For instance, this is a picture of the Gleason Falls Bridge in Hillsboro, NH.  Immigrant stone masons from Scotland and Ireland constructed this and other bridges like it in the early 1800's.  What truly astonishes is the fact that no mortar was used to build it!  It is a dry fit of shaped stone and it still carries traffic today.

Not far from where this picture was taken are 4 other similar bridges, each of those bridges feature double arches.  And while those bridges do not have this spectacular cascade falling under them, they are however, every bit as beautifully constructed and well preserved.  It is these bridges that the ficticious Maple Mountain Railway will need to emulate for it's bridges to "pass muster" with the local historical societies...

Jumping forward a century or so, we have many rail bridges like this one seen here over the Merrimack River.  As a modelling reference, this bridge is interesting because the truss sides are not square to each other, which instantly lends this bridge a look different than any achieved from a kit.

Something else interesting about this bridge and one other that I've seen as well is that they are double-track bridges, but have only one track currently running through them.  Whether there used to be another track that has since been pulled up, or there has only ever been a single track is something that I will need to look into.  For the moment... it is a mystery to me.

Here is another view of the same bridge as seen above.  It is easy to see here the that the truss sides are not square.  Note also the width alloted for two tracks, but only one track is laid.  The ballast extends across the width of the bridge, but that may not indicate anything in particular.

While there are several spans needed to cross the Merrimack River at this point, I might at most use two span on my layout...  Even in HO this is a rather long bridge and would quickly eat up modeling space on a layout.

There are some great options for modeling industries as well.  Here is the rail yard for Ciment Quebec located in Bow, NH.  There are no fewer than 34 hoppers staged at this triple-track yard.  You can also find these cars at the Manchester yard waiting to be shipped out or have the empties forwarded on to the cement plant.ortunity, as the available The loading tower presents a scratch-building opportunity, as the available cement plant kits on the market are rather different from what we see here.

Summit Packaging is an industry that has become a family favorite.  The freeway crosses the river right at the point where this shot was taken and whenever the family rides into town on some errand or other, it has become a game guessing how many covered hoppers will be staged on their spur track.

My guess is that Summit is accepting delivery of plastic pellets for use in creating packaging materials.  One of these days I'll have to get a tour of the facility to find out more about their rail operations.

Another element that may be of interest somewhere on the layout is suggested by this freeway bridge that is currently under construction near the Manchester airport.  I have seen large road bridges modeled on other layouts, but they always seem to me to be a little unnatural because they usually end mid-span and are left just hanging in space. 

This caught my interrest because here we have a perfectly natural way to have a partial bridge - as well as some interesting construction activity as well!

Of course no layout set in New England would be complete without some scenic country homestead and a white fence.  Here is just such a home not far from my house.

As you can see, this picture was taken in the very early spring with the leaves just half-way to filling out the trees.  You can imagine how this location also might look in New England's famous autumn!

As you can see, there is much to inspire and many elements to choose from in creating a very realistic, very interesting layout for the Maple Mountain Model Railroad!  Check back again as I continue to pick the "layout design elements" that will create the basis for my model railroad.