Statistical Layout Building?

[montanawestren]

Hi all,
Currently im working on a freelanced not exactly size correct layout of a Burlington Northern Line from St. Regis, MT to Kalispell, MT clearly that's a long distance, I ended up moving St. Regis a bit as the layout is freelanced. Currently I have about 35 miles of line built, im working my way closer to Flathead Lake im currently by what it seems pretty close, the issue for me here, is after some measurements it turned out from where I am, to kalispell along the side of flathead lake is 65 Miles. Its so long that im not sure if I should model the distance and come in closer to kalispell, make the lake shorter and follow on where I am, or model it realisticly.
Secondly im doing all scenery and terrain by hand and modeling 65 miles with my speed could take several months to get it all done. Im just not entirely sure what to do so that's why I felt like asking.
-Montanawestren
Any help is very welcome

 

[GN1996]

I would say go ahead and make the route as close to full length as you can. That way people can get a sense of how large Flathead Lake is (if they don't already know).

Are you going to lay tracks on the west or east side of the lake? I assume the west so you can connect into Somers where the GN tie mill used to be.

Fun fact(?): NP used to have a car ferry to transport railcars from Polson up to GN at Somers. I can't remember if this is absolute fact or an intention that NP had at one point.

 

[trainman7616]

The more realistic the more fun. I have been working on a route for nearly a year and its still not complete but since I now use 2012 and not 2006 much. It has become out dated sadly. I had up to 98 miles of fictious rail line.