Long time lurker joining the fray…. After several years of having the trains packed away, I’ve finally secured a small right of way in a corner of the basement family room. The plan below is for a 12’ x 6’, L-shaped HO scale layout for switching now and potential expansion down the road. As much as I think modeling a prototype road would be great, I’m more interested in getting out of the armchair soon – even if the effort turns out to be a chainsaw. So I’ve created enough of a back-story to get started.

The layout will portray a fictionalized coastal railroad in the eastern U.S. in the first decade of the 20^th century. It plies the inlets and bays of New England, or maybe the Mid-Atlantic? This particular line connects several smaller towns on a large bay with a major division point and classification yard (off-stage). The modeled portion is a larger urban harbor town featuring car float and barge operations and a few local industries. There is a small yard for pulling and drilling the float traffic and making/breaking up the small local trains. Roughly a third of the float traffic is bond for the local industries with the rest either being distributed to towns to the north, or south to the classification yard and points beyond.

Trains and cars are short. Typical train is 5 – 36’ cars pulled by a small steamer. Curves and turnouts are a bit tight, with min. 22” radius curves on the main and Peco medium and small radius turnouts.

Constructive feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Christian