Your opinion..

[csxengineer]

I still don't have a theme for my rr. It's a constant toss up between shortline appalacian coal railroad, or a single industry steel mill layout. Given the space ( 11'x10' around the walls), what are your thoughts? PROS & CONS.

Single industry steel mill layout
PROS-tons of operation, not commonly done in n scale, realistic in scale (can fit a lot into that space)
CONS-Blast furnace is 300 pieces!, may have to scratchbuild a lot to make it look realistic.

Shortline coal layout
PROS-coal trains are neat! I'm good at making mountain scenery, less expensive than all those walthers kits.
CONS-everyother model railroader has done it, only 2-3 scale miles, hard to compress realistic sidings and operation without looking like mines are 2 ft away.

what do you think?

 

[ezdays]

It's hard tosuggest to someone else what to do, especially since I have little experience with layouts. I'm still on my first one, and it has no theme, just a landscape in progress and structures that I like and feel right for that location.

PROS: I get to do what I like and think looks good.

CONS: Others may think I got a hodgepodge with no direction.

Pros win 100% to zip. Bottom line, go with what you like to do.

 

[igoldberg]

I have a walthers blast furnace and added only a half dozen pipes around the stoves. I really does not take a lot to make it look good. I have many good pics of blast furnaces. Email me offline if you want them. DO WHAT YOU FEEL COMFITABLE WITH. ITS YOUR RAILAROD!!!

 

[Will_annand]

My best suggestion would be to reach in your pocket, pull out a coin and say
"Heads it's Coal, Tails it's Steel."

 

[csxengineer]

Tails...it's steel

After looking at the columbia river model railroad, I decided to attempt a slightly similar layout in N scale. after 24+ hours (not in a row), I'm about 85% done with the blast furnace. I'll upload progress pics real soon.