Challenge 1 - Transportation

[jmyers2043]

History:

The GRV railway and route 10 essentially follow the footpaths used by the early settlers. These trails originated at the coastal town of Whimperthorpe and traversed in a westerly direction along the flat lands. The trail turns north and crosses 'Whiskey Run' at a narrow point near Burnepool then forks at Bordertowne. One fork leads north through Stokewell. This is the direction of those who worked hard and played harder. The gold prospector, the coal miner, and the lumberjack. This northern trail crosses into the resource rich regions to the north at Boone pass which is located in northern Kilburn County. Settlers choosing the western route worked every bit as hard but were men of different character. These were family men. Men of hope, faith, and solid religion. There are fertile regions west of GRV and farmers moving on found it necessary to cross the Grand River at the the Shoals near Dillardsby.

The present day GRV Railroad follows the route forged by those of rough personality. Route 10 essentially follows the trails of the farmer with the exception that the road turns north toward the Grand River sooner to connect the small communities along the rivers southern bank.

Transportation View



Folklore as History: How route 10, The Whiskey Road, got its name.

Between the coast and mountains lies the geographical region known as the Grand River Valley. Through it runs a road designated for no apparent reason by the Sim Nation map makers as route 10. This non-descript highway connects the coastal town of Whimperthorpe to small communities along the banks of the Grand River. Today one can travel its length past peaceful forests, farms of green pastures, and through quaint towns. But this idealic scene belies the routes colorful history.

The first explanation and oldest is that MrBisonM, an early settler to the area was out mending fences one afternoon on his farm when he was set upon by four angry whiskey drinkin' Indians. The tale has it that the quick thinking farmer offered the Indians some of his newly distilled corn liquor.  This batch (one of MrB's best) was the finest those Indians ever drank and did so until they could no more. The Indians eventually fell asleep.  Whereupon MrB subdued them and commemorated the event by naming the nearby pathway 'the whiskey trail'.

More recent folklore says that the Bordertown post office once harbored a thriving but untaxed liquor business. One day word reached town that government officials, commonly known as revenuers, were on the way. The distillers hearing of the impending visit loaded all they could into flat bed trucks. Fleeing town to the west along route 10 as the G-Men swooped in from the east. So the road became known as The whiskey Road. This story was later popularized by that well known song "Whiskey Road" by Limpin' Knees Truman.   

The third and most likely reason for the name is that route 10 crosses a stream that supplies water used to condense steam during the whiskey making process.  The stream at the foot of the mountains and the immediate surrounding area became known as "Whiskey Run" due to this abundant supply of icy cold water and numerous stills. Route 10 crosses this creek near Bordertowne and eventually became known by the locals as 'The Whiskey Road'.


Bordertowne

[Rayden]

Another good history, well done!

[metarvo]

This is a realistic and believable history of Route 10.  Nice work! 

[mrbisonm]

Now that you posted your pictures, you are not allowed to change anything anymore. We made copies and judge the originals only.

We also will not make any comments in this thread besides the judging once it is finished by Wednesday next week, but we will make useful and friendly comments in your regular thread of GRV. Points will be given 3 to 4 days after the challenge is finished and will be posted in the Pointage Sheet.
Also your points only together with an explanation and comments why we gave you these points, will be posted here at the end of this challenge.


mrb/lynncanox

[quackmofro]

I'll admit, history was a snooze when I was in school, but I enjoyed reading about it here. Very nicely done!

[mrbisonm]

First of all let us congratulate You. You have made it through the first Mayor's test.
On the picture below, circles with letters will indicate what was important in your region for this challenge. If we say we don't like or we like, it doesn't mean that it's the same for others. We are judging to our lknowledge and what would be the most logical thing to do in our opinion, remember this.

A.  Excellent choice to cross the river in this tile.
B. and C,  Although the rails have an ideal route through 6 tiles, you made two "fatal" errors and having abused the governor's budget. Railing through mountains is first too expensive when not necessary and then to darn expensive for maintenance. Then the famous 3 bridge rivercrossing that so many have chosen is another way of throwing away money when you could have build a bridge not too far east of it for almost one third of the price. Even if the bridge is longer, there are less expenses.
D. and E. are good choices for having crossed the river.
F.  Kinda strange to make a curve like this in the middle of nowhere, when you could have taken a shortcut. I presume you have something in store for this, right?
Generally good job. Congratulations and good luck with challenge 2.

Lynn and Fred