GuilfordRailman
Well-Known Member
After spending some time today thinking about the next steps for my layout, I realized that I never developed a solid plan as to what area I am actually modeling in!
My original plan was to build a New England based fictional railroad with an MEC lease engine and an assortment of rolling stock. However…it seems to me that as this project has progressed, I’ve found myself with different industries, ballast color, and other details different than I originally planned. I’ve come to learn through a few layout projects and research that this is fairly common practice.
That being said, I felt compelled to dig deep inside my thoughts around model railroading and figure out exactly what it was I wanted to model.
After a few hours today of research and deep thought, I narrowed it down. The Rocky Valley Railroad is actually a fictional branch line of the Northern Pacific Railroad based near Billings, Montana. It primarily transports lumber, oil, and coal. My shelf switching layout represents the end of the branch line where these commodities (among various others) are off-loaded into the small town of Rocky Valley.
With this little self-discovery of sorts, I went ahead and ordered a few things to continue with the creation of Rocky Valley. These include: the old time conveyors and oil-loading platform mentioned in a previous post, as well as the storage tank set. I also ordered some track bumpers and Woodland Scenics coal. Finally, I ordered a brand new Proto 2000 Northern Pacific SW9 locomotive and a 5-car kit of Northern Pacific 2-bay hoppers. I’ve never assembled rolling stock from a kit so that should be something new and exciting!
I expect to continue with more work on the layout tomorrow
My original plan was to build a New England based fictional railroad with an MEC lease engine and an assortment of rolling stock. However…it seems to me that as this project has progressed, I’ve found myself with different industries, ballast color, and other details different than I originally planned. I’ve come to learn through a few layout projects and research that this is fairly common practice.
That being said, I felt compelled to dig deep inside my thoughts around model railroading and figure out exactly what it was I wanted to model.
After a few hours today of research and deep thought, I narrowed it down. The Rocky Valley Railroad is actually a fictional branch line of the Northern Pacific Railroad based near Billings, Montana. It primarily transports lumber, oil, and coal. My shelf switching layout represents the end of the branch line where these commodities (among various others) are off-loaded into the small town of Rocky Valley.
With this little self-discovery of sorts, I went ahead and ordered a few things to continue with the creation of Rocky Valley. These include: the old time conveyors and oil-loading platform mentioned in a previous post, as well as the storage tank set. I also ordered some track bumpers and Woodland Scenics coal. Finally, I ordered a brand new Proto 2000 Northern Pacific SW9 locomotive and a 5-car kit of Northern Pacific 2-bay hoppers. I’ve never assembled rolling stock from a kit so that should be something new and exciting!
I expect to continue with more work on the layout tomorrow