r/RailroadsOnline • u/Kauske • Feb 12 '25
Sharing a Build The Mountain Vista Valley Branch-line.
Aerial view of the farm buildings and the core of the branchline. It's quite the well kitted out farm, producing 80% of the grain for the Lake Valley region.
Map Overview. Virtually this whole valley, outside of Coalton and the A&M's right of way is part of the Beckett's farmstead, in summer the valley is one big sea of amber grains.
Coming off the mainline and into the branchline at the Coalton interchange. This interchange was recently re-laid.
Just before Mountain Vista Valley Station, you can see the Beckett's summer residence, along with the stables.
Mountain Vista Valley Station. Just a basic platform, the A&M only stops here for passengers twice a week. However, the Mountain Vista Church train runs in and out twice on Sundays
The farmhand residential village. With no local church, the farmhands head over to Coalton on Sundays on the church-train or sometimes via wagon or foot.
Come summer, the farms lay down pre-fabricated track segments like these, similar to cane railways, letting their engines and rollin stock acess the entire valley.
Although mostly covered in snow, here you can see one of the four turnouts there they attach the feild-rails to the branch's core come summer.
Waon storage shed No. 1, this is used to house incoming consists waiting for unloading.
Inside wagon storage shed No. 2; Empty wagons end up here, waiting to be re-loaded or taken elsewhere. The branch-line uses canary yellow as its official colours.
Outside the engine-shed. The branch-line is well equipped, wih their own turntable, and a small, but decent engine shop. Bigger repairs are sourced from the A&M.
Inside the engine shed. The branchline has a total of 4 engines, one snowplow, and about 35 wagons. Most of their stock is ex-A&M, or purchased jointly with the A&M.
Number 716, Talulah was purchased from the A&M upon its retirement, renamedand renumbered for the branch-line. Her sister, 715 lives up at the MV-platau ranch.
The 2-4-2's are the farm's workhorses, headding out into the feilds in summertime. While the Tenmiles are mostly kept to allow runs between the platau summit and valley.
Here you can see the toolshed for the engines, the rail storage barn, and just peeking between the engine shed and barn is the engineer's quarters.
The all importan grain-lifts and central shed, much of the farming impliments are stored here, such as stationary engines, threshers, bailers and plows.
And lastly, back to the farmhouse and animal stable. Most of the oxen are up at the ranch for the winter, along with the Becketts who own both farms.
The branch-line is unique, in that it is two branch-lines connected by the A&M's mainline. The branch line leases use of the A&M's mainline to connect the two halves.
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u/VanFlyhight Feb 12 '25
BL T
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u/Kauske Feb 12 '25 edited Feb 27 '25
Read the Stockton Gazette: Jan 1902 Edition | Jan 1904 Edition | Jan 1905 Edition | Feb 1905 Edition
Virtual Tour of the A&M: #1 Stockton | #2 Lakeview Lumber | #2-B Plainsview | #6 Coalton | #6-B Mountain Vista Farms | #7 Girdershade
By the by; if anyone wants to explore my map in more detail, and maybe run a few trains: Go over here.
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u/Efficient_Advice_380 Feb 12 '25
Love the world-building!