Southern Pacific Switching Layout

[Green_Elite_Cab]

That said, maybe its time for you to rebuild. You may not need to take down the bench work, just re-do the track plan.

That's what I was thinking, The only problem is I am going to have to go through track-planning again
And I am sure many of you remember how bad that was last time

Well, i'm a fresh mind. I'm really notorious for just reading the "view new posts" and clicking what looks interesting. I'm happy i started just exploring the site some more. I get tired of just the usual stuff.

Personally, i already have my own idea about what you could do, based on the local freight tracks by me, though with a scenery change, and a little bending, it could fit in anywhere. I wish more railroad would make Zone Track Spot (ZTS) charts.

Basically, they display all customers and tracks, and label them. If customers have particular spots on a particular track, the third set of numbers (the "spot" in ZTS) will point them out. This is the ZTS chart for the Pemberton industrial track (though it no longer reaches Pemberton).

Here is the map of Mount Holly and Hainesport. This area would be easiest to model. Basically, the train heads east to Mount Holly, runs around itself, and then sets out cars all the way back to Pavonia yard, where it originated from. Powers is typically two double headed GPs back to back, so that there is always a cab "forward". Sometimes, the diesels are split, one on each end of the train, usually when Mt. Holly yard is down.



This is "west" (to the left) of the previous map. The only industry it is missing is Roosevelt paper, a large paper company that receives most of the traffic on the line (about 5-8 paper service boxcars). It is outside the industrial park, about a mile west.

additionally, Only tracks 234, 235, 791, 792, 795 , 798 and 799 are still active, but only Gallo Whine (795) is the same. Doolan Steel (791,792) may still be there, but its hard to tell since those tracks are often taken up by articulated trash container stack cars, and large gondolas full of construction debris (concrete and the like). The "trash" company even has its own trackmobile that is operated as part of the "Hainesport Industrial Railroad", Though i think the "HIRR" only exists withing the confines of the industrial park. The trackmobile apparently is only used to set cars out so when the local freight comes, they can be quickly taken away.

Rationalizing and removing all the extra tracks (though perhaps implying former rail service with "abandoned" tracks to nowhere) should give you a fun railroad when combined with the Mount Holly section.