Intro
This is the 62nd story in the Smallville Series, and part 3 of the Railway mini-series. It tells the tale of 6 families who traveled east by train through the newly cleared tunnel from Iron Ridge (story 50). Their job was to settle a junction town and expand the railway tracks to the north, south, and west. The story begins in year 80 SVT.
The map seed is # 10909567 Valley, Small, Fair, Off, Start - M6 deer, geese, bear, boar
Mods activated for this map and load order are:
Map changing and Starting Mods: Banished UI Maps, Labor Window, RK Minimized Status, CC Light Rain, EB Grizzly Valley, CC Transport, Settler Deco, Kid Tree Replacer Deco, Kid Tree Replacer Light, New Flora Edit, Kid Wildlife Starts
Tweak Mods: Better Fields, Dried Mushrooms, Fishing Dock +25%, Hunting, Hunting Season, Increased CC, 1:1 Alternative, Rocks Respawn, Stop Burning Coal, Tiny Smoke, Woodcutter +3
Major or Must Have Mods: An Empty Square, Nomads (Kid), Storage Crates, Jinxie Bitty Chicken Coop, Jinxie Festival Park, Kid Colonial City Center (testing), Kid Friendly Pumpkin (update testing), Kid Old Town, Kid Workplace Village, Mini Warehouse
Supporting Mods: DS Tunnels, Fly Fishing (TS), Kid Deco People, Kid Deco Farm Animals, Kid Deco Wreaths, Kid Farmyard, Kid Ghost Flowers, Kid Market Carts, Kid Market Food, Kid Market Puzzle, Kid Portable Mine, Kid Railway, Kid Work Shop, Map Scroll, One Stop All Mining, Tiny Chopper, Tiny Mine
Mod notes: Kid Friendly Pumpkin update has 2 roof textures added, one is vanilla thatch, the other is Forest Haven wood shingles. I am testing additions that have been added to Kid Colonial City Center WIP since the last test, a new version was released, find it here: http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3837.msg68445#msg68445
Map Note: I found this map seed while looking for a map for the previous story, Grizzly Gulch. I thought it looked liked a pumpkin face and it gave me the idea for Pumpkin Junction, I wrote down the map seed number. However, after choosing mods for this story, as usually happens after changing mods, the map seed did not generate the same map. I tried several combinations enabling mods from the previous story, with no luck. I re-enabled the grizzly terrain and added a few other small mods plus the Colonial City Center update before continuing to look for a new map. For some reason I tried one last time with that map seed and there, to my surprise, was my pumpkin face map again. It is not the best map for developing a town and railway but I am using it for Pumpkin Junction anyways. - Screenshots to follow - I hope.
Yes, weary traveler, it is chilly for late autumn, come sit by the fire while I tell you all about Pumpkin Junction.
Intro Maps
Prologue
As you know, weary traveler, there is and always was talk in Smallville about the railroad. The original town was abandoned after loggers for the railroad jammed the river causing death and destruction. In year 35 SVT an abandoned tunnel was discovered by Smallville expedition #9 on their way north where they founded North Mining Town (story 13). It was not until year 60 SVT that descendants of one of the loggers returned to that abandoned tunnel. They named their town Iron Ridge after the mountain the abandoned tunnel was in. They build the railway for their grandfather back in Holiday Hometown (story 51). The first train built in Iron Ridge went west back to their Hometown in year 67.
It was miners from the north who were of Dwarven descent who help design and built the first train engine and cars, and later it was their knowledge on mining that made it possible to clear the abandoned tunnel and expand the railway to the east. They said that mountain ridge was mainly iron and would be very hard to dig through. They recommended building a mine next to the tunnel to remove stone, coal, and iron through a side shaft which would later make completing the tunnel easier. No one knows more about mining and rocks than a Dwarf.
The abandoned tunnel was cleared and in year 79 SVT a work train headed east. Some of us in Iron Ridge were really exited because we knew when the work crew completed laying tracks for a turnaround we would be going to our new town. Freight and passenger cars were already being built. There were 6 families who volunteered to go, and we women agreed we wanted our town to be more than just a wood and thatch railway mining town. Many of us had friends and family we visited in Holiday Hometown and we wanted a homey town like that, with holiday decorations and pumpkin pie. We even picked a name for our town, Pumpkin Junction.
;D Yes, the map looks like a pumpkin.
This will be fun :) Good Luck!
:)
Chapter 1
The report from the returning work train crew was not good. They immediately had to build a bridge to extend the tracks across a river. The area was mountainous, the soil was rocky, and there were bears and wild boar everywhere. The crew built the turnaround, stockpiling logs, stone, and iron, and leaving a few coal cars and supply carts for our use. They had doubts about tunneling through to the east or south. Our town would likely not be a major railroad junction. We would keep the name anyways.
When we arrived the following spring we found bears and geese in the small valley where the work crew built a stockpile and left supply carts for us. We immediately built a hunting tower and the remaining bears soon left. The meat went into the carts. A woodcutter and 2 houses were built there too and when we realized one of the children was 6 years old already, we built a school. It would be centrally located. One house was built over to the west of town and the family immediately planted 2 corn patches. Two houses were built east of town. Our house was built last over by the lake to the west, we had a nice view. We knew the railway tracks going north would be nearby but that didn't matter. I liked the sound of the train. Our baby girl was born in one of the train's passenger cars shortly after we arrived. Channon and I were very happy when our house was completed. At the end of that first year there were 26 of us, 12 adults, 1 student, and 13 young children.
Chapter 2
It was autumn before we were all settled and had our belongings out of the freight car and the train headed back to Iron Ridge. We were told a supply train would arrive as soon as possible but not to expect it until sometime the following year.
It was a hard winter with little firewood or food variety, but the hunting was good and I did some trout fishing from the lake shore by our house. In spring, Theador & Merryl got the baby chickens and turkeys outside, a coop was built and a roost was planned. Tristone & Rean planted a pumpkin patch by their corn patches. We gathered wild foods and firewood and cut trees.
We were surprised when in summer 10 adults with 3 children came through the tunnel from Iron Ridge. The supply train was delayed but they knew we needed help. The work crew reported a problem with bears on our track and a need for trees to be cut. The work train and the train that brought us barely made it back to Iron Ridge because of lack of coal. We needed coal and a platform to make unloading supplies easier. We were advised to concentrate our efforts on expanding the railway north. We had a lot of work to do but first we need homes from the newcomers and coats and soon tools too.
The first house was built for the family of 4 on the east side of town where the turkey roost was just completed. A storage shed and friendly tailor was built there too. Some warm coats would be made first with wild flax and goose down. We had hides and furs too. The coats were needed, it was snowing before 2 of the new families were settled in their homes near the lake and turnaround. A single young female discovered a duck pond not far from them and wanted a house build there. An older single male had a house built east of town by the lake, he wanted to catch lake trout from shore. It was early spring before we knew it.
(Note- screenshots will be posted separately when possible)
picture posting test
Trying again to post more pictures for chapter 2
Chapter 3
Year 3 began with a very low supply of tools. A smith was built by the main stockpile. One of the carts was moved over by the tailor who was having trouble finding needed raw material, we had many storage crates and a few sheds scattered around town. Not only was it hard to find things but it was hard to say just how much of any one thing we had. We needed records and we needed a town hall to keep them in, one was built next to the school.
Work began in the turnaround area, removing stone and cutting trees. A hill was discover in one thicket of trees that the dwarves among us said would be good for a vertical coal shaft. Work began. Tracks were laid to bring the coal cars closer. A hunting tower was built to control the bear population and provide meat for nearby residents.
Earlier in the year Channon and I planted a farmyard with a chestnut tree, oats, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Despite the rocky iron soil, everything was doing quite well. We had a 2nd daughter that year and Channon built a wooden swing by the lake. It helped rock the baby to sleep and our oldest girl liked to watch the ducks. Channon and I would sit and watch the autumn sun set over the lake. The autumn colors in Pumpkin Junction were spectacular.
One of our main concerns was the distances we had to travel around town especially in winter. The tunnel from town to the east was a great help and so were the roads that were laid there. By winter of year 3 another tunnel was built, going from town to the west, coming out near our house. My concern was our children would be crossing railroad tracks when they reached school age. Channon assured me that trains would probably be few and far between.
Another concern was our food supply, we had a limited variety in most areas and very little meat. When 2 deer herds and 2 groups of bears showed up east of town, 2 hunters were immediately sent to the area. We would have some good winter meals and warm coats.
Chapter 4
By early spring of year 4 a hunter's tower was built but the deer herds and bears did not return. The snow that fell did not stay around for long. Our farmyards were doing good and so was our firewood supply but it was not getting where it was needed. We had the worker who filled the textile cart get firewood from the main stockpile to add to the woodfuel markets on both sides of town. We also had a storage unit on our side of town now.
Our coal supply was growing slowly, we only had one miner. We thought he would be safer with a helper since mines were places where accidents happen. It also reminded us that our town had no cemetery yet. A spot in the center of town was chosen.
We were please with our work on the railway that year. A coal bin, station master, railway station, and rooms were built. When the supply train came it would have a platform to unload goods and the workers would have rooms to stay while they were here. Hopefully we would have enough coal for the train to return to Iron Ridge.
Chapter 5
During year 4, Channon and I had our 3rd daughter, little Lottie was a darling. There were additions to other families also and by early spring of year 5 Pumpkin Junction's population had grown to 47, 22 adults, 8 students, and 17 young children. The population grew more when the supply train arrived in summer with 5 families who would stay to help mine for coal and build the tracks. There were 14 adults and 1 child.
There was not enough room for everyone in the railway rooms so we immediately began building houses. The train conductor would remain in the caboose until the train left. We did not have nearly enough coal on hand and in autumn we had a mix of freezing rain and snow followed by more snow. The supply train would have to stay until spring or an early thaw.
Two houses were built near the railway station by the lake, another by the river, and 2 on the east side of town. We unloaded wool from the general car and apples from the food car. The new families also brought us seeds for farmyards and messages from friends and family back in Iron Ridge.
Chapter 6
The worker from the textile wagon brought coal to the railway coal bin but it was spring before the supply train had enough coal and weather permitted the return trip. We were told to send word when we laid enough tracks to reach the mountains in the north, the work train would return to dig the tunnel. We might want to build a trading post, There was now a cartographer in Riverboat Junction, we could order maps to have on hand for visitors to our town.
The summer was spend getting settled. A farmyard was planted with potatoes not far when where the 2 new house were built on the east side of town. A trading post was built on the river north of the town hall. The trader stocked it with firewood, iron tools, leather, down, and pumpkins. Some time was spent clearing trees and stone from the path the railway tracks would be laid going north from the station. More trees were cut and the coal miners were now bringing up iron for the rails. The railway work was progressing at a good pace.
By early spring of year 7, the railway tracks reached our house and tunnel, and continued on until the river. The work stopped there, we had other important things to do that year. We wanted the children to have some fun in autumn, we wanted it special, and we started planning early.
Chapter 7
As usual in autumn there would be some cornstalk, hay bales, and pumpkin decorations but this year we wanted more. Soon special Halloween decorations with scarecrows and ghosts began appearing all around town, every house had decorations outside. The tailor made some witch's costumes for us. The men gathered straw from the farmyards so we could give the children hay rides in the empty coal car. They built a festival park behind the town hall and school. The closest we could come to a cauldron was a market stew kettle which we soon had bubbling away.
By autumn, 14 year old Grisellene had her own house built near the park and she put up a sign saying Sweets. She gathered wild honeycombs and cut them in pieces to be chewed like candy. Everyone was thrilled. We soon had a town center with our park, Sweets shop, Food Store, and Firewood market.
And then it was the end of autumn, All Hollow's Eve, and to the children's horror we had vegetable stew in the cauldron. We bobbed for apples and ate honeycomb candy. When it got dark we told scary ghost stories and because we were in Pumpkin Junction, there were spooky lit pumpkins everywhere because This is Halloween.
Happy Halloween! :) :) :)
Woo pumpkins! Happy Halloween!
@ Abandoned ;D ;) :)
;D ;D ;D Thanks and Happy Halloween
And yes, there are pumpkins everywhere in Pumpkin Junction because:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB-tVj9EZPk
Chapter 8
It was soon back to work as usual. The general goods merchant arrived at the trading post, he was on his way back to Riverboat Junction for merchandise but he did have some maps left. They were very expensive, we only had enough trade goods for one. Young Trinidas, age 13, took a look at the map at the town hall and said he could easily make copies of it if he had a place where he could work undisturbed. A house was built for him next to Grisellene's Sweet Shop, maybe they would become sweet on each other.
Work on the railway continued. By spring of year 8 we had a trestle bridge crossing the river and 2 foot bridges, one on either side of the trading post. There were a lot of trees and rocks that needed to be cleared before track laying could continue, and there was a long way to go east and then north to reach a suitable place for a tunnel. There were a lot of branches, wild foods, and herbs on that side of the river, we gathered what we could. Track laying continued throughout the winter, weather permitting.
Chapter 9
By early spring of year 9, the tracks going east went past the 2nd footbridge, work had been slow. On this side of the river, a mill was built to grind oats into flour. We would be able to make oat bread stuffing for turkeys this year just like back in Hometown, and there would be tart berry sauce to go with it. While looking for the best location for the mill a cranberry bog was discovered farther to the west where the river curved.
Across the river a railway station was built but work on the railway slowed again when a large group of bears got too close. They often had workers running back to town. A few of the workers who lived farther away would often stay at the new rooming house that was built on what we now considered to be Pumpkin Junction's main street. By the time hunters were sent across the river we had an early first frost. We hoped the bears would hibernate soon. It snowed for Halloween. We had a new treat that year, warm roasted chestnuts.
There was an early thaw in late winter, folks enjoyed being outside in the park. Work resumed across the river. A station master was built and a coal bin was almost finished. The warmer weather and early thaw meant track laying could continue. We had often been short of logs and firewood that year.
Chapter 10
We had built a forester workplace near the main stockpile but it was barely providing enough wood for the woodcutter and toolmaker. Then there was a complaint about its location. If we were to extend the railway to the east it would be best to go around the big mountain than through it even though we would then have to build a bridge and tracks across the lake to reach the mountain to the east. The forest workplace was right in the path.
The tunnel to the north may also be a problem. We had to choose a location far enough east to avoid tunneling into the small stream. The lower gulch area may not provide enough clearance for the tunnel. It was decided that a mine built there could bring stone, coal, and iron out of a side shaft like it was done in Iron Ridge. The tunnel would be easier to dig later and we would have coal for the train.
Shortly after that decision was made a train with 2 passenger cars arrived from Iron Ridge. The 3 families came from Hometown to help with the railway. There were 7 adults with 5 children. They would help with land clearing or track laying or whatever needed doing. We built a forester on the other side of the tracks and 2 houses. A house for the 3rd family was built on Main Street - they would give haircuts in their front room in their spare time, he was a barber. We were all sad when in autumn the barber's wife died in childbirth leaving behind a grieving husband, a son, and a daughter.
The mine was completed in early winter but mining would not start until the weather warmed.
Chapter 11
By spring of year 11 the tracks were laid almost as far as the location for the north tunnel. Work had progressed as far as the mine when the passenger train returned with 13 adults and 1 child. They were miners and general laborers sent to help. There seemed to be some urgency for us to complete the north tunnel. We were told we could expect the work train to return soon.
A 3rd bridge was built to cross the river and we began building new home there for the newcomers. The child was little more than an infant but we were prompted to check our school situation and discovered our town school was filled to capacity. A new school house was constructed across the river.
The north tunnel entrance was completed in early autumn and we celebrated it's completion at the new tavern that was built on main street.
Chapter 12
We'd been aware for several years that our overall heath was not 100%. We knew some areas of town were not getting enough variety in their diets and we had been working on that. But during the winter of year 11, there seemed to be more coughs, colds, and fevers than before. We chose a spot just east of town on main street to build an herbalist. In early spring of year 12, we were all surprised to hear the distance sound of a train whistle. The work train came through the tunnel and we all watched as it made its way to the north station.
The work train brought the work crew and their families. There were 10 adults with 2 children. The crew would dig the tunnel while their families lived and worked nearby. Our station Rooms and main street Rooms were still full, we badly needed more houses. We also needed better tools. The blacksmith began making steel tools. The newcomers said there also seemed to be more illnesses back in Hometown and Iron Ridge. Wernestone, the general goods merchant, said it was the same in other towns too, some towns were experiencing shortages of food, clothes, and tools because so many workers were out sick. We traded some tools and pumpkins for wool.
The apothecary was completed and our overall health began to rise as more town's people stopped by for healing. With more workers we collected wild foods on all sides of town so all storage units had a better variety. Branches for firewood were also collected.
By late autumn our supply totals were all good and our overall health was 100%. Pumpkin Junction's population was 131, 76 adults, 21 students, and 34 young children.
You have some good influences from the native people. You don't just chop down trees.
It looks good, homey, with trees still in the town :)
I don't mind more pictures with snow. I am sitting and testing things, and I am usually
done before winter. I seldom see snow ;D ;D
:) It is hard to think snowy winter thoughts in the middle of November 70 degree heat wave ;D Going for a walk now ;D
Chapter 13
Some of the firewood collected went directly to the soup kettle that was set up across the river where tunnel workers and minors could warm up by the fire and have a cup of hot mushroom soup. Before next winter we would switch to chicken soup hoping to keep more people healthy.
While the work crew was busy digging the tunnel to the north, we were busy laying track to the south. There was a small creek that had to be bridged before the tunnel entrance could be dug. The work crew would have to determine if the creek would cause a problem for tunnel digging and track laying. It may only be possible to have a foot tunnel going south.
The south tunnel entrance was completed in autumn and work began laying tracks to the east. By winter the junction point was completed and tracks were being laid as far as the lake. Trees were being cut on the other side of the lake and the tunnel entrance was completed in late winter. The bridge and remaining tracks would have to wait for warmer weather to arrived.
Chapter 14
There was a late winter thaw so rail work resumed sooner than expected. By early spring tracks extended to the lake from both the town side and the east tunnel entrance. We had a lot of builders, and workers were kept busy gathering iron. The miners by the south station brought up iron instead of coal until the bridge and tracks across the lake were completed in late spring.
The work had only just been completed on the tracks going east when a train of more workers arrived at the south station. There were 14 adults with 3 children. They were sent to go through the north tunnel as soon as it was completed and to help lay tracks going as far north as the designated area near the North Pole South Annex. There was now a call for help sent out to anyone of elven descent, they were to report to that area as soon as possible. This sounded serious. The 2 passenger cars the newcomers came in would be joined to our work train. Their engine and freight car would be headed back to Holiday Hometown. Due to numerous illnesses, Hometown was experiencing shortages and the holidays were fast approaching. They asked that we load the freight car with whatever holiday type foods we could spare. They also advised us to build a hospital if we had not already done so.
We tried not to think about what this all might imply. We concentrated instead on the task at hand. Having been from Iron Ridge and Hometown we knew what was needed for their Holiday celebration. The train was scheduled to leave at the beginning of autumn, that did not give us much time. The freight car had 3 workers, we wished we had bigger wheelbarrows. First we would send some herbs for healing. We didn't have enough turkeys but we had duck. We didn't have spare potatoes, Brussels sprouts, or cranberries. We would sent sweet potatoes, pumpkins, corn, and carrots. What would the holidays be in Hometown without pumpkin pie. It was time Pumpkin Junction have pumpkin pie.
A spice shack was built in my backyard and a baker was built not far from the flour mill on the river. We did not hesitate to build a hospital centrally located by the cemetery in town. We began filing the freight car with a variety of foods thinking to raise the quantity as time permitted, but there just wasn't enough time, the train had to leave in order to reach Holiday Hometown by mid autumn. We so much wanted to send pumpkin pies but they were not ready in time. The freight train headed west and a short time later, just before the first snow, we watch the last passenger car of the work train disappear into the north tunnel.
Chapter 15
So, weary traveler, here we sit. The work train has not returned from the north and no other train has arrived from Iron Ridge. The river boatman has past us by. We have no idea what is happening in the world around us but we have remained healthy and as happy as possible.
Life has continued as usual in Pumpkin Junction. Our farmyard and forests are producing well, we have a variety of foods with all the fixings for holiday meals including turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie.
We have become the friendly railway junction town we wanted to be with tunnels and tracks going in all directions - north, south, east, and west. We have a fantastic festive park area and a main street with shops and our own cartographer. Now we can only sit and wonder and miss our Dwarf and Elven friends and families who have gone north. Hopefully we will find out something soon.
To Be Continued
Kid Friendly Pumpkin update has been released - find link to download here:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3476.0
Kid Colonial City Center has been released - find link to download here:
http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3875.0