Weaving an alternate timeline - fitting a garden RR into the real world

[Mik]

This will be an ongoing project, so please excuse any mistakes or revisions.

In my quest for a plausible backstory with a minimum of contradictions I have found it necessary to actually sit down and make out a written timeline. To keep it in the realm of possible I started with the REAL AV's history, and made only what changes were necessary to weave the model AV and it's already written story into it. Some parts hang together better than others. For instance the 42" rail gauge was actually invented in Norway in 1862 by Abraham Pihl.... So I had to steal march on him by 5 years. - The only plausible explanation I could think of was a mistake. Some of the other fabrications won't be quite so obviously easy for the casual reader to unravel......


http://www.the-ashpit.com/mik/timeline.html

I realize most folks never go this far, but it's the stories that really makes things fun for me.

[tangerine-jack]

For my HO modeling I like to create a history for the railroad.  After all, it is a model of a railroad, and a railroad is a transportation company that moves something from point A to point B with the objective of making a profit in doing so.   Therefore without a plausible history there can be no plausible reason why the railroad is doing what it is doing in model form.   My HO railroad has a history, it has a defined purpose for existing as a transportation company, it has defined rosters of company equipment such as locos and a few company freight cars, the rest of the equipment on the rails belongs to somebody else and the reason it is on my railroad is because we are moving the loads via the car float.  With that I have moved from being a train collector or simple diorama builder to an actual model railroader.

I do this to a much smaller extent for my garden railroad as I view that as a release from reality, not an anchor to it.  With that in mind the DDSL exists as a tourist excursion line where people pay rip off prices for the dubious pleasure of riding a creaky worn out railroad that really just goes around in a big circle.  That's about it.   The rest of the "history" is made up on the spur of the moment to whatever sounds good at the time or allows me to spin a good yarn (reference the "robber baron wars" on this forum about 4 years ago for a good piece of fun)

The bottom line is that you shouldn't feel the need to make an apology for what you are doing with your railroad.  I like the idea you are making a timeline and a history, that's a very good thing and it's clear you are enjoying the task very much.  Keep up the good work and post some photos when you get the chance!

[Mik]

How many pictures would you like?

http://www.the-ashpit.com/mik/layout.html

 

[PJM20]

I was browsing again through your site and found something I missed, the Faller Hit Train bash. Is the Faller Hit Train Gn30 or is it just O scale or is is something else? - Peter

[Mik]

The Faller 'e'-train was made back in the '80s I think? It was about 1/24 on 32mm (o gauge) track..... Which works out to real close to 30" gauge in that scale. so it was perfect for a mine tram.

If I was going to use it a for a regular train I would consider putting New Bright car bodies on o-gauge trucks rather than use the dinky 6" cars they produced.

[recaper]

Your time line story is great! keep it up.

[Mik]

Since I had already done much of the research for my own use, I decided to do a simpler 'general US' page to help modelers who wish to plan their railroads within the framework of real events.

I included mostly just the years of major stuff that could/would have affected the railroads. banking panics, strikes, booms, major changes in regulations, broad trends. .... It isn't meant to be all inclusive, just a start in the right direction for those who don't really know where to look.

Anyway, it's here if anyone wants to use it:

http://www.the-ashpit.com/mik/timeline2.html