The Border Line - an achievable layout?

Thanks for the encouraging comments, everyone. Thanks Joe, I too had an excursion into N scale. In the 90s I built a 2' x 9' stretched version of John Allen's early G&D layout, but didn't get to the scenic stage before N scale drove me nuts.
Re-visiting the trackplan, this messy sketch started out in SCARM, then was printed, scanned and doodled on - the usual.



The layout has no grades - all track is level (-ish) - and is divided into three separate scenic areas, supposedly miles apart. The bottom left corner is planned to be a flag-stop station out in the middle of nowhere, with maybe a freight siding added at some point.

Moving to the largest visible section, this consists of a small-town passenger station at lower left looking across the freight yard tracks, with low-relief main street buildings mounted on the scenic divider behind the station. The siding track will be in the middle of the street, giving the impression of a simple streetcar terminal - or for a boxcar spotted behind the station. Moving up to the control panel area, the passing loop fronts on a larger passenger station, with a small passenger yard behind the main building. This yard has two stub-end tracks that end in a dummy tunnel mouth (maybe mirrored?), giving the impression of continuation. The single track at the rear gives possible freight switching in front of low-relief warehouses, and possibly a hidden loads-in/empties-out operation with the mine on the other side of the scenic divider.

The plan allows the outside track of the passing loop to be used as a freight yard lead without interrupting a train doing laps around the layout. The same thing is possible in the passenger yard, but a tighter squeeze.

Leaving through the tunnel at the end of the main passenger station to the right, the train immediately finds itself crossing Bow-Legged Bridge (thanks Ron!). Here, scenery is down to floor level with trains passing (or switching) a mining operation before disappearing through the scenic divider again, re-appearing at top left. Some more low-relief industrial buildings are planned for that area too, with ways for trains to disappear to far-off places.

The layout corner cutoff at top right allows some operator access for emergencies. Most buildings will be low-relief, including the mine infrastructure along the scenic divider. The lines of sight and viewing angles work out pretty well so far, but nothing's carved in stone....mostly styrofoam.

The elevated loop isn't finalized yet, as I'm debating whether to go 027 with maybe a K-Line Plymouth mining set and a streetcar or two, or vintage American Flyer which would make an interesting forced perspective. Either way, for the section that curves through the scenic divider beside the bridge, I hope to have a suitably spindly wood trestle. Onward and upward.
FW

FW, your approach is similar to mine though your layout will be quite different. Like you, I have 2 mainlines, a lower and an upper that are not connected and there are no grades. It looks like your lower main is all O42 curves and switches and your upper main it O27. Is that correct?

Your plan to develop scenery sounds good to me. I will be following your build with great interest.

I got into N around 2005. I had no operating problems. I used Kato Unitrack and the trains ran flawlessly. N just became too small for me to work on plus I like bigger trains better. I had G in my basement in the '90s and loved the big trains. We moved to the Mid Hudson Valley in 2001 and there was no room inside for G. After trying every way I could think of to squeeze in bigger trains I settled on N inside and G outside.

Good luck with this build and keep us up to date on your progress.

Today one of the Border Line's old but smart 10-wheelers heads out of town with a Canadian Pacific special. Being a multi-company bridge railroad, our short-line sees some strange combinations. Apparently some company officers were along for the ride in the observation car, but the atmosphere was tense. Reportedly the latest slogan from the business development dept. was not well received:

"For Border Line quality & service, come to us!"

Firewood, Seems I recall seeing that same bowlegged bridge somewhere else.  

Thank you for the backstory!  It sounds great!  That is a nice track plan with lots to do, and good to just watch trains roll as well.  I use a very similar construction method for my Christmas layouts.  The mainstay is a hefty folding banquet table my wife's grandmother left behind.  We live in the house she and grandpa had built.  When we leave here depending on my abilities, I may very well use a similar construction method myself.  I'll be glad to watch for more from you!

Other than some running videos here and there, I haven't posted any progress since last January. Being in hibernation mode the last while, I did some actual work. I've done a little layout resurrection, i.e. I could actually reach it now that the last offspring has found their own place. 

The Bowlegged Bridge trestle is getting a backdrop. It's part of the scenic divider that separates the town station, the trestle, and the mine area behind. I'm trying to mimic some of my local scenery which includes a lot of basaltic cliffs. (Pic attached) This attempt is cut-up 2" styrofoam pieces, to which I'm adding scenic effects with the spray-foam/quilt-batting method. More foam-carving to come - the cliffs will grade downward and fade away to the right of the scene.

Dave

Looking good firewood. You are creating some really good interesting areas.