04-17-2009, 06:05 PM
Perhaps the greatest "cliche`" in modeling is the use of certain repeated-to-death LDE's, such as the tunnels and the streams that have been mentioned that do not fit the geography of the layout.
Tunnels that drive directly into a mountain are a prime example. Railroad engineers do their very best not to drive tunnels straight through mountains for obvious reasons, cost being the biggest. Real railroads tunnel through outcroppings or spurs that they cannot reasonably go around, usually as a last resort. The only exception that comes easily to mind are the Swiss, who can be forgiven due to their lack of decent alternatives.
Then there are the Towering Trestles - this one I understand and sympathize with because they are such a great visual gimmick, but often they are placed in ways that no sane engineer would even dream about.
Tunnels that drive directly into a mountain are a prime example. Railroad engineers do their very best not to drive tunnels straight through mountains for obvious reasons, cost being the biggest. Real railroads tunnel through outcroppings or spurs that they cannot reasonably go around, usually as a last resort. The only exception that comes easily to mind are the Swiss, who can be forgiven due to their lack of decent alternatives.
Then there are the Towering Trestles - this one I understand and sympathize with because they are such a great visual gimmick, but often they are placed in ways that no sane engineer would even dream about.