Since I left off, I'm only using two types of freight cars. Boxcars and flatcars with 24' trailers. It's going to be a merchandise industrial district.
Further along I thought of getting 2 variety printing background buildings (kit-bashed into three buildings), industrial office and water street freight terminal. 2 more unknown buildings.
The overall size was 12x40 inches to 12x48 inches.
I chose an era/year 1957. So I could have a Pacemaker and Early Bird boxcar together.
Freight car roster of 28 cars and 3 locomotives, 7 for each consist.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
With a small layout such as yours, I would go with the classic switchers if you're going with diesel, such as Alco S-2's, EMD SW7's, SW9's, SW1200's, SW1500's, MP15's etc. Road switchers are OK but they take up valuable length when you're on a switching lead at the end of the layout.
As far as industries go, you can get a lot of switching out of several large industries. These don't have to be full structures but low-relief ones that go up against the backdrop, giving the illusion of a much larger complex. The types of industries can range from manufacturing plants (of any kind) to food processors and breweries to refineries to freight and/or warehouses to just a plain 'ol team track with a simple loading dock. The possibilities are endless!
Two on e-bay right now, one microtrains and a lifelike, in N scale!
Sorry I missed the N scale notation.
The H16-44 was F-M's equivalent of EMD's BL-2, GP7, andGP9, or Alco's RS-2 or RS-3. It was used in the same general type of work.
Tom
I thought of getting an H16-44 but didn't know what services/duties it did.
Since the layout was supposedly small to handle two to four freight cars. The caboose was uncoupled on runaround off scene. Just showing the diesels and cars being switched.
Try http://nycshs.org/
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
In the days of cabooses, they were used on switching and local runs, so a swiching line ought to have at least one. NYC wood cabooses have been announced for release by Tru Line. I don't know when they are expected. Craftsman wood kits for the NYC wood cars are available now from American Model Builders. Resin kits for NYC steel bay window cabooses are advertised by Wright Trak, and Wright Trak also has a resin kit for NYC's transfer cabooses.
For locomotives, Atlas has announced NYC Fairbanks Morse H16-44 road switchers in their Master line, and NYC Alco RS-3's in their Classic line. These are both in the lightning stripe scheme. I'm sure there are other NYC diesel switchers and road switchers available from other companies.
If Walthers cancelled the NYC 0-8-0, it shouldn't be too hard to put appropriate decals on an undecorated engine or reletter one that comes with another road's lettering. I'm told the NYC System had 445 U-3 0-8-0's, which were USRA's or copies. It's certainly a justifiable NYC switcher, and most of the NYC USRA 0-8-0's were pretty much unmodified.
When I was walking the dog an hour ago. I thought about the New York Central again. This time why not make it into a bookshelf style layout without the need a caboose. Since I can't find a NYC caboose, it would be a switching theme with some kind of industry.
What industry would be appropriate? I was thinking of boxcars, hoppers, probably tank cars and flatcar/gondolas. The only locomotives I thought of was the RS-1, and 0-8-0 steam locomotive that Walthers Canceled.
The measurements are 12" x 40" (N Scale)