The area being modelled is on the edge of the mountain
upland area of New Hampshire, to the west of Crawfords and Franconia Notches,
giving way to a more rolling river valley scenery as we head towards Vermont.
Timber is big business, not so much for lumber by the 1950's, but pulp
wood for paper milling. Its also on the edge of dairy farming country
so expect to find a dairy farm or creamery or two. New Hampshire isn't
called the "Granite State" for nothing so expect to see a quarry.
So why create a map at all? The reason for creating a
map is so that operations have a purpose. Operation is planned to work
by the time honoured card and waybill method, which requires a destination
for trains and cars even if that place isn't within the confines of the
layout. Waybills are being created by using Albion
Software's Ship It! Car Cards 2.0
There should be plenty of traffic even in the 1950's:
MEC locals or mixed trains will work out from Bartlett to Johnsboro and
return, there will be the odd Portland - Johnsboro through freight with
cars destined for the B&M Concord line or Central Vermont, and a few Portland
- Johnsboro passenger trains, the B&M will run timber products to and
from Berlin and in summer tourist extras and in winter skiers.