Layout

[ljudice]

Crude drawing of a new layout concept for your input...

http://roundmountaingroup.com/mountainrails/layout.bmp


- based on CR Lehigh Line and Trenton line around mid 1990's...
- Not all tracks shown
- green line is a scenic divider
- major operational center is the pt reading jct area and manville yard


I've been toying with this idea of a very locally based layout - as an alternative to the Susquehanna District proto-freelance concept. The problem is that it's a lot harder to have trains duck into and out of sight without some taller hills and tunnels.  I had a pretty good idea of using the two lines along the back wall as double track in the old concept - now there would need to be some "hiding" required.

All in all the question is whether to try to be faithful to the Lehigh Line "esthetic" or try to work in some favorite scenes in the proto-freelance plan?

[GaryHinshaw]

I don't know anything about this line.  Some of the basic druthers questions: What about the line most attracts you to it?  What kind of traffic and ops do you want to feature?  What, in your mind, is the Lehigh Line "esthetic", and how would modeling that be different than modeling favorite scenes (and what are those favorite scenes)?

-Gary

[wm3798]

Some proto photo references to some of the highlights, and/or map links would also be helpful...

Lee

[asciibaron]

Some proto photo references to some of the highlights, and/or map links would also be helpful...

Bound Brook
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=40.559102~-74.536585&style=h&lvl=19&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

Manville
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=40.547708~-74.575871&style=h&lvl=17&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

Patenburg Tunnel
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=40.649436~-75.023961&style=h&lvl=16&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1

[ljudice]

Thanks for the ideas/comments...  Most of my photos are from Conrail days and not electronic.

I guess the question is - with a proto-freelance layout you can combine scenes you are familiar with - along with scenes in the actual location you are modelling, as long as they are not out of place. Since absolutely have to conform to existing benchwork (not messing with that) - I have some constraints that are making the full proto approach a little tricky.

Ultimately it's a personal question - will the proto approach be more satisfying, or let the imagination run a little free-er...