RMD West route, oncoming template Options

[dgionet]

Hello to all,

As you know, testing has begun on the RMD_West route, as we read at the Trainsim site (Route Design forum). I have also received the route files with permission from Lukas (aka Swissie) to proceed ahead with installation of the route and construction of the template pending its official release.

I want to thank Moe (dispatcher) for telling me about the oncoming release, also for giving a good word for me to have the route available to prepare grounds for the oncoming template. He has received the route to allow creating the route system maps, like he has done for the RMD_East route. But the last is to thank Lukas to allow me having in advance the route. It has been a long time I have wished for this route to see the day and now it has come.

I have also received Moe's maps. That helps a lot to start planning the project. Thanks again Moe!

Due to the large presence of the Northern Pacific (NP) railroad in the RMD_West route, I plan to use the NP freight pack from BLW. Consequently, many of the earlier downloads used on the RMD_East route won't be required anymore. The BA&P now absent in the current route and with the BLW pack which had been released after the completed RMD_East template, the required downloads has been reduced from 25 (for the RMD_East) to the current 17. Most of the original downloads on the RMD East route will remain on the RMD_West route. I expect to keep the same timeframe as with the earlier template, that is around 1962.

I have yet to install the rolling stock and the route itself but the project is now on and hope to give teaser shots of the route up to its official release.

[dgionet]

Hello to all,

I have started exploring the route and looking at the rolling stock used for the RMD_East to see if it is still suitable for the RMD_West route template or will it require some adaptation. I have also taken in consideration release of new MSTS material since the completed RMD_East template in late 2010.

Some changes were made to the rolling stock. The number of required downloads is so far at 20, including the BLW NP freight pack, as mentioned earlier, still below the former 25 used for the RMD_Easr route. The BLW NP pack will be the only payware set that will be required to run the oncoming template. On the former RMD_East template, one payware was required to have a couple of GP9's be used for the template. Here the NP freight pack, to replace the former payware has all the NP motive power and adds some boxcars and cabooses to the stock.

It has been noticed that the MILW Cottonwood branch is non electrified and will require some MILW diesel power. It has been decided to use the Columbus Locomotive Works (CLW) Milwaukee road SD7 & SD9 pack, ideal to this era of the early sixties. It is free but registration is required to download the set.

Also to notice some sidings, including at Carbonite and inside the Cottonwood branch, which require use of logging cars to have work on. The Carbonite sidings are new in the RMD_West route since they were absent in the original RMD-4 route, made originally by Jerry Sullivan.

I have still some exploration to do before putting the first markers and want to take the time in rolling stock selection as some areas may need some additional stock.

Here are some shots. The first two where the famous "S" trestle is located at Carbonite and the last two are some of the new rolling stock introduced, here the CLW SD7 & SD9 as well as the logging cars required for the template package. The last two have been take inside the Bonner Mill facilities inside the non-electrified Cottonwood branch. At Carbonite, you can see the two levels of track one above the other to point out the challenging terrain in building the rail line. On the trestle, you can see the two NP GP18's, actually the bonus pack from BLW. The BLW pack includes the main NP pack, the bonus pack shown here and an update to the main pack.

The shots:









Will update later