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Fictitous Railroad companys and Layouts??

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Posted by E-L man tom on Monday, January 4, 2016 10:22 AM

My little switching layout is a "what if", set in northwestern Ohio, about 50 miles south of Lake Erie and east of Toledo. It fictionally represents a 17 mile segment of the Norfolk & Western RR that was (would have been) abandoned in the late 60's-early 70's, but the businesses along the line collectively bought it so that it could still link up with the Chessie System and the Erie Lackawanna to continue rail service. presently, the railroad only owns one switching locomotive and two cabooses; no revenue rolling stock. So, just the locomotive and the two cabooses are painted and lettered for the Toledo Erie Central RR. In real life, that kind of roster is typical of many short lines. The "class 1" or major lines (Chessie and EL) are used to interchange cars with the TEC.

Tom Modeling the free-lanced Toledo Erie Central switching layout.
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Posted by josephbw on Saturday, January 2, 2016 10:51 AM

Years ago I modeled the BN and after a visit and operating session on Allen McClelland's V&O I decided to make a fictional RR to interchange with the BN. I came up with the Illinois Western. I had a color scheme of Brown and Tan with yellow lettering that looked prototypical.

 

Illinois Western

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Posted by John Busby on Monday, December 28, 2015 9:20 AM

Hi goodness181

The short answer is yes

Start with a name and a location.

Location is important it gives the terrain the railroad will run through this in turn will guide loco choice and train length.

ie mountains Big engines short trains or plains big engines big trains and so on

It may even inspire a customer this can be believable like a silver mine or fun such as consolidated treacle mines, this starts the rolling stock needs.

And so it grows.

Have a good back story this will also guide you to produce a believable railway

and help with stock choices ect

note I used the word believable not prototypical

Oh and just to stir the pot Big Smile

Real engines are redWink

regards John

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Posted by CofG on Saturday, December 26, 2015 7:14 AM

Goodness181

So i'm new to model railroading and had an idea for my own railroad company.  Do people do this??  i was thinking about going the extra mile too and painting locomotives and cars to my company's colors and all.  Didnt know if people did this alot or they just stuck to the company names like CSX??

 

Well, it sems like a huge variety of responses and they are all correct. Before I started building mine, I had to figure out what I wanted in a RR. A continuous run scenario so I could do switching alone? More than one operator? Or just enjoy building one that anyone can enjoy. The answer was "YES". What is the name? Who cares? When I finish, I can run any proto or fictitious line between 1945 - 1965 because I like variety and after all, it's mine. Do what you invision in your head and see where it goes.

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Posted by JOSEPH RENNER on Friday, December 25, 2015 1:51 PM

Some freelancers take a prototype railroad and put it in a fictional time or place. 

          I model NKP in a mountain setting. 

        -Joe Renner

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Posted by Lone Wolf and Santa Fe on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 3:08 AM

My rolling stock collection includes a couple of cars from freelanced railroads. A club in Pasadena special ordered cars from Athearn for their freelanced railroad, the Sierra Pacific Lines. I bought one at an open house. Some time later local vandals tagged it.

  

And there was MR's own Turtle Creek Central. I used their decals to decorate this Walthers Insulated Box Car. I had to print out the car information myself by looking at similar cars.

    

Modeling a fictional version of California set in the 1990s Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad
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Posted by SouthPenn on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 12:04 AM

You can have your fictional railroad connect to real railroads for more variety and operating choices.

My fictional Blacklog Railroad runs north and south in west central Pa. In the north it connects to the PRR and the Tuscarora railroad. Going south it connects to the East Broadtop Railroad and the South Penn. ( the South Penn right of way and roadbed was started in the late 1800s, but never finished but is finished and operating on my layout....semi-fictional?? ). Going further south there is a connection to the Western Maryland.

Use your imagination and have fun. 

South Penn
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Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 11:50 PM

jjd

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/252543.aspx

Made the link clickable.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by Lone Wolf and Santa Fe on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 9:11 PM

Anyone interested in building a freelanced model railroad should read The V&O Story. It is the bible of freelance model railroad philosophy. Allen did an excellent job of creating a believable fictional railroad. I didn't even know the V&O was a fake railroad until I read it because the locomotive paint scheme looked believable. I was in elementary school but I knew a lot about trains.

Modeling a fictional version of California set in the 1990s Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Railroad
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Posted by jjdamnit on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 5:00 PM

Hello All,

Welcome to the forums.

Checkout this link to a similar discussion:

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/252543.aspx

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

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Posted by JACOB OLIVER on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 4:30 PM

[quote user="BRAKIE"]

Freelance railroad modeling is popular with hundreds of modelers but,freelancing  has some guide lines that must be followed in order to create a fully believable  railroad.

My Columbus & Hocking Valley is a modern short line railroad that is named after the original C&HV of the 1800s.

 

There is another form of freelance railroads called joint ownership where locomotives and cars is supplied by the owning roads.

My Scioto Rail is one such railroad that is owned by NS and CSX...That's my excuse for using my CSX and NS cars and locomotives.

 
 

Nice to see somebody else modeling the CHV&T, or Hocking Valley, as it ultamitly became. I'm doing the same proto freelancing idea. And you're right, the key to believable freelancing is simplicity and a reasonable history.
     Here's my scenario, in case anyone wants to know. In the 1920's the Hocking built an ore mine on the actual deposit at gorre, Ohio (Don't why they didn't do it for real). In addition the mine that' been burning at New Stratsville, Ohio never happened, saving what would later be verified a 2 BILLION TON SEAM 14 FEET THICK. This, in addition to a court decision, allowed the Hocking to remain heathly and independant up through the 1960's and survive the 70's. In the 40's, the infastructure was upgraded and the 2-6-6-2's and 2-10-2' were reassinged. The 2-10-2's Columbus north and the articulated's Columbus to Chareston W.V. This made best use of the sharp curves and terrain. CTC was also installed, allowing the loco  roster to be signifigantly cut. There's more, but that should give  an idea.
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Posted by Mike Kieran on Thursday, August 25, 2011 8:33 AM

A great site to work on paint schemes is Joshua Moldover's Paint Shop website:

http://paintshop.railfan.net/

__________________________________________________________________

Mike Kieran

Port Able Railway

I just do what the majority of the voices in my head vote on.

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Posted by Goodness181 on Thursday, August 25, 2011 1:06 AM

Cool.  I actually think i did find a web site with some lol here it is.

 

http://trainiax.net/mescaleloco.php

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Posted by SMassey on Thursday, August 25, 2011 12:47 AM

I found the graphic of the SD40-2 online some where (it has been years now I cant remember where) and it was painted with UP grey and yellow.  I simply used Photoshop and recolored the engine the way I wanted for my railroad.   I am planning on using Wisconsin Central maroon and black with gold lettering. 

 

Massey

A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

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Posted by Goodness181 on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 6:15 PM

SMassey

yup I have the South Massey Railway.  It is part of the city called South Massey.  I also have a maritime company Massey Marine Salvage and Towing.  Which relates to my R/C tugs and other ships in my boat fleet.  My salvage vessel is still in the ways, construction on her has been suspended indefidently. 

OK back to the Trains.  I came up with a paint scheme for my SMRY engines I just have yet to complete the actual paint job on any of the ones slated to recieve the paint.  Here is an idea of my scheme.

 

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d124/SMasseyrr/SM/Misc/SMSD40-2.jpg

 

Massey

 

Very Nice!!!  Now did you use a program to do the color schym???  If so what was it and where can i find one like it?  or did you down load the pic and do a photo shop over it???

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Posted by SMassey on Monday, August 22, 2011 8:39 PM

yup I have the South Massey Railway.  It is part of the city called South Massey.  I also have a maritime company Massey Marine Salvage and Towing.  Which relates to my R/C tugs and other ships in my boat fleet.  My salvage vessel is still in the ways, construction on her has been suspended indefidently. 

OK back to the Trains.  I came up with a paint scheme for my SMRY engines I just have yet to complete the actual paint job on any of the ones slated to recieve the paint.  Here is an idea of my scheme.

 

 

Massey

A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

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Posted by Aralai on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 10:55 PM

Goodness181

 

 Aralai:

 

I have a real railroad - Guilford (old B&M, MEC, etc) but a fictional locale - Derry, Maine. Stephen King fans will recognize a loosely disguised Bangor with some strange goings-on around town...

 

 

AAAA very nice!!!!  I'm not a Stephen King Fan myself but i grew up and wen to high school just across the river in Brewer so i know the area very well.  need any ideas or any info about the area let me know but looks like your doing very well on your own!!!

Thanks! Summer has kept me busy away from my layout, but looking forward to getting back to it in the fall. Any advice from a local would be greatly appreciated!

 

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Posted by Goodness181 on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 8:41 AM

Aralai

I have a real railroad - Guilford (old B&M, MEC, etc) but a fictional locale - Derry, Maine. Stephen King fans will recognize a loosely disguised Bangor with some strange goings-on around town...

AAAA very nice!!!!  I'm not a Stephen King Fan myself but i grew up and wen to high school just across the river in Brewer so i know the area very well.  need any ideas or any info about the area let me know but looks like your doing very well on your own!!!

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Posted by fiatfan on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 7:44 AM

Mike Kieran

 

 

 

I love it!! Wow, I thought that it was an SW1500 and a Geep hood. Great work!!!

In all honesty I did use an SW1500 for my model.  I just wanted a quick and dirty representation of a SWeep, not an accurately detailed model.  Here's a link to an article I wrote about how I built it in just over an hour.  Thanks for the kind words.

 

Tom

Life is simple - eat, drink, play with trains!

Go Big Red!

PA&ERR "If you think you are doing something stupid, you're probably right!"

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Posted by Aralai on Monday, August 15, 2011 2:44 PM

I have a real railroad - Guilford (old B&M, MEC, etc) but a fictional locale - Derry, Maine. Stephen King fans will recognize a loosely disguised Bangor with some strange goings-on around town...

  • Member since
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Posted by Mike Kieran on Monday, August 15, 2011 7:50 AM

fiatfan

Here's my kit bashed SWeep painted for the Adobe Flats Municipal Railway.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~tbohlen/IMG_4285.JPG

A SWeep is a combination of an SW1200R and a GP-9 built by CN.

 

Tom

I love it!! Wow, I thought that it was an SW1500 and a Geep hood. Great work!!!

__________________________________________________________________

Mike Kieran

Port Able Railway

I just do what the majority of the voices in my head vote on.

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Posted by Mike Kieran on Monday, August 15, 2011 7:41 AM

Goodness181

Mike i like it too.  I have been tossing around some ideas on a name for my railroad but as of right now I'm not set on anything.  One idea is the G & H Railroad (Goodness & Howe)  my good friend wants to help me build it so thats where the Howe part is from.  but right now I'm not set on it as of yet.

What locale is your railroad? What kind of industries will it have? G& H has good possiblilities.

__________________________________________________________________

Mike Kieran

Port Able Railway

I just do what the majority of the voices in my head vote on.

  • Member since
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Posted by Mike Kieran on Monday, August 15, 2011 7:39 AM

Thanks Brakie,

I'm using a plethora of engines for it, but mainly EMD & GE switchers. I'm partial to KATO NW2s and GE 45 tonners, but I do love me some SW1500s. I plan on picking a Precision Scale Model. I already have an Athearn MP15.

I plan on bringing it to meets, so I needed a portable railway that would fit in my car and also fold away to fit in a closet.

__________________________________________________________________

Mike Kieran

Port Able Railway

I just do what the majority of the voices in my head vote on.

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Posted by galaxy on Monday, August 15, 2011 7:10 AM

richhotrain

I call mine D Rail Ments RR.

Rich

LOL.

SOunds like you have some track integrity issues!

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

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Posted by Sailormatlac on Sunday, August 14, 2011 9:22 PM

fiatfan

Here's my kit bashed SWeep painted for the Adobe Flats Municipal Railway.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~tbohlen/IMG_4285.JPG

A SWeep is a combination of an SW1200R and a GP-9 built by CN.

 

Tom

 

Nice Tom! I never get tired of SWeep! The proof that even Class I railroad can freelance stuff by themselves and kitbash once a while!

 

Matt

Proudly modelling the Quebec Railway Light & Power Co since 1997.

http://www.hedley-junction.blogspot.com

http://www.harlem-station.blogspot.com

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Posted by Sailormatlac on Sunday, August 14, 2011 9:21 PM

fiatfan

Here's my kit bashed SWeep painted for the Adobe Flats Municipal Railway.

http://www.frontiernet.net/~tbohlen/IMG_4285.JPG

A SWeep is a combination of an SW1200R and a GP-9 built by CN.

 

Tom

 

Nice Tom! I never get tired of SWeep! The proof that even Class I railroad can freelance stuff by themselves and kitbash once a while!

 

Matt

Proudly modelling the Quebec Railway Light & Power Co since 1997.

http://www.hedley-junction.blogspot.com

http://www.harlem-station.blogspot.com

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Posted by farrellaa on Sunday, August 14, 2011 8:37 PM

This is not my ficticous railroad, but John Allen's, and I am relettering my UP ten wheeler for the Gorre & Daphetid to haul the G&D passenger/baggage cars. This photo has a paper print pasted on the loco to check for fit and size before I print the decals. the two cars are not finished either as they are awaiting some detail parts and weathering. This is just my  way of honoring John Allen for his fantastic layout and ideas in the earlier days of model railroading.

   -Bob

Life is what happens while you are making other plans!

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, August 14, 2011 7:55 AM

I call mine D Rail Ments RR.

Rich

Alton Junction

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Posted by Goodness181 on Saturday, August 13, 2011 8:32 AM

very nice.  I like the green!!

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