Layout Names (or not)

[davefoxx]

I just plagiarized MR's project layout, the Seaboard Central, for the trackplan and the name.  Obviously, I altered the trackplan, but by using the name, Seaboard Central 2.0, it's still an homage to MR and that project layout.  It was a perfect fit, because I always liked the plan for a small layout, and I model a portion of the Seaboard System's former Seaboard Air Line.

If I were to give my layout a real name, it would be something along the lines of the Raleigh Division or the Aberdeen Subdivision of the Seaboard System RR (or whatever the (sub)division was called in those days).  So, you can see that I'm in agreement with the previous posts that suggest real locations instead of whimsical names.

DFF

[Rich_S]

Dave, good thoughts. It's why I can never take the "Juniata Division" too seriously because Juniata coveys an unpleasant image of a large sized woman in my mind every time I hear it.  I was scarred for life.
 

Peter, It's all in the pronunciation.  As Dave points out it's not (won nee ta) it's (June Nee At Ta) To this day the major back-shop facility in Altoona owned now by the Norfolk Southern Railroad is "JBS" "Juniata Back Shop". Can't get more railroady than that 

For more info on the name and the river please see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniata_River

[babbo_enzo]

I am like Mark too: I named all my towns following the ones the real RR and all my paper work reflects the theme too.
I'm fortunate as my railroad in only one: Espee forever?
But... the layout takes a name that reflect both era and locale without any connection to RR name ....
The Valley before silicon
One more idea for you, just set a place you like
Cheers

[C855B]

However, don't forget that 1:1 naming and slogans can be silly, too. How about the Chattahoochee Industrial RR? "Better by a dam site."? They plastered that eye-roller on dozens of boxcars.

[randgust]

As long as we're on the kick, here's how you model in 12"=1 foot scale, with naming the layout.  Gee, I like PRR....

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=244964&nseq=8

Hmm.   Not sure about the "Valley" part, how about "terminal".....  And I like E-8's, even parked.... And I want it urban, not shortline, so lets set it in Philadelphia....

http://www.trainweb.org/railpix/miscpix/PRR5809a-9276s1-JT-2-3-01.jpg

Any more it's hard to come up with a good model name that some prototype doesn't rip off.

[MVW]

My layout is the Missouri Valley Western, the fictitious offspring resulting from the merger of two real-life railroads -- the Sioux City & Pacific and the Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley.

In the real world, the SC&P and the FE&MV were absorbed by the Chicago & North Western. In my world, they merged to resist takeover, then gobbled up the failed (real-life) Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs. The MVW "exists" as a bridge route between the UP and C&NW in southwest Iowa in 1954-55. My modeled portion (when completed) will reflect nearly a third of the 150 miles between Omaha and Boone, Iowa.

Incidentally, one of the various incarnations of the Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs was actually known as the Missouri Valley Western, although I didn't know that when I was planning the layout's concept. I only found out about the KCSt.J&CB when I was looking for failed railroads in the area that would have been takeover targets for my line.

Jim

[wm3798]

Scroll down a bit to get the back story about my Laurel Valley.  Sorry about the ancient looking website...and the broken photo links...

http://www.wmrywesternlines.net/interchangeprojects.php

My Big Layout was titled "Western Maryland Western Lines" which focused on WM operations west of Hagerstown.  It was fun to have such a focused era and geography to work on.

I still have my full roster of Laurel Valley stuff, and even started tinkering with some steam era equipment, and one day I'll probably go back to the original post Conrail concept to run a lightly trafficked rural branch through the Laurel Highlands (and their valley!)

Lee

[VonRyan]

For my Nn3 layout, being that it isn't based on any particular Irish narrow-gauge line and it's era and locale is a vague "1940s rural Ireland" I looked to Irish folk music to provide me with a name.

Killashandra (or Killeshandra) is an actual locale in Ireland, and it is mentioned the chorus of the traditional Irish rebel song "Come Out ye Black and Tans" in the line "Tell 'em how the IRA, made ya run like hell away, from the green and lovely lanes of Killashandra.

So pretty much one way of coming up with a layout name is to look to the music of the region(s) being modeled for suitable inspiration.

[C855B]

... So pretty much one way of coming up with a layout name is to look to the music of the region(s) being modeled for suitable inspiration.

Uh... so does that mean to be accurate, a Deep South shortline needs to be the Pickup Truck and Cheating Girlfriend?

[Philip H]

Uh... so does that mean to be accurate, a Deep South shortline needs to be the Pickup Truck and Cheating Girlfriend?

Only if it's a modern short line. If it's an historic designation you'd need some thing like the Bloodhound and Moonshine Holler Central.

[PAL_Houston]

How about Northern Washington, Idaho and North Dakota?  Northern WIND.
Kind of, what?  Blustery?

[basementcalling]

A lot of people confuse "Juanita" and "Juniata" for obvious reasons!  Juniata (June-ee-ah-ta) is an old Native American name, probably bastardized.  The river that PRR parallels was called Juniata long before the invention of the steam locomotive.

I fish it somewhat often in my kayak. Gorgeous river, but I still have to watch how I say it.

Rich, now JBS I did not know. Always assumed that was just bull $4&^%   

A layout with wind as an acronym is asking to be the butt of a lot of "broken" jokes.

Some location specific choices I've rejected.

Idaho Northern & Pacific
Spokane Western ( Northern or Southern too)
Palouse and Inland Empire
Idaho Rail Link
Columbia Central

My problem with specific place names on a mostly freelance layout is anyone who is familiar with the actual locations named will be confused by the discrepancy between real and modeled places.  It comes down to how much plausibility I need.

Trying to shoehorn a mostly North to South running rail line into Idaho's topography and existing rail lines  is proving far harder than envisioned when I imagined the Idaho Belt as a NAFTA expansion  enlarged by ICC penalties to UP for their poor post SP performance that could partner with a road like the a Utah Belt to provide more direct Canada to Mexico routing.

[nkalanaga]

Peter:  For a north-south railroad in northern Idaho I'd probably follow US 95.  The surveying is done, the towns are already there, and getting up and down at Lewiston could make for some spectacular scenery.  The line could have been built, and would probably have made money, although whether it would still be there today is an open question.

Another route I've long wondered about is Missoula to Kalispell, MT.  Going around Flathead Lake wouldn't have been that hard, by at least two routes, and it would have made travel a lot easier.  As is, one has to go through north Idaho, or cross the continental divide twice, for what should have been an afternoons train ride.

[GimpLizard]

A lot of people confuse "Juanita" and "Juniata" for obvious reasons!  Juniata (June-ee-ah-ta) is an old Native American name, probably bastardized.  The river that PRR parallels was called Juniata long before the invention of the steam locomotive.

I dated a "June" back in high school. And Oo-ee, was she a hot-ta.

(I'm not helping any, am I?  )

[basementcalling]

Peter:  For a north-south railroad in northern Idaho I'd probably follow US 95.  The surveying is done, the towns are already there, and getting up and down at Lewiston could make for some spectacular scenery.  The line could have been built, and would probably have made money, although whether it would still be there today is an open question.

Another route I've long wondered about is Missoula to Kalispell, MT.  Going around Flathead Lake wouldn't have been that hard, by at least two routes, and it would have made travel a lot easier.  As is, one has to go through north Idaho, or cross the continental divide twice, for what should have been an afternoons train ride.

I Street Viewed the US 95 route. North of Lewiston is very doable. Plausible that the old Camas Prairie line could have been upgraded south of it, but getting through Hells Canyon or the Salmon River Gorge would be spectacular railroading, if not exactly competitive from a grade and curvature standpoint. Heading into the Cascade/Boise area would also allow the "upgrade" fiction with old UP branches, now Idaho Northern & Pacific operated I believe, to be utilized, though grades are close to 3% in some key stretches. That could just be an excuse for DPU/helper operations. The nice thing about any model railroad is it doesn't have to turn a profit, just not cost more than the significant other will tolerate in hobby spending.

Missoula to Kalispell I'd have to scout. I did consider a Bitterroot Valley RR using the current MRL branch south of Missoula and running it further south over the Divide and into Idaho to join the UP around American Falls or Pocatello, but there just isn't enough online industry through there to justify it realistically in my mind. That route also closely duplicates the UP Montana Sub over Moneida Pass from Idaho Falls to Butte.

I've kicked around Klamath Falls as a main location since Gary suggested it in my Idaho Belt thread on page two or three. Running SW or SE from there could have options, especially SE. Heading NE into Oregon runs into traffic and geography challenges, plus it encroaches on Cold River's Oregon Joint Line territory. Hoping to "claim" an area that hasn't already been prominently featured on other layouts. I need 6 months to do a vacation driving trip throughout the western US focused on rail lines and hitting hot beds of layout activity.

Oh to be a western themed modeler trapped in the DC NOVA east coast snarl of traffic, humidity, and humanity. Uggg, what we do to make a living.