Givens and Druthers

“My “Givens and Druthers” list includes the following (subject to modification or editing at any time, although wholesale changes are unlikely). This is much the same as the list from the old blog, but updated to reflect my latest vision.

Givens

  • Industrial theme heavy on switching
  • Based on B&O operations in Baltimore, MD
  • Chessie System era (Specifically the seven days between July 11 and July 17, 1984)
  • Proto-freelanced, replicating some features of Baltimore and its branches relatively faithfully, while other features are an attempt to capture the flavor of the area.
  • Radius Specs:
    • 30″ minimum radius (mainline)
    • 24″ minimum radius (industrial)
  • Street running
  • Rail Specs:
    • Code 100 rail on staging tracks, “under pavement” area of General Motors, and the Wicomico St. area (since, like GM, it will all be “under the pavement” anyway)
    • Code 83 rail on mains, sidings, and visible yard trackage
    • Code 70 rail on some industry spurs
  • Peco Turnouts
  • Point-to-point operation
  • Continuous running option for breaking in locomotives and open houses
  • Control System: Digitrax DCC
  • No duck-unders

Druthers

  • LDE-style representation of Wicomico St. in Baltimore
  • Specifics Industries/LDEs to Model:
    • GM Auto plant
    • Brewery
    • Coal Dock
    • Compressed representation of Halethorpe industrial park
    • Wicomico Street
    • “GM Siding” (Not to be confused with the GM plant)
    • Bay View Yard
    • Engine Facility
  • Interchange with Conrail and Canton RR
  • Conrail operations beyond interchange
  • Some street running
  • Phased construction
    • Phase 1: General Motors/Penn Mary/Canton Interchange
    • Phase 2: Consolidated Coal
    • Phase 3: Conrail Tracks
    • Phase 4: “Halethorpe” Industrial Area
    • Phase 5: Wicomico Street
    • Phase 6: GM Siding
    • Phase 7: Bay View Yard
  • Layout Height: Ranging from 50″ – 54″ (With some staging below)
  • Minimum Aisle width: 30″ (this may need to be compressed in several small areas)
  • Maximum Grade: 2%
  • A minimum of legs
  • Operating scheme controlled by car cards and waybills