Hi,
On an another well know forum I see a similar question and the answers were very interesting.
So open the debate on the MR forum.
Mine is the Nortfolk & Western and also all the road which have touch or run throught the Appalachian, because of the beautiful country and the massive coal train.
Also because many of these roads have used or developped specific steam power.
I like also the never straight track but all the curves,the snake trains running over big valley bridge or river bridge throught a magnificent nature which is like we found here in our Belgian Ardennes. The weather is nearly the same, not good not too bad.
I like the Ardennes because of many very personnal things and also because I am an hunter, so my approach to American trains had gone to a similar country in US.
It’s also because mining it’s so an hard work and so many people were involded in poor conditions, whith company which offer the minimum to their workers like us in Europe. Thanks, many have dissappear. But don’t forget them.
These roads offer good opportunity to model, lot of switching, big trains and many things aviable on the market.
Many inspirations could be find on existing layouts like the last V&O and other similar ones.
The gently hills could be modeled easily whith a neat work; not to much plaster.
You can use a lot of “vertical scenery” which don’t use to much space
Each big or small mine offer the challenge of a kitbash or scratchbuild project. The town are small and have each a small depot often different each time.
Marc
And You which road is your favorite?
Marc