Monon-2 version 16 route, Template Options

[dgionet]

Hello to all,

Prior to the route release this week-end, I have received a request to have a template made for the route.

I no one else steps forward, I am ready to take on a look at the route to consider making one.

It will be a massive enterprise with at least three Railroads to tackle with, the Monon, the MILW and the NYC. This one is expected to take a lot of time to complete.

Here are the first photos captured of this amazing route. Congratulations Rick for a well done job!





Will wait for replies
Thanks

[dgionet]

Hello to all,

Work has begun on the templates and have successfully put all markers for the entire route. The number stands at around 597 serviceable sidings. It includes about 50 sidings inside the Chicago yards area.

Before starting the work on the Monon system, I have decided to tackle first the Chicago yards area. It is a maze of tracks. It took quite some time to figure out some paths inside the area. At the end, four (4) paths have been set, covering most of the yards. They have different duration periods. Some traffic trains have been installed but traffic will stay small because they have not been verified with all paths. This will have to be tested before releasing.

Also the TDB file has been done, only the proper attributes to each siding is still to be done. It took a whole evening to create. Many sidings had alternate tracks numbers much different and not next to the main track number. I had to work with both ACT and TDB CSV files to handle it, also mistakes with such large files were made and later corrected.

The first CHIYARDS template activities were created and ended successfully. Testing the acts with gradually including some traffic has started and looks good so far.

Here are the first shots with the four player engines for the CHIYARDS template that will service each of the four paths. The first is the Monon from the South Hammond Yards to the Chicago GM&O yards ( the longest). The second path is from the IC railyard to the ATSF Joliet yards. In this one, due to the lack of good quality engines for the IC, it has been replaced by the Chicago, Indiana and Midland (CIM). The third path goes from the ATSF Dearborn yards to Monon's South Hammond yards. The last is with the CB&Q.

Since the template can have only one default engine, in case here two Monon C-420's, it will be required for the user to manually change with CB, CONVOI or other to use the other paths.

I hope to start soon building the other templates.

The shots:





















Will update later