My layout is still in the planning stage, but right now this is what I'm thinking:
Small, ~22x80" on one wall with a clamp on tail for a switching lead.
Setting: Vermont or Maine
Era: Between 1995 and the present
Industries: Feed mill and small transload facility
HO Scale
All turnouts #6
Track: Micro Engineering Code 70
Spacing between the main and sidings is 2.5" minimum.
Motive power: 4 axle road switcher
Longest rolling stock: 73' centerbeam flats
Capacity:
Main and siding: Locomotive and 3 cars
Feed Mill siding: 4 cars (only two spotted at a time as they must be pushed through to unload)
Transload siding: 3 cars
Both turnouts will be facing point, cars will be shoved in from the detachable switching lead, switched, and then pulled out.
The feed mill is primarily based off of Phoenix Feeds in New Haven Junction, VT and Depot Farm Supply in Leicester, both on Vermont Railway's Rutland to Burlington trackage. I plan on scratchbuilding the southernmost part of the building and adding commercial grain bins next to it.
The transload facility will take the place of Phoenix Feeds' storage track. I'm planning on basing it off the one in Colfax, WI (44.9967, -91.7281). Off-spots for the feed mill will be stored there. Initially, I'm only planning on transloading lumber there (centerbeams and an occasional box or bulkhead flat), but later I may expand to plastic pellets, steel plate, and occasionally a single hopper of coal. I plan on having a couple mobile ramps for accessing boxcars and potentially mobile unloading racks and a mobile conveyor.
I plan on switching the feed mill twice a week so the primary traffic on the layout will be covered hoppers. Lumber will be delivered every other week or so. Other commodities TBD, but less often than the covered hoppers.
I know I could maximize operational interest by choosing other industries, but I have a soft spot for grain covered hoppers and centerbeams. I also considered replacing the transload facility with a lumberyard, but I think that would make things too crowded.
