PRR-Eastern route, First look for a template Options

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

I have taken a first look at the route after downloading it from Train-Sim. Sidings are marked, but how many? With 3000 miles of track, I believe the route has at least twice the number of sidings than the Monon or the Burton-Derby route, that is between 1500 and 1800 sidings. It is "The beast of all beasts". A tremendous route to run at first place. It is installed as a mini route.

Congratulations to all concerned in its construction.

I am looking into how a template package can be done with such massive proportions. I may go probably the same way as Peter did with his NJC route templates. I believe Steve may have to push the envelope again with AG, as it was done once during construction of the Burton-Derby template. I have started to explore the route and found the area covered by the electrification of the PRR, that is from Harrisburg (Enola and Harrisburg yards) going east to the NEC. That means that any player train going west of Harrisburg will be diesel. Very detailed work and my PC can handle it reasonably, in explore mode. With cars, it may be another story. Using the AE will be laborious as the numerous sidings names and Platform names will make it more difficult to navigate along the AE, some toggling of the view menus will be needed to use it efficiently.

If any of you have some additional info or suggestions about the route, let me know. I have started to look around some stock and stock from the Penn Central RR seem more abundant than its predecessor the PRR. However, one recommended download to have is the GG1 Mega pack from Zoza Trains, available at TS ( 200MB+ size) I would suggest to have one timeframe set in the Early 70's, durng the time PC was under Bankruptcy protection and before Conrail took control around 1976. That means the PRR stock could be used as well, despite available in lower numbers.

So anything can go from here as to this great route. No timing set or if this route will ever get a template. Time will tell.

Denis

[dgionet]

Hi Norm,

It is indeed challenging in trying to make a template with little available stock and in the case of the PRR, not much is available out there. So for the public beta release, I believe we may have to distance a bit from the original prototype and change the timeframe to allow extra stock and maybe move to the early 70's.

I have taken a look this week end to the short-lived existence of the Penn Central and here's what was found in wikipedia:

The Penn Central Transportation Company, commonly abbreviated to Penn Central, was an American railroad company that operated from 1968 until 1976. It was created by the merger on February 1, 1968 of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central Railroad. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad was added to the merger at the insistence of the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) on January 1, 1969. Penn Central ended being under Bankruptcy protection until Conrail finally took over in 1976 and started to become profitable again in the early 80's

If the timeframe is set in around the lower 70's, stock from PC, the PRR, some NYC and NH could be used in one proposed template package. That would give us template makers a lot of stock that couldn't be found only for the PRR. On the other hand, some additional information would be needed to have some idea as to the schedules and runs being performed inside the PRR-Eastern route during the PC era. Also to remember that AMTRAK came to existence in 1971, in such case AMTRAK could be used as well for some passenger trains.

I have found about 20 files, including the GG1 Mega set ( 200+MB) from ZozaTrains (including PC, PRR and AMTRAK livery) , the Alco PC Century set ( +32MB) from Hans Gettkant. They would be the proposed main engine packs for the PRR-Eastern. Many of the files are stock packs and not only single components. Norm, do you know anything in terms of Passenger stock from PRR or PC, I cannot find much in TS, it is very limited.

I do not know the limits of each division but believe that will be the key in splitting the route template in four parts, the divisions. Putting the paths first could be done before putting the first marker. Knowing the regions will help a lot in defining the limits and also the number of serviceable sidings nd not to exceed MSTS limitations. Have you found out about how many sidings are present in the route. it is a little like trying to find how many marbles in a big bottle ( a wild guess! )

Since you have already put some time in it, it's all yours with it. If you wish me to intervene, let me know. i'll try to do my best to help.