04-02-2009, 10:29 PM
Unfortunately, choosing a railroad like the BNSF to model , gives you two options. Huge yards or long stretches of double track mainline between the huge yards. Most of the smaller yards in between are handled by regional operators. I would suggest the Seattle, Tacoma, Portland areas if you are interested in intermodal trains. All three have container ship docks. Longview, Washington is served by BNSF and has some smaller sized dock facilities and a lot of log ship traffic to the far east. By the way, I see CSX loco's on BNSF trains out here in the northwest, so you are covered there.