Not sure if this belongs in a simulator forum, but apologies if so and I will take the slap on the wrist.
About a month ago, I mentioned in the D1 thread my working project to create a terrain-accurate Train Simulator version of the Back Road from Rigby to Waterville. I anticipated it being a year-long build, but I got a ton done during my week between jobs and managed to get a solid version together. Anyway, I ran a nighttime POWA from Rigby to Waterville with some Guilford SD40s and a bunch (100+) of tank cars — I called it my ad-hoc Oil Train — feel free to view the pictures here. I gave each picture an approximate (rounded) milepost so that it's easy to tell where one is.
Went 25 the whole way, and honestly I don't know how those of you who work/have worked on the railroad do it — let alone doing 10! That said, for someone who has always wanted to "ride the Back Road" it's probably the closest thing I (and others in my position) will get.
A few notes:
- There is an existing line built in the Portland area (called Maine Maritime) that has everything from OOB to just north of the Park Ave. bridge plus the Mountain Division and SLR through Portland to East Deering. With that, I took those and built out SLR to Danville, the Back Road to Waterville, and the Lower Road to Brunswick.
- All lines are treed to the extent realistic — I followed the Google Earth satellite view and tried to replicate it to the extent practical.
- I am pretty sure I have every signaled crossing between Portland and Waterville (no camp roads).
- Built out waterways/bridges for the following: Piscataqua River, Royal River x 3, Androscoggin River, Cochnewagon Pond, Maranacook Lake (with bridge), Messalonskee Stream. Still working on Messalonskee Lake.
- Overpasses/underpasses for the Falmouth Spur, Route 115, Route 9, Route 231, Penney Rd, Cobbs Bridge Rd, I-95 (Auburn), Lewiston Connector, Main St (Lewiston), Route 202, Route 135, I-95 (Auburn), Mayflower Hill Rd. Think I missed a couple of bridges but those are on the future list.
- I also took the liberty of giving a gate upgrade to Leeds Junction Rd, flasher upgrades to Black Cat Rd and Luce Rd, and making Readfield into CPFs (Bean and Packard) with distant signals as well (at Maranacook and Plains).
All told, I will keep refining this over time. There are very few buildings at this point (besides Portland and Auburn) and I know that some of my switches/etc. aren't currently real-to-life, but I'd give it a solid 7.5/10.
About a month ago, I mentioned in the D1 thread my working project to create a terrain-accurate Train Simulator version of the Back Road from Rigby to Waterville. I anticipated it being a year-long build, but I got a ton done during my week between jobs and managed to get a solid version together. Anyway, I ran a nighttime POWA from Rigby to Waterville with some Guilford SD40s and a bunch (100+) of tank cars — I called it my ad-hoc Oil Train — feel free to view the pictures here. I gave each picture an approximate (rounded) milepost so that it's easy to tell where one is.
Went 25 the whole way, and honestly I don't know how those of you who work/have worked on the railroad do it — let alone doing 10! That said, for someone who has always wanted to "ride the Back Road" it's probably the closest thing I (and others in my position) will get.
A few notes:
- There is an existing line built in the Portland area (called Maine Maritime) that has everything from OOB to just north of the Park Ave. bridge plus the Mountain Division and SLR through Portland to East Deering. With that, I took those and built out SLR to Danville, the Back Road to Waterville, and the Lower Road to Brunswick.
- All lines are treed to the extent realistic — I followed the Google Earth satellite view and tried to replicate it to the extent practical.
- I am pretty sure I have every signaled crossing between Portland and Waterville (no camp roads).
- Built out waterways/bridges for the following: Piscataqua River, Royal River x 3, Androscoggin River, Cochnewagon Pond, Maranacook Lake (with bridge), Messalonskee Stream. Still working on Messalonskee Lake.
- Overpasses/underpasses for the Falmouth Spur, Route 115, Route 9, Route 231, Penney Rd, Cobbs Bridge Rd, I-95 (Auburn), Lewiston Connector, Main St (Lewiston), Route 202, Route 135, I-95 (Auburn), Mayflower Hill Rd. Think I missed a couple of bridges but those are on the future list.
- I also took the liberty of giving a gate upgrade to Leeds Junction Rd, flasher upgrades to Black Cat Rd and Luce Rd, and making Readfield into CPFs (Bean and Packard) with distant signals as well (at Maranacook and Plains).
All told, I will keep refining this over time. There are very few buildings at this point (besides Portland and Auburn) and I know that some of my switches/etc. aren't currently real-to-life, but I'd give it a solid 7.5/10.
Last edited by petahgriff8316 on Wed Mar 30, 2022 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.