So, this is a project I have been off and on with for the past several years. Awhile back Sean had been kind enough to completely give an update with the DEM terrain. From there I have been tinkering on it.
I started off with mainly freeware stuff but have been slowly converting it over to use items from TrainSimulations, as well, let's face it, there trees and buildings are probably some of the best-looking pieces in ORTS to date.
I did start with using the default kuju and xtracks for my track work but have since ripped it all out and started over with scalerail. While it makes the appearance of being far too nice and clean for Maine Central, especially in the 1970-1980 timeframe, it just looks better overall shape wise. This was of course, done before Eric had produced the replacement shapes to Kuju/Xtracks.
Looking at South Portland, Maines Rigby Yard, you can see what I mean with the track work. Pre-Amtrak Downeaster, the number 1 main and number 2 main, run right down the middle of the yard. This is looking railroad west at the overpass.
On the other end of the yard looking railroad east, the trackwork is pretty sporadic for how it was built. This of course, was a share yard at the time between the Maine Central, and the Boston & Maine, with Portland Terminal being the designated operator of the yard.
Branching off the yard on the west end, you have Turner Island Point, which is a small yard that serves a few customers. Today they are Citgo Fuels, a scrap dealership, Casco Bay Steel and a Hannaford Distribution center. In the 1978-1982 time frame, I will have to look into what was served here. Though, it seems like the trackwork from the 1980 charts I am using, nothing seemed to have changed track wise.
Further down the line, heading east, the two main tracks cross the Fore River into Portland. Here it branches off onto "Commercial Street" where it continues into a yard and some ship to train terminals and customers. This is also where the Grand Trunk Railway interchanged with the MEC, later being pulled back into Yarmouth Jct, and later on, Danville Jct. Towards the right of the picture, the mainlines continue towards what is now known as "Royal" where the lower road and secondary roads split. You also can see where Thompsons Point yard was located and a few customers as well.
This section is between Portland, and Westbrooke. Here the Fore River, depending on the tide, becomes a swamp, and two little, tiny streams continue on.
Just beyond the current Sappi Mill complex in Westbrooke, I haven't gotten to swapping out the trees yet from the freeware stuff, to the TS ones. Some of the buildings will remain the same, as having a good amount of building variety, isn't a bad thing. The Paper Mill itself however, I may need to do custom, but I honestly lack that ability in blender.. Everyone says its not bad to use, but I just can't for the life of me, understand it. Some of the bridges may need to be custom too..
Looking towards Windham, oddly enough this is where the Yard Limit ends, and the true Mountain Division begins. So far this section is my favorite. Its along the river, has some good amount of trees and farmland, as well as random houses along the way. Typical rural Maine.
A little further past the curve, looking back towards Westbrooke. I still have some fine tuning to do here with the scenery, mainly the road and some side of the track scenery. I am not entirely sure yet how I feel with the painted road here, or just simply continue the use of the scaleroad 2 land dirt pieces.
Not so far down the line, is another good spot I like. This actually reminds me a bit of where I grew up. We used to find wild blueberries along the power lines that we would pick, and usually always crossed the railroad tracks to get to them. I may have a few more details to add to this area, but not sure just yet.
I started off with mainly freeware stuff but have been slowly converting it over to use items from TrainSimulations, as well, let's face it, there trees and buildings are probably some of the best-looking pieces in ORTS to date.
I did start with using the default kuju and xtracks for my track work but have since ripped it all out and started over with scalerail. While it makes the appearance of being far too nice and clean for Maine Central, especially in the 1970-1980 timeframe, it just looks better overall shape wise. This was of course, done before Eric had produced the replacement shapes to Kuju/Xtracks.
Looking at South Portland, Maines Rigby Yard, you can see what I mean with the track work. Pre-Amtrak Downeaster, the number 1 main and number 2 main, run right down the middle of the yard. This is looking railroad west at the overpass.
On the other end of the yard looking railroad east, the trackwork is pretty sporadic for how it was built. This of course, was a share yard at the time between the Maine Central, and the Boston & Maine, with Portland Terminal being the designated operator of the yard.
Branching off the yard on the west end, you have Turner Island Point, which is a small yard that serves a few customers. Today they are Citgo Fuels, a scrap dealership, Casco Bay Steel and a Hannaford Distribution center. In the 1978-1982 time frame, I will have to look into what was served here. Though, it seems like the trackwork from the 1980 charts I am using, nothing seemed to have changed track wise.
Further down the line, heading east, the two main tracks cross the Fore River into Portland. Here it branches off onto "Commercial Street" where it continues into a yard and some ship to train terminals and customers. This is also where the Grand Trunk Railway interchanged with the MEC, later being pulled back into Yarmouth Jct, and later on, Danville Jct. Towards the right of the picture, the mainlines continue towards what is now known as "Royal" where the lower road and secondary roads split. You also can see where Thompsons Point yard was located and a few customers as well.
This section is between Portland, and Westbrooke. Here the Fore River, depending on the tide, becomes a swamp, and two little, tiny streams continue on.
Just beyond the current Sappi Mill complex in Westbrooke, I haven't gotten to swapping out the trees yet from the freeware stuff, to the TS ones. Some of the buildings will remain the same, as having a good amount of building variety, isn't a bad thing. The Paper Mill itself however, I may need to do custom, but I honestly lack that ability in blender.. Everyone says its not bad to use, but I just can't for the life of me, understand it. Some of the bridges may need to be custom too..
Looking towards Windham, oddly enough this is where the Yard Limit ends, and the true Mountain Division begins. So far this section is my favorite. Its along the river, has some good amount of trees and farmland, as well as random houses along the way. Typical rural Maine.
A little further past the curve, looking back towards Westbrooke. I still have some fine tuning to do here with the scenery, mainly the road and some side of the track scenery. I am not entirely sure yet how I feel with the painted road here, or just simply continue the use of the scaleroad 2 land dirt pieces.
Not so far down the line, is another good spot I like. This actually reminds me a bit of where I grew up. We used to find wild blueberries along the power lines that we would pick, and usually always crossed the railroad tracks to get to them. I may have a few more details to add to this area, but not sure just yet.
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