With the need to have a complete modular layout for exhibitions and use at home, this new project is for the module that will be at the opposite end from The Central End module.
Here is the proposed layout. The outer loop (highlighted in blue) will generally be used for passenger operations while the inner loop will focus on freight.
The through path of the inner loop will be mostly out of view and emphasis will instead be placed on a diverging regional line that will climb up into the forest to showcase logging-related industries, complete with a log mill operation and a furniture factory. The outside route, measuring over 3/4 of a scale mile, will flow smoothly down and around the module, at one point passing alongside a major river and eventually crossing under an impressive wooden trestle bridge enabling the regional line over sixty feet above to reach its ultimate destination at the mill. A portion of the outside route will transit through a tunnel in the region near the mill given that this will be the higher elevation of the layout.
Not detailed in the drawing but something I've measured out on Cadrail is a stations and elevation plan. This initial plan allows that the outer route actually drop in elevation to a level nominally 25 feet lower along the river edge (right side of the drawing) than the entry point into the module ... the grade being somewhere in the range of 1 to 1.5%. The regional line will have some steeper grades, closer to 3%, in order to build up a more elevation in the layout.
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