Railroad Forums 

  • Fantasy Commuter Rail

  • General discussion of passenger rail systems not otherwise covered in the specific forums in this category, including high speed rail.
General discussion of passenger rail systems not otherwise covered in the specific forums in this category, including high speed rail.

Moderators: mtuandrew, gprimr1

 #1480259  by Joke Insurance
 
Here a few that I found online over the years:

New York: https://i.imgur.com/XJwYRhA.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Source https://www.reddit.com/user/no-tea" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Baltimore: https://theoditsek.files.wordpress.com/ ... re-rer.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Washington DC: https://theoditsek.files.wordpress.com/ ... -metro.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

SEPTA: https://i.imgur.com/KcqTsjF.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Atlanta #1: http://i.imgur.com/VvrmtCr.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Source http://www.city-data.com/forum/39594670-post105.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fort Worth: https://tinyurl.com/ybhuhtsf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Source http://www.city-data.com/forum/34903609-post95.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Baltimore & Washington DC #1: https://tinyurl.com/yajzjs5g" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Source http://philadelphia2050.blogspot.com/20 ... sited.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

New Jersey (South): https://tinyurl.com/ybdfwkz6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pacific Northwest (USA and Canada): https://tinyurl.com/ycd8q3sp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Baltimore-Washington DC #2: https://tinyurl.com/y8qf892f" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Source http://tracktwentynine.blogspot.com/200 ... ns-ii.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Atlanta #2: https://tinyurl.com/y8wamxxb" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Source https://tracktwentynine.blogspot.com/20 ... ta_21.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Connecticut: https://tinyurl.com/gvwrc7o" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Indianapolis: https://theoditsek.files.wordpress.com/ ... -rail1.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Kansas City: https://tinyurl.com/y98jgxxv" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Source https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/200 ... il-system/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Richmond, Virginia: https://tinyurl.com/yceeoppy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Source: https://www.baconsrebellion.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1480309  by mtuandrew
 
Joke Insurance wrote:Here a few that I found online over the years:

New York: https://i.imgur.com/XJwYRhA.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Source https://www.reddit.com/user/no-tea" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Looks like a map of the current systems, rendered in London Tube style. Did I miss something, like a common agency running NJT, MNRR, and LIRR lines?
Joke Insurance wrote:Baltimore: https://theoditsek.files.wordpress.com/ ... re-rer.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Washington DC: https://theoditsek.files.wordpress.com/ ... -metro.png" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I like this DC map in particular, and the Baltimore map is nice too. Both would serve their communities well without utterly overreaching. Many of the others are just connect-the-dots.
 #1480365  by andrewjw
 
The NYC map implies through running of services at NYP, and shows several changes to service patterns - Babylon trains via Atlantic not St. Albans, Montauk trains via Hicksville - so I am inclined to believe that the author is relatively unfamiliar with the service patterns or electrical requirements. They also leave out East Side Access, despite showing Penn Station Access for MNRR.
 #1480555  by Joke Insurance
 
mtuandrew wrote:I like this DC map in particular, and the Baltimore map is nice too. Both would serve their communities well without utterly overreaching. Many of the others are just connect-the-dots.
More information here, in case you're interested:

Washington DC - https://theoditsek.wordpress.com/2015/09/23/dc-rer/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Baltimore - https://theoditsek.wordpress.com/2015/0 ... imore-rer/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
 #1480638  by ExCon90
 
andrewjw wrote:The NYC map implies through running of services at NYP, and shows several changes to service patterns - Babylon trains via Atlantic not St. Albans, Montauk trains via Hicksville - so I am inclined to believe that the author is relatively unfamiliar with the service patterns or electrical requirements. They also leave out East Side Access, despite showing Penn Station Access for MNRR.
Well taken. Why on earth make the Babylons cross over at Valley to add more traffic to the Atlantic Branch and leave the Montauk underutilized? The existing flexibility between Hall and Valley is a godsend.
 #1480691  by andrewjw
 
ExCon90 wrote:
andrewjw wrote:The NYC map implies through running of services at NYP, and shows several changes to service patterns - Babylon trains via Atlantic not St. Albans, Montauk trains via Hicksville - so I am inclined to believe that the author is relatively unfamiliar with the service patterns or electrical requirements. They also leave out East Side Access, despite showing Penn Station Access for MNRR.
Well taken. Why on earth make the Babylons cross over at Valley to add more traffic to the Atlantic Branch and leave the Montauk underutilized? The existing flexibility between Hall and Valley is a godsend.
I assume the mapmapker has never looked at the track diagrams and simply saw 'three stations here, one there.'
 #1481149  by STrRedWolf
 
Joke Insurance wrote:Baltimore - https://theoditsek.wordpress.com/2015/0 ... imore-rer/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I just stumbled on this thread and thought.. gee... lets look at this map... okay, some good ideas, wish it warned it wasn't going to be a truly realistic map early on, because I mistook it as based on current levels.

That said... I'm not sure what the aim was. It feels like a hybrid of subway and commuter rail, and I'm not sure that this was well thought out without being here and checking the timing.

For instance, Odenton is a major transfer point to Ft. Meade, and a major station in it's own right going to DC. I would have put the Ft. Meade shuttle train line from Odenton instead of a dedicated "Ft. Meade Junction."

Also, the run between BWI Airport and Odenton is 7 minutes on average (with trains hitting 90 mph). Making three stops between there? As nice as it would be, if the infrastructure was there, I really doubt in the "Rapid" in his maps would be achieved.
 #1481296  by mtuandrew
 
Been meaning to post this. Orange is heavy commuter rail like the Northstar service (MP36 + four BBD BiLevels), green is LRT. Purple is an intermediate level - I'm picturing Stadler diesel FLIRTs - that can run on FRA track, are closer to LRT equipment in weight, and are at least double the capacity of an accordion bus.

A few notes:
-All of this depends on a good working relationship with all of Minnesota's majors (BNSF, CP, UP, and CN) plus regionals and shortlines like the Twin Cities & Western, Minnesota Commercial, and Progressive Rail. Pretend that exists :wink:
-Northstar service was eventually supposed to extend past St. Cloud to a maintenance facility in Rice. Since they built one in Big Lake, there's no reason to go that far.
-Baldwin, WI is a compromise. With a lot of WisDOT support Eau Claire is possible; with none, MnDOT should only hit western Hudson at a "River Falls Junction" station at US 12 and County Highway U.
-Likewise with the entire White Bear Lake-New Richmond branch.
-Rebuild the NP from Hugo to North Branch for freight use, but only extend service to Wyoming. Operationally the ex-GN from Minneapolis to Cambridge seems a better fit for heavy commuter rail.
-Purchase the MN&S from CP Rail and TC&W as far as Lakeville - and invite Progressive Rail to be the tenant freight operator. They could drum up a decent freight transfer service and help pay for the line's maintenance.
-For the ex-MILW Pioneer Line from Prior Lake to Mendota Heights, I'd love to see DEMUs that can run on both the Metro Transit Blue LRT Line and on FRA-certified rail on the other side of the Mendota Bridge. At least build a transfer station at the I-494/I-35E/MN 55 intersection.
-The line to Circle Pines/Lexington requires some new construction from County Highway 10 north, but indulge my flight of fancy :P