New SorGun

[Schulmanator 5,787]

It's Thomas the Train!

[dabo 1]

Amazing story, cannot wait for the next update.

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

Lyhoko: Pesky fool's gold...

Lyhoko: At least someone found something of value in the hills.

Lyhoko: ...Lyhoko thought there were more people there?

Lyhoko: Train!

[packersfan 666]

SO SO Awesome!

[SimCoug 5,973]

@Schulmanator: Yeah, my kids loved that one

@dabo: Thank you - The next update is in the works, should be ready early next week (The holiday is going to push it back this week)

@Lyhoko: Coal will be an important development, especially with trains on the horizon.

@packersfan: Thanks for stopping by!

As I mentioned, the holiday will push back the next update - but I promise to have it out early next week. In the meantime, lets take a look in at one of the farms near Materburg for a Thanksgiving themed pic

Picking out the bird...

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Yummy! I am bringing a pecan pie.

[SimCoug 5,973]

@ Schulmanator: I never knew how good pecan pie was until I moved to the south. BTW, those doughnuts are gooood.

Update 25

She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain

Spring 1873

Ever since the first steam powered railroad became a reality in 1826, Americans dreamed of a time when a man could board a train in New York, and travel across the country to the port of San Francisco. The Pacific Railroad made that dream a reality in 1869. A journey to the western United States that originally took about 6 months could now be completed in 8 days. The railroad revolutionized commerce, communication and transportation, and the little region of SorGun was about to become a part of it.

Construction of The Northern Pacific railroad was begun in 1870, with the promise of linking the great lakes of Minnesota to the largely untouched wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. The town that would become the terminus for the railroad would instantly become the shining jewel of the region, and as a result, make many current land owners millionaires overnight. The question was – who would it be?

As the railroads snaked their way over land towards the pacific, each town that they touched created a seismic building boom.

Conversely, towns that were passed by often times withered away.

Folks in the SorGun region were putting their money on three possible candidates.

(click for full size)

Each town had compelling reasons for receiving the terminus station, but which would win the favor of the railroad barons?

Materburg was seen as the long shot. The town has grown slowly and steadily as new farms sprung up along the Mater creek basin.

Despite being the third largest town in the region, it was still relatively small. The port facility was in its infancy, but a long, somewhat protected shoreline offered opportunity for expansion.

To sweeten the deal, the town of Materburg voted to donate a large holding of land, including the small docks, to the Railroad Company if they were to be chosen as the terminus.

Porthaven had a number of qualities that made it ideal for a railroad terminus. Most obviously, it offered the most direct route to hook up with the line being built through the mountains along the Columbia River valley.

The town was also centered around the largest lumber mill in the region, and it was a stone’s throw away from Fort Sunset.

And while the town was lacking any real port facilities, Mr. Delin, the largest landowner in the region, offered up acres and acres of waterfront property to the railroad, which would be worth a fortune should the terminus be built in Porthaven.

But despite the advantages that Porthaven offered, New SorGun could easily become the end of the line due to sheer gravity. Due to clever businessmen like Eastman T. Finch, New SorGun had become the commercial and social center of the entire region.

(click for full size)

In the end, a terminus in New SorGun would result in a shorter rail line, but it would need to travel over the mountains, which could significantly add to the cost.

Even with the added costs, the safe money was on New SorGun being home to the railroad terminus. Population, businesses, industry and a thriving sea trade made this town the hands down favorite.

And not to be outdone by Materburg and Porthaven, the town council unanimously decided to offer the railroad company a sizeable piece of undeveloped land north of the town.

Rumor had it that the Northern Pacific would announce the location of the terminus by the end of the year. For the towns involved, it was going to be a nerve-racking wait.

[Benedict 3,119]

Genius update. I love the first picture of advancing rail construction. I am still in awe of the devloping towns - I love the way the dirt streets gradually de-organize into footpaths into the surrounding forests.

[Fox 1,444]

As usual stunning!

Love the little train in the first picture, and the maps of routes.

I think I'm as excited as the residents to see where the train s will run and what stations you'll use.

[Ded 30]

Ooooh! My money is on Porthaven! Plenty of room available, and easy terrain to work with.

[SAVAGExPHOENIX 955]

I say porthaven. The railroad company would choose the best location based on cost-effectiveness. The closeness to the mill, the mountain railway, and the possibility of a growing port would be the smart thing.

Plus, if the rail company wanted to, it could expand southward towards California, and run through all 3 towns, giving them all explosive growth, and of course taking advantage of all 3 locations (good port area from Materberg, the cultural center of New Sorgun and the mill & army base in Porthaven.) It makes sense, if you think about it

[Charlie_Zane 963]

Oh! Exciting!

I've mist quite a few updates! I'll have to go through them all now!

Materburg has a great spot for a port area, but New Sorgun should have it! It's in the middle and would be the better economic choice

[packersfan 666]

Great fun looking at the different towns bid for the terminus. Amazing how New Sorgun is the commerical center, yet is so small...in comparison of course to a modern city!

[vivapanda 422]

Trains! If the region wasn't growing yet it would explode now.

Great pictures, almost as usual I want to say. They keep amazing me every single time though

[Twenty20 28]

Nice region, the aerial views are really amazing !!

[FrenchThom 27]

Man , THAT , is what I call a City Journal ! How SimCity 4 can offer so many potential ?!

I'm ashamed of pretending that my work is a CJ , after I'd saw what you did ..

[rubberduck3y6 45]

I know it's been said 100 billion times before but this CJ is visually amazing! Great job!

I'd go with Porthaven for the railroad terminus. It seems like the most profitable with an easy and direct route for the railway, a nice bit chunk of land on offer and lots of room for development of port facilities and residential and commercial growth.

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

Lyhoko: Lyhoko says New SorGun, as it's right in the middle and closest to the coal mine, and it's the name of the CJ.

[SimCoug 5,973]

@Benedict: Thanks for noticing the details - I really can't help myself adding stuff like that in, even though in the back of my mind I wonder if folks even notice, but I'm glad you do

@Fox: Thanks for your constant support - The railway will be a big milestone, even I am wondering what is going to happen.

@Ded: Thanks for stopping by, and please vote!

@daTSchikinhed: Good thinking, the railroad company may have similar plans...

@CityMaster: Always good to hear from you! Catch up fast, big changes are in the works!

@packersfan: Yes, a town with over a thousand folks was quite the metropolis back then

@vivapanda: Thanks for the kind words.

@Twenty20: Thank you.

@FrenchThom: Thank you - all it takes is time and practice. I look forward to seeing your CJ progress.

@ruberduck: Thanks! Please be sure to vote for Porthaven - they could use all the help they can muster.

@Lyhoko: New SorGun seems to be the popular choice... we'll see what the railroad company decides.

VOTE HERE

VOTE HERE

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

Lyhoko: Water, land, agriculture? Don't all of the towns have those three things?

Lyhoko: Vote has been launched.

[Benedict 3,119]

[Fox 1,444]

After seeing those pictures .. wow.. to all locations, but I've got to vote for New SorGun, culture and population .. should make it popular as a destination and the wealth factor will help make it happen and perhaps even a casino and a few hotels are on the drawing plans for later on.

[Charlie_Zane 963]

Voted for New Sorgun!

It already has most of the infrastructure built to support the railway.

[SAVAGExPHOENIX 955]

Voted porthaven. I still stand by what I said earlier. I think the rail linkup will bring an economic boom to both the Northern Pacific railway and the local area. Once more money is made, the railroad could veer south, and head towards california, bringing in even more money and people, this way everyone benefits in the long run. Everyone's thinking short-term. Yeah, Materberg or New Sorgun might be better now, but what happens when Porthaven builds a port? Then they have access to sea trade, and with the railroad connection in the mountain, they have direct access to natural resources... Northern Pacific HAS to be smart enough to choose Porthaven. None of the 3 towns will have a chance of withering away. They'll be interdependent (Materberg with it's agriculture, New Sorgun with it's port and population, and Porthaven with the rail connection (which industry and the military need to connect to the rest of the nation)

[Benedict 3,119]

Congratulations, you're number one on BTT this week.

[simlink 1,098]

I voted New SorGun. Most because I'm interested to see what kind of growth will occur there with the train line. Me and development...

[Wiecher 192]

I'd vote for New SorGun, but not because of the population or the culture, but for it's strategic position.

Being located between the two other towns, a new, coastal railway could be built more easily to connect to both Materburg and Porthaven, with New SorGun as the central transportation hub.

[Prah 1]

This is one of few CJs that caught my eye and I would enjoy to read more about New Sorgun!

[SimCoug 5,973]

Thanks to everyone who participated in the vote - it turned into a horse race between New SorGun and Porthaven... lets check out the results!

Update 26

Counting Chickens

Fall 1873

The results of the railroad poll were in, and as expected, New SorGun came out on top, followed closely by Porthaven.

The official announcement on the whereabouts of the terminus station had yet to arrive, but folks in the region were more confident than ever that New SorGun would get the nod. The citizens of New SorGun were jubilant, and the town was alive with excitement.

Property values were rising by the day, and the influx of newcomers over the spring and summer meant neighborhoods were filling out…

And new blocks of houses were being built as fast as they could be sold.

(click for full size)

Neighboring towns to the south were benefiting from the population boom as well. As new pioneers from Oregon and California made their way north, Junction once again regained life as traveling crossroads.

(click for full size)

Arrow Ridge had also grown as it rode New SorGun’s coattails.

In less than 5 years, Arrow Ridge had nearly doubled in size.

But there was no doubt where the majority of the growth was occurring. As the terminus station of the Northern Pacific rail line, the possibilities for business growth in New SorGun was limitless.

(Massive mosaic – Click for full size)

Even the Fox family got into that act. The coal business was proving steady, but with the possibility of a terminus station ending in New SorGun, the Fox’s felt it was perfect opportunity to open a hotel that would rival those found in San Francisco.

But old Farmer Ben was unimpressed with all the hoo-ha. When a crowd was going one way, Ben was the type to walk the other. Ben learned early on that success was earned through hard work, not finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And that was why he was up early that fall morning feeding his prized fowl. In fact, it reminded him of a proverb his grandfather used to tell him…

[Fox 1,444]

Another fantastic trip through History of New SorGun!!

Thanks for the mention and inclusion of the Fox family in your CJ and I hope to have that Hotel up and running soon!!

Love the second picture, all those little details like the horse drawn carts and the 19th century homes.

I loved the before and after of the growth.