Besides that, who would want to pedal a bicycle up the Akinbak Mountains? [:P]
Reading the comments, many people have diminished the size of the Gorre & Daphetid and the sophistication of their equipment. The modeled area was a mountain division(s) of a larger railroad that continued in each direction. Port was large enough to have a subway (look for the photos J )and Great Divide was also substantial based on the buildings. The roster included a large number of modern steam engines with the latest equipment. Several pacifics, a large Mikado, a Berkshire, and several 2-6-6-2 (last bought engines of C&O). These were not last leg engines for the period being modeled. The track was also in flawless condition with smooth flowing lines. Bad track is the gold standard for a failing line. It reminds me more of a smaller Western pacific in train pattern.
Also, all steam was rare but not unheard of in the post war(WWII) 40’s. C&IM and DM&IR didn’t dieselize till the late 50’s, with SD-9s. N&W did the same only started with R
First the TP&W was a Rail America operation…GWI acquired TP&W through the buyout of RA.The other two was money makers thus the buyouts.
Funny thing though…Who would have thought that a 14 mile salt hauler that served one large salt mine would become the largest short line operator that owns 116 short lines?
Could G&D do this? IF the G&D survived until the Staggers Act of 1980 that allowed railroads to spin off marginal lines probably with the help of investors.
Maybe old JJ or Rail America would have bought the G&D.
Utah Railway survived as essentially a single-commodity line handing mass quantities of coal. It has since morphed into an expanded operation due to BNSF trackage rights over the former D&RGW between Grand Junction and Salt Lake, and UP wanting to do less of the local industry switching in certain areas.