Volunteer Needed for SMALL Hog project.

[ScottyW]

Try as I might, I just can't seem to get a handle on how to create routes for TS2009. I have a very simple project in mind and need a volunteer to help me out. Here it is:

I am planning on a recreation of Boston & Maine's Hoosac Tunnel electrified zone as it existed in the early 1940's. I need a Hog created route to cover this territory because I want this to be a true simulation. I have several volunteers working on many aspects of the project including structures and catenary as well as already having electric motors on DLS.

Would somebody be willing to make the basic route for this project? The topographic quadrangles are North Adams, MA and Rowe, MA. Most of the 4.75 miles of the Hoosac Tunnel are on the North Adams quad and the eastern end is on the Rowe quad. I need to have the tunnel area, five miles of track on both ends of it and all the terrain in between. Nothing fancy, just the baseboards showing the track location and water!!

Volunteers please raise a hand!!

SJW

 

[Jerker]

G'day ScottyW,

Hmmm. This is a 'nice' route. I particularly like the terrain. If you would be so kind as to download the following *.cdp file...

http://www.storage.victrainz.com.au/Jerkers_DEM_maps/Hoosac Tunnel.cdp

...I believe you will find that which you seek. You haven't mentioned which version of Trainz this should be for, so I have presumed TS 2010 (or above). There are, however, two small problems. I haven't 'done' HOG since TransDEM has been available (some three or more years now), so I have used that to create the route for you and since TransDEM isn't really suited to using TIGER data, you will need to also download the following Texture Set (lest you will have no textures on your terrain)...

http://www.storage.victrainz.com.au/Jerkers_DEM_maps/WebColours_Texture_Set.cdp

...and speaking of those textures, the best I can give you in lieu of the TIGER data is the former USGS Topographic Maps (now sourced from MSR Maps)..


...let me know if there are any issues...

Jerker {}

 

[oknotsen]

You haven't mentioned which version of Trainz this should be for, so I have presumed TS 2010 (or above).

I think it is 2009:

Try as I might, I just can't seem to get a handle on how to create routes for TS2009.

 

[Jerker]

G'day oknosten,

Ooops. You are indeed most observant. That particular 'bit' slipped through my reading (another 'old age moment', I think). Thank you...

ScottyW,

...I have re-exported the file for you and this link...

http://www.storage.victrainz.com.au/Jerkers_DEM_maps/Hoosac Tunnel09.cdp

...points to a version specifically for TS 2009. My most humble apologies for the 'confusion' (it was, like, 0300 hours, here, when I was working on the route earlier this morning). Incidentally, the earlier link is now 'officially' broken...

...and here's an image from the TS2009 route (actually loaded into TS2010) showing the Eastern Portal of the tunnel, about where the "not all too easy to see" cursor is located...

Jerker {}

 

[geophil]

Historic USGS Maps of New England

I am planning on a recreation of Boston & Maine's Hoosac Tunnel electrified zone as it existed in the early 1940's.

Would somebody be willing to make the basic route for this project? The topographic quadrangles are North Adams, MA and Rowe, MA. Most of the 4.75 miles of the Hoosac Tunnel are on the North Adams quad and the eastern end is on the Rowe quad. I need to have the tunnel area, five miles of track on both ends of it and all the terrain in between. Nothing fancy, just the baseboards showing the track location and water!!

...and speaking of those textures, the best I can give you in lieu of the TIGER data is the former USGS Topographic Maps (now sourced from MSR Maps)..

In the TransDEM forum, steamboateng has authored a multi-part tutorial on US geo data. In his New England project he is using historic USGS topo maps and has given the link to the source for those: University of New Hampshire Library (see part 3 of his tutorial).

As it happens, both North Adams, MA and Rowe, MA can be found there, maps surveyed in 1944. Those maps are split into four corners each. There are two ways to combine the corners, either by stitching them together in an external imaging editor without georeferencing, or, presumably quicker, georeference them one by one in TransDEM directly. The latter is also the method described by steamboateng in his tutorial.

 

[Jerker]

G'day geophil,

Roland, I had completely forgotten about the Historical maps you mention. Thanks for the reminder. As a consequence...

G'day ScottyW,

...I have redone the route using the above mentioned maps, so you now have "The best of both worlds". This link...

http://www.storage.victrainz.com.au/Jerkers_DEM_maps/Hoosac Tnl(H)09.cdp

....points to the 'new ' (or should that be 'older') map as a separate file that you can download enabling you to use one or the other (whichever 'tickles your fancy'). Here's an image of the Western Portal of the tunnel from the 'Historical' route...

...let me know if there are any issues...

Jerker {}

 

[steamboateng]

The UNH map collection is my primary source for 'historic' maps of the New England area. The Massachusetts collection includes 7.5 minute quadrangle maps of nearly the whole state. These maps are a godsend to anyone doing research of a specific area, as the map detail is quite inclusive, showing not only the route trackage, but yards, stations, interchanges, etc. The contour lines are at 10 ft. intervals, allowing cuts and fills to be identified also.
The UNH collection also includes 15 minute maps of New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, etc.
The maps are an accurate data source for the 5 mile tunnel route, some being dated in the mid 40's, just as the Hoosac was swithing from electrification to diesel.