Operating question

[nachoman]

[quote="Brakie"]
1) We have no real connection to the outside world.
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We don't? Sure we do.
This is why its suggested cars taken to the interchange track be taken off the layout.See the "real" connection? Those cars are now gone.

What I meant by that is we have interchage tracks that simply assume the connecting railroad (0-5-0 or staging yard) picks up and drops off cars in routine like fashion. But, we have a more diffiuclt time modeling delays by the connecting railroad, changes in economy, or etcetera that go on beyond the borders of our layout. The "0-5-0" is much more reliable than any prototype railroad.
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2) Our model freight cars don't really carry anything
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True and our locomotives doesn't run on steam or diesel fuel but,add sound we get the illusion our locomotives are operating by steam or diesel motor operating on diesel fuel.The use of waybills makes that stale air inside of our cars valuable "cargo"..Waybills adds the illusion that we are indeed hauling "freight".

But, do we take time for loading and unloading, for car maintenance, simulate loaded weight, or other concerns that come with having the cars actually loaded? Some people do, but those are still simulations and compromises, and they arent always the same as the realities a real railroad would face.

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3) Spatial compression.
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That age old enemy can be conquered by using larger industries instead of several smaller industries.After all 3-4 large industries that looks like they need freight cars(and some times can use more then 1 type) more then a industry that looks small even with a 40' boxcar sitting at its dock.
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But inevitably our yards are smaller than prototypes, with fewer and shorter tracks, and that may require some "non-prototypical" maneuvers to deal with. Also, our mainlines and distances between towns are shorter - sure we have fast clocks and other compromises people use - but those are still comproimises.