FEC Key West Extension Update

This is a Trainz route that I like to work on in the fall. But, something just occurred to me that made me want to rework the track layout in Key West just now.

I was looking around in Google Maps and noticed that the viaduct that connects the main island to one of the industrial islands, which is where Nikos laid the main yard, felt lower. This apparently justified making the track lift bridge a fixed span, but I felt that since there was a marina, the idea was no good. But it was worth the while to adjust trackwork in the area  to be more realistic.


The first issue I attacked was the fact that the yard and the lead to Fleming Key needed a Wye lead so that engines and stuff can more conveniently turn around. If I were to turn power other than a turntable, I would need to run something through the docks. A wye track was constructed to also cross one of the industrial leads, which is something that works in modern cities. The diamond is manual and yard jobs would 'need permission' to cross. It is to note that the Turntable asset never loaded up in either the 09 or 12 versions, so I may be left with no choice but to eliminate it.

The second issue I attacked was that the big junction of the Fleming lead and the KW Yard tracks was done wrong. Originally, it was two double track lines merging with a diamond. In most modern setups this does not work. So, I tried to cut one track from Fleming with the focus on the main yard "aka. Flagler Yard". Now, I realized this was a ridiculous idea and tied up traffic going to Fleming Key. Also, the new port yard would contain the highest concentration of traffic so a double track main leading into the yard was just as pointless, so I made BOTH mains obtain full passage to the lead with the yard main shoo-flied around.

I may have mentioned earlier that there was to be an export coal facility/power plant so the power lines have been added to feed to it. Note that just like Google Maps, this area is also part residential.



The new adjustments to Fleming Key include a redone double main without a stupid middle track, and also two new domestic IM lanes while two international lanes remain on the left. The auto ramp was just retrofitted.




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