Blue Ridge Parkway 2 lane routed

[Dangermouse]

[Scatman1]

Thanks for sharing. Now finish already. :dance:

[HomeRacingWorld]

Looking good!

Here in the USA it is odd...we park in "driveways" and drive on "parkways".

[Czar]

I live 4 miles (5.5km) from the nearest entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is indeed one of the most beautiful roads in America. It runs from the base of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. The BRP is almost 400 miles (550km) in length and is the only road in the US that is a National Park. There are no tolls or fees to use the Parkway. The Park Service never plows or uses chemicals to keep it clear of ice and snow, they just shut it down! Top speed on the Parkway is 45mph (80kph) and the highest point is just over 5,265ft. (3,000 meters). There are several tunnels through the ridges. Though part of the BRP was built in sections as early as 1910, the final link, a suspension bridge hung from the side of Grandfather Mountain (and considered and engineering marvel) wasn't completed until about 2000.

Your track looks challenging. If you can, try to get some elevation changes, just like the real Blue Ridge Parkway. I hope you will continue to add pictures as you go along.

[ourwayband]

That is a great choice for a track!!
Looks like she will be fun to run also!

rusty

[Dangermouse]

Question for those who live near or know the Parkway - are there street lights there?

I have this idea that rather than a gantry I will put a couple of street lights over each lane to provide lighting for the timing system. (Yeah I still want timing :)) I have thought about the in slot sensors but as I have a working timing system now I don't need to change or invest in something new.

I might do something like this


cheers
David

[TsgtRet]

I would say those lights would look ok....I don't think you're going to have any Virginia or U.S. Park folks inspecting it for authenticity and depending on the era of your RR they should fit right in. Looks like a fun track.

[Czar]

If you would like pictures of any Parkway details, just let me know. I'll be happy to send them your way.

But to answer your question directly, there are no street lights on the Parkway except for some of the exits (not all) and the Visitor Centers. The style varies, but the lights are mostly the bland industrial lights you see everywhere. The Visitor's Centers may have lights that are closer to the lights you show. But use whatever works best for the look you want.

[Dangermouse]

My thoughts re the elevations around the track.

Thinking of putting the viaduct on the front right turn and along the back straight - not sure how far maybe 1/3 of the straight



thanks for all the kind words will try to keep regular updates happening.

Happy to hear suggestions for scenic features. Found lots of photos on the net, of rustic fences, dry stone walls and roads curving around rock faces.

cheers
David

[Dangermouse]

or switch the bridge positions over



I think I like this way better

cheers
DM

[dreinecke]

DM - Glad to see this one coming along! I like the layout and the fact that your dad is helping. Looks like fun!

[Dangermouse]

Thanks for the tip Jeremy
I will lift that turn up, I think I left it at the same height from the first model.

For anyone building a track with elevations, it is really worthwhile making a model and playing around with it. Funnily enough I had the vision in my mind, but it was only when I tried to explain it to my dad that I thought I should have made a model.

cheers
David

[Dangermouse]

Did some cutting out and playing with the elevation this morning.


Jobs to do now:
Tidy up the surface - fill nail holes, check and fix dodgy routing etc
Seal with a coat of paint
Remove the old track :(
Seal the surface where new track is going.
Set the new track up in place and work out elevations and all the fun stuff

well you know the rest :)

cheers
DM

[buspor63]

The Blue Ridge Parkway is just a short drive for me across US 441, it starts in Cherokee, North Carolina. Unfortunately, a large section of 441 on the NC side slid off the mountain this past week.

If you're trying for some realism, any guardrails in National Parks are usually wood or ungalvanized metal left to rust naturally. Many railings and tunnel faces are made of stone as well.

As a VW Bus nut, the only way to travel is by Bus. The B R Pkwy is a perfect road for slow touring on.

[dreinecke]

Really looking great!!!