At Look at Techniques and Progress on the Fostoria Route

deneban

User ID 71964 (2001)
2007-03-12-Fostoria-OH-Sunrise.jpg


I've blogged about the Fostoria Rail Park, Fostoria current events, Fostoria rail traffic, and other digressions, but what about the actual route building progress?

Because the objective is to make a realistic modern-day representation of Fostoria in Trainz, consider these techniques being used to create as realistic route as possible ...

I. Monitoring of Real Consists

Downtown Fostoria cams are being monitored to record consist frequency/time of day, loco lash-up combinations, approach and departure routes, and consist make-up. As posted previously, Fostoria enjoys trains from the 5 North American Class I railroads. Here is an example of the cams when a UP mixed freight passes through town:

[video=youtube;RyUBwRNWTks]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyUBwRNWTks&feature=youtu.be[/video]

About 35% of the CSX trains entering Fostoria will make a turn on the cut-offs of the C&O / B&O diamond shown in the righthand frame.

The results of the observations are being tabulated so that the Trainz portal consists can realistically match current reality. Here is an excerpt of the tabulation concerning bulk tri-level autocarrier trains passing through town:

Consist_Monitoring.jpg


In the above table, the two CSX mainlines are called by their famed historical namesake of C&O and B&O, and the Norfolk-Southern mainline by NS.

The results of the consist observations are then going to be applied to the 7 portals on the route. Here is a basic schematic of the portals being incorporated into the route, the center triangle representing the so-called "Iron Triangle":

Portal_Scheme.jpg


The portals will be timed realistically to coincide with actual Fostoria traffic frequency. From cam observations, I know this to be about one train every 5 minutes at peak times, such as midday. Here is an excerpt of the high-level portal schedule under construction:

Portal_Schedule.jpg


II. Control Systems

The route will contain 2 ASB control systems, to prevent diamond collisions of the trains, plus a multitude of grade crossing ATLS controls (in addition to signaling). There will be so many grade crossings in the route that a table is used to keep them organized:

ATLS.jpg


III. Realistic Track and Road Measurements

As stated in the previous post, all track and switch locations, as well as road & intersection locations are being painstakingly located using google maps as a reference source. There has been an accuracy of about +/- 5 feet using that technique. Although there is a Fostoria HOG texture map being used as a base, it does not have the resolution or accuracy required for the objective level of realism, and the HOG map has found to be off by as much as 50 feet. As can be seen in this early progress shot, the HOG map has a significant disagreement with ggogle maps scaled photographs used to locate the track:

BO-CO-Diamond.png


From the prior post, here is an example of google map measurement being applied to the Trainz route:

Capture2.png


Capture.png


IV. Progress Shots

Here is a view of the overall map from a 30,000 foot level which shows what area will be represented in the route:

Entire-Pike.jpg


And here is a downtown area progress shot. All three yards, the Norfolk-Southern Blair Yard, the CSX C&O yard, and the CSX B&O yard, have been completed to a dimensional accuracy of +/- 5 feet with their actual track configuration.

Yards.jpg


Five of the seven lines leading to the portals have also been completed with this accuracy standard.
 
Extremely impressive. I like the approach of creating the intersection of several lines in a quite complex environment. A challenge few would accept. Rather than a 100 miles of boring route you portal (if I am correct) trains to and from the Fostoria yards. That is where the real action is. Creating a scenario/session that would cover one week would be another amazing feat that very few, if any, might take on. Those seeking a choo-choo game would find this way beyond their liking. That is why a some simpler scenarios would help most people to grasp what has been done in the route and how closely it adheres to reality. Someone could make a career keeping it current to real-life activities.
 
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