From the schematic at the bottom one can see that it's actually two branches that, in real life, would form a Y-shape. One local serves both sides of the branch. The trains on stage from a dropleaf staging track and works each of the two towns before shoving it's train, complete with caboose, back into staging. To operate the layout I have a fleet of Atlas Trainman 40' boxcars for grain service and some Atlas 70-ton open hoppers for stone service. I need to find appropriate motive power, either a Life-Like SW1200 or Kato NW2, and some 40' interchange cars for inbound loads.
So far the track (Atlas code 80) is laid on cork on a 2" foam base. The wiring is complete and tested. Scenery is all that remains. The main structures, two elevators and their support buildings, have been completed from Walthers kits and finished by my friend Dale DeVene Jr. Here is some of his handiwork:
Elevators9-5-10 by railohio, on Flickr
Mathewsville2_9-5-10 by railohio, on Flickr
Wehbyrn1_9-5-10 by railohio, on Flickr
My goal is to have the layout ready for a train show by the end of the year. I think that can be accomplished with some ballast, ground foam, and vehicles. I'll keep you posted.
