Modeling the 1970's and 1980's era is probably not one of the most popular timelines to model in the hobby.    Given the number of layouts I have seen, many are steam/early-diesel or are as modern as today.    This post isn't about statistics but to share a cheat sheet on keeping track of certain detail items and which is proper for the timelines we model.

If you have corrections or additions, please share and I will consolidate and repost.

I’m looking for feedback on this plan for the terminus of an agricultural branch line on the freelance HO layout I’m building in a middle school classroom with my students. The period and region are not precise, but a 1930s flavor is intended with a theme of reefers and produce packing sheds.

Why in the world would you want to cover up your beautiful perfectly acceptable landscape work?  I mean, you put a great deal of effort into it and now you're going to partially cover it with other stuff?  Great rock work, backgrounds, fences, structures, etc.. obscured for no good reason?

My interests are many.  I dabble in R/C airplanes, 1:48 plastic model airplanes, photography, model rockets, motorcycles, and HO trains.  Like others, my time and money are limited.  I'm prone to starts and stops that leave several projects unfinished. 

You can see how to do it here.

(I think I fixed the photo viewing problem)

When I added outdoor transformer storage by the Fluke Transformer structure it made it necessary to re-route the road by the tracks.  I removed some of the poly fiber landscape and cut away the foam to allow clearance; however, with the narrower area I needed some kind of retaining wall.  Carved foam to the rescue!  I've used carved foam before (including on my previous railroad - click HERE to see a MRH magazine article).

Here is a made-up story about something that could happen "only on the D&H".

I've finished the final version of my track plan and am very happy with it. (a walkthrough video detailing the plan will be coming shortly) The plan is the result of many, many hours of design and research as well as many additional hours of laying awake in bed thinking about that design and research.  The end result is a plan that incorporates all of my "givens and druthers," takes into consideration cost and time constraints, and very closely aligns with the prototype that I am using as inspiration...

...perhaps too closely?