Not having touched a model train for 60 years, I started my "come back" with very toy-like Bachmann snap-track. I must say, I did have the good sense to go with HO scale instead of O gauge, given the limited space, and the big ideas I had.
One of the participants in my doctoral study lived in Enola, Pa., where a cool tributary snakes into the Susquahanna. There is what used to be a big rail year up there too. That setting, and my dear friend inspired the water feature in the layout. These girder bridges crossing that water feature, would later have to be replaced, when decided to add for the GG-1 I run on the layout.
So yeah, I bought and opted not to used a ton of stuff that will end up on eBay for cheap. But I learned and quickly arrived at the design I wanted. As quickly, I quickly ditched the Bachmann snap-track.
I'm loosely trying to model the late 1960s, loosely because I'm shoe-horning all my favorite childhood memories into the layout. So, combining post 1975 intermodal elements with a PRR passenger train whipped along by a GG1 is a stretch, no doubt.
After getting the foam modelled to about where I wanted it, and the track tacked in, I painted all the rock a flat grey, and everything else a dark brown or green, so I could see the topography. I then started detailing a little, cutting in ditches, putting down a black foam layer for the "paved" areas, etc.
