Philly Market-Frankford Line

[lboorse2]

Hey all.  Quick  intro.  I did the Auran Trainz thing about 3 years ago and got in deep very quickly.  So quickly that I found that I wasn't enjoying it because I was spending too much time learning route creation, 3D stuff, etc, etc, and not enough time running trains.  If I wasn't doing that, I was spending time trying to get the program to run as well as I wanted to trouble free...

And now... I want to do it again.     I know the community is small for OpenBVE, but that's where I've decided to dive in this time.  That's mainly because I've seen, at least some interest in the line I'd like to develop in the BVE world next to virtually zero interest in the world of Trainz as large as it is comparatively.

My goal back then was to eventually build enough knowledge to design a layout closely resembling the Market-Frankford Subway/Elevated (or "Blue Line", or simply "The EL") in Philadelphia (along with the Budd M3's that ran that line from 1960 to the mid-90's).  I started to get pretty good with route building in Trainz, but never got to the point like I felt like I was ready to start working on the EL. 

Coincidentally, I discovered a small handful of posts on the old forum regarding the Market-Frankford line.  I want to spend a little time getting up to snuff with OpenBVE and really hope to collaborate with a few folks, long term, to begin building this route as well as the M3's, Adtranz M-4's, (maybe even the old Pressed Steel A-8's and Brill A-15's).  I want to take my time -- go nice and slow so that I don't get burnt out instantly like I did when I was running the Trainz software.

A few pics of all the Market Street Elevated line and later Market-Frankford  line equipment can be seen here:
http://www.trolleyville.com/tv/times/jan2009/MFSE%20CARS.htm

So -- I'm starting this thread in hopes of finding others who'd like to collaborate, and to dig up any old/unfinished content that may already exist.  I don't expect this will be done quickly, not even in a matter of months, so don't be shy and not chime in if you see this thread is a year old without much action.  Once the weather gets warm, I'll spend more time on outside activities, but once the cold hits again, I'll be back at it. 

So -- who's out there?

-Lee

[Haven]

OH MY GOD YOU ARE SOOOOOOOOO GOOD TO ME
Im from Philly also! Thank god i found someone

If you want any pics or sounds ill get em for you. I cant do Regional Rails tho. Too expensive...
Also, i can get you videos of the M3 Budd's, and i take the Blue Line EVERYDAY so yea!.

Let me kno watcha want

[Bombardier01800]

This is really interesting. I'd love to see progress on this. If you need any help, you're always welcome to drop by the TeamSpeak, or look around the site to find some good resources.

-Jose.

[Haven]

@Jose IKRRRR! im SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy someone from Philadelphia came!

[Bombardier01800]

@Jose IKRRRR! im SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy someone from Philadelphia came!

Easy there...

I just hope there is enough information available. I made an attempt to do the MBTA, but I ended up failing due to lack of information

[Haven]

@Jose IKRRRR! im SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy someone from Philadelphia came!

Easy there...

I just hope there is enough information available. I made an attempt to do the MBTA, but I ended up failing due to lack of information

uh sorry heh heh
what do you mean lack of info?

[Bombardier01800]

Track layout, (accurate) distance between station, station layout, switch and signal positions and such. I could go on all day. Really I can. But, I won't.

[Haven]

do you really need the track distances and all?

[Bombardier01800]

do you really need the track distances and all?

if you want it to be accurate and realistic

[Haven]

Jus estimate distances... it still wud b realistic

[Bombardier01800]

it depends on what u call estimating. Now, let's leave the decisions lboorse2

[Haven]

Ive been anticipating his answer

[lboorse2]

I really hope this to be a collaboration.  I have a big learning curve ahead of me having just started working with openBVE this week.  I want to mock up a fictional route or two before I get into working on the El. 

As far as accuracy -- I really don't know yet.  I'd like have accurate stations and at least some of the scenery (obvious landmarks) be fairly accurate.  I'd also like to put some older landmarks in there that I remember.  I'd prefer the line to head at the old Frankford Terminal rather than the new Frankford Transportation Center, but if someone went ahead and designed the FTC, I'd sure be glad to go ahead and use that too.  AND -- I really need someone to help with the West Philly stretch (actually anything beyond like 13th Street, because that's as far as I ever rode the line back in the day).

I'd like to build the M3's first, but if someone designed an M4, I'd be willing to go with that instead.  I'd even grab a reasonable facsimile to the Brill or Pressed Steel cars to get started if one of those are out there.

In short, I'm open to anything.  It's open to anyone to pitch in and design or build something.  It seems like the thing to do and in the spirit of open source.  As long as credit is given to whoever's working on it, I'm happy. 

Exact distances between stops?  OK, if you're willing to get to that level of detail.  That's the kind of stuff that burnt me out in the past.  But, if there's enough help,  I'm for it.

[Bombardier01800]

The station distance is never exact because of the way objects are coded. 25 meter blocks. Distances are estimated but just a bit. Let's say it's really 1243 it would be 1245 most likely.

[ipac]

You can also use Google Maps to measure the distances, and create curves.  Although I wont know how you'll make the terrain itself, Google Maps should be sufficient enough for that.