The Raspberry Branch ISL (MEC in Quebec)

[sailormatlac]

I updated the track plan.



I decided to simplify the staging yard and give CPR the remaining industries since Maine Central already controlled the Shur-Gain feeds mill and Standard Chemicals. I also dropped Westgate sawmill. Modelling it would have been meaningless and operation-wise, not very interesting. I'll simulate pulpwood going interchange from MEC to CPR instead.

I also made some room in case I would like to scenic the staging yard (which is just 2 switching leads) with Wallace Silversmiths and the Imperial Oil dealer. Everything there is still to scale. Imperial Oil is REALLY small! I find strange that Wallace & Imperial shared a siding. I've often seen oil dealers on map, but habitually, they have their own siding. Is it an exception or a widespread practice of the time?

I also followed Tyson's tip to jazz a little bit the tracks. The layout is very long, so I put some large gentle curves to add visual interest, make more room for structures and also use this as a device to hide the staging area behind the feed mill.

I also found the building behind the station was American House Hotel. A nice structure to capture the feeling of a station district and that will populate the main street.

QUESTION: Track level: Old pictures show that MEC main line was a few feet lower than CPR. I suspect it was going down from the station. I'm trying to figure out if the visual appeal of that is enough. I mean, the mainline will be used when switching. It would be really bad to see cars rolling while operating the layout. I could also start to drop the mainline from CPR tank car only. That would leave about 60 inches level when switching Standard Chemical. What do you think? The drop wouldn't be more than 1/2" for 8 feet long.

Matt