Starting a route

[LGM118]

Okay, so a quick update. I've sort of decided that I really like the CSX RF&P Subdivision, but I'm going to be waiting a little while to build the route as I'm currently in the midst of applying for grad school. I think it has a pretty good balance of traffic with some decent CSX traffic, Northeast Regionals, Amtrak Long-distance, VRE runs down to Fredericksburg, etc. Things I currently intend to include:
-Washington Union Station and the Ivy City Yard, and a short extension of the NEC out to New Carrollton
-CSX Landover Subdivision (from the NEC to the Potomac River)
-The RF&P Subdivision down to Acca Yard in Richmond
-Tracks down to Richmond Main Street Station

Once I do get started, my plan is to basically make an initial version that's focused on short moves around Washington (yard work and local freight moves). With two power plants in that area, as well as lots of yard work for Amtrak up at Ivy City, things are surprisingly busy in Washington. After I've got Washington set up, my basic plan is to move south. Considering things are mostly rural from there, I'm expecting that's going to be the easier part.

Of course, I'm not really going to be doing anything with this for a couple of months (grad school applications) but I will probably be able to scope out the line (particularly in the DC area) and collect pictures and things.

So far I've been doing preliminary work like getting track maps (there's a few available online from 2002, which I put in the "recent enough to work with" category) and downloading and converting terrain.

If anyone has some good track maps or anything for the line, let me know. Also, if anyone wants to make some building models, I'm always open to that. Since I won't actually get a chance to start building the route itself for a little while (grad school applications) I have a bit of time to get pictures of the route in the DC area; unfortunately since I don't have a ton of free-time, I'll have to rely on what I can find online when it comes to anything south of Franconia.

[buzz456]

Just remember Google Earth is your friend.

[artimrj]

So is Bing's Bird's eye view.

[donpanek]

The Ol' Wisconsin Central Waukesha Subdivision from Schiller Park, IL and Fon du Lac, WI would be great. Always watched those trains go by with my father.