Shipping to others

[Ralph]

I think Tony Koester and Alan McClelland used to simulate whole trains moving from one layout to the other back when Tony still had the Allegheny Midland. I think Tony had a set of locomotives decorated for the V&O and Alan had a set decorated for the AM. I'm not sure if they went so far as to send each other a consist list, but each would have a train from the other railroad in staging and when the train left the V&O, Alan would call Tony and let him know that it was on the way. That would be the signal for the train to come out of the AM staging and cross the AM. When the AM train that was scheduled to go over the V&O went off the layout into staging, then Tony would call Alan.

I would think that actually shipping freight cars from one location to another risks damage, and possibly getting lost in shipping.

I don't intend my post to be a hijacking or distraction to the thread but I think this is what may have prompted my thinking before about "metaphorical shipping". Seems like interest in actually mailing rolling stock to each other is taking off so I'll wish you well in the venture!
Ralph