Well folks after over 2 months of debate......this is it, this is the one I'm building. The "duckunder" is now a hinged section, the yard is staying in the back (I do own a stool and at 6'1" I can reach fairly well without it). This one fits the operations that I'd like to see the best and has room to incorporate the scenery options I'd like to see on the layout. As far as ops go, what you are seeing is the Lehigh Valley RR (the 1.5 times around main) and the Sweet and Bethlehem short line. The ops go a little like this. The Sweet and Bethlehem service the blast furnace on the old module and the industrys in Bethlehem at the top of the layout (steel mill, candy factory, etc. (all real industries in Bethlehem, PA in the 40s and 50s) ). and then proceed down to the interchange yard (middle left) were the roll mill is serviced and trains are exchanged between the LV RR and the S&B RR. There is also a team track and Lumber yard in the imaginary village of Sweet (the road we live on is called Sweet) that is servced by both the LV RR and the S&B RR (right of way on this part of the LV RR is shared with the S&B RR). On top of the freight activity is the LV RR passenger service, this will service the scratch built copy of the prototype Bethlehem Union Station and the scratch built prototype LV station/depot (in the sept. issue of MRR) that resides in the village of Sweet. As for the S&B RR,I plan on using a doodle bug to service stops at the roll mill, blast furnace yard and the town of Bethlehem, this is for commuters moving to and from their jobs, this may also be a mixed passenger/freight service (one or two boxes or one extra coach, such consists ran on the LV in the 30s, or so I read... (who needs a car on this layout?)). So, if that doesn't keep a couple of throttlemen busy....I'm not sure what will. As far as structures go, in addition to what I've already mentioned, the village of sweet will have a few village type buildings (enough to give the "impression" of a village anyway). and Bethlehem proper will consist of stone and brick row (teraced) houses and shops, some light industry, etc. I have chosen the Walthers round house and turn table and the engine shed from Greenway products (beautiful old PA type 100' stone built enginehouse!!). There will also be industrial building flats against the "left" wall behind the "big" yard and roll mill. Other than that, there will be our farm on a raised peice of land overlooking Bethlehem consisting of an old stone type PA farmhouse and barn (Greenway Products again) and a wooden bridge across the back of the layout leading into the backdrop. As far as motive power goes, I have already got 2 Atlas LV RS-11s, a P2K LV sw-9, and a P2k LV F1a&b. I'd LIKE to get a set of LV Pacifics for steam power (non, semi, and full streamlined (the John Wilkes for the streamlined loco)) and a LV doodlebug. Whew! So talk to me about 10 years and I MAY be close to finished! LOL
Martin
Martin
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