Geographic Discontinuity In Layout Design...

[TiVoPrince]

Scenes
that hold your attention make the difference.  I'm not certain that I really cared that I passed San Bernadino, CA on my way from switching cars in Topeka, KS heading for Chicago, IL.

My attention was much more on executing my switch list and being aware of through freights than the disjointed names that were changed to protect the innocent or that something was flipped, mirrored or mangled to fit. 

It all felt 'right' but in the end I knew it was not 100% right as it exists in the real world.  I was concentrating on running the loco, throwing turnouts, cranking dozens of electrical blocks, and moving the cars as they were presented on the layout.  Maybe not knowing every detail of the prototype was actually helpful...

[Denver Road Doug]

Favourite
all time layout to operate was a collection of trackwork snippets.  Bits and pieces from all over the Santa Fe.  Some were correct original images, others mirrored with transition elements that were pure fantasy to knit it all together. 

In many ways I thought of it as a rock bands greatest hits album.  Some tunes were as originally recorded, couple of re-masters and a tribute or two.  All together a pleasing experience that may not be exactly in the original sequence but when distilling out stuff you don't want, take a chance to re-imagine everything. 

Make it yours, even if its just a mix tape...

That's a cool idea and analysis.   Reminds of the "Tour 18" golf courses that--best as possible--duplicates one or two holes each from some of the great golf courses around the world.

Although in a way that goes back to my comment on putting a lot of pressure on yourself by modeling the well-known.   I guess at the end of the day I do enjoy seeing everyone's interpretation of said locations, so I should embrace it instead of worrying about it.   We've seen dozens of Horseshoe's, Tehachapi Loops, Cajon Passes, Chicagos, Sherman Hills, et al or layouts very obviously inspired by said locations--crammed into all types of different space challenges--and they're all good in their own way and stand on their own.

[Dave V]

I just recently had this conversation with another a$$hat...  What you obviously sacrifice when you violate geographic sanctity is the ability to operate exactly like the prototype (i.e., using actual timetables and train movements).  That said, it doesn't make ops impossible...just means you have to make a few modifications.

OTOH, for a guy like me that is an unabashed roundy-rounder railfan type, geographic order takes a backseat to the vignettes I want to have.  *If* I can organize them in roughly the right order, it's a bonus.  Double-bonus word-score if the scenes are also oriented in the right direction.

Case in point...my planned expansion of the Juniata Division might have the Sherman's Creek bridge at Duncannon between Spruce Creek and Huntingdon.  This is a nonsensical arrangement based on the real Pennsy Middle Division, but Duncannon is such a classic Pennsy scene (4-track interlocking on a stone bridge with the Susquehanna behind), it screams to be included in a section of the track plan that would otherwise be boring.

To me, the only real danger here is making adjacent scenes that might not fit.  An example might be Horseshoe Curve leading directly into 30th Street Station.

I doubt any a$$hat would eat your lunch for including scenes out of order.  As long as they are realistically executed, I think you're perfectly safe.