My Leafy Suburbs Route

[dean1986]

I installed this route and really enjoying it. One thing though I dont seem to have any platforms

Can anyone help?

Dean

[hertsbob]

Hi

NPCleary platform reskin
http://members.uktrainsim.com/filelib-i ... leid=19288

I think you'll be a retaining wall short of a station as well!

Should make things a tad better for you.

Cheers

Bob

[hertsbob]

Hi John

Personally I find creating decent embankments and cuttings to be the trickiest thing, which is unfortunate as I've got loads still to do. I don't mind doing foliage too much, although I do find it can get a bit tedious twisting and rotating loads and loads of bushes along the sides of the embankments etc.

Here's the latest progress.

Invincible shunting around inside Croxley Mills:

Click the image to zoom in



The approach to Watford Met:

Click the image to zoom in



This is my interpretation looking over the Metropolitan station towards Croxley:

Click the image to zoom in



I haven't been able to find out anything about the layout of the goods yards on the Met, so I've just had to use my imagination a bit. If anyone has any information about this I'd love to hear from them.


Cheers

Bob

[partyspiritz]

Hi Bob

Nice pics you had dribbling how long for the next installment


Regards



John

[hertsbob]

Hi

No idea whatsoever when the next version will be released! But even though it's taking a long time, it's still not very long in terms of route miles I'm afraid.

It's been very hard to compromise anywhere with the scenery at the moment as the three lines all share the same space, as it were. As a result it's taking me ages to make any noticeable progress. However, I've done a bit more and here it is.

This is Croxley Green station. The Metropolitan Line is on the left and the Grand Union runs left to right:

Click the image to zoom in



The pub (now a Harvester) opposite Croxley Green station is called the Three Bridges, and here they are:

Click the image to zoom in



Hopefully now I've got this bit sorted progress will be a bit quicker!

Cheers

Bob

[partyspiritz]

I am happy to wait Bob I understand what you mean I have been building the bacup branch for 6 months and still have along way to go and the route is only 10 miles long


Regards



John

[mundo]

Hello

Drove from Elstree to Watford via Bushey many times. Always wondered what all the viaducts were about, especially the MET viaduct over the A411 across the B&Q car park, now I know

I like the look of the Croxley mills site. I have two Questions though.
Firstly you say you have only been able to include 2/3 of the trackwork. Is this due to to your track rule dictating the maximum radius of the curve in points?
Secondly, were there transfer points with the canal? If so I may have some 3d models that I can adapt to suit your site if you want? (OK three questions)

Thank you

Mundo

[hertsbob]

Hi

I think it's fair to say that whatever you try to do it always takes far longer than you thought!

Mundo - there are a number of factors as to why I've had issues with the trackwork inside Croxley Mills, not least of which is having very little reference material. In fact, I'm not entirely sure the reason it won't fit is because it's actually a tramway! The area has been completely re-developed twice since the era I'm trying to recreate and I'm sure that many of my assumed points of reference are wrong.

There must have been some kind of transfer between the canal and railway, but I've no idea what form it would have taken. There was a 'travelling crane' alongside one of the locks at Rickmansworth for goods transfer, but again I've had to guess at what it might have looked like. I'm kidding myself that I'm using artistic licence!

Cheers

Bob

[partyspiritz]

Bob I may be able to help i have huge amount of books photos and paintings on the waterways of the uk its my first love is working canal boats I lived on one for 15 years built in 1893 anyway give some info on what you want. I am sure we can find somthing


Regards



John

[hertsbob]

Hi

That's a very interesting angle to come at it from. I'll let you know.

Cheers

Bob

[mundo]

Hello

I understand the lack of reference info problem. I've also come across the tight radii in industrial sidings, though I think they're more likely to be powered by a one horse power engine.

I only mention the canal transfer because a quick Google search brought up this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgeezer/225549562/
Which reminded me of the purpose of my route. And the fact that I've got some wharf/dockside buildings to finish off. It's not too hard to adapt a building model in max and it'll give me an excuse to stop wrangling with trackwork for a while.


Cheers

Mundo

[hertsbob]

Hi Mundo

That's the only picture of Croxley Mills I've been able find online, I'm afraid, although it did enable me to create this view:

Click the image to zoom in


This is a 1920s plan of the complex. The track rule I'm using does have a tight minimum radius, but I can't get anywhere near fully reproducing this trackwork. I have noticed that there's a track right alongside the canal, which would have been immediately to the right of where the flickr picture would have been taken. I hadn't given it too much thought before, but I think I'll have to do a better job in this area.


If anyone wants to have a guess at what the arrowed feature might be then please feel free! I think it may be a disused gravel pit - although these are generally marked on the maps I've got - but why would there be two completely separate rail lines running around it?

John (partyspiritz) has come up with some interesting information already (if I may paraphrase). The boats in the picture are called Big Rickys and were built by W.H. Walker and Bros., narrow boat builders based in Rickmansworth between 1905 and 1964. The area where the Walker Bros. yard was is inside the scope of my landscape, as it were, but I'd never realised it existed. I shall therefore shortly be trying to create a narrow-boat-builders yard which should be interesting!

I'm generally quite happy to slot default assets together to make up buildings, but anything dock-related would certainly be of interest. Having said that, the structure in the centre of your screenshot has 'St Albans Abbey station canopy' written all over it! Ooh, just thought. What's really missing in RW is a set of open and closed lock gates. I'm using parts of Chaddock's bridge kit, but at 30m long they're a shade over scale for the purpose in hand!

This will show what I mean (and also includes my stationary travelling crane, which I think is rather natty! )

Click the image to zoom in


Cheers

Bob

[mundo]

Hello

I guess the arrowed area is a waste water lagoon from the paper process. Any unwanted byproducts ended up in the lagoon, this was left to evaporate or settle and the resulting muck was shoveled up into wagons and....?

Lock gates. I could do with a few. I'll see if I can fit them into my five year plan

Cheers

Mundo

[hertsbob]

Hi

I like your thinking re the lagoon and shall dirty mine up a bit so it doesn't look quite so much like a boating lake!

Hey, I can wait 5 years! At the rate I'm going this route will still not be finished!

Here's a re-work of the canals around Rickmansworth (which includes a couple of rather handy, and very nice, foot bridges). The crane has moved to a more appropriate location now, i.e. it's in the right place!

Click the image to zoom in


Cheers

Bob

[partyspiritz]

Ok found a bit more info and some pics



There is a book

And I have found these for just wish I had the cash



The first pair built & delivered to the GUCCC LTD in oct 1934 by w.h.walker bros of rickmansworth. sadly now for sale due to lack of funds. ARCTURUS could sleep 5 SIRIUS 4.
ARCTURUS needs a new bottom hence the nominal price of £30,000 for the pair mooring available for both boats if required


Regards



John