Newbie seeking advice

[Anonymous]

I am just getting into model railroading and would like to create a railroad from the 40's and 50's. Where can I find good information on layouts and the type of rolling stock from this time period. In searching my local hobby store I have no idea which engines (I want to intermingle steam and diesel) or cars would be appropriate or how a layout would best be laid out. It doesn't help that the hobby store owner is aggravated if I come in to just look and has his own ideas how I should begin. In other words he has the personality of the stereotypical carsalesman. (No offense to ethical salespeople).

[FThunder11]

[#welcome] I would consider Googleing it. I mean like each different topic. Type in something like"1940's and 50's _______" In the blank it could be something like passenger cars, rolling stock, or locomotives. Hope this helps

[Fergmiester]

Anything steam and fro diesels I think we would be talking Fairbanks-Morse, RS 11's, Alco's GP 9's, F-7's etc.

One thing you can do is go to a used book store and pick up a few pictorials. Old books with Pictures are excellent sources of info.

Nice thing about used car salesmen is that their knowledge is limited. If you go to him with a couple of knowledgable quips you'll take the smile off his face right quick.

[jhoff310]

as far as the 40s&50's are concerned, most freight cars were around the 40' length. Loco wise you could use Mikado, Atlantic, Pacific, Early diesels, Fairbanks Morse, Alcos, Gp 7,9, and maybe an 18.Try your local library they shout have an area devoted to local history and you might be able to find something in there .

[dehusman]

Quick and dirty hints.
Cars. Most forty foot cars are in your time frame. Almost any wood sided car is in your time frame. Almost any 50' boxcar with "smooth" sides (as opposed to ribbed sides) is ok. Hoppers and gondolas with riveted sides (as opposed to welded) sides are ok. On most cars there is a little lettering near the bottom of the car that says "BLT" or "NEW" with a date following it. Any date prior to the time you are interested is appropriate.

Virtually any steam engine other than the "General" style 4-4-0's are appropriate. Anything "USRA" is appropriate.

For diesels, any carbody unit (F3, F7, F9, FA, E unit, PA, etc) is appropriate. Find a picture of a GP7 or RS3. Find a picture of a GP40 or SD40. Any hood diesel with a rounded roof is OK like the GP7 or RS3 is OK (with one or two exceptions) and any locomotive with an angular roof is like the GP/SD40 is too new. Virtually any GE locomotive (U series is too new).
There were a couple engines with rounded roofs that could be too new, the GP18 and GP20.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

Welcome. I was a newbie back from 30 year hiatus. There is a wealth of imformation on this Forum, and others like the one at Atlasrr.com
Peole have been very helpful and tolerant of Newbie questions from me. Keep asking away, and good luck. Dave

BTW What scale are you planning on modeling ? Some forums are Scale specific.

[IRONROOSTER]

Classic Trains magazine focuses on the 40's to 60's. For layout planning get a copy of "Track Planning for Realistic Operation" by John Amstrong, much of the book was originally written in the early 60's and would be appropriate to the 40' and 50's.

While virtually every steam locomotive wheel arrangement was in use somewhere, the most typical small engines were 2-8-0 on short lines, 0-6-0 and 0-8-0 in yards, 2-8-2 on the major roads. Plus anything bigger. Keep in mind that the period from WWII to to 1960 was the phase out of steam almost everywhere. The amount of steam present in 1947 would be very different from 1957 even on small roads.

Early diesels were short (less than 50 ft for the most part) and had 4 wheel trucks, but this changed during the 50's as second generation diesels started coming out.

The 40 ft boxcar dominated the freight scene. Coal haulers had lots of hoppers. Wooden sided boxcars were in use but declining. Again wood got a boost in WWII to save steel for the war effort, so the closer to WWII the more wood. After WWII many were rebuilt with steel.

Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

Wow! Thanks everyone. That is far more good information than I had expected. I am more inspired than ever to move forward with this venture. (davsachz I am going to do it in HO...I looked at N scale for the ability to do more in a smaller area but my eyes aren't what they used to be). I look forward to any more info here and will be checking out the rest of the forums as well. THanks again.

M

[Anonymous]

What railroad do you like?

What region do you live in?

These are two foundational questions from which you can expand on....

1950's time perod is excellent choice for both steam and diesel era as it was the transitional era and post war.

Most of us often model the railroad of our youth...
I am 36 and choose the Boston & Maine. Athough I grew up riding the B&M switchers in Keene, NH during the late 70's early 80's I also model the B&M transitional era from steam to diesel. New England is a timeless area of our country and both eras would look good on a layout that is why I have 2-6-0's & FT's to GP-40's in my collection. I can change on a whim without changing the features of my layout.