Just an update on one of my V scale projects: The Coal Belt route project. For those that don't know, I am recreating the roads in/around Ft. Smith, Arkansas. This includes the Frisco (my favorite of course!), the Midland Valley (another favorite!), and the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern. (Yet another favorite! I have lots of favorites!) All of this is being done in V scale ("Virtual Scale") using Microsoft's Train Simulator program. The Coal Belt project is set in the year 1908, the hey day of the coal boom in the region. Already the track is COMPLETED for the Frisco at Ft. Smith, Van Buren, the mainline down south past Maney Jct (a jct with the MV), and the entire Mansfield Branch. Also track is essentially complete for the Iron Mountain at Van Buren, Ft. Smith, down their Greenwood Branch to Greenwood, Arkansas. Track is complete on the Midland Valley from Excelsior, Arkansas, over to Greenwood, down to Hartford, and over to Maney Jct. Still ahead on all of this will be long road of adding scenic content. A large amount of the data that I am using to accomplish the track work comes from those of you here that have taken the time to document our favorite line(s) in the form of maps, Sanborns, bits and pieces of data here/there. IT PAYS OFF! ALSO... I have lucked out in that a very good V scale equipment modeler has taken an interest in the project and is beginning to produce accurate equipment (as accurate as can be made given our data) appropriate for the era. Below you'll see a pic of a couple examples. The MV car was accomplished via data I have. However, the Frisco reefer was also made possible by data and information made available RIGHT HERE at the Frisco Frisco Library! So, I want to encourage those of you that take the time to share your info: Well done Friscophiles! You are helping to preserve the Frisco in more ways than you know! Andre Ming
Andre, That's really great. I bought MSTS when it first came out a few years ago and I never could get into it as it seemed too hard to just sit back and enjoy. I wanted to just run trains and not have to constantly mess with the controls. Eventually, I uninstalled it. I thought there was going to be an update of that software but did I read that got scrapped? Charlie
Oh goody! Questions and comments! Lemme' jump to 'em.... Charlie: Actually, you can select "Simple Controls" via an MSTS menu within the program. This will eliminate the need to learn how to use train air, dynamics (if the diesel is so equipped), etc. With "Simple Controls" selected, it is much like running a model train on a model railroad: You speed up, you slow down, in a very simplified manner. It is true that the Microsoft sequel to MSTS has been archived. However, much is still happening with the current MSTS including 3rd party upgrades, content, on and on. An upgraded MSTS running state-of-the-art equipment and routes is NOTHING like the original content that came with MSTS. Nothing. Ozarktraveler: There are already Frisco B&Y F units available for MSTS. They are very nice. I'm trying to encourage the model builder to also do Frisco GP7's and FA's. He already has the models, just needs the photo textures! Glenn: Unfortunately, MSTS and Trainz is not compatible. However, MSTS can be had for about $11 on eBay, Amazon, etc. All: To help you grasp the scope of this project, below you'll find an overall map and a couple of track schematics to let you see just how much this project entails. Wish me luck!!! Andre
Nice! Looks like an interchange with the Rock Island (or its predecessor) at Hartford and Mansfield. Now if I can get an external disc drive for my laptop, I could reload my MSTS.
