Some of you suggested various changes in the scenery to improve the tree count etc. Well, it works, so here are some more pix. This time, the train is northbound, and has had to pick up helpers at Sevier Siding - found out that that high drivered toy would not make it Ashford before stalling. -- The main climb to Blue Ridge starts at the Catawba River, a mile or so north of the Marion siding, but does not really pick up to anything exciting until about a mile south of Sevier, when it steepens up. By the time a train passes the north end of Sevier, it is on the 1.4% compensated grade that will continue all the way to just north a few feet out of Blue Ridge Tunnel.So we start in Sevier Siding
Then a few mile further, we enter the lowest level visible horseshoe. This one starts east of US-221, swings around and crosses over US-221 just about the apex of the curve, and continues around west of US-221.
At this point we have just entered the Forested area (which will eventually extend down to Ashford). I believe this forest texture improves the overall effect.
A few miles further on, we enter the south portal of Honeycutt Ridge no. 55.(a note about tunnel numbers. There were originally 55 tunnels on the main line, but the highest physical number is 56. This is because there were planned to be two tunnels at "Towers", on the KP sub, but only one was actually built, the other being a cut because it's roof would have been too thin. Later another tunnel was built at Spartanburg. One tunnel is not on the mainline, i.e. BearPen Gap on the Fremont Branch, built around 1946).
In addition, Tunnel 53 (3rd Rocky) was daylighted in the late 70s to allow extension of Rocky siding.We are now entering the south portal of 4th Rocky Tunnel No. 54.
And lastly, whilst a part is going on in the "Saloon Carriage", someone looks out to the right, as the train enters the upper visible Horseshoe (this one is visible from the Blue Ridge Parkway) and sees the engines rounding the bend.
In 1973, I rode one of those railfan trips up this way, using old engine #1 and it's "baggage cars - ne' B units". We took siding in Rocky and stopped at the north end. At that point, the opposing train was clearly visible across the valley of Pepper Creek. It has just exited from Byrd Ridge and was about 1/2 mile away as the crow flys, but had about 2 miles to go before passing us.J. H. Sullivan, P.E. (retired from CSX, escaped from Southern)
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The tree texture and terrain textures give that eastern look.Lastly. If there is anything I can do to help with the route in regards to 3d objects, such as buildings or whatever, please contact me at my email address, which you can access by the little envelope in the top left corner of my message. I am making an engine, but every now and then, I like to take a break from it so I don't get frustrated.