hardcoalcaseThe 1890-1910 era saw a hugh variety of new freight car designs ranging from "modern" all-wood to pre-USRA steel, with everyone and his dog thinking they invented the perfect all-purpose, universal freight car.
One thing to remember is that in 1906 the safety appliance laws changed so a 1910 car will have a very different grab iron arrangement than a 1890 car. Its actually an easy spotting feature. If the car has grab irons on both the sides and the ends of the car its probably a post 1906 car.
The Roundhouse 36 ft boxcar is a really nice model, but if you look at the details, its screams a 1910-1920 car.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Circa 2000-2013, freelanced regional/shortline partnership lines. (Yes, plural.)
With a little caveat: I have 611 restored by this time.... Oh, and zero graffiti.
Why 2000? One of the real partnered shorelines started around this time.
Why 2013? More coal traffic... Several coal fired power plants started shutting down after 2012-2013. So, high intermodal traffic, decent general freight traffic, and good coal traffic.
And, having a shortline allows older second-hand, (or third, forth, or more owner equipment, depending...), along with shorter trains. Partnering with a couple real lines allows me to run their equipment, plus my own. Making it a regional allows run-through mainline power, and options to run intermodal trains. (Including heritage units.) And, having restored steamers? Just a railfan's dream railroad....
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
One advantage of modeling the Maryland and Pennsylvania RR in the early 50's is that they were still using steam from the early 1900's (all but one steam locomotive pre WWI) as well as truss rod home cars and open platform passenger cars. They had small diesel switchers (SW1, NW2, SW9) as well. Plus they interchanged at both ends with the PRR and the B&O in Baltimore - so bigger steam and diesels could be run by including a small portion of these lines.
Enjoy
Paul
I grew up during the 70`s with Penn Central and the local that always had B&O power going through town. I used to watch the PC from my bedroom window. So, I model what I used to see as a kid.
Like a lot of modelers, I modeled railroading as it was during my formative years, the early fifties, with First Generation diesels (steam was mostly gone in Wisconsin at that time). In fact, I wasn't interested in steam at all--until I got an American Flyer "Silver Bullet" passenger train for Christmas in '53. My brother came back from the Air Force the following spring (he'd signed up for a minimum 4-year hitch, rather than slogging it out on the ground during the Korean War--and never left Mississippi). By that time, I realized that my streamlined Pacific, a good reproduction of the B&O #5304, would look silly pulling freight, which is what I was watching on the Soo Line, so I checked one of the Model Railroader Cyclopedias out of the library and, armed with a copy of an issue of MR from '52, built a sheet metal shell from an article called "O Gauge Mikado--Vintage 1910," by Messers Robb and Ramsdell. Looked pretty good, too, considering I was only about 15 at the time and didn't even own a soldering iron (I used a "wood-burning pen"; anyone remember those?).
I always looked at MR whenever I visited my brother and when the Late Paul Larson became editor in September of '56, I was exposed to early 1900s modeling with his photos and articles on his HO Mineral Point & Northern. Like others who responded to this string, I became HOOKED with equipment from the days of Wood Cars, Steel Rails, and Iron Men. As has been said, the photos are usually B&W, and prototype drawings in MR, as well as articles by Larson and Gordon Odegard, and others, provided me with enough ideas to last three lifetimes.
My suggestion to anyone modeling--or freelancing--a particular road, is to join the historical society for that road, plus collect books, as you can afford them. I was lucky enough to buy the 3-volume paperback reprints of the "1898 Car Builders Dictionary" and others by Newton K. Gregg's Trainshed Publications, which are a sort of doctorate course in the nuts and bolts--even the kind of wood and fasteners(!) used!
Research can be fun! Happy railroadin', everybody.
Deano
I model several eras.
78-80 because I have a large collection of IPD short line boxcars and I can have cars from several fallen flag railroads like Milwaukee,RI,PC,C&O,B&O,BN,SF,Cotton Belt,SP,Southern,N&W C&NW etc.
84/85 for my C&HV and Huron River RR.No reason other then that.
94/95 so I can use my CR,NS,CSX,Ohio Central,IHB, BRC and Summerset Ry.
All I need to do is swap out freight cars and vehicles that's fits the era whenever I what a change of pace.
Fun facts..While my ISL is generic the industries retains believability for my chosen eras.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Hello All and welcome to the forums,
My pike is set in the 1970's and 1980's. This eara was pretty much chosen for me based on several factors.
When I was working on track plans I narrowed it down to two industries; coal or logging. I also wanted to freelance the area where I live- -the mountains of Colorado.
These two industries allowed for actual operations of loading and unloading of these commodities. I decided to model a coal branch set in the Rockies.
I've never been a huge fan of steam so I settled on diesel. In doing my research I discovered that there was an upsurge of coal trains in the Rockies due to the "fuel crisis" of the 1970's.
There it was...
A freelance diesel coal operation set in the '70's to the '80's!
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
I can't say I model an era. In Japan, an era is the entire reign of a specific Emperor, and my modeling is concentrated in one month of the 39th year of the 63 year era Showa. Likewise, my location is rather specific - the upper Kiso valley, with a few twigs grafted on from other places.
As for why, I used up some of my accrued leave visiting the area with my wife and family, and we had a wonderful time. We rode the 30 inch gauge logger out to the approximate heart of nowhere, explored towns that had not felt the weight of WWII bombs and got to know some very interesting people. I came away with a bagful of exposed film, books of field notes and sketches, the local topo map and the JNR master timetable for September, 1964.
I had already decided to model Japanese railroad action as I was observing it. The Kiso country provided a much more manageable modeling environment than suburban Tokyo. My master plan, including roster building, has been set in granite ever since that visit, and is very unlikely to change.
For the remainder of my Air Force career, and the rather nomadic post-career period, I built whatever bits and pieces I could find room for in our undersize venues. Not until my final retirement eleven years ago did I ever have a space big enough to try to do my dream justice. When my wife ceded me the entire double garage I achieved nirvana. There's still a LOT to be done, and what I have doesn't look very impressive, but I foresee having fun for as long as I hold out.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Burlington Northern #24......must be the really odd man out.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I started this layout intending to model the 'Modern' era. After I built the city and country town the modern era passed me by. Then I had to rethink the scenery I had built along with the railroad and went back to 1970 where the NYC was turning into the PC. This works for me. My city of Anderson is 1970 and the railroad must be as well.
The second layout that I am building at the History Center has one side of the scenic divider set at 1910 with the rest (most) of the layout set in 1957. yes, I remember 1957. As this is a display layout, I do have a couple of locos and cars that are a little more modern for the viewers.
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
Theres a long story as how I got to model the 2010s-present with some freelancing.
I had originally planned to freelance a 1950s Pennsylvania railroad system in Western PA. I had gotten so many boxcars, hoppers 4-5 cabeese for the Pittsburgh region,etc. I had even gotten 2 K4s, a little tank switcher, a GG1, and a T1. Well, then I started seeing only Broadway limited made accurate Pennsy steamers, and I realized I could never afford to have a whole fleet of steamers. So I began to search for a new road and era.
I then started to get Norfolk Southern equipment, but that ended After discovering how many people modeled it. So once again, I started a search for a unique road.
I then created !my freelanced road- the AVDC. But I also started modeling the shortline closest to my house. The Wheeling and Lake Erie railway.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Burlington Northern #24 ......must be the really odd man out. I’m afraid Mr. DuPrey I can’t let you take all the glory, for not only is the cut off date for my freelanced railroad in year I was born , but that railroad is in a country I haven’t even visited!!
Burlington Northern #24 ......must be the really odd man out.
Why should you guys have all the fun? The oldest year I model is 1935 and the youngest is 1955. With 1947 being the third year. So that's at least 17 years before I was born to 37 years before I was born.
I model a rural traction company between Portage WI and Plover WI, based on the proposed sale of the line by the Soo Line that never happened and led to it's abandonment in 1946. The line was never electrified, but since I like traction... I run mostly light steeplecab electrics, small steam (usually no greater than the Milw USRA Hvy Mikes) and one large steam engine which is the coal drag with a leased engine from the DM&N (a 2-10-2). My one concession to internal combustion is a Doodlebug that runs the Portage to Montello run three times a day on weekdays and twice on weekends (and sometimes more on holidays).
I chose the route because in the heady days of my youth...beat...I was a field scout for Del Monte, out of Arlington, and traversed much of the route chasing the ever rippening cash crops. I loved the topography the quintessential ruralness of it, rolling sand hills, tree shrouded mesa's (yes there are mesa's in Wisconsin), eventually leading to the Sand Plains around Plainfield and Bancroft. Even in it's "heyday" it was tree lined, slow, and charming.
I model the years I do, 1935 - 1955 because those are the years that my grandfather rode the rails showing cattle at the various state fairs. He ranged as far west as Nebraska, south to Louisania and east to Ohio.
Hi,
I began playing with trains in the mid 1950s, and modeled that time - which would have been considered the "modern era". After a number of layouts and three scales, I'm still modeling that same era. At one time it was 1950-1957, but I've expanded that to 1959 as I wanted some RSD-15s....
Anyway, modeling the postwar era gives us a chance to use steam and diesel, and work with railroads that were profitable. Obviously, the era is also sentimental to me, and that is more than enough reason to stay with it.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I like and only run steam engines, era and location does not matter to me.
Scenery to me is more important. I run my trains to just see them run through nice scenery just like I did when I was young.
Nothing like seeing a big boy, triplex or a 2-8-0 doing their job.
DAVID FORTNEY I like and only run steam engines, era and location does not matter to me. Scenery to me is more important. I run my trains to just see them run through nice scenery just like I did when I was young. Nothing like seeing a big boy, triplex or a 2-8-0 doing their job.
So, respectfully, may I ask if that "scenery" includes structures?
Do these steam locos pull cars? Is there any historical context to the cars they pull?
Are the buildings or rolling stock era appropriate to the particular steam loco?
Sheldon
I chose the 1970's in Ohio because, even though tumultuous for the railroads, it was also the most colorful. by that, I mean there was quite a variety of different locomotive lash-ups. It was also the Chessie System era. I have a small fleet of Chessie locomotives to go along with my larger fleet of Erie Lackawanna and Erie locos. At that time you may even have seen cabooses (yes, cabooses, not "cabeese"), from any given railroad. That era had many first and second generation diesels, which are of great interest to me. That era also, along with still having a caboose on every train, also still had some 40 ft. boxcars, which I am fond of. Why Ohio? Well, I lived there for 22 years, from the late 70's until 1998.
I model the modern era. Always have. I love the challenge of miniaturizing reality and keeping up with what's going on. Plus, when I railfan, it's always inspiration for modeling.
I didn't think about "era" as a kid in the mid 50s to early sixties (Varney dockside, Hobbytown alco PA and RS3, PFM shay). In the early to mid 70s I was planning to build a small freelance world war I era railroad and scratch built lots of cars (patterened after the Northeastern kits). In the early 80s my son and I had a small 'modern' Burlington Northern layout.
When I was ready to build another layout I wanted main line operation with steam involving dozens of trains and several hundred cars and I didn't want to scratch build or assemble that many craftsman kits. So, I picked the "transition era" (1952-55) to keep open the option of running first generation diesals. While my freight car fleet is 1955 or earlier, I've yet to buy a diesal. I've filled my power needs with consolidations, mikados, pacifics, northerns, articulateds (2-8-8-2s and 4-6-6-4s) and switchers (0-6-0s and 0-8-0). If I were a purist, I'd have to buy some diesals (at least for the crack passenger runs), but I like running northerns or challengers for both fast freight and passenger trains.
It is not the prototype steam I remember as a kid: Boston and Maine 2-6-0s with wooden coaches in commuter service and a Central Vermont 2-10-4 cab ride in the New London yard. As a kid I couldn't afford a Bowser challenger, now that I'm retired I have a fleet of six Athearn challengers and life is good.
Grinnell
My layout can credibly depict from early '50s to late '60s, by switching out mainly locomotives and some vehicles. I remember the '60s, the "feel" or atmosphere of the decade. The '50s is a little before my time, but the research is already done, so it's not a stretch.
It was a prosperous time for the area I model, south Oregon coast (SP territory) so the trains (and trucks) are busy and have places to go, and they aren't dilapidated relics on their last leg. Dan
stuckinthe50s . My problem with modeling today, is so much that I like to model is gone. The textile industry that was the main source of livelihood in so many communities in the South are gone, torn down. The towns have their stores closed, abandoned, the whole downtown area closed. The 40's would be an interesting time with the war and increased train traffic. Still plenty of reference material for that time, but there are less people that remember it. I have still seen many that have done an excellent job in bringing me into the scene. The depression, I believe that it was weathered and dirty, closed down shops and factories, soup lines, people hitching rides across the country seeking work. This may or may not be how it was, but it is how I envision it, and there are those that do a believable depiction. Cheers, Don
. My problem with modeling today, is so much that I like to model is gone. The textile industry that was the main source of livelihood in so many communities in the South are gone, torn down. The towns have their stores closed, abandoned, the whole downtown area closed.
The 40's would be an interesting time with the war and increased train traffic. Still plenty of reference material for that time, but there are less people that remember it. I have still seen many that have done an excellent job in bringing me into the scene.
The depression, I believe that it was weathered and dirty, closed down shops and factories, soup lines, people hitching rides across the country seeking work. This may or may not be how it was, but it is how I envision it, and there are those that do a believable depiction.
Cheers, Don
stuckinthe50sFrom my profile name you may be able to figure out what era I model, 1955 to be exact. I picked that year because I can do steam and 1st generation diesel, the variety of freight cars, passenger trains, variety of models for this era, but mostly because I am familiar with this era.
The second thing is that people generally like what they know. Most people now a days have never seen a real steam locomotive in real service. Perhaps they've seen a steamer on a tourist line, or at best they've seen an excursion train. I think it is harder to like and model something there is no personal connection to.
I love steam locomotives I have 2 and planning on a 3rd and 4th probably 6 if athearn makes the number I want for the Big Boy.
My problem is the handling of it. I can't hold the tender and locomotive. Taking it in and out of the box so it doesn't break.
That's why I chose diesels, my hands can hold on to it without worrying about detailed parts.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I am lucky to be born Canadian. Steam lingered for a few more years in Canada than in the US. I remember during the summer when the family would hope in the car and we would do a motoring vacation and drive back east.
While Diesels were still relatively rare on the secondary lines I got to see the biggest and best of Canadian steamers, al be it , these engines had been delegated to secondary service.
I still remember seeing the last of the Selkirks working the prairie grain trains. Sitting at a crossing and waiting for what seemed to be forever. I remember seeing CN's northerns hauling mixed trains in Central Canada.
So there is no surprise that my prefered era is the mid 1950's.