Hopper fleet's really coming along ther Rob. Time to link up those layout sections so we can see them in action! Do you have a plan for a connection system for your modules?
I have a box full of available Bev Bel hoppers like those in your pics if you need more for your roster, let me know.

Truthfully I also have a dozen of the RCT&HS McKean Hoppers that unfortunately are welded cars, but were the only decent 100 ton cars on the market when the society did them, and a box of probably two dozen old talgo truck horn hook Life Like Rdg hoppers that I could add into the fleet, if I was going for numbers, but........

My plan is too start "real" layout construction in the fall. I am working three theories in my head and scratch paper.
1. Continue the plan for the East Penn by using the modules in hand and then keep on going.
2. I have been toying with somewhat of an octopus design of the branches heading out of Reading just long enough to make for switching operations around town with a staging "loop" scenario to bring cars on and off the layout, allowing a mostly switching operation session.
3. Just building a mythical branchline and doing what ever scene I want and giving it a new name.

I am guessing in the end a Klapperthal to Topton format will win out, with all East Penn trains I model using the Temple Hill just because I can and also could try some pusher ops. Era is basical Summer of 1974.

The summer will be a little bit of facility prep work, but I may just link a couple of the sections together for a straight shot test track - depends on how the prep work moves along.

I like the "octopus" idea. And since you have all those modules started for the hill track..., maybe use the reading yard as a staging area. What other scenes or stations did you say you did modules of again?
I wonder if Windsor Service had a siding. I know Bachmann pretzels did at one time.
Be neat to include the 11th st. tentacle with the scrapyard, nelco, lentz, and Andrew Hess.
My track planning gears are turning. as are my memories of waiting at the Kutztown rd crossing, etc.

To quote Steve Gilbert.....Space, the final frontier....
of course space is the main issue with two foot wide branches shooting off everywhere. Basic operational size is a 24 by 40 L about 10 - 12 feet wide in a 24 x 40 basement. I could boldly go into a U- shape, but that would have to be down the road after some major infrastructure changes occur.

Painted the side sill green and removed the number on my 5517.This time I masked the unit and applied the paint with the air brush.Better results IMO.This unit will be renumbered to 3606.Hopefully I'll start adding decals today...hard to believe but that's 40 decals that need to be added.

Over the past week I've been stockpiling track and turnouts. Bought a box of Code 100 flex for staging yards, and half a box of Code 83 for main line (already have 1.5 boxes). Also bought a bunch of turnouts of varying sizes, including a half-dozen Code 100 #6 for the Philadelphia staging yard.

Got all the patio furniture out of the barn last weekend. Hoping to start construction in late May/early June. Some final tweaks to the track plan to be made in the next couple weeks...