I am starting to plan several, interconnected layouts based on the entire nation's rail network through 2 specific eras to be exact: one being the steam era before and during World War II, and the second is the current, modern diesel era. I will have all TMCC/LEGACY controlled locomotives, as well as some conventional ones modified to run through TMCC via Electric Railroad Company circuit boards. Also, I will have the 2012 editions of the UP Heritage locomotives running, along with all big steam and all diesels from every company in the US, even fallen flag railroads. In addition, I will have transfer tunnels going off the layout and under the floor to transfer trains between seperate layouts. I will also have various operating accesories belonging to various areas of our nation like coal loaders in the Appalachian Mountains, coal ramps and the Lionel Rotary Coal Dumper in the Pittsburgh area, container stations on the pacific coast, and other accesories like that. All prototypical, all operational, and best of all, all weathered to perfection. Everything will be professionally weathered, and when the cars, accessories, scenery, equipment, figures, AND locomotives (yes, even my several thousand-dollar locomotives) come out of the shops, will look like they've spent a few years on the rails, and are in their prime. Heck, I think my layouts will be even better than Norm Charbonneau's hi-rail layout featured in Lionel Nation Volume 2 by TM Books and Video and considered by their company "the best we've ever seen!"
However, I'm just getting started, and I need a link to a nation-wide rail map, or an address of a place where I can purchase one. I'm in Fort Worth, Texas.
