Long Island Railroad (LIRR), Oncoming template project Options

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

I have started to take a look as how I can tackle my next project: The Long Island Railroad (LIRR) route. Quite a challenge ahead! It is a complex network and it is non signalled. In addition LIRR rail stock is very scarce and of low-quality, since many of the motive power and rolling stock has been made early in the MSTS' first years. I have taken some time to run the route to look up at the paths I can use to create templates.

The project will take a similar approach as the ones used for the PRR v2 route templates: each template will be starting from zero and up.

I have concentrated my first template around the Long Island City Car Float area and have created the first SLG activity depicting work between the Car Float area and the EB and WB Classification Yard, a short path compared with others later that should have longer paths.

Here are the first photos of this activity

LIRR1 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR2 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

More later.

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

It has been a while since my last post regarding this project.

Following some interesting information from Christopher Parker about the LIRR, I have decided to restart entirely the template project. The Timeframe has been rolled back in the Early 60's, more precisely in 1962, year the 'Dashing Commuter logo was introduced on the LIRR motive Power. The Goodfellow scheme has been introduced a few years earlier in 1959. From there, I have been working on creating new repaints and adding numbers on those models that have been repainted for the LIRR as of 1962, which include the old LIRR & the new Dashing Commuter logos.

The images seen here are all the repaints I have done that will be part of the project, including 6 cabooses of the era:

LIRR RS-1 Set by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR H16-44 set by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Caboose set by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Also RS-2 Set by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Alco S-2 Set by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Alco RS-3 set by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR 400 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR 25-ton Switcher set by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

I have created 27 different consists, freight and passengers consists that will be used for traffic along the LIRR network.

In addition to 7 downloads from the Trainsim site, the main freight download will be from the BLW/ZT CONN RIVER: The entire Conn River Freight Folder. It is modeled around 1956 and will be perfect for the 1962 era, in addition to some of the TS downloads suggested by Christopher. Thanks again Chris for the suggestions ! Much appreciated

The next step will be starting the template project itself.

More later

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

Here are pictures from the very first template created with the new timeframe and modified stock: The PARKVILLE Template. It is very small and only serves the small yard over there. With a 25-ton switcher, You will bring in loaded boxcars in the sidings around and retrieve empties to be picked up by a local train.

Parkville Template Image 1 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Parkville Template Image 2 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Parkville Template Image 3 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Parkville Template Image 4 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Parkville Template Image 5 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

More later

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

Work is continuing on the project and, so far, seven templates are now done.

Here are pictures from some of the templates that have been done.

Long Island City area Yards

LIRR Template Image 1 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Template Image 2 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Template Image 3 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Template Image 4 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Template Image 5 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr


Penny Bridge Area between the Wheelspur and Haberman Yards

Penny Bridge SB Template (1) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Penny Bridge SB Template (2) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Penny Bridge SB Template (3) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Penny Bridge SB Template (4) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Penny Bridge SB Template (5) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr


Benny has volunteered in testing the templates but is having an issue. While the SLG-generated activity loose consists shows on Conbuilder (and probably the MSTS AE), none of the loose consists appear in the activities themselves. In other routes, no issues on his side. Has anyone been successful in running the basic activities that came with the LIRR route or having issues on their own?

Thanks for your feedback

[Harlank]

Hi to all,

Work is continuing on the project and, so far, seven templates are now done.

Here are pictures from some of the templates that have been done.

LIRR Template Image 1 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Template Image 2 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Template Image 3 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Template Image 4 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Template Image 5 by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Penny Bridge SB Template (1) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Penny Bridge SB Template (2) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Penny Bridge SB Template (3) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Penny Bridge SB Template (4) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Penny Bridge SB Template (5) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr
Benny has volunteered in testing the templates but is having an issue. While the SLG-generated activity loose consists shows on Conbuilder (and probably the MSTS AE), none of the loose consists appear in the activities themselves. In other routes, no issues on his side. Has anyone been successful in running the basic activities that came with the LIRR route or having issues on their own?

Thanks for your feedback

[Harlank]

Hi Denis

pictures look great. I will run some of the stock activities and see what happens

harlank

[Harlank]

Hi Denis

pictures look great. I will run some of the stock activities and see what happens

harlank

Denis

I ran a few of the activities set up for AI to run (Hempstead to Brooklyn, Brooklyn to hempstead, Brooklyn to Long Beach and Brooklyn to Rockaway). All ran without a hitch. I will now try some of the activities that I have to take an active part in running.

Harlank

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

Finally, Benny's issue has been resolved. It was related to a missing folder from a BLW/ZT bonus from the CONN RIVER Freight pack. Thanks Harland for the follow-up with my request.

Now to the actual project: Here is the Vanderbilt Yard Template. It includes the Vanderbilt yard and the Meat sidings located undergound and besides the Brooklyn Station.

Vanderbilt Yd & Meat Sidings (1) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Vanderbilt Yd & Meat Sidings (2) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Vanderbilt Yd & Meat Sidings (3) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Vanderbilt Yd & Meat Sidings (4) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Vanderbilt Yd & Meat Sidings (5) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Vanderbilt Yd & Meat Sidings (6) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Vanderbilt Yd & Meat Sidings (7) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Next, shots from the Bay Ridge Branch Southwest Template

[dgionet]

Hi again,

Shots from the Bay Ridge SW Template: a simple 5-car coal run between the West Yard and the Bay Ridge Float docks. It took 1h45 to complete.


Bay Ridge Branch SW image (1) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Bay Ridge Branch SW image (2) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Bay Ridge Branch SW image (3) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Bay Ridge Branch SW image (4) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Bay Ridge Branch SW image (5) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Bay Ridge Branch SW image (6) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Bay Ridge Branch SW image (7) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

BTW, adjustments has been done on all previous templates to have a higher concentration of boxcars to reflect more the 60's era.

More later

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

Work is continuing and the number of templates has now reached 14. I still have two or three templates to complete the project. Benny is continuing to test them and sends me reports and everything looks good so far.

Here are shots from a local between the Holban Yard and the Long Beach area with a return back to Holban. Setting out 7 cars and lifting as many took about two hours. Note the way how to make your runaround at Long beach and working out some sidings at this location. The maximum of cars from the initial consist and at its final destination is 8 to allow a turnaround at Long Beach, having some space for 2 or 3 additional cars in case you have to pickup more cars than you leave when reaching Long Beach for the runaround.

LIRR Long Beach local (1) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Long Beach local (2) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Long Beach local (3) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Long Beach local (4) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Long Beach local (5) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Long Beach local (6) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Long Beach local (7) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Long Beach local (8) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Long Beach local (9) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Long Beach local (10) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

More later

[Harlank]

Looks beautiful!

harlank

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

Just to confirm the project is now complete: 18 templates and more than 350 serviceable sidings.

Here are shots from the latest template, the Glendale Template. From the East Yard, servicing both industrial sidings at Glendale & Parkside. You are required to exit the mainline to service both areas, return on the mainline and resume your run to destination in the Jamaica freight Yard

LIRR Glendale Template (1) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Glendale Template (2) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Glendale Template (3) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Glendale Template (4) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Glendale Template (5) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Glendale Template (6) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Glendale Template (7) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Glendale Template (8) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Glendale Template (9) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

LIRR Glendale Template (10) by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

The readme file is currently being worked on with instructions and hope to have the templates released in about a week or two, once Benny gives me the OK for the remaining templates to be tested.

More later.

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

Benny has given me the clear signal for the project's release to our users. Benny recommended to use the dispatcher's feature of OR, due to the complex nature of this route. That's what I have found out also. Once again thanks Benny for your time with testing!

For those willing to receive the package, simply write me an E-mail at the usual address to receive the template package.

Here's the template project image:

LIRR Template Image by Denis Gionet, sur Flickr

Enjoy the templates and happy trainsimming

[dgionet]

Hi to all,

Greg, one of our users, have found out an issue regarding the PENNYBRIDGE SB & NB Templates. Both CTP files were not properly configured when working both templates. AG was looking for some wagon types which were not available in the SWLACT files.

Simply write me to have both files to replace the faulty ones in the ACTIVITIES folder.

Thanks Greg for finding the issue.