I am seriously thinking about scrapping both of the layouts and going a new modelling direction. I am thinking about building a 12" x 192" layout that well be a simple, long switching layout. This new layout will be a fictitious Pacific Electric branch with a small yard. I am going to be basing it on the recently resurrected Santa Monica Air Line. My plan is to build a layout that can be either 1953 PE or 1985 SP with just a few changes. The reasons for basing this possible new layout on the Santa Monica Air Line is that passenger service was discontinued in 1953, and I have good photos of the freight station and a large lumber supply company, both good revenue suppliers in 1953. Add in a few more warehouses and an oil supplier, there will be a good mix of industries to switch. I have also seen pictures of an Erie gondola, a Frisco boxcar, and a Texas and Pacific boxcar. The variety is going to be interesting, and it will also give me a good excuse to collect more Southern Pacific flat cars and lumber loads from my favorite pusher, Micro Trains. I really wish that I would have bought the Micro Trains MUG runner set last year....
sounds like fun. 15 feet of switching could be awesome Edit -- yeah, yeah 16! Finger/typo error - not arithmetic
Oh Man, you are dangerous. You have just gotten me thinking about ripping up the Saucier Central (AAARGH!) and replacing it with O Scale Trolleys running under overhead Hot-Wire. I've always wanted to do hot wire. I tried it in HO 55 years ago with 26 AWG phosphor bronze messenger wire, but didn't have the silver soldering skills. Now, retired, with no kids, and (sadly) no wife, why not.....
Well, part of basing it off of the Air Line is once the once a day passenger train stopped, the wires went down...
Top layout: variation of John Allens Timesaver? Keep that to include in the new layout. In fact, can't you include both? That way you have an oval to just have trains running in a circle when you just want trains to run (breaking in and just to watch trains go round). I'm ALL about switching and I was born and raised in So Cal (off the eastern district...Upland). I have some PE freight cars just because of that. Yes, I would love a Kato Hollywood car or a juice jack. Go for it!
I see I'm a little late for the party, but feel compelled to make a comment. 16' of switching is a bit much for N scale in my opinion. As to your plans I like the oval the best. My very best advice is switch to HO and really enjoy switch on maybe a 12' layout length. Cost to switch to HO is minimal when you add in reliability. Jim
Not going to model Horribly Oversized. One of my fiends thinks that I should only build a 96x18 and skip building a yard...I have already started to scrap the roundy round...
