Suggestions for Locomotives?

[Amalynn]

Critters are nice. I have a bunch of Bachmann 45 tonners. A tourist train like the Old Colony & Newport is nice.

I guess the question that I should be asking is how long are your trains going to be. That's what really decides what locomotives you need.

Just some food for thought:
A few years ago, Model Railroader's Great Model Railroads (1996), there was a model railroad called the Schoharie Ballet Railroad. It was a 5x9 foot layout that featured GE locomotives in the Saltzberg cream and orange scheme.

One thing that the author mentioned is how a train looked long with just 3 GE 70 tonners and 18 cars. It's all in the presentation and perception.

Rock trains would be between 4 and 10 cars, Beer trains are about 4-6 62' insulated boxcars long, and occasionally pulling a hopper car of broken glass to be recycled from the breweries. The mixed freight trains would be up to 10-15 cars long. The geeps and SD should be able to handle all of those.

The little tourist train I have in mind is inspired by the one operated by the Strasburg Railroad in Lancaster County, PA. I have multiple models of various critters, made by a wide smattering of producers, but I really want one of the new Walthers ones. The rock quarry will likely use a GE 25-tonner as a plant switcher when I get around to doing that portion.

I know SW1500s are decent locos, but it seemed superfluous to add an additional loco with a different engine type that doesn't serve a significant purpose that can't also be handled by another piece of power, since one Geep handles the beer traffic, the SD handles the rock traffic, and I'd have an extra Geep that can handle the mixed freight, and given how small the yard is, it would be pretty simple to just collect up the cars for the mixed freight and go.

I actually have that issue of Great Model Railroads and remember seeing that line, now that you mention it. I liked it a lot