A renewed interest in model railroading and a new apartment with more space has prompted me to begin construction of an N scale layout based on present-day Grinnell, Iowa. My girlfriend Emily attended Grinnell College, near the crossroads of Iowa Interstate Railroad and Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The small size of Grinnell, the presence of two different railroads, and a girlfriend with detailed knowledge of the prototype all make Grinnell, IA a great choice for my layout.
The layout is 5' x 2', with a 2' x 3' extension that slides away when unused. The 5' x 2' section features a simple loop, along with a siding that goes (or will eventually go) to a small yard and a few industries located on the extension. The main section will feature part of campus, downtown Grinnell, Interstate 80, and whatever else I find room for.
Status updates on the layout are posted on my blog.