FEC KWE: 18 Mile Stretch WIP

Very soon, I'll probably continue on either the Tampa Terminal or South Florida Mega Route!
But I do have more progress from the KWE... and for the CSX routes, this may serve as inspiration/ideas for swampy areas like here at MP ~407.

Progress is rolling around the 18 mile stretch, which is dense forest and swamps. It's the tip of the Florida Everglades and the extension runs right through. Today only US1 is there but of course I made the appropriate adjustments in the sim when doing this up.

Here's a shot of an intermediate signal. This is just 500 feet north of the canal bridge that is already complete in the version Nikos released. This used to be a siding but I made instead two stretches of double track at either end so that the 15-20 mile gap between here and Key Largo siding would be compensated and no train would have to wait trivially long for the other to pass.

FEC Key West Extension - Boca Chica Key

I know this is mainly a CSX blog but the FEC route I'm doing of the twist in history is big stuff and I feel adapting it to this blog will be beneficial and not quite off base.

I learned a rather arbitrary history lesson. According to Google Maps, by the arrangement of the tree line, the portion of the railroad does not appear to follow US-1 like the virtual sim does... but it caves into the NAS Key West reserve base.

As such, I am relocating the FEC main back to there. Expect only good out of this; yes I wasted a few days landscaping an interchange with US-1 (that for the most part exists today) but by connecting the railroad to the base, we're opening up a number of logistical opportunities.

The old alignment is shown to the top. The newer and probably more historically accurate one stands on the bottom. What's just so nice is the additional switching challenges opened up with this realignment.

Unit ethanol trains can now come in and work the bays on the west side. General freight, high-and-wides, and military equipment can move in as well. 

Points of interest:

• Boca Chica passing siding was moved to the east of this island. Even though it is not in Boca Chica Key anymore, it keeps the name since it sounds interesting.
• Double distant signal east of the entrance road to NAS Key West. 
• Power-Assisted turnout at the NAS leads. For sure, there'll be a switch leading out to Key West. Pending is a switch from the east.

 

As can be seen here, the old alignment was officially pulled up and the tracks that carried virtual FEC trains for five years are no longer on line and gone from the system.

One nice thing about working here is it allows me to expand upon areas only partially done by Nikos. For instance, the swing bridge was done but of course a whole lot of area on either side has been partly complete. Hence I'm working to landscape the sections through to complete the areas.

Another interesting thing about this is once all the work is said and done, the track snaps right in with the existing continuing sections of the mainline. So it is possible to say this was once a part of Flagler's Folly; but the history buffs know better.

More Key Lime Pie, Please? KWE Progress!

I felt a bit motivated to pick up on the FEC Key West Extension project. Lots of the work I managed to do was to clean up some messy roadways, like the South Miami area. US-1 and Sunset is kind of sort of up to date with freshly programmed signals and a new station.

Also, what I'd call part 2 of the Dadeland area, part 1 completed last year, is almost done. This involves a fully functional crossing-intersection at SW 71 AV and SW 84 ST. Put a railroad in the picture and the intersection, with the garage of a Tri-Rail and Metrorail station behind, can be extremely busy. The traffic light design at 71st and 84th proper is partly inspired by International Drive and Conventon Way in Orlando, FL due to its feel and function.
Also, to answer the absence of a rail platform on the Belt line side, as I plan to operate a Tri-Rail line on this line, I'll be adding a station to the south (right) of 84th Street.

Also, I'll add that a more up to date road system will be developed over the coming months, as well as the possibilities of getting the crossings fitted with Ryan's new system. Traffic lights will also be done with hopefully LED coronas.

While the first two pics brought out the roadgeek in me, I saw fit to balance it with a pure railroad scene. I did a rough job of the Homestead Intermodal and Automotive Ramp in the throat between US-1 and Card Sound Road. The original working was skew to both, but I chose to have it parallel Card Sound more instead in a redo that was done the other day. Your pure Florida railroad scene of a FEC loco switching the ramp will be coming to a computer screen near you!

It is also from here where the Turkey Point Coal Trains will have a place to go. An equally level extension to the game map was made two miles east of here, allowing for a loop reasonably close to the actual power plant. That loop is connected to the looping IM yard lead via a spur and turnout by the interchange between US-1 and Card Sound. (This fourth image predates the third image)

More to come, including an ops session with JR's new FEC engines!