Art Lites posted:In my memory, the only time the RR comes near water is when it crosses over the Rio Grande to go into Juarez. The Rio Grande is usually next to dry.
True enough. But this is an approximation of the real world. You would need about 100 feet of tabletop to show 1 scale mile of track.
Landmarks are like the opening shot of a television show. The city skyline tells us where the program takes place. Likewise, known landmarks tell other people where our layout is supposed to be.
I model the Jersey Shore, and I have a lighthouse next to the tracks, even though none of the real lighthouses in New Jersey are that close to a railroad.