Building the Potomac Line

[Puddlejumper]

Cold or cruddy weather marks the time to start construction again. Over the last few days I have managed to get the Spring Hill Industrial area laid out, as well as the Rosslyn Subway and the part of the subroadbed for Potomac Yard.

Here is an overview of the Spring Hill Industrial complex. The way I see it, there are 7 independent industries, with 30 individual spots. To the right the boxcars disappear between the Styrofoam, each of these yet unnamed industries has 3 spots. The industries will be low relief or flats, and the spots will be hidden behind the backdrop and under Potomac yard, which will be going on top of the white foam area to the right.


I purposely crammed some of the track, as I want that urban feel, along with the tight clearances and sharp radii of a railroad built in a city that was already developed and crowded, as a lot of east coast cities were. The track with the B&M boxcar is 15" radius, the track behind it is 12" radius, and can only accept 40' or shorter boxcars. the spur with the PC boxcar is accessed via a switchback, and only 1 car can be pulled or placed at a time, with 3 spots inside the building. I have heard how unrealistic switchbacks are, but I was surprised to find just how common they were in the east.



Behind the PC boxcar are 2 loading dock spots, and behind that is another industry that will take 3 cars inside the building.


Each of the spurs that goes to the left are to be elevated spurs...