Okay guys here is another post with some track planning ideas, and a need for perhaps some sound advice from those "in the know".
I'm planning on HO "small" steam around 1920 in southern NH. I already have my steam fleet started. That fleet being a Roundhouse 4-4-0 and a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0, both with sound. From what research I have done, both are historically accurate in that time period. The actual loco's that I have are not 100% correct, but the wheel arrangement is. Close enough for me.
My layout is a twice around 4' x 8' connecting to a 2' x 12' runner which turns 90 degrees into a 3' x 10' section. All that being said it's a glorified "J" shape with continuous running on two tracks already set up. Most of the radius is 18", with some that is more gentle, but not quite 22". Radius track was a help here. This is all built on a plywood and 1x4 wood frame with 2" foam insulation as a base. I hope that you can get the idea.
I have the 4-4-0 pulling 3 - 36' wood reefer cars from the Brookline, NH Fresh Pond Ice Company and making stops in Townsend and Pepperill, MA. I used Historical Society photos from Brookline, NH and Townsend, MA to get this pretty close to "the way it was". The Fresh Pond Ice Co. building was HUGE. So I plan to kitbash a few buildings to get something that resembles the actual thing. This building is really the centerpiece, and I plan to get this as close as I can.
The 2-8-0 is pulling mostly passenger and freight cars along from Nashua, NH into the western part of NH. I don't really have a final destination yet, but I do plan have stops in Brookline, Greenville, and Keene.
Most of the rolling stock is Roundhouse and was a wonderful gift from my wife for Christmas. The wood reefers will all be stripped, repainted, and accurately decaled. Besttrains.com was a huge help here! The passenger cars are a 4 pack RTR 50' Overland Series already marked for the B & M. I don't have any freight cars yet, but the boxcars will come soon.
Since nothing is flat in NH I plan to have a lot of rolling hills, streams, rock outcroppings, and of course trees. Plans are in the works for at least one covered bridge. You cannot model in NH without a covered bridge can you? I plan for more scenery and a limited amount of structures as there was not a lot around in 1920. Actually, there isn't all that much here now!
So am I missing anything or is this a good start? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Now to start the fundraising...
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." - Jim Elliot Visit my blog! http://becomingawarriorpoet.blogspot.com
I live in VT and modeled my layout for VT, I think what you have in mind is great. you have several local RR's for ideas on things as well.
I didnt have as much rock out croping as lots of people do, as I find around my parts rolling hills are the norm. up around N. conway, you have several natural rock outcropings though. in your layout, maybe you could put the old man in the MT. that would fit. as for a covered bridge, you can find two examples in claremont, nh. there is 1 really close to the road and you can get access to it easilly. I went to it for ideas on my Gscale covered bridge. I had to make my HO covered bridge from scratch as I couldnt find any kits that looked right and were affordable at the same time.
another item in a NH layout will be the town center green, cant forget those. it was a must have in my layout, as request of the wife. also, add your house in the town, thats another request from my wife, not fulfilled yet, but its the only missing house in our town right now.
I used to have pics posted, but had to pull them down due to space, but I have plans to re-post soon.
Kevin