Southern Pacific Switching Layout

[Justinmiller171]

The route that I would also consider is would it be feasible for a railroad to station an engine there for an eight hour shift? Is there enough traffic to warrant assign an engine for the industrial track. This is why I'm using a shortline for my layout. To me, a two man crew with an old, but functioning, switcher permanently stationed at the industry spur.

If the answer to this question was yes, then it would solve all of my problems

I came to realise this: I like track plan number 1, but I don't like it's theme. I would really like to build plan 1 with a class 1 engine stationed there.

Perhaps a class 1 bought a short-line and continued to use the same ops plan, the switcher could run light from the yard and switch the spur as if it were isolated(Meaning the switcher would always arrive and leave running light)

I don't know if any of these would be plausible, I'm just throwing ideas out there :?