New SorGun

[RepublicMaster 428]

Can't wait to see the census results. Love the rail yard.

[packersfan 666]

Wow, caught you using a little bit of the perspective tool back in early February, cool!

[SomewhereSim 13]

SimCoug,

 

It has been a while since I have been on here and I stumbled upon your CJ the other day.   I am absolutely amazed at the work you have done here.  The story and detail is Totally Awesome Dude! :kitty:

 

Looking forward to your next entries.  Keep up the great work!

[SAVAGExPHOENIX 955]

I'm so proud! My character is doing so well! :D

 

These last few updates have been off the chain. I thoroughly enjoyed reading them.

[neverseen12 2]

Great journal! Nice style of writing and pictures. And if you don't mind, could you please list all the add-ons you used and maybe a region download.

[TekindusT 3,809]

@neverseen12: If the SimCoug had to list all addons used he'd be copypasting links during an entire day.

 

As excellent update as usual, BTW!

[SimCoug 5,973]

@sim_link:  Thanks!
@Fox:  Thank you!
@RepublicMaster:  Thanks - you don't want to know how many times I re-worked that lot...
@packersfan:  Yep, and I actually played around with it in some of my early updates (The SorGun War, I think) but I was so inexperienced at photoshop back then, I didn't like how it turned out so I gave it a rest for a while
@SomewhereSim:  Thanks for stopping by - It's always nice to hear from a new voice
@daTSchikinhed:  Yep, that ol' Myers is a crafty fellow... his future looks bright
@neverseen12:  Well, as TekindusT mentioned, it would be quite a long list.  Plus, nearly ever lot that I use in this CJ has be customized by me in some shape or form.  
Here is a list of BATers that have a large influence in my CJ:
C.P. (LEX)
Spa (LEX)
Onlyplace4 (STEX)
Pegasus (SimPeg)
SimGoober (LEX/STEX)
 
Those are just a few, and I've left out far too many but that was just off the top of my head.  If you are looking for anything specific, just let me know and I'd be happy to help you out.  The map is by drunkapple (Townsville map).  Hope this was helpful.
@TekindusT:  Thanks!

The 1880 census is here, and that usually means some extra large updates. Hopefully we can get through this one in 3 parts, but I'm not promising anything. I'd like to thank the folks here at the Imaginaerum group - They have helped and encouraged me on the writing angle of this CJ, and I think it has definitely helped.
Well... enjoy



Update 32

 

1880 Census – Part 1

 

1880


The trees grew so tall and wide, one had to strain to see the sunlight. As the train traveled through the dark shadows, the tree trunks blurred seamlessly while Mr. Fredric Stevens looked out from the window. Travelers from the east were often bewildered at the sight – it was almost like traveling through an eternal tunnel. But this was not .



Ten years earlier, he was responsible for carrying out the federally mandated census. Much had changed in 10 years, but Stevens was still working for the US government, and he was again responsible for counting the citizens of the SorGun region, but this time as the head of a small team. As Fredric made his way through the dense forests he chuckled a bit. Memories of dirt tracks, old bumpy wagons and colorful travel companions came flooding back.



What a difference ten years had made. As the train snaked through the ancient trees, the team was preparing for their first stop in SorGun. The Northern Pacific rail line to Steamer Bay had sprouted a number of communities, including Amesville.



The town started from the main railroad camp used by the Northern Pacific workers. The bridge spanning the large Tyee River was Mr. Stevens’ first look at civilization after an endless amount of forest. The train slowed as it neared the little shack of a station. “Welcome to Amesville” the conductor announced.



To the average Joe, the little town wasn’t much to look at… just some houses scattered about on the bend of a river. But Mr. Stevens was impressed. If he were here just ten years earlier, the only things to count would be the deer running through the forest. Today, the town spread from the little station over a few blocks in every direction.
(click for full)



The team disembarked the train and made their way over to the little church near the center of town. The pastor, a young man by the name of Thomas Prosch welcomed the visitors to his little town (it wasn’t often that visitors stopped in Amesville).



Besides a few farms, Amesville really only existed because the timber had been cleared by the railroad and the land was cheap. Steamer Bay was just a short trip down the rail line and most folks in town just took the morning train to work.



Stevens and his crew got to work. It didn’t take more than the afternoon before each block had been counted. Amesville boasted a total population of 468 souls. Not bad for a day’s work, thought Stevens.



The little group celebrated that evening at Harry’s, the only saloon in town. It was a fun night, but the job had only just begun. The next morning they caught the first train to Steamer Bay. One of the townies on the train mentioned to Stevens that he helped build the bridge they were crossing. “Yesser, this bridge is a modern marvel of diagonal-injuneerin’… lest dats what dem NAM engineers done told us.” Fredric Stevens smiled and nodded, but he had no idea what this man was talking about. He was just happy he wasn’t making the crossing on an old, wet wagon ferry.



Stevens and his crew made their way towards Steamer Bay – the Northern Pacific Railroads chosen terminus for their transcontinental rail line.



As the steam engine made the last bend, Steamer Bay came into view. Stevens face was pressed against the window like a little boy, trying to take it all in. The edge of town was home to a number of huts and shacks built by workers looking for jobs, including many native Indians.



The engine slowed as the station came into view. It was nothing extravagant, but for somebody living on the frontier it was quite impressive. The extra wide boulevard leading away from the station was lined with shops and apartments, and a number of industrial buildings and warehouses were filling in around the terminus.



Fredric Stevens stood by the little gazebo in front of the station and looked out in all directions. What he saw amazed him. It was hard for him to believe this was a backwater fishing village just 7 years ago. He and his team had their work cut out for them. They gathered their luggage and took a walk down the wide avenue and checked into one of the local inns. This was going to take more than a night.
(click for full)



While the rest of Stevens’ team tackled the neighborhoods surrounding the station and Main Street, he decided to take a walk up the little hill and explore the growing neighborhoods south of town. The size of some of the houses surprised him… It was quite obvious that a number of folks in Steamer Bay were making money hand over fist.



The schoolhouse was full of laughing children, and citizens on the streets were busy going about their daily business.



The following days were spent tracking down everyone in town. This was no small task, considering many areas of town were growing by the day.
(click for full)



But the citizens were especially helpful and energetic, and it was quite obvious that Steamer Bay was humming like a well-oiled machine each and every day. The Mayor even offered to give a grand tour of the brand new rail yard and roundhouse. The last brick was laid less than a month ago, and Northern Pacific spared no expense in constructing one of the most advanced rail yards on the west coast.



Steamer Bay was the very definition of a boomtown. With the financial backing from the Northern Pacific Railroad, as well as home to the terminus of transcontinental rail line, the future of Steamer Bay looked as bright as the shine on the new steam engines pulling in and out of the rail yard each day.



But there was one skeleton hiding in the closet. During a night of festivities toward the end of their stay, Fredric Stevens learned some surprising news from one of the town council members.
“The fools reported the measurements wrong. The bay is too shallow for ships. It’s a damn catastrophe.”
“That is terrible news, the Northern Pacific Railroad must be incensed,” offered Stevens.
“And rightly so. The small island offers acceptable depths for a wharf, but it will cost a fortune to move enough earth to make it functional. All thanks to a couple of drunks in a rowboat,” said the councilman.



The year before, Northern Pacific finished a small branch line that ran up to Porthaven. The railroad was praised by many in the region for strengthening the local infrastructure. But as Stevens boarded the train for Porthaven, the real motive became clear. The railroad needed access to a port and it would be years before Steamer Bay could construct a proper shipping terminal. Porthaven would have to suffice in the meantime. Stevens couldn’t help but laugh. Two chaps in a rowboat swayed the fortunes of a region. Stevens’ job was just getting started, but he couldn’t begin to imagine what tales lay ahead.

[Schulmanator 5,787]

The railroad's arrogance is coming back to bite them in the caboose! (Get it? Caboose! )

 

Those NAM engineers are quite the innovators, eh?

[Thunderman 30]

This is a great update! I love your eye for detail!

 

Can't wait for more!!!!!!!!

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Great work on this update, loving the 1880's.

 

Do you have any factories, I want to see them. Plus if your going according to history technology, steel should be around, and if so you know what that means tall buildings, or at like 4 to 10 story buildings.

[Charlie_Zane 963]

No doubt has the region grown enormously! Looking great!

[Fox 1,444]

Nice update.. I only like the square in front of the station though.. ok .. I love it all, especially those big fancy homes and rail yard..

 

But I'm still not moving from New SorGun!!

 

What ever Steamer Bay has.. New SorGun will have bigger and better .. let me get my checkbook out!

[neverseen12 2]

Could you please give a link to the map cause I can't seem to find it. Nice update btw!

[SimCoug 5,973]

 
@Schulmanator: It could end up being more than just the caboose too
@Thunderman:  Thanks!  BTW, your avatar reminds me of how much I miss SG1
@Aaron:  Yep, factories will be popping up in no time, thanks to the railroad.  And steel buildings will be making an appearance, slowly.  Steel was an expensive commodity on the west coast at that time, and lumber was cheap, so wood buildings would continue to dominate for some time.
@City_Master:  Thanks!
@Fox:  Don't worry, we'll see how New SorGun has grown soon.
@neverseen:  Thanks.  Here is the .

 

Up next... Part 2 of the 1880 Census.
While Steamer Bay has had a bit of bad luck, Porthaven is on a hot streak. Join Mr. Stevens and his crew...

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

OMG!!!!! Rail lines. Keep it up buddy.

 

I would think you would have more pictures to show.

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Chugga chugga CHOO CHOO!!!

[Thunderman 30]

Tell mr. stevens and his crew to watch out for robbers on that line, looks like they'll be hitting a tree stomp that has been laid down on the rail line by the robbers  :kitty:

 

And i miss SG-1 also very much, luckily i still got my dvd's and downloaded content     

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

Lyhoko: Good, New SorGun will have a better chance now due to the messup at Steamer Bay...

 

Lyhoko: SG1! ...Lyhoko wonders where Lyhoko left the zat guns...

[neverseen12 2]

thanks SimCoug

[Fox 1,444]

Yay .. glad to hear the news about New SorGun!!

 

That train looks beautiful as does the setting it is traveling through!

[SimCoug 5,973]

@Aaron:  Sorry, just a teaser last time

@Schulmanator:  Trains, trains and more trains.

@Thunderman:  You never know when those train robbers might show up...

@Lyhoko:  Isn't it great when your competitor screws up?  

@neverseen:  No problem - it's a gigantic map, so have fun!

@Fox:  Thank you!

 

 

 

Update 33

 

One Year

 

 

Don't you just love it when a TV series throws a bunch of old clips together and calls it a new episode...  

I started this CJ (in the forum section) on April 9th of last year so I thought it would be a good idea to take a quick look back.  Also, I will be taking a short break from my regular weekly updates, so I thought this would be a nice way to leave things until I return early next month.  Don't worry though, we will get right back into the swing of things with part 2 of the 1880 Census.

I'd also like to take a second and thank everybody for their support.  Playing SC4 in a vacuum can still be entertaining, but sharing New SorGun with you and hearing your feedback makes it even more enjoyable.  So thank you!

 

Click for full

[vivapanda 422]

One year... and still an exciting update every time!

[Benedict 3,119]

Happy Birthday, New SorGun!

 

Looking forward to another year of quality updates.

 

And congratulations, you're back at number one on Ben's Top Ten this week!

[Thunderman 30]

*grabs his jaw from the desk* 

 

Another jaw-dropping update! nice

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Awesome! HBD!!!

 

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

Lyhoko: How just what will next year bring?

Lyhoko: Hopefully something good for New SorGun.

[petriknl 15]

I just love this CJ! Cannot wait to see new updates

[SimCoug 5,973]

Wow - has it really been almost 2 months?

I had to dig down into page 2 to find this old thread...  

 

Breaks over... time to step back into the past once again.

 

Season 2 begins next week.

 

 

Replies:

@vivapanda:  Thanks!

@Benedict:  Thank you - it looks like I'm going to have to work my butt off to get back onto the list

@Thunderman:  Thanks - I hope you will enjoy season 2

@Schulmanator:  mmmmm.... cake!

@Lyhoko:  Hopefully some good is just around the corner for NSG.

@petriknl:  Thanks for the nice comment!

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Good. I have missed this one.

[Luiz P. Romanini 132]

Yes! YEEEEEEEES!!

 

You're back!!

 

Can't wait for next week.