This is an image I made in Photoshop that sums up the railroad. Looking in the upper left corner you can see two real railroads I based the layout on following a trip to the Ballard, Seattle waterfront. The diesel on the left is #98 "Li'l Beaver" of the Ballard Terminal Railroad. The photo next to it is of the Seattle, Lake Shore & Eastern Railroad. The SL&E contains the tracks seen around Gas Works Park and also form the route of the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle.
Next to it you see a catchy jingle for when passenger service was on the route. "Ride the train all the way, from East Ballard to Salmon Bay!" It names the two termini, East Ballard to the left, and Salmon Bay to the right.
Below you see a slightly altered route, but one that has all them main points covered. The slogan "Crossroads of the North West" fits in nicely as originally the SBT had interchanges with the Great Northern to the south at East Ballard and the Northern Pacific to the east at Salmon Bay.
All era's will be modeled, from 1954 right up to the present day, so every railroad the SBT has come in contact with over the years has their herald displayed. However it should be noted that only the era being modeled for that session will be present on the layout at that time! No SD-40's and steam ;) Not that an SD-40 will run on the SBT!
The orange locomotive is an example of what will be the primary power for the line. It's a Grandt Line 25 Ton Boxcab switcher and as of this writing is in it's box unassembled.
Below that is a rundown of the railroad, it's shippers, speed limits and interchanges. This puts into my mind the reason for the railroad. Why does it run? What does it do? How fast do the trains move?
After years of being satisfied watching trains run in circles, it's time to move on. I want a layout that works not just operates. I want a reason for my switching moves, and an idea that there is something more beyond my layout. I hope the SBT will give me that.
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