
FLNY-AT.TXT

Introduction to FLNY.A_T - A railroad system layout for use on
"A-Train" by Maxis, built using the "A-Train Construction Set".

  By Joe DePasquale 1997  E-Mail: rails@getcruising.com
  Visit FLORIDA RAILS at http://www.GetCruising.com/rails

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The theme of this layout is the classic New York to Florida passenger
train fleets of the 1950's and early 60's*, depicting the routes of the
Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Air Line Railroads, along with their
partners Florida East Coast Railway, Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac
and the Pennsylvania Railroad.

The centerpiece of the system is the complex of tracks in and out of
Jacksonville Union Terminal, the gateway to Florida.

New York City is in the upper right (Northeast) corner of the layout,
with Penn Station on a loop track. The Empire State Bldg and World Trade
Center Towers are recognizable. New Jersey is in the foreground, with
Port Newark and Atlantic City. Traveling southbound on the PRR, the
next station is Philadelphia 30th St. Pass Delaware Bay and follow
Chesapeake Bay into Washington Union Station. Cross the Potomac River via
the RF&P to Richmond Broad St Station. The Hampton Roads area is at the
mouth of Chesapeake Bay.

Crossing the James River, the routes diverge. The upper (western) line
is the Seaboard's single-track main line used by the Silver Meteor and
Silver Star. Stations shown are Raleigh NC and Columbia SC. In the
distance are the Appalachian Mountains.

The lower (eastern) line is the double-tracked ACL used by the East Coast
Champion, West Coast Champion and Florida Special. After the Rocky Mount
NC station, Cape Hatteras and Wilmington are seen to the east (below)
and Bermuda is beyond in the Atlantic Ocean. Charleston SC is the next
station shown and offshore is Hilton Head Island. The SAL and ACL cross
at the Savannah GA station. Atlanta can be seen offline in the northwest.

Seaboard trains take the coastal route to arrive from due north at
Jacksonville Union Terminal. Coast Line trains take the longer inland
route to arrive from the northwest and meet the SAL again. The paths of
trains shown through JUT is faithful to history.

The only trains that do not require a back-up move at Jacksonville are
the ACL's East Coast Champion and Florida Special, bound for Miami
via the double-track FEC. They use the two south tracks thru JUT and
immediately cross the St.John's River. The stations shown are Daytona
Beach, West Palm Beach and Miami. Note the Intracoastal Waterway along
the route and the inlets at Cape Canaveral, Port of Palm Beach and
Government Cut (Miami). Miami International Airport is partly visible
west of downtown.

The SAL's Silver Meteor and Silver Star are turned at JUT and leave
Jacksonville headed west. The SAL line turns south and divides at
Wildwood. The Silver Meteor heads southeast, crosses the ACL at
Auburndale**, reaches the east coast at West Palm Beach and parallels
the FEC into Miami. The Silver Star takes the SAL's west coast route
out of Wildwood, stops at Tampa Union Station and circuits Tampa Bay
to reach St.Petersburg.

The West Coast Champion changes direction at JUT to take ACL's
single-track mainline on the west bank of the St. John's River through
Orlando, turning west to arrive in Tampa Union Station. 

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Summary of Train Operations:

Registry              Route             Southbound Departure Time
 Name                  Color            Northbound Departure Time

#1/2/3/4              PRR/RF&P/SAL      10:00PM  New York - Miami 
 Silver Meteor         Yellow           10:00PM  Miami - New York 

#5/6/7/8              PRR/RF&P/SAL       6:00PM  New York - St.Petersburg
 Silver Star           Yellow           10:00PM  St.Petersburg - New York

#11/12/13/14          PRR/RF&P/ACL/FEC  12:00NN  New York - Miami
 East Coast Champion   Blue             12:00NN  Miami - New York

#15/16/17/18          PRR/RF&P/ACL/FEC   8:00PM  New York - Miami
 Florida Special       Blue              8:00PM  Miami - New York

#21/22/23/24          PRR/RF&P/ACL       8:00AM  New York - Tampa
 West Coast Champion   Gray             10:00AM  Tampa - New York

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Notes:

*  There are 2 deliberate historical fibs included. The World Trade Center
   didn't exist until 1970 and Disney World opened in 1972.

** From 1965, ACL passenger trains bound for Miami were rerouted off the
   FEC due to acts of sabotage against the FEC during a strike. East Coast
   Champion and Florida Special took the West Coast Champion's ACL route
   as far as Auburndale, where a connection was made to the Seaboard
   mainline to Miami. No station stop is made at Auburndale.

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You can buy "A-Train" at the Maxis website - http://www.maxis.com - Enjoy!
