News from the Western Front

[Paul Charland]

Hi All,

Thought I'd post a message to let you know I haven't forgotten you or the DAR route I was working on.

Off and on I've been helping Harold with his route, well, with technical type issues he was having with route Editor or Train Sim Modeler. I have been checking about once a week to see if Google Earth or Bing have uploaded the missing nine miles of satellite shots between Hantsport and Windsor. A couple of weeks ago I gave up checking Google Earth, they uploaded Smiths Falls Ontario (just north of me) so I checked Hantsport and there was no change so last week I didn't bother. Well, guess what.... While helping Harold with an issue he was having I mentioned I'd hoped someone uploaded the missing shots soon and he let me know Google had updated the area!

The quality isn't the best but it is better then what they had. I can work with these even if better quality satellite shots do not come along. The least I can get out of them is a more accurate location for the mainline which is obvious. Roads and streets are also easily located, so I'll be able to get those placed properly. The shots are not the high quality shots I had for the portion of the route I have completed, you can not see individual tracks or switches, most buildings are just whitish masses, but for Hantsport I can use a combination if markers and measurements from Google Earth and the great aerial shot that is in the Wiki to build Hantsport.

When to start.... I'd like to start today but While I was waiting I've been working on a late '50s version of the Thousand Islands Railway, it was about 30 miles west of me. It's only about 4.7 miles long and I've completed 4.2 miles... so I'm thinking rather then dropping the TIR I'd like to complete it before going back to the DAR route. That would mean starting back on the DAR about mid-October.

Paul

[stem]

Wow Paul. That's great news and of course whenever you have time to return, we'll be there to run the betas for you (and loving it). Nice too that you keep up your skills and keep fallen flags alive like the one you're working on and will soon complete. I love your other routes too and even though I never knew they even existed, you've brought them alive and they're fun to run for a change of scenery.

Did you see as well that Matt found some shots of a VIA FPA-4 on the DAR rails? Look up the Apple Blossom Special on the Wiki:
http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... om_Special

PS. Thanks for the help you've given Harold as he's looking really good from his end!

[Paul Charland]

Hi Steve and All,

Too many years without a place for a layout means you have too much time to research other railways! The FJ&G and Springfield Terminal were two I had made attempts to model years ago and now I only need space on a hard drive to do so. The Thousand Islands Railway is another, just because it was one of the few Canadian shortlines and near by... to me, the Halifax Sub of the DAR is big time mainline modeling!

There is a VIA FPA4 out there, along with enough VIA cars to make that train up, might have to change the road number on the FP but that can be done. Might make for an interesting activity some day.

I think Harold's route is coming along nicely, every thing is a learning experience for the first route. I was lucky enough to find someone who I could go directly to when I needed help, nothing more frustrating to get stuck somewhere and not be able to find an answer to in quick time, so helping Harold is nothing I didn't get from people like Rich Shirey a few years ago.

Paul

[Paul Charland]

Hi All,

Just a bit of an update for anyone following this thread.

I'd hoped to have posted the Thousand Islands route I've completed and moved on to starting back on the DAR by now but it's probably going to be at the end of the month before that happens.

I was counting on someone else who was working on a few CN steam engines to provide power for AI traffic on the route but a few people pissed him off for converting American steam to CN instead of starting from scratch so he set the project aside leaving me with no road freight power to use. As a result, I'm converting a CP SW1200RS to CN green and yellow along with some redetailing being involved.

The good news is I've also had to create a few CN 40 foot boxcars that I will be able to repaint to CPR and CP Rail in the not too distant future. They will also be repainted with CN noodles, and of course, some with CN leafs would be appropriate on the DAR into the '70s.

Paul

[stem]

Thanks for the note Paul. Rivet counters certainly can be annoying sometimes. We all appreciate the detail but enough is enough as modelling is part detail but is also a BIG part art. I think a fair comparison is the difference between realism and pointilism. I get the picture either way and appreciate a representation thorugh the artist's eyes as much as I enjoy a photograph of the same scene or object.

Whenever you get the time to come back, it is most certainly appreciated as I realize the time commitment that this involves for you.

Cheers..

Steve