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[Anonymous]

This may sound odd but I've been working on my fictional railroads. During my down time, I have created 4 class 1's a class 2 and 6 shortlines. While some base their railroads on existing or non existing railroads, I have based my railroads as fictional. The biggest Railroad is a railroad called the Big Ben Express (BBEX) which has just as much as Union Pacific. BBEX (or the Ben) is an UK based railway which started out as an horse and buggy called "The Big Ben Special". It moved to the United States after they were attacked by the Germans and stuggled to keep traffic fluid after moving to the United States. Steam including the Mallets stayed until diesels rolled in. The second is Aurora and Western which has the same story excect it is a little smaller then the Ben, the only Class 2 Railroad is a railroad called the Amanda-Pittman Railroad Co. which started out as 2 railroads.

[tree68]

This is something almost any model railroader does. Unless they are modelling a specific prototype, and if they are planning on any sort of operation (except for just running trains), they need a rationale for the railroad itself, and for it's operations.

For my part, my Tug Hill and Northern usurps part of the old Rome, Watertown, and Ogdensburg (NYCRR, etc), as well as a little railroad called the Williamstown and Redfield (now gone), and assumes that a logging line also long since gone still exists. Operations still center on lumber, with maple syrup, furniture, and a small distillery (long story) also contributing. In addition, tourism is big in the area served by the TH&N, so passenger rail is alive and well.

So, creating fictional railroads is far from strange. Incorporating your knowledge of real live RR ops should enhance the experience.

[Anonymous]

I make up fictional railroads all the time, too. Here is one of mine.
Terrier Pacific Railroad: Class 1: This is one mega
railroad! The Terrier Pacific Railroad Co. is the biggest railroad in the world. Located in the US, this railroad owns over 13,000 miles of track, consisting mostly branchline trackage. The main line is single; there is one main, main line. It is a transcontential railroad which is made up of eight track its full length (being so busy). The speed limit is very high on the main line. It is whatever the engineer wants it to be! That means full speed (which means speeds of up to 120 for passenger trains). Every grade crossing along the line is guarded extremely carefully, even remote roads, because the trains are too fast for their horns or bells to be heard.
As well as brecking the record for the most trackage, Terrier Pacific also has the world's largest locomotive roster. It owns over 10,000 locomotives of all different models (it even has ex Canadian National F-8 units that haul fast freights). It also includes ex Metra F40Cs that lead most of the railroad's commuter trains. The roster for rolling stock is even bigger. Terriar Pacific owns about three million rolling stock! In total, Terrier Pacific owns 101,000,000 pices of equipment. Terrier Pacific also includes a great amount of operations. They include many mainline passenger trains that depart from New York to Los Angelis or vice versa, very high speed time freights, and little local freights and a very fine commuter service (even finer than Metra) that serves not just towns in every state, but housing communities within towns. Amtrak even fields some unique trains on the railroad, such as The Speedy Rush push-pull train that serves all of the railroad's parts.

[enr2099]

I've got one, for my next MSTS route. The Port Renfrew Southern.

Backstory: Created in the late 1950's to take over the BC Forest Products, Port Renfrew logging railroad, the Port Renfrew Southern operates from Port Renfrew, BC into Victoria via ex-Canadian National Railway trackage south of Sooke, BC. The PRSR runs commuter trains from Victoria to Sooke. The PRSR serves a few industries, including TimberWest in Port Renfrew, Western Forest Products in Jordan River and Borden Mercantile in Victoria. The Port Renfrew Southern is connected to the outside world via interchange with Rail America's Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway or railbarge from Port Renfrew. Equipment roster includes: 3 GP9RM's(purchased from CN), 2 ex-BNSF SD40-2's(used for long drags up the Jordan River Hill(2.5% grade), and 10 Budd RDC's used for commuter service and the twice daily Victoria-Port Renfrew and return passenger service.

[Anonymous]

Basicaly I model the SOO LINE in 1970s Wisconsin, But now I am expanding my layout due to more available space & am making up a few fictional branch rail lines. The "MDH" is going to be my next, Mostly for timber & lumber yards & construction ect. Using the SOO LINE hockey stick paint scheme but instead of red I will use blue in its place. Kind of like a MoPac / UP senario scheme.