Here is what others have done in N scale with the Belt Line - Alameda Belt Line from MRP 2005 and Alameda-Belt-in-a-Box 1’x6’ Switching Layout. Then there is this simulation that appears pretty accurate.
My HO version was similar but plans and pictures are lost to the mists of time (and the divorce). (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cry.gif)
There are factories and even government bases where there are very short RR lines and lots of switching. Griffis Air Force base is one.
I’m not one for switching layouts, but modeling a large industrial railroad or with a lot switching but also point to point operation I could see doing. I could see this railroad being funto building its entirety in N. It could be done in the right space pretty easy
I think the shortest common carrier (both freight and passengers) was the Carry Line owned by Durant, It was 0.6 miles long and carried freight around a water falls on the Marion River, Racquette Lake NY. The engine is on display at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountian, NY. Refrences and history may be obtained on their web site. There are some great pictures of putting the freight cars on barges at both ends and the two open passenger cars. Cars came up the NY Central, Adirondack Division, transferred to the Racquette River RR. They were then barged across Racquette Lake and up the Marion River to an impassable falls. the cars were then transferred to track (Satandard gauge) for the trip round the falls and back onto barges, for the trip down the Marion River, Utowana Lake, Eagle LK and Blue Mountain Lake to the Village. Supplying the resorts and logging community with necessary supplies. As it was already there, two open passenger cars were added for passengers, i.e. mostlly to carry their luggage, to the waiting steam boats.
