Hi everybody,
I have built a few small layouts in the past that weren’t really finished and I was not happy with them. Basically I just started building without any real thought about operation. This time I want to take time to come up with a good track plan that has some tie in to reality. I have some ATSF diesel engines and would like to build a railroad based on the ATSF. Preferably something were a second road could be mixed in also like UP.
The problem is that I pretty much don’t know anything about railroad history at all. I have googled for info but I just don’t know where to start and what to look for. The time period I’d like to be somewhere between 1960 - 1980 but it’s not critical. Not earlier than 1960 tho. It would be nice to include BNSF but then it ends up being too modern and I feel I don’t have the space to accommodate the modern equipment. I’m looking at a layout size of 12’x22’.
So I’m looking for ideas where to start in all this. What part of the former ATSF trackage would be a good part to focus on? Somewhere with a nice selection of industries, sidings and so on. And preferably where there could be an interchange with another railroad. Provision for nice scenery would be a plus of course. In other words, not just flat ground And of course something that would provide interesting operating possibilities.
Good ideas, pointers, advice or anything else that can point me in the right direction would be much appreciated.
Ken