This, my second major module project, introduces a freight and service yard on one side and a passenger station setting on the other. This project began in July 2006 with the goal of reaching an initial operational state in time for the February 2007 WGH on Tour Show in Portland, OR.
I chose to design this as an end module for a couple of reasons. First, I could easily use a new end module for my home modular layout to replace one of the utility end modules that I've been using to date. Secondly, I found that the looping of the freight yard area needed some additional depth that was more readily accomplished in a bulging end rather than making an unusually thick straight module. It also allowed me to gain some added length in the passenger sidings.
Something that you'll likely notice right off is the mainline at the bottom dissappearing under something that appears to be a lid or cover ... this is actually a key feature of the design in that it is intended to protect the outer "passenger" mainline from the giant operator working the freight yard which is situated off of the inner mainline. I'm planning to expose the hidden mainline via a viewing window on the side of the module.
The thick line separating the Passenger Scene from the Freight Yard Scene is a visual block ... this feature will be built as a two-sided backdrop, presenting the appropriate scene when viewed from each side of the module. I plan to build a passenger station structure extending out from the backdrop on the one side and the other side will show an extention of the yard scene. The freight yard is designed so that it can be operated separately from the mainline ... the intention being that an operator can be setting up consists for routing out to the mainline and subsequently receive consists from the mainline for sorting and re-routing.