Southern Pacific Switching Layout

[Justinmiller171]

Justin, that makes perfect sense in two scenarios
a. The industry is somewhat larger (not modeled on the layout) and switches on their property with an own little switcher (e.g. 45 tons)
b. The industry and some other industries (not modeled on the layout) are served by a class III switching railroad
The simple exchange without any further tracks is very prototypical today

I am thinking of modeling a small switching railroad, but my space comes out to about a quarter-mile in Ho-scale, significantly smaller than even the Kendallville Terminal. I know it should be compressed, but even then it's pretty hard to convince myself that this could be a real railroad.

I do not believe a class I railroad would spend an extra engine sitting and rusting on that track for years to handle 5 cars per week. The CFO will find a way to prevent that

There would be alot more than five carloads a day on the layout, about 5 ins and 5 outs per day would be the norm. Since the "interchange" track leads to the same railroad, the engine could be sent back to the yard every now and then for repairs.

But then again, If that is prototypical than I don't want to do it, I could just run it as an industrial spur and make the interchange track a visible staging track.