Development

I developed the layout in the following order.

Mark Table Edges. I used straight sections of track to mark the table edges. My original thought was to later add a second, parallel track at a different height and use the Adjust Spline tool to make a break in the topography at the table edge. Later I discovered it was just as easy - even easier - to use the Plateau tool in the Topo menu. The depressed topo of the aisle ways would then be textured black or dark charcoal.


Straight track marks table edge. Plateau tool makes lowering the aisle way areas easy.

Construct Ashmont and Mattapan Track Plans. I was able to duplicate the track plan for Mattapan without difficulty since Mattapan was located on the peninsula part of my layout and had access from three sides, which is to say there were no size constraints. The remaining three stops are more in the spirit of their real-life counterparts than a replication. I did, however, try to incorporate some of the features of the line, such as the section near Milton Junction where the line parallels short line freight trackage, and the long hill between Cedar Grove and Milton Junction.

Adjust Table Edges. I originally allowed more space than I really needed for Ashmont. I saved space by reducing the bus section of the terminal to a simple platform along the roadway.

Design and Build Remaining Sections. Given the smallness of the layout, it was only possible to include three of the seven intermediate stops. The design pretty much fell in place and afforded some unplanned opportunities. For example, the available space at Mattapan and the proximity of the freight line at Milton Junction led to the power plant at Mattapan (it's really a factory building, but the large smokestack gives it the flavor of a power plant - just what an electric trolley line needs) and an interchange with the freight line for bringing in coal.

Add Roads, Buildings, Foliage, People, Cars, etc. TRS 2006 has a large selection of items available. I tried to find trees and several office towers that mated well with the backdrops I was using.

Create AI Trains. For trains using the portals, I created consists beforehand and then selected them when programming the portals. (For more on programming portals, see John D’Angelo’s article “Portals to fun” in the 15 May 04 issue of VMR Journal)

I also programmed several of the trolleys so I could have ambient traffic on the line. This is done from the Edit Session selection in the Surveyor menu. (For more about programming trains, see John D’Angelo’s article “Adventures in Artificial Intelligence” in the VR Reading Room)

If you plan on programming more than one of the same kind of trolley (or any locomotive, for that matter), it's best to begin with only one of the kind on the layout. That way you won't have to try to figure out which car you’re programming. Cars of a feather are numbered sequentially in the order in which they’re placed. After you've programmed the first, add a second. It will appear as number 2 for its type.

Test Drive. This turns up all kinds of small errors in track and scenery alignment - especially when using cab view - that are not readily seen in Surveyor.

Fine Tune Track and Topography. This can be a tedious or enjoyable process depending on your tolerance for fine-tuning. I find it keeps me up late at night. It consists of making careful adjustments to track height and alignment along with topo adjustments to ensure smooth curves and proper ground support, i.e., no space between topo and underside of roadbed. Roadways give me the most trouble. I find the best way to fine tune them is to add enough points to enable the roadway to more easily follow the topography and then adjust the points (usually downward) to make them lie flat on the land.

Add Overhead Poles and Wires. I saved this for close to the end since it's difficult to adjust track, etc. once the overhead has been placed. It can be done, but too often the overhead just seems to get in the way. There are numerous variations of catenary available, though if you want the traditional trolley wire type of poles and simple wire you will have to go to the Trainz Download Station (DLS). I could have used double-armed poles between the tracks, but my photos from the M-Line showed a use of single-bracket poles along each side of the track.


Catenary used for overherhead.

Add Ground Textures. I made a test area where I could spray texture samples. My goal was to create a palette of compatible colors. I especially wanted to be harmonious with the backdrops.

With the great expanse of unused baseboard (reserved for aisle ways), I had a good place to test sample textures for selecting the palette. If you don’t have the space, try adding a temporary baseboard that you can delete later.


Searching for the right ground covers.

Add Cameras. I added cameras throughout the entire route, testing to make sure there were no dead spots. One thing to bear in mind is that a given camera covers a full 360 degrees, so in my case I found the camera along the hill between Cedar Grove and Milton Junction was also covering part of the turnaround at Mattapan, which was just across the aisle way. (For more on placing cameras, see John D’Angelo’s 15 February 2004 article “Getting creative with your cameras “ in VMR Journal.)

Test Again. You can never test enough. Be sure to drive in Cab View as well. Many things show up here that go unnoticed in other views.

Save As in Order to Create the Alternative Layout. I saved a copy of the route to another name so I could build the model railroad version as well. I still have this, but in the end developed the base model a bit further without making similar modifications to the model railroad version. I like the fully scenicked route so much I probably will never do anything with the alternate version.


Alternate layout with aisle ways depressed and blackened.

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Article and screen shots ©2007 Alfred Barten. All rights reserved.

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