OpenGeofiction
Mapper's Challenge #24, October 2018 – Local Railways and Interurbans
Posted by gpcf on 26 October 2018 in English.Since no one has posted a monthly challenge until now, I’ll just post one. This month’s theme is local railways and Interurbans.
This month’s task is to build railways connecting suburban or rural communities to the rail network. Due to cost issues, these railways often have very simple infrastructure, they’re often single-track, have tight corners, run on streets or are built to a narrower rail gauge or structure gauge. They are usually built for passenger service, even though a few of them have freight service. They are usually electrified using some low-voltage DC standard, such as 600 V DC.
Real World examples for local railways or interurbans include: * South Shore Line * Vienna local railway * Attersee Railway * Halle-Bad Dürrenberg Railway
Discussion
Comment from ADB52 on 26 October 2018 at 10:58
Utterland has a narrow-gauge railway in the far south of the country. It runs from the mainline station at Vloedbos, near the Ventria border, for 160 km east to Moorbeek. There are links to the narrow-guage railway system in Ventria.
A local tramservice exists in the northwestern city of Galmosen (see https://opengeofiction.net/#map=12/55.9626/46.3798), routemaster 76998.
Comment from zhenkang on 26 October 2018 at 11:49
See this: https://opengeofiction.net/user/Alessa/diary/1943
Comment from gpcf on 26 October 2018 at 11:57
@zhenkang: I wasn’t aware of that one, but still, this one is more specific.
Comment from whateversusan on 26 October 2018 at 12:26
There is a commuter/local rail service connecting suburbs and nearby villages to Ynn in Mer Kha Izna state, Suya Ahn. A good example of a small, local line is the Buj Ak Ra line, which is a single track with simple platforms. It serves only two villages, Bi Tham and Buj Ak Ra. The line joins the larger Buj Fera line at Zer Ka. Service on this line is infrequent, running from Buj Ak Ra to Ynn-Balka and Ynn-Jo Caiu, with a terminus at Ynn-Abesl.
https://opengeofiction.net/#map=14/-56.3717/78.8260
Comment from Sarepava on 26 October 2018 at 12:59
A couple of lines on the Santjana-Osmila suburban railways fit this brief. The S-Raud railway of Palakka island is isolated from the rest of the network and serves smaller settlements on the island. It’s narrow gauge and is single track in places with passing loops. https://opengeofiction.net/#map=14/50.8884/111.4068
There’s also the narrow-gauge Maasvalraudtee, which connects small towns and mines in the mountains: https://opengeofiction.net/#map=14/53.1088/106.6189 and the Kanton S-Raud https://wiki.opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/K%C3%A4nton_S-Raud
Comment from Alessa on 26 October 2018 at 17:28
Go for it! I know it’s another rail one really soon, but there are some big rail fans on this site. Sorry I was away for about three weeks, as August–November is often the busiest part of the year for me. I usually post the challenge around the first weekend of the month, so stay tuned for November. :)
Comment from gpcf on 26 October 2018 at 17:44
I could make a monthly rail challenge… I’d love to see lots of interesting rail mapping, as a big railfan myself.
Comment from histor on 26 October 2018 at 20:24
Somehing like this? [https://wiki.opengeofiction.net/wiki/index.php/Oakhill#State_Light_Railway]
Comment from joschi81 on 28 October 2018 at 21:21
Although I have been a relatively quiet mapper recently (due to “family business”) I want to present some Kalm, Garlis, and Ventria examples here, as I stumbled upon this user diary entry today.
Mendau - Bad Vilter railway - Light rail line using an old single-track normal-gauge railway line, electrified and connected to the Mendau tram network in Mendau-Thorsteinfeld and with a short on-street tram section in Bad Vilter since the 1990s, with the old railway station closed down and the tram line connecting directly to the old town.
Forberg - Wittersberg railway - Old single-track railway line that had been closed from the late 1950s to the late 1980s. Used as part of the Forberg tramway network today (eleftrifed 750V DC, line 8, see map). The tram section in Wittersberg uses the remaining part of a former two-line urban network.
Fieren - Orlent railway - Interurban light rail line, mostly single-track, using a former railway line since the early 2000s. The line has been electrified for light-rail operation and in Fieren, a new tram section has been built to connect to the university. In Orlent, the line leaves the old railway alignment in Borgenar district.
Mahnern - Thermette railway - The single-line Mahnern tramway network has been connected to the larger Thermette tramway network in the late 1990s using a former single-track railway line. In Mahnern, the line switches from railway alignment to on-street tramway alignment in the south of Blochfeld district.
Kulzerwaldbahn (Kulzerwald railway) from Tarott-Rennetal to northwestern suburban towns in a foresty region. Narrow-gauge line, electrified (600V DC). Plans exist to convert the gauge to 1000mm and conect it to the Tarott-Kulz tramway network.
Hajau island suburban tramways - Opened in 1898 from the city of Lertz to smaller touristy towns at the island.
Hohenrothberg - Erpold railway - Single-track narrow-gauge (1000mm) line on a plateau in a hilly region. Opened 1882, not electrified. Connecting to a funicular railway that (almost) connects to Juhnrothberg railway station.
Interurban tramway Cenaca - Gavalea in Garlis - Old, mostly single-track interurban tramway. Opened 1886, electrified 1901. Continues to Winterbach (Kalm).
Narrow-gauge lines in Ventria - National railway lines in Ventria run on narrow-gauge, only international and core regional railways are normal gauge. Around Lenvier, the capital, many of the national narrow-gauge lines share the alignment with national roads. By the way: There is an important dual-gauge section south of Pierre-Blanc.
Kind regards
joschi81
Comment from zhenkang on 29 October 2018 at 02:25
From the Pretanic faction State: https://opengeofiction.net/#map=11/52.4085/62.8122
One branch goes to Ahimana while another goes to Teichtmann. Single track lines. Even then, they are not for general public use; all cross-duchy crossings are illegal without an official permit.
Bringing onto Antigo’s railways, the railways are used much by government officials, transporting goods, and allow only a few to take for any official sanctioned duties. Hence, these rails are pretty much underused.