I model an area south-west of Chicago. Mainly UP, but also SantaFe. Somewhere in the boonies,
UP exchanges passengers with ACL, and ACL w/ AT&SF...
Also some Amtrak trains are stopping in the West... ACL train is returning east from here.
Era in general around 71/72, but sometimes pure 50s, pure UP/AT&SF.
Passenger trains mainly "through", stopping only for passenger exchange, freights might stop for exchanging cars from/to branch line. Also branch line passenger traffic with Doodle bugs, RDCs or steamers (mixed traffic), freight with BL2 or SD7.
= Arnold ALCO S-2
= Atlas 0-8-0 (awaiting conversion to 2-8-2/2-8-0)
= Bachmann Dash 8-40CW
= Bachmann DD40AX
= Bachmann Doodlebug
= Bachmann 2-8-0
= Bachmann 4-8-4
= ConCor PA1/PB1
= ConCor DL109
= ConCor RDC 1/2
= LifeLike E6 AB
= LifeLike E7 AB
= LifeLike E8
= LifeLike BL2
= LifeLike PA1 AB
= LifeLike SW1200
= E8 (chassis from Atlas E7, body from Rivarossi E8 w/ 2 flywheels)
= ROCO DCC.
As NJT4207 said: Why not, it's my hobby!