The Wauseon & Norwalk Railroad is born! Just a recap/elaboration on the first post:
I'm modeling Ohio in the early 1950s, as diesel begins to replace steam. Geographically, the rail system is located in northern Ohio, just below Lake Erie. Draw a line between Toledo and Cleveland, and you'll have a pretty good idea of where the W & N is located.
The W & N will share trackage with the Nickel Plate Road, as it runs along this route as well. Norwalk, Ohio was pressing hard for the NKP yard, though the city of Bellevue ended up getting it. My freelanced road gives Norwalk the railroad they almost had. The Lake Erie & Western, New York Central, Wheeling & Lake Erie, and others can all be tied into trackage at this location. Stretching from Cleveland to Toledo to Wauseon and all points west, I think I have a realistic railroad that "couldv'e been." In addition to being an interchange point, alternate route, and additional motive power to these other railroads, the W & N can pull its own weight serving local industry.
How's that? I'm very interested in your thoughts and ideas!