Freelance 2015-3

[faraway]

Reinhard, here in Grand Rapids,MI. where I live we still have some cobblestone streets.We also have brick streets ,in fact there is az 3 mile stretch of one street that had all the brick replaced with new about 10 years ago.Some of our older industrial areas still have the original brick streets.

One thing I have noticed over the last several years are model companies selling sheets of street brick and calling the cobblestone. I do not understand how they can confuse a rectangular brick with a round stone.

Catt, I do not intend to remove all cobblestone it is just the mix needs to be readjusted. The same happens with the buildings. I love to keep brick buildings but they will mix with other buildings. That is all fine and I like the artifacts of the past on a contemporary layout.
The problem is the probability to find still rail served business in brick buildings at cobblestone streets close together to fill a small layout. Business needs to be quite successful to receive and ship it's goods via rail. Less successful business usually declines and get a truck load only. But a successful business usually moved into a more modern building in an industry park long time ago. The West Bottoms in KC,MO are a very good example of that development. Still some old buildings but no more rail served industry. It becomes an shopping and entertainment district.
That is the point where I move intentionally from freelance into phantasy when I use a time past 2005 for my layout. Everything would be easy if I would like the transition area. That was a great time where old and new intermixed everywhere. I think that is one of the reason why the transition area is a favorite of many modelers.

NYNJ RR uses a leased GP38-2 in Brooklyn. A perfect prototype for me.