I'm curious as to your room

I'm curious as to your room size.  I've got an around-the-walls layout and enjoy the large open area.

Room Size

Rick, it's 11' x 16'.   I am going for the same with an open floor area, with a few chairs.

Western Montana and Northern Idaho

I like your plan. I like the WI&M along with the Milwaukee and the Camas Prairie. All have elements of what I like for industries and traffic, mainly forest products and grain growing areas (wheat and some barley). Milwaukee had a lot of forest products traffic between Avery Idaho (log loads and a log run to St Maries Idaho) and Plummer Washington, just to mention that area near the WI&M. Looks like you have grain elevators at three locations. What was the history of the wheat and pea traffic on the WI&M? Do you plan on modeling any of the Bennett Lumber all door box cars and are they available in N scale? I recently found a list of the all door cars that Bennett owned or leased and has the assignments for Princeton and Bennett's Shearer Lumber in Kooskia on the CSP. I'm planning a freelanced railroad based on the area of Montana/Idaho/Washington in the 1980's. I'm thinking about all the variations of forest products traffic ( finished lumber, woodchips, logs, poles, ties, and plywood) along with wheat, barley, and including fruits and a preserves manufacturer. Good luck and keep us posted.

William L

William L

Thanks William.  I'm interested to see your layout develop as well.  I've wanted to model so many of the Palouse lines after living in the area for a few years.  Just about every one could be a modeler's dream layout.

You are correct, I have three elevators planned for the layout, though there were a few additional smaller ones not being modeled.  I believe most of the peas and wheat were shipped to Minneapolis/St Paul.  Lumber from the PFI Potlach Mill was the main source of traffic, and a deal was made between the Milwaukee and BFI to route the traffic over the Milwaukee.  Grain and peas were second and most were routed via GN and NP.  There was also pole traffic from Clarkia, ID that ran over the WI&M and interchanged with the GN and/or NP to Scott Paper in Everett, WA.  Diamond Matches was also part of the log/pole traffic from Clarkia.  And there is also the Bennett Mill.  I have not found an N Scale version of the Bennett Thrall car, but I've seen other liveries so I may have to hunt a few of those down and paint/decal them to Bennett markings.  

There's a new book coming out called "Palouse Rails: Granger Railroads of the Inland Northwest" that I am looking forward to reading.  Thomas Hillebrant's "White Pine Route" has been a great source of information, and contains details on locomotives, rolling stock, and infrastructure.  Both sources may be helpful with your layout planning?