The use of prototype materials can go a long way to planning and carrying out operations on your model railroad. In fact, some prototype materials can be useful in even planning your scenery.
Take for example track charts. Track charts can give you detailed information such as where waterways are, where road crossings are, and where other railroads cross. They can also provide info on where and what type of signals were on the line. Other information detailed can pertain to sidings, curvature, and industrial tracks.
Another helpful tool are employee timetables. These of course can give special instructions on train handling, and station locations and call signs for example. These are just two of the tools useful for planning and operating a model railroad.
Penn Central Hitop Secondary Model Railroad 