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,

Work is continuing in building the templates and testing. A lot or work has been done in refining the different templates.

With Lukas Lusser's permission, Benny (bennycdn) has received the route and is helping me with testing the templates. He has been very helpful in finding some issues with the route, allowing Lukas to made some corrections before its oncoming and official release.Thanks again Benny with your help!

Lukas has also been providing me with some very interesting details of the route and history. One example is the type of grades leading to St-Paul-Lookout (and from both sides of it, quite rare with such grades!) inside the Coeur d'Alene Branch, the grades are of 4%. Also with the curves to reach from the west St-Paul, it's getting even more difficult. Lukas has provided the maximum tonnage to handle the grades. The GP18's used for the Coeur d'Alene template can handle up to 480 tons for each (including the engine itself). That means for 2 GP18's, the number of cars to be pulled along the grades is around 8 loaded cars with caboose, that is about the recommended maximum for the consist. More than that, it is not necessarily guaranteed to reach the top and having successfull meets, since some of the sidings for meeting the AI traffic are short.

Also to notice, with some research in the Northern Pacific Historical Association, the Coeur d'Alene branch is part of the 15th Sub.. It covers from the NP St.Regis area up to Wallace, having shared trackage with the MILW between St.Regis and Haugan.

From the archives of the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association (nprha.org)


I have created a special template to cover the whole sub. The challenge is that between Wallace and Haugan, it is dark territory and make it more challenging to have traffic on both the MILW and the NP. Well this has been done and will start testing the two paths done so far. The first is a return trip between Wallace and Haugan, Wallace is the starting point. The second path starts at the NP St.Regis, crosses the MILW to haugan and into the Coeur d'Alene Branch.One traffic train is expected on each direction inside the dark territory

A lot of work has been done on that template, as much for the type of cars attribute for each of the sidings as for the timing of AI trains on both signalled and dark territories.I will be starting to test the Coeur d'Alene Branch template.

In the meantime here are some shots from other templates tested, all along the route and includes the Cottonwood branch, and from inside the Coeur d'Alene branch, before its refinement.

Leaving Missoula


Along the NP line via St.Regis


Between Avery and Stetson


Exiting the St-Paul pass tunnel


Between Paradise and St.Regis


SD9&7's at Bonner Jct preparing to work inside the Cottonwood branch


NP Mullan


Working cuts in NP Carbonite, near the famous "S" trestle


One of the curves between Dorsey and St-Paul-Lookout on the 4% grade


Will update later