Welcome!
This thread is for sharing screenshots, maps, historical/current photos and discussion of railroads of the North Central Colorado region, past and present.
The NCC (North Central Colorado) region has been a WIP over the last few years and the short term goal is to have a portion or portions available for the DLS.
Two routes are WIP of the same region, one from 1954 and the other is within the last decade. The railroads featured from the past are the Colorado and Southern (C&S), Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Union Pacific and the Great Western Railway shortline.
The current Railroads include Burlington Northern Sante Fe, Union Pacific and the GWR shortline (now owned by Omni Trax).
The southern boundaries of this route extend from Longmont, CO - Front Range Subdivision
GWR - Longmont Branch
Platteville, CO Union Pacific - Greeley Subdivsion
The northern boundary of the route is the Cheyenne, Wyoming area
including the UP and BNSF yards.
The current divisions included are:
BNSF :Front Range Subdivision and Black Hollow Branch
UP: Greeley Subdivision (partial), Julesburg Main (partial), Fort Collins sub (Buckeye Branch) Dent Branch (partial)
GWR - All
The 1954 version includes:
C&S : Front Range Sub (partial), Arkins Branch (Loveland), Rex Branch, Black Hollow Branch
UP: Greeley Sub (partial) Julesburg Main (partial) Briggsdale Branch (partial), Fort Collins sub, Buckeye Branch, Dent Branch (partial)
GWR- all, including the Eaton branch (now abandoned)
Yards included:
BNSF - Longmont, Fort Collins North Yard, BNSF Cheyenne
UP - LaSalle, CO and Cheyenne, WY
GWR - Longmont, Loveland, Johnstown, Milliken (Hillsboro), Windsor, Officer Junction (Kelim), and North Yard, Fort Collins
C&S (1954) Loveland Yard and Fort Collins West Yard,
Main Industries:
(1954) - sugar beet factories and dumps in this region - various livestock ranches, many feed & grain businesses, limestone, coke and coal coming down the Rex branch for sugar beat factory operation,
rock quarries, and plaster manufactured and delivered from the Arkins branch.
Current: Anheuser-Busch, Kodak, Ranchway Feed, Universal Forest Products of Windsor, Golden Tech of Johnstown (manufacturer of corn starch) Loomix liquid cattle feed, Johnstown Feed & Seed, Quebecor of Loveland (printing business), Rawhide Energy, Borie oil (Wyoming), Poudre Valley Co-op, Simplot of Timnath (feed and grain), Hydra Trucking warehouse, Swift meat packing (Greeley), Holcim Cement...etc.
The 1954 version is interesting as a transition period between Steam and early diesels. This version has a heavy emphasis on the sugar beet industry of this region.
Much attention has been given to the accuracy of track scale, radius, elevation changes, industries and commodities.
Railroad Interchange locations:
Cheyenne yards: BNSF and UP
Fort Collins North Yard: BNSF, UP and GWR
Loveland siding: BNSF and GWR
Longmont yard: BNSF and GWR
Kelim: (Officer Junction) UP an GWR
Milliken: UP and GWR
Greeley - the interchange track between GWR and UP has been recently disconnected, however is supposed to be reconnected again.
This branch is the former C&S Greeley branch dating back to the late 1800's
(for 1954, all BNSF is replaced by Colorado & Southern)
Sound Effects
On-location digital recordings for sound files should enhance the mood of the surroundings.
Local railroad chatter from the scanner is also recorded and will be added as an appropriate fit, depending on the activity and area.
Whatever I learn and accumulate along the way, I will update and incorporate into this route.
STATUS
LONG way to go. The boards and track are down (minus a few yard spurs), but there's MUCH texturing and scenery to do. Learning enough GMAX for building and structures was/ is time consuming but worth the effort.
I'm now working on 2D backdrops from digital photos that add to the realism and help improve frame rates. The Fort Collins North Yard, Anheuser-Busch plant, and Black Hollow branch will be in the first release along with scenarios. From there, I will bounce over and finish up (upgrade) the LaSalle yard and area from the Union Pacific Greeley Sub for release #2.
As screen shots are presented, I will make a reference to the location and use the maps below as a reference.
Comments, suggestions and sharing of info is very welcome.
JD
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Reference Materials include:
Railroads of Northern Colorado - Ken Jessen (1982)
The Great Western Railway - Ken Jessen (2007)
Where Steam still Serves - The Great Western Railway - James Lyons (1961)
Sugar Tramps - Gary Morgan (1975)
Sugar Country Shortline - Wesley Fox (1989)
Colorado & Southern - A personal Memory of the Standard Gauge - Ross B. Grenard (1987)
Historical info, survey maps and rail tech help from BNSF North Yard foreman, Art Mitchell and rail historian Ken Jessen (still lives in Loveland)
Google Earth
Virtual Earth
NCC map from 1911
Current GWR map
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. So far it looks good, if you manage to pull this off, it will be one of the most complex route projects for Trainz.
