case of ignoring suggestions rather than the inability to think of any. Scott Seeburger of the FDOT was less than 20 feet away from me when I suggested this 3 tier system, and the South Bay Bypass route for the heavy through frieghts. My suggestions became part of the public record of the South Florida East Coast Corridor Study.

That's the great thing about Trainz. It can be a game for some; but it is also a power visualization tool to solving real life issues.

By building a virtual South Florida in Trainz you can easily see the differances between the existing Tri-Rail on the CSX verses Tri-Rail being laid on top of the existing freight service on the FEC.

My part of Palm Beach County has most major east-west roads (golf, Woolbright, Boynton Beach, Gateway, Hypoluxo, and Lantana) as overpasses to the CSX. But these are all grade crossings on the FEC. There is nearly one thousand grade crossings along the FEC's 351 mile mainline.

Simply adding passenger trains on the FEC will increase traffic congestion. A significant portion of any new commuter service needs to go up in the air over these major roadways via monorails. It also provides a comprise to those residents petitioning against noise levels.

...

Those people without adequate transportation, use whatever system is available. But for a proposed improved commuter service to have any chance to pay for itself, it must encourage those who normally drive everywhere to leave their cars behind. The system must be fast, clean, safe, and seamless taking you right to where you want to go.

I welcome deverse ideas, but let's build them in Trainz first and see how they roll before we waste taxpayer's money.

@braintrainz: Oh well. Well, look at the bright side! We can meet anytime since you live in Miami as well.

When you model the Homestead Sub, look out where the Lehigh Spur switches off in real life. CSX has been building a new connection track, potentially eliminating the back engines on those trains to Florida Rock! New Darth Vader signals are going up too. A run around track has also been built by the new switch, by the 836 between 72nd and 57th Avenues.

@FECrailway_Richard: Your ideas are brilliant! It would be a very good idea to see a 3-tier system.

Thanks for letting me know that my badge is all set, I just need to know the schedule of the clinic so I can present thusly.

What I have ready is what I have done so far, from Miami to north of Deerfield. Hopefully FEC fans can have a taste of what I am going to offer!

One goal before the convention was to successfully finish up the area just east of Iris and just west of E 4 Avenue, and I completed that goal!

I still have yet to do the two port leads in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.

Anyway, I would like to see if anyone can design the water tower in Boynton...

 

[FECrailway_Richard]

Anyway, I would like to see if anyone can design the water tower in Boynton...

I know that a skilled content creator can handle this water tower.

Build a giant martini glass and put a dome top on it. No olive please, and shaken not stirred.

 

[brickbuilder711]

I know that a skilled content creator can handle this water tower.

Build a giant martini glass and put a dome top on it. No olive please, and shaken not stirred.

...

True. Yet the monstrous size impresses me... At the right time you can have shade watching a train go by! :hehe:

 

[FECrailway_Richard]

It looks like the convention will be extending my bed time a bit.

The tours are during the day, so the clinics are mostly at night. The Trainz clinics close out the evenings Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at either 9:30pm or 10:00pm. I will start the simulations running at 7:00pm so people can check them out long before the Trainz clinics start.

I will have a stack of free DVDs and CDs containing FEC Track Charts Aerial and Bird's eye photos and videos of cab rides on the FEC mainline and K Branch.

Depending on how much time that you have available between checking out the huge N scale layouts and other exhibits, you can help me by handing out the free DVDs and CDs while talking to people about Trainz and your route. You can also help demo your route during the clinics, if you are able.

You may already have plans that could conflict, but you are welcome to participate in any or all of the nightly Trainz clinics on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. But make sure that you take some time to get to know some of the FEC employees and fellow rail-fans.

I can email you a schedule of events.

 

[brickbuilder711]

It looks like the convention will be extending my bed time a bit.

The tours are during the day, so the clinics are mostly at night. The Trainz clinics close out the evenings Thursday, Friday and Saturday starting at either 9:30pm or 10:00pm. I will start the simulations running at 7:00pm so people can check them out long before the Trainz clinics start.

I will have a stack of free DVDs and CDs containing FEC Track Charts Aerial and Bird's eye photos and videos of cab rides on the FEC mainline and K Branch.

Depending on how much time that you have available between checking out the huge N scale layouts and other exhibits, you can help me by handing out the free DVDs and CDs while talking to people about Trainz and your route. You can also help demo your route during the clinics, if you are able.

You may already have plans that could conflict, but you are welcome to participate in any or all of the nightly Trainz clinics on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. But make sure that you take some time to get to know some of the FEC employees and fellow rail-fans.

I can email you a schedule of events.

I will be happy to participate on Friday and Saturday.

I would love to recieve the schedule of events via email as well.

I will be glad to hand out the DVDs and CDs and look forward to meeting the FEC railfans.

I will provide you with the "alpha" version of what I have so far, from Miami to Boca.