Michael, I wish I could claim
Michael, I wish I could claim to be artistic, but I am not. I have seen the work done by the artistic folks and they have talents that I do not. With that being said I am also modeling an impression or feeling of a location and a free lanced railroad. I am doing that because I want to capture just what I recall as the good things about the place.
I have seen the layouts and models the strict or maybe I should say more focused prototype modelers do and they are fantastic as far as I am concerned. In fact one of the prototype guys sent me lots of information about the area I am planning to model. This info is so accurate and extensive I could recreate the entire line down to every signal box grade crossing etc. if I had the space and time and money.
Now as to prototype modeling, I will have two real railroads that interchange in my location with my fictional line. Those lines actually ran to the location so I can build a few prototypically accurate models when I get to it but I will not be stuck with the limitations of only doing what they did. I call this having my cake and eating it too.
I will be naming something on the layout after this friend I have never met in person. Now with all that and other information I have gathered over the years why would I deviate from picking less than a very accurate rendition of the area?
I want to model the types of operations I like. Does not mean folks that do something different are wrong, just different. Like you did for your line I created a fictional railroad and placed it on a map. I included railroads in my merger that I liked or went to locations I wanted to go. Interestingly the real railroads in my merger with two exceptions all ended up under the control of the same modern mega railroad so my connections are not that far off.
I liked certain types of locomotives for given purposes both in steam and diesel and wanted to model a roster of locomotives that would perform the work required. My choices reflect what different prototypes in the area used to get the job done, but none of the real lines had exactly the same roster I am planning.
For operations of the line I am planning them along with tracks and signals so all will be harmonious and work together.
Now, I also mentioned the ops word. For many folks that means focusing on minutia and having a rule book that many folks look at as if it were a set of encyclopedias. I hope to provide folks with enough information so they will be able to run the train they have and complete the work the train is required to do. I also hope to provide enough info so they can get over the line in the right direction, follow the signals, operate turn outs etc. The idea of the information is to have it available so the person who is running the train does not become frustrated trying to operate the train with out the need to know info.
One other thing, I also am designing in continuous running so if all I want to do is turn on a train and watch it run through scenery I can do that. Yes, it will accommodate casual train running because there are times I just like to do that. It will also allow me to do that with a friend or two as sometimes that is fun as well.
Sounds like I have not made a choice as to which discipline I like the most as it relates to the hobby, but I have. I like all of them and want the ability to do all of them as the mood strikes me. So even though I do not have the artistic ability you and others have I also am modeling an impression more than reality.