Radioactive Rosca
In August 2024, I submitted a proposal suggesting an SLRR underwater tunnel connection between the Heterocera Atoll, in the Cecropia region, and Bay City, in the Manyiminya region. That proposal was eventually declined after internal discussion by the LDPW, with Abnor Mole explaining several important concerns: the proposed route did not connect entirely through land owned or controlled by Linden Lab or the LDPW, the existing terminus points were not well suited for an underwater tunnel connection, and the route would require significant terraforming while potentially affecting older Linden and LDPW underwater content. 【https://feedback.secondlife.com/ldpw/p/slrr-underwater-tunnel-connection-between-the-heterocera-atoll-cecropia-region-a】
This revised proposal is intended to take those concerns into account and suggest a more practical, less disruptive alternative.
## Proposal Summary
I would like to propose a new SLRR underwater railway tunnel between Heterocera Atoll and Bay City, but with a different alignment and a different starting point from the 2024 proposal.
Instead of attempting to connect directly from the existing SLRR terminus or from land not fully controlled by the LDPW, this revised proposal would start in Cecropia, on LDPW-owned land near the existing pipeline that runs toward the offshore oil platform.
A new rail platform could be built above or alongside the pipeline area in Cecropia, using the existing industrial theme of the location. From there, a new public railway line could enter an underwater tunnel and continue toward Bay City, eventually connecting to the Bay City railway in Manyiminya, slightly south of the current ferry terminal.
This would avoid destroying or altering the existing ferry terminal created by Michael Linden, while still finally providing a fixed railway connection between Heterocera Atoll and Bay City.
## Key Difference From the 2024 Proposal
The main difference from the 2024 proposal is that this version would avoid relying on the private railway line to the west of Cecropia.
The new line would not need to connect to that private line. Instead, it would be a new LDPW-controlled railway extension beginning from LDPW land in Cecropia, near the pipeline and oil platform area.
This could address one of the most important concerns raised in 2024: the need for the project to connect through land that is fully owned or controlled by Linden Lab or the LDPW, rather than depending on privately owned land whose future status cannot be guaranteed.
## Cecropia Starting Point
In Cecropia, there is already an industrial waterfront area with a pipeline leading toward an offshore oil platform.
Image 1 shows the pipeline area that could serve as a natural visual and structural starting point for the proposed railway platform:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/radioactiverosca/55456692473/
A raised or partially enclosed railway platform could be created above the pipeline area, matching the industrial look of Cecropia. This would make the new railway entrance feel integrated with the existing environment rather than imposed on it.
This starting point would also avoid the need to heavily modify the existing SLRR terminus or force a connection through unsuitable land.
## Underwater Tunnel Route
The proposed tunnel would continue underwater from Cecropia toward Bay City, following the upper red route shown in Image 2:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/radioactiverosca/55455674582/
The tunnel would be designed as a railway tunnel only, separate from the private railway to the west and separate from the current road tunnel construction south of Bay City.
The same image also shows, in red further south, the approximate position of the new road tunnel currently being built by LDPW, from the south of Bay City, near the Luna region. This shows that underwater or undersea infrastructure is already being considered in the area, and a rail tunnel could complement that wider transport network without conflicting with it.
## Bay City Connection
On the Bay City side, the tunnel could connect to the railway in the Manyiminya region, slightly south of the existing ferry terminal.
This is an important point of the revised proposal.
The intention is not to remove, replace, or damage the existing ferry terminal created by Michael Linden. That terminal is part of Bay City’s transport history and should be preserved. By placing the rail tunnel connection slightly south of the current ferry terminal, the ferry infrastructure could remain intact while the railway network gains a new fixed connection.
This approach would respect the historic and existing LDPW work in Bay City while still expanding the public transport network.
## Why This Proposal May Be More Feasible
This revised proposal may be more feasible than the 2024 version for several reasons:
  1. It starts from LDPW-controlled land in Cecropia
The route would no longer depend on a private railway line or privately owned land west of Cecropia.
  1. It avoids altering the existing ferry terminal
The connection in Manyiminya would be placed slightly south of the current ferry terminal, preserving Michael Linden’s original build.
  1. It uses an existing industrial theme
The Cecropia pipeline and oil platform area already has an industrial character, making it a suitable location for a rail platform, tunnel portal, or service structure.
  1. It creates a new public railway connection without taking resident land
The proposal is intended to avoid any need for eminent domain or resident land acquisition, which was one of the key concerns raised by Abnor Mole in 2024.
  1. It complements current infrastructure development
With the current road tunnel construction beginning south of Bay City, near Luna, this proposal could form part of a broader and more coherent transport vision for the area.
  1. It preserves sailing routes better than an above-water causeway
As noted in the 2024 discussion, an above-water causeway would create disruption for sailing over a long distance. An underwater rail tunnel would avoid that problem.
## Suggested Design Concept
The Cecropia end of the tunnel could be designed as a small industrial railway platform or service station built above the pipeline corridor.
The tunnel entrance could be partly hidden within an industrial retaining wall, pump house, maintenance shed, or concrete portal structure. This would allow the railway to enter the underwater section naturally, without requiring major visible terraforming.
The underwater section could use a simple LDPW rail tunnel style, with occasional viewing windows, emergency alcoves, or maintenance details if performance and land impact allow.
On the Bay City side, the tunnel could emerge south of the Manyiminya ferry terminal and connect into the existing Bay City railway system through a short, carefully aligned public rail extension.
## Benefits
This project would provide several benefits to Mainland travel and exploration:
  • A direct public railway connection between Heterocera Atoll and Bay City.
  • A new destination and travel experience for SLRR users.
  • Better integration between historic Mainland rail infrastructure and Bay City.
  • A practical alternative to the never-completed train ferry concept.
  • Preservation of the existing Manyiminya ferry terminal.
  • No need to connect through the private railway west of Cecropia.
  • Less disruption to sailing than any above-water bridge or causeway.
  • A new LDPW-built transport landmark that could become a popular Mainland attraction.
## Conclusion
I understand the reasons why the 2024 proposal was declined, and I believe those concerns were reasonable. This revised proposal is intended to provide a more practical alternative that avoids the main problems identified at that time.
By starting from LDPW-owned land in Cecropia, using the existing industrial pipeline area as a natural platform location, avoiding the private rail line to the west, and connecting to Bay City slightly south of the Manyiminya ferry terminal, this version could offer a cleaner and less disruptive way to finally connect the Heterocera Atoll railway with Bay City.
The goal is not to replace Michael Linden’s ferry terminal or disturb existing historic infrastructure. The goal is to preserve that work while adding a new public rail connection that strengthens Mainland transport and gives residents another reason to explore both Heterocera and Bay City by train.

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