Page 1 of 1

The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 10:00 pm
by Kegg_Works
Greetings all! I'm Kegg_Works and I just recently signed up to this forum. I've been a Trainz user for quite some time, since 2005. Though I lost a computer and have not been able to play it again until recently and picked it up again a few months ago. I have yet to make the upgrade from TRS06 to TRS12, though God willing I can make that change soon. I joined this forum because this seems to be the niche for Trainz users who focus on old time and turn of the century railroading. And that's all that I'm really interested in. Most of my interests revolve around narrow gauge, though there are a few standard gauge interests to. And as a Trainz player I think my favorite aspect of the game is route building and that's where most of my time playing the game goes. And trying to find additional content to add to the game to aid in said route building.

Anyway, since I'm new to the forum I thought I'd give a small introduction and start things off by introducing a collaborative effort I'm working on. Ladies and Gentlemen, or whichever may apply, may I present the Fiddletown & Copperopolis! Some of you may recognize the road name, as it is a most "Uncommon Carrier", pun intended. Sadly I do not have and pictures of the route, as it's only just getting started, but I can share what the route is, and what it will become!

The route is to be a virtual recreation of Carl Fallberg's cartoon series revolving around a fictional California narrow gauge line, though running between the two real life towns of Fiddletown and Copperopolis. The cartoons take many of the issues, challenges, ect... that many TOC narrow gauge lines had to contend with and exaggerate them in a very light hearted and humorous way. I was fortunate enough to find Carl's book at a model train show for $10. "Fiddletown & Copperopolis: The Life and Time of an Uncommon Carrier".
Image
(As a side note, the edition I have has a full color cover)

It's a wonderful book and has quite a few laughs between the pages. I sincerely urge you to find a copy for yourselves, especially if you appreciate old time narrow gauge! Here are a few of his cartoons and I'm sure you'll enjoy them.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

The objective in creating this route is to stay as close to the comic as possible, and still have an enjoyable route. Emulating the same humor of the railway's creator, Carl Fallberg. Conveniently Mr Fallberg also included a map of the whole line, including towns, stops and branch lines. If you are a lover of twisting, winding, and snaking its way through rugged mountains and serving many towns and mining communities then you'll love the F&C!

This route is a collaborative effort, so far it's just myself and a friend. He's handling the track work and I'll be handling terrain and scenery. However, anyone is welcome if they would like to pitch in! any and all help would be welcome. Presently the equipment to be used on the route would be Togog's wonderful narrow gauge locomotives and rolling stock.

The F&C's locomotive roster is mostly 4-4-0s and 2-6-0s, with a few 2-8-0s and a Baldwin 0-4-2. (#13 and it's apparently a hoodoo engine to) Togogs engines and freight cars are perfect for the route, where as Elvenor's passenger equipment are best for folks traveling along the line. If anyone is skilled at reskinning models we'd love to have you on board for the F&C!
There is no clear locomotive roster, but I estimate at least 14 to 15 engines. I plan on making a roster based on what is seen in the comic/cartoons.

I reckon that's about all for now. The track work should be done within the week or so, give or take a few days. Meanwhile I'll see if I can get some screen captures for you all. Sorry it the first post is a bit long, I wanted to make a good impression and I hope I've peak your interest in this route!

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:04 pm
by Pencil
That's a very interesting route - thank you for the link to the book and the images! Welcome; and I look forward to seeing progress on your route!

Curtis

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:24 pm
by Kegg_Works
Much Obliged!

I'm rather eager to see progress myself. The hard part is waiting for my friend to finish the track work. I should receive regular updates on that progress and will post them here as soon as I get them. In the meantime I'll be working on a locomotive roster that I'll post here as well. Although not immediately relevant to the route, I think it would be a good reference for ,later.

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2016 10:32 am
by Pencil
I (finally!) got a copy of this book. You're right, it does look like it would make a fun route! Have you had time to do any more with it?

Curtis

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 5:25 pm
by NormHart
Well that goat on the depot is pretty obviously a 0-2-0T Porter.

Lots of those around in just about any gauge you want.

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 6:22 pm
by Pencil
0-4-0T, probably ;-)
I'd guess 3' gauge; just as that was a fairly common.

My shot at a roster:
No 1: 2-6-0. Though some drawings almost look like a 4-4-0. Possible rebuild from 4-4-0 after grade crossing accident?
No 2: 4-4-0
No 3: 2-6-0
No 4:
No 5: 2-8-0
No 7: 2-8-0
No 9: 2-8-0? 4-6-0?
No 13: Yard goat: Porter 0-4-0T

No idea of the manufacturers, though - need a dome expert to chime in ;-)

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2016 10:52 pm
by Trainboi
No. 1 at least looks like a Rogers to me, it's got their style of sand dome from what I can tell. Can't see any other numbers well enough to comment.

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:59 pm
by NormHart
What? I don't see anything wrong with a 0-2-0T LOL

Have you seen Kegg_Works movie?

http://forums.auran.com/trainz/showthre ... ost1499456

Direct link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCT3CTfd3qA

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 9:21 am
by Pencil
Lol - the 0-2-0 Porter Segway ;-)

Yes, that's a neat movie. Some of my content in the video looks like it could use a refresh, though.....

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2016 1:46 pm
by Kegg_Works
Pencil wrote:0-4-0T, probably ;-)
I'd guess 3' gauge; just as that was a fairly common.

My shot at a roster:
No 1: 2-6-0. Though some drawings almost look like a 4-4-0. Possible rebuild from 4-4-0 after grade crossing accident?
No 2: 4-4-0
No 3: 2-6-0
No 4:
No 5: 2-8-0
No 7: 2-8-0
No 9: 2-8-0? 4-6-0?
No 13: Yard goat: Porter 0-4-0T

No idea of the manufacturers, though - need a dome expert to chime in ;-)
Hey, sorry for the delay in response. Yes, the F&C Ry is 3ft gauge, and I say your estimated roster is pretty close, Curtis!

I have to agree that I was wondering if No. 1 was 4-4-0 or 2-6-0 myself. Though I like the rebuild theory about the ollision with the infernal cmbustion contraption. :wink:

As for #4 it is a 4-4-0, if you look to the scene where the engine's sparks the freworks off look closely at the engine. Its hard to make out, but it is a 4-4-0 with the #4.

I'm also confused as to whether #9 is 2-8-0 or 4-6-0, though it could also be a mogul in some pictures. That said I'd like to imagine the enine as a 4-6-0 just to add more veriatey to the loco roster.

As for #13, it is an Baldwin 0-4-2T. The engine that somehow gets on the station roof seems to be more like an 0-4-2T Porter. Look closely and you will notice it doesn't have the steam dome next to the sand dome and it has a different headlight if I recall correctly.

But here's a question for you, what do you think engines 8, 10, 11, and 12 are? I would say they are either an additonal 2-6-0 or 2-8-0. Perhaps another 4-6-0, or maybe even someting totally different! (Like a mason bogie...?) There seem to be several locos in the background that have no evident numbers, so its a bit of a guessing game.

Re: The Fiddletown & Copperopolis Ry!

Posted: Fri Mar 24, 2017 10:07 pm
by Pencil
I see there's a On30 route based on the F&C in this month's Gazette :)