Oh the mind, it is a maddening thing...
One day I am building a C&NW themed layout based on the Chicago stock yards, then it is CSX in Michigan, then it is C&O, then it is Mid-Michigan Ry, then it is Saginaw, Flint & Eastern. The era has been all over the place too. During all of this mind changing I have moved once, and have been on the verge of having to relocate (due to wife's job) twice. Now my wife's job is going to stay in the same area for at least 2 more years, so relocation is a worry for another day.
My latest, and greatest idea is to stick with prototype fidelity (as much as possible). The prototype: Pere Marquette, the era: early to mid 1940's, the location: Flint, Michigan. I will be focusing on a slice of what is now the Wixom Sub of the CSX Michigan Division. I will be using a 13 mile stretch as my platform.
I am using a C&O engineering department track chart to aid me in sticking (as closely as possible) to prototype accuracy, but I reserve the right to exercise some modeler's license. For instance GERN was not served by the PM, I think the GTW handled all their traffic sign1
There is the bridge over the Flint River, by the prototype, this is a plate girder bridge. I want a wooden trestle, therefore, it will eventually have a wooden trestle. I will also use some license in the area of PM power. They never had an S1, or an FA. I will have both. Troop trains never ran on this line, but they will. Name passenger trains didn't run on this line, but they will. Flint didn't have a huge passenger station, but it might get one.
Here I am spouting off about all the stuff I want to do, but yet I have not made any plans to build this all out of. Perhaps I should do that...
Matt