I choose "Proto-freelance". By this I'm loosely doing a central Pennsylvania narrow gauge that connects to the PRR main in a small town. That's the "proto" part. The "freelance" part is that the narrow gauge RR name, the town and the track connections are fictional.
This allows me to run PRR standard gauge engines and rolling stock.
There were many narrow gauge RRs throughout central PA around the turn of the 20th century. These came and went, changed names etc, so I'm modeling the general feel this these and the products they transported, lumber, live stock, stone and other goods (box cars). The era is before WWI which doesn't require the larger engines and rolling stock. This helps alot on a small layout as more cars fit on sidings and the main/branch and I really like those early wood cars.
The other main consideration is the layout size and shape (2 ft by 16 ft). Every thing must be compressed and the narrow gauge basically paralleling the standard gauge main. None of the PA narrow gauge RRs did this (they tended to move away from the PRR main through the mountains). This also means that the I don't have room for the double main of the PRR so there will only be a single main.
This allows me to run PRR standard gauge engines and rolling stock.
There were many narrow gauge RRs throughout central PA around the turn of the 20th century. These came and went, changed names etc, so I'm modeling the general feel this these and the products they transported, lumber, live stock, stone and other goods (box cars). The era is before WWI which doesn't require the larger engines and rolling stock. This helps alot on a small layout as more cars fit on sidings and the main/branch and I really like those early wood cars.
The other main consideration is the layout size and shape (2 ft by 16 ft). Every thing must be compressed and the narrow gauge basically paralleling the standard gauge main. None of the PA narrow gauge RRs did this (they tended to move away from the PRR main through the mountains). This also means that the I don't have room for the double main of the PRR so there will only be a single main.