1. Wilkes Barre Division. General representation. Don't go nuts over accuracy of any kind. To include:
A. Buttonwood Yard
1). Engine terminal
2). IGA cold storage
B. Plymouth Branch
1). Loree Colliery
2). Shawnee Cement
3). Clark Bros. Lumber
4). Oil Distributor
C. Nanticoke
1). Vulcan Iron Works
2). P P & L Power Plant
D. Nescopeck
1). Agway
2). Fuel Oil Distributor
3). Coal and Water for the steam engines
D. Northumberland (semi-sceniced) staging yard.
2. Transition era (early to mid '50s). I love steam. I also like some of the early diesels.
3. Have D&H, CNJ, LV and Reading traffic. Also 2 DL&W (dummy) tracks.
4. Maximize staging to provide on-layout storage for as many trains as possible.
5. Use Peco code 55 in visible areas (including electro-frog switches). Atlas track and electric switches in non sceniced staging.
6. Functional curves of at least 18" on the mainline.
7. At least one cosmetic curve (have a 36").
8. Superelevate the visible curves (best decision I've ever made-looks great).
9. Operate as a point to point when desired (Northumberland to/from Buttonwood and on to Hudson/Wilkes Barre staging): continuous running when I want to just sit back and watch 'em run.
10. Coal is the major industry.
A. Anthracite from the Loree mine (using a loads out/empties in).
B. Bituminous to the power plant (using a loads in/emties out).
11. Local switching to Nanticoke, Nescopeck and the Plymouth Branch.
12. Industries that don't overpower the layout, but seem large enough to justify rail pickup/setout.
13. Simplify (minimal track and switches) as much as possible.