I have a strong preference for steam engines, but have collected lots of diesels as well. So lets say I will model that transition era were both were utilized. I am also not a strict time frame person that feels a need to model any particular era. I just like the looks of model trains, particularly the highly detailed ones that have come out over the past 15 years.
I found myself liking those big C&O, B&O, NW steam locos, but also some of the Santa Fe ones. I just couldn’t resist a number of those Santa Fe diesels with their marvelous paint schemes that harkened back to when I was a kid. So on my first major layout (the Atlas plan “Central Midland”) I ran all of these different lines. I would explain that my railroad went from the east coast to the west coast,…Baltimore to California.
I’m imagining doing something similar with this new layout,…the lower deck level will be the ‘Baltimore’ theme, progressing up thru the mountains of Appalachian mountains (coal county) to the upper layer western mountains supporting logging trains, and finally to a Santa Fe train station on the upper level. (Since I have recently decreased the size of that peninsula, I’m not so sure I’ll be able to do those Appalachian mountains)
At the moment I don’t anticipate that the upper deck will have any individual loops of track on it, but rather will have a perimeter track only. There will be a turnout at the upper level of the helix that will permit the train to go either way around that perimeter of the shed, and will allow the train to go back down the helix in a forward manner.
Santa Fe train station
I’m imagining a station something like this,……sitting on the upper
That’s the Walthers LA Union Station model, modified to take less depth. Discontinued, could probably be found on eBay or elsewhere. ATSF, SP, and UP used the station
The link that I posted earlier in this thread to the Walthers website listing for this kit has a downloadable footprint sketch from which it would be easy to estimate.
It was that 21 inch width that was concerning me. I would not want that side extension on my. Probably another reason to build my own,…maybe just ‘cardstock’ or ‘foamboard’ one at first.
If you’re feeling really ambitious, you could try to scratch build some or all of the Santa Fe station here in downtown San Diego. It’s a bit of a local landmark, and still in use by Amtrak and commuter trains. Google images of “San Diego Santa Fe Depot”. Would be a scratchbuilding challenge and make a nice signature piece on a layout.
Plus, the real station is just a couple blocks from the waterfront, so you’d be able to achieve that “sea to shining sea” theme you’re after [:D]
Yes I have seen pics of that station. I actually might be interested in doing a combo of the 2 since I am not a rivit counter. I like the ‘double roof’ on that station, and the tower design.
…sitting on the upper