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No I realize it would need to be compressed, to do it in N scale inch for inch would take 200 feet. I model in HO so compression would be absolutley necessary. Just a rough estimate but if I reduced the size of a train from 12 40 ft hoppers to 8... It may be possible to do the quarry/yard in an 8 foot space. Have a small length of mainline representing the whole and then have another scene representing the Pine Orchard yard/interchange/terminal. The last two parts I have no idea how to do. Perhaps it could end up as a "U" shaped layout. As Pete says this was my thinking though the term vignettes is better than what I was trying to say. I find this to be a near perfect railroad as it is so compact yet gives you the chance to do real-life operations. Compression is just a fact of life unless you want to model on the molecular scale. The Fredericksburg industrial park is interesting due to being right here for me to see, however it just doesn't seem to me now after seeing what plans could come out of it that it would make much sense as a model. I do have the article scanned if anyone wants to see the railroad as it is, I just don't know where I can post it.... photo bucket appears not to take pdf files. Tom

I've recently been able to find an article published by Model Railroader, the August 1960 issue, on an American shortline I have been trying to research for some time. The railroad is The Branford Steam Rail Road, in Branford Ct. It was named this because Branford allready had an Electric Railroad and they wanted to distinguish between it. The line is a whole 6 miles long operated as a point to point between the Tilcon trap rock stone quarry in North Branford and a water terminal off of Juniper point on the Long Island Sound. The original motive power was provided by two 0-4-0 Vulcan tank engines, at least one of which is now located at Steam Town USA National Historic Park. In the 1960's motive power moved to three GE 44 toners, which I am pretty sure are still being used today. My wife is from East Haven/New Haven Ct and her brother lives in Branford so this is how I found this little gem. Of course neither of them know much about it other than the train hauls rock from the quarry to the sound The line still has an interchange with what was once the New Haven Rail road just North of their Pine Orchard yard. This yard is basically the end of the line other than the water terminal facilities. They run 12 hopper car trains between the quarry yard and the Pine Orchard yard with one loco serving the quarry, one serving the Pine Orchard yard/Water Terminal and one road locomotive. I can scan the article from MR if anyone would like to help me design an HO model of this. I'm not sure about the UK copyright laws so I don't want to get the site in any trouble. Unfortunatly I have zero design skills so even something as straight forward as a 6 mile long railroad throws me a curve. Tom

Okay I thought about brass as well but didn't know. Is a piercing saw anything like a coping saw? Good idea, also like the definition. Tom

Hi Brian, Outstanding modeling skills you have! I have a question that you or another O scale modller may be able to help me with. I am working in 4mm but would like to find a 7mm template for the BR double arrow logo. I have no drawing skills either free hand or with cad so that is out. What I would like to do with it is somehow cut it out of tin and use it on a sign for my station. Which I guess leaves me with another question, how do cut out metal parts? Snips? and then flatten it out again? Thanks, Tom