HV Community Roads Removed Due To Remodeling

 

Among the latest developments in the Sunweaver lands following the passing of it's leader Rita Mariner, there's been a change at HV Community. At the one sim in the land that's not in any danger (while Purfecction is owned by one resident, it hasn't usually been counted as Sunny land), the roads and rail track have been removed. This includes the length in front of the Newser office. 

 Cynthia Farshore, whom had laid down the roads and track, told me due to people moving to HV Community because of the uncertainty of the future of the sims, the roads had been removed so Nydia Tungsten and Ranchan Weidman can remodel and move things around as needed. 

 

Stay tuned for further updates.

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

 

Necropolis Umbrae And Bewitched

 

Gemma Cleanslate has continued to check out Halloween places as the month of October ticks on. Necropolis Umbrae is a darkly enticing cemetery with a riddle in it's library. She was able to solve it, but can you? Bewitched had many places to see, including a foreboding castle to explore, and a haunted railway to ride. And she stopped by Yosemite, which has decorated one place up for the spooky season.

 

Read Gemma's article in Places.  

 

 

The WelcomeHub Bridge

 

 

When the WelcomeHub area opened in June, the area was connected to Bellisseria by sims, but traversable only by water or flying. Not long after, someone messaged me there was a bridge connecting them. So I recently went back to take a look. 

The bridge, put in place by a few different Moles, isn't a traffic one for cars, but a railroad bridge. It connects to WelcomeHub in the Rubber Ducky sim, passes over All Tuna, and connects to Bellisseria in the Three Sheets sim, where the tracks connect to the rail system. 

No new updates on the Ranch sims, yet. But there should be more news about them or somewhere else on Bellisseria. Stay tune for more updates.

Bixyl Shuftan

Sunweaver Railroad Expansion

 

 

 The Sunweaver community's railroad is getting a little larger. When it initially opened, the line went from Pacific Waters, then went through four sims before ending at Sunweaver Bay. This left a few sims untouched by the line. Over time Cynthia Farshore has been working on expansions. Recently, a new station at Sunweaver Eclipse was finished, and then a  combination bridge and tunnel leading from it and the main line.

 

This means that two more sims, SunWaterThree and Sunweaver Eclipse are now part of the rail network in this new northern branch. Cynthia had been trying to finish work on the expansion this month, as with the upcoming Relay for Life season, she'll be quite busy with the fundraisers.

Bixyl Shuftan

"Love Train" And Other Valentines Events Planned By Linden Lab

 

 

 Besides the Valentine's "Shop and Hop," Linden Lab posted about a few other Valentines'-themed events last week. Among them a new one, the "Love Train." 

On Tuesday, February 14 starting at 12pm SLT, join us on the Love Train!  

 

The Moles will be running trolleys all along the Eastern Loop of the Bellisseria Railway. The primary departure point is Muehlenbach Station, but residents can hop on from any station as the trolleys go by. The trolleys will run in both directions along the route, stopping in Allrutti Station just outside of Newbank for residents to disembark.

 

 The Lab didn't say how big the train was, though a trolley ride some weeks ago was about to hold about twenty avatars. Residents were invited to rezz their own trains for the occasion, though were asked to keep any decorations in theme with the holiday and keep things PG (and keep out political messages).

The Isle of View is back. It's a nice romantic setting for a guy to take a girl to. On Tuesday February 14 is the main event of the place, "Hug A Linden/Dunk A Linden."

Are you feeling “some kind of way” about the Lindens or Moles? Show your love (or friendly aggression) for the makers of Second Life at our annual Dunk & Hug a Linden or Mole Event, held this year on February 14th from 1pm to 3pm PT at the Isle of View. Come early for some fun conversations and plenty of soaked Lindens! 

 

A few pictures of last year's Hug A Linden/Dunk A Linden can be found here (along with other V-Day happenings).

More on NatureCon

 

Gemma Cleanslate has been checking out NatureCon, a two week event made to encourage Bellisseria and Mainland groups to work together and encourage exploration, especially exploration of nature-themed areas. There is much to see, do, and experience here. Gemma checked some more of the event, and took a moment to write.

 

Read Gemma's story in Events. 

 

Sunweaver Rail Stop

With the Relay season over, Team Sunbeamer builders Shockwave Yareach and Cynthia Farshore are free to work on other projects. One was this rail station at Sunweaver Eclipse, on the south end of the large island in the sim. It's part of the community estates rail network.

I had a few words with Cynthia, who stopped by. She told me this wasn't the only stop in the rail system they were working on. 

Shockwave and Cynthia are staying busy.

 

Bixyl Shuftan
 

Bellisseria Update: Working on The Railroad

In real life, railroads have only been around for a couple hundred years. But they've had quite an impact on our transportation and culture. In Second Life, while one doesn't really need a rail line to get around, there's just something about riding the rails, as well as the sight of the tracks. So in the Bellisseria regions, the Linden moles have been laying down track. Yours truly took a look at some of the work being done in the newer eastern Bellisseria continent.

Read more in Design.

SL Video: "Railroads Made in Second Life - Part 5"

(Click here if the video does not play)

Part Five of the "Railroads Made in Second Life" series from Draxtor Despress and Hrdtop75 Deluxe, "The series concludes in episode five featuring an interview with VP of Product Operations Patch Linden, who discusses the important role of railways within the expansive infrastructure of the massive Bellisseria continents (where thousands of Residents reside within Linden Homes)"

SL Video: "Railroads Made in Second Life - Part 4"

(Click here if the video does not play)

From Draxtor Despress on June 23, the fourth in a series of videos on Second Life railways. The episode, "highlights the communities surrounding the ZZR (Zany Zen Railway), which was built by Zen Swords-Galway. As you travel the ZZR, you’ll discover a variety of quirky communities and unique attractions including the small Welsh seaside town Little Coverston."

SL Video: "Railroads Made in Second Life - Part 3"

(Click here if the video does not play)

Part three of the "Railroads Made in Second Life" series from Draxtor Despress and Hrdtop75 Deluxe. Here, "both Drax and Hrdtop75 explore the ONSR (Okemo Nakiska and Southern Railway), located in the snowland regions of the Sansara continent. The ONSR spans across 13 regions and serves 10 stations for a roundtrip averaging about 22 minutes."

SL Video: "Railroads Made in Second Life - Part 2"

(Click here if the video does not play)

Part two of the "Railroads Made in Second Life" series from Draxtor Despress and Hrdtop75 Deluxe. Here, they look at the Short Line in Bay City.

EOTB: "Railroads Made In Second Life"

On Tuesday June 23 on the official blog, Linden Lab announced a series of videos: "Railroads Made in Second Life." There are five videos, all produced by Draxtor Despress.

This year’s theme for our SL17B celebrations is “vacations and road trips” - and, in this spirit, we are pleased to debut today a five-part mini-series dedicated to the unique history, culture and communities surrounding one of the most popular modes of travel in our virtual world - railroads in Second Life. 

Our virtual journalist Draxtor Despres recently took a ride on the rails of SL to travel across miles of virtual railroad tracks spanning across the grid. Along the way, he makes multiple stops to meet a wide variety of colorful characters and creative communities. 



(Click here if the video does not play)

In Episode One, Drax gets together with Hrdtop75 Deluxe to discuss some of the history of the Second Life RailRoad, which goes back to 2003 when the virtual world was new. 

The next three episodes deal with three rail lines, the Bay City Short Line, the Okema Nakiska and Southern Railway, and the Zany Zen Railway. The fifth has an interview with Patch Linden, "who discusses the important role of railways within the expansive infrastructure of the massive Bellisseria continents." On Wednesday, there was also a "Railways Made in Second Life" special at the SL17B.

For more information, check out the Linden blogpost Here.

Bixyl Shuftan

More on the Bellisseria Park Area.

When the Newser looked at southern Bellisseria's expansion a week ago, the Linden Moles had made and opened a number of Linden Home campers. But there's much more in this new area.

For those people exploring around wanting a place to stop for a bit, there is the Campwich Lodge. One can relax on a couch, sit by the fireplace, or perhaps chat with someone else there about what the two of your have seen while exploring around.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Campwich%20Forest/113/112/25

Besides the camper homes, last week we also mentioned there were railroad tracks going through. There are a few railroad stations around the area, such as the one close by Campwich Lodge.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Campwich%20Forest/80/60/40

There are also a few large hills around the area, such as the one that Daniel Voyager named Tawakoni Hills. Set your viewer to maximum, wait a few minutes for everything to rezz, and there's quite a bit of scenery to see.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tawakoni/9/14/59

If you haven't been to the park area, by all means do so. If you were here when the campers were placed, come back and see what's changed. And the Moles are still laying rail track. So it should be interesting to see what comes next.

Hat Tip: Daniel Voyager

Bixyl Shuftan

Linden Home Camping Area Appears in Bellisseria

Remember the Linden Home campers that were up on display at the Second Life Birthday this year? Well, some were finally made available for people to claim. A number of sims have been added to southern Bellisseria. But these are different than areas made earlier.

Some of the trailers looked unclaimed or ready to be moved into, either they actually were unclaimed (rare for a Linden Home), or someone did and hadn't moved in yet.

Others had signs that they were claimed. And there were a variety of camping homes available. There was even an electrical outlet pole next to each.

The scenery of the park area was well-detailed too, with dirt roads and railroads.  Of the latter, I found rail bridges, as well as railroad car rezz stations, water towers, and signal lights.

There were streams in some sims. In others, rivers. One sim had a large lake area. The Linden Moles are still at work in developing the new continent. And this new area is definitely worth a look, even if you have no intention of getting a Linden Home.

Bixyl Shuftan

Reader Submitted: Snowman Smashed in Caledon Downs

"This just in. As previously reported earlier today. Another snowman was found deceased early this morning by a local pub owner. The owner stated that there has been no crime this year except for the occasional barrel of rum going  missing. We have received a follow up report that another snowman was apparently a victim of a hit and run in downs. Inspectors are looking into the matter."

Picture from Cynthia Farshore, words from Andrea Jones (andreajonesms)

Grand Opening Ceremony for the Sunweaver Railroad

After months of planning, landscaping, bridge-building, and track laying, the Sunweaver Lines Railroad is finally operational. The creation of Cynthia Farshore, the railroad's track spans one end of the community land to the other, going through the main sims. On Saturday, there was a ceremony attended by a number of the locals to officially open the line to travel.

Read the story in Design.

Press Release: Sunweaver Lines Railroad Opening of Regular Operations

Farshore Industries is proud to announce the opening of Sunweaver Lines Railroad. After a year of planning and construction the Sunweaver Estates now has a full size rail line extending the full length of the sim group. A fun way to see the lands and with it's many stops explore what it has to offer. Opening ceremony of regular operations will be held on Saturday, February 10th, at 2 PM SLT at Sunweaver Bay (88, 113, 22). After short speeches there will be the traditional smashing of the champagne bottle to launch the first run. All are invited to attend.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunweaver%20Bay/89/113/22

Railroad Stop at the Newser Office

The work on the land of the Sunweaver community never seems to stop these days. Those going about the Sunweaver Estates have noticed railroad tracks in the Sunweaver Space sim for some time. In October, Cynthia Farshore told the Newser the railroad would soon be extended into Sunlight Bay. Earlier this week, the rail system was extended into HV Community. As the "Brandi's Intimates" store and the SL Newser office were the largest public locations at ground level, the railroad was laid between them on a bridge with a station there.

Laying the track and building the station required the taking down of one fountain as it couldn't be reduced in size. But no doubt the rail system will be an interesting touch to the sim.

The railroad tracks have been extended to the edge of the Sunny Beach sim. Getting the system through there and into Sunweaver Bay will require talks with the owner.

Correction: Earlier the Newser wrote that Cynthia Farshore's friend Shockwave Yareach was helping her build the railroad. He has since contacted us saying the work was all hers.

Bixyl Shuftan

SL Video: Trains on Parade

From Stryker Jenkins, "This video shows the News report about the RAIL-BOT 2012 event held on August 4th 2012, organized by the SLRR RAIL GROUP in Second Life.
"A parade of trains went along the Second Life Railroad (SLRR) Main Line from Bhaga to Neumoegen and the West Atoll Railroad (WARR) to the station in Loepa.
"The Virtual Railway Consortium consists of members that enjoy the diverse railway and other transportation resources in Second life."