Well, after a bit of time where I was really struggling with school stress, I’ve decided to get back on model railroading and also do more artwork. Why this works is it gives me a way to decompress from the stress, and also something to plan my work around (for example, I get a bulk of work done on Monday or Tuesday, and then can get what’s due the next week or two on Thursday and Friday while also enjoying art or model railroading). Anyways, about this plan (refer to the pic). I sat down, figured out what I had, what I could afford, and wound up with these switches. I do have one more switch that I may include for a switchback (I’ve run a few informal switchouts, and the added work would be nice). However, as it sits right now, there’s plenty to keep me busy for maybe an hour, as my unversed in ops brain sees it. There’s also an inglenook built in with the feed mill spurs, so there’s that angle as well. Most of the industries are based off proto pics of Athens, GA, and Greenville, SC. The cement plant I have several views of, while the other industry is a chopped-up Trackside Transfer kit. The feed mill will be out of my head, but if someone has proto pics or suggestions, by all means please share! The chemical plant is based off several shots I found of a Greenville industry with centerflows spotted by it. There’s also a town, and a few downtown stores. Overall, there will be several expansions. The first will include a bit of running, some industries, and then a small yard used as a sort yard to serve this branch and a switching districted nicknamed the Valley that is yet to be planned. It will be based off Santa Fe’s LA switching (patchrailroad.net) and the Milwaukee Road’s Beer Line (Dave’s threads, the MR layout, and the overall look and appeal of the MILW influenced this). It will be set on the Savannah River though. Anyways, here’s some pics and a video.
Overview of the line. The feed mill is the two spurs to the left, the chemical plant will be foreground right, and the cement and TBD industry are at the back.
Cement on the left (A very rough mock-up) and the chopped-up Trackside Transfer to the right.
This tail track allows me to switch out the feed mill. The next extension of the layout will be here.
