Your opinions please .... below the dotted line, I have attempted to describe the layout design I am drafting.
I have collected an assortment of engines [ATSF, BNSF, and BN as my primary RR's ..... the UP and the SP as my secondary RR's] that range from E's and F's to a Dash 8-40B with several era representations in between [SD60's, GP38, GP9's]. And, to make matters worse, I feel that a Cab Forward purchase is unavoidable given how much I like this particular engine. I think I need model railroad psychiatric counseling.
I realize the steam engine addition really stretches the believability, and I know that many folks advocate the theory that "it's your railroad so do what you like."
But, my questions are:
1) how do each of you view such a wide range of eras being represented on a fictitious model railroad - one that will focus heavily on operations w/ yard switching, and branch line interchanges as the major emphasis in the track design?2) should I also construct bridges, buildings, and use road vehicles that span a similar era representation?
3) should I mix all of these era conflicts throughout the entire layout vs isolating eras to certain track locations?----------------------------------Layout Draft----------------------------------------
Assume the image of a hockey rink with the nets at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock. Hidden staging [located where the Zamboni machine parks in the rear of the building] feeds the major, ATSF train yard that resides at the 6 o'clock location [it'd be a peninsula reaching out onto the ice beyond the goal crease]. The ATSF circles the entire ice rink in either direction meandering through the stands. The UP/SP runs along the boards from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock via the 3 o'clock direction [counter clockwise]. The BN runs along the boards from 6 o'clock to 12 o'clock via the 9 o'clock direction [clockwise]. Both the UP/SP and the BN are restricted to a point to point scheme staying on their side of the rink [along the boards]. The ATSF runs around the entire clock face in either direction, but the ATSF is not allowed to travel along the boards [on either the BN or the UP/SP rails]. The ATSF must stay on the main line rails that run through the stands.
Hopefully, this makes some sense ... ;-)
My intention is to create a model railroad that highlights the ATSF as the main line distributor. The ATSF will receive trains from hidden staging [arriving at 6 o'clock]. These arriving trains will be 'classified' in a large yard [note the rare but impressive use of 'train lingo' throughout my writing ;-)]. 'Outbound' trains will exit the yard under ATSF power heading north [toward 3 o'clock] or heading south [toward 9 o'clock]. Northern ATSF traffic will then 'interchange' cars with the UP/SP [a 'branch line' RR whose interchange yard resides at the
5 o'clock position]. Southern ATSF traffic will interchange cars with the BN [a branch line RR whose interchange yard resides at the 7 o'clock position]. The ATSF will run the outside, mainline rails circling the entire layout. The UP/SP and the BN will run the inside lower rails [along the boards]. The UP/SP and the BN will interchange cars at a shared interchange yard at the 12 o'clock location. The ATSF does not have access to the 12 o'clock location. It travels on elevated track from 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock [a clockwise reference] before leveling out at both 5 o'clock and 7 o'clock [the two previously described interchange yards for the, lower level, branch line RR's].That's the premise. I am trying to incorporate a lot of switching, car exchanges, and waybill activity. Likewise, the ATSF, elevated main line will allow for some longer trains [14 cars or more] to ride the rails vs the shorter trains [8 cars and less] that I envision on the branch lines. The PFE [Pacific Fruit Express] hauled by the Cab Forward would arrive from hidden staging, it'd have access to the ATSF yard at 6 o'clock, and its priority status would allow it to pass through the yard w/o stopping as it heads towards the UP/SP, 5 o'clock, interchange yard. Other such trains could be created/added to an operating session to add some interesting conflicts on the rails. Passenger trains would be the ideal additions for such conflicts given that the RR's emphasis is freight delivery.
I now have to contemplate the wide range of eras being represented [mostly by the engines at this point]. Along the clock face at each hour location there are businesses and etc. to be serviced by the various RR's involved. When traveling between 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock [in a clockwise direction], there are two track levels thus offering servicing locations on both levels [the top/elevated level is served by the ATSF] and the bottom level is served by either the BN or the UP/SP depending on which side of 12 o'clock we're at. I am leaning toward the idea that era mixing throughout the layout would be the most natural approach. That way, an F7AB parked at a siding with a DASH 8-40B sitting nearby might not be as eye popping. I'm still not sure about that Cab Forward unless I model the Sacramento Train Museum as a delivery point.
The plan also calls for some peninsulas to be added which would reach out onto the ice. Those individual peninsulas would allow me to be creative in ways that I can have a throw back logging region with a Shay, a throw back mining region with a Heisler, and a water front area [one of my personal favorites when pictured in the train magazines]. All of these peninsulas would include small interchanges for either the BN or the UP/SP to interact with these locations.
Well, anyways, that's the thought process that has kept me happily occupied for quite some time. I have no clue if it will ever fully materialize, but the planning process is actually very relaxing and quite enjoyable. I do plan to build it in modules thus assuring the creation of some parts of this final design.
Matt