What did I want from my layout?

This was the easiest part of the whole project so far. I wanted a layout where I can have a few friends over and operate it. I also wanted a layout that I can operate on my own when no one is around ie switching and I also wanted what I believe is called a railfanning layout where I can watch the world go by.

 The hard bit came about trying to fit those 3 parameters in to 1 layout, I solved this by taking the original plan (MRL MR June 2007) and what I did was split the layout in to 3 sections and dedicated to upper deck to railfanning, the downtown district was expanded, and the yard was kept as per the plan.

I also wanted DCC, having converted to DCC back in 1995 I didn't need converting although I still need to choose a system.

I also had the space so why not have the prototype length of train? well this didn't work a 50 car coal train let alone a 100 car one looked stupid so I now have limited trains to 2 locos plus 30 to 40 cars.

The types of trains I wanted to see were what I thought represented the traffic seen on todays Union Pacific RR and Amtrak. I wanted unit trains like coal, grain, perishables, ethanol and autoracks, intermodal trains plus mixed manifests. I also wanted locals and have managed to work out how to include 3 different locals to add a variety to ops. Passenger trains will also be a feature although there will be no passenger station.

What you will see is a wide variety of trains and stock but you won't see many unique trains. I plan to have stock which can or could been seen from about 2003 onwards, so yesI will have SD70ACe's in various heritage liveries but not everyone (i'm limiting it it just 2) and you won't see a steamer on a special or a new Gevo with historic passenger stock doing a business special