How Does where you grew up compare with what you model?

[AggroJones]

From what I know, lots of railroaders model what had the most influence on them, which usually is what they saw when growing up. What helped bring me into railroading was the old Southern Pacific yard in Roseville, CA. I was constantly exposed to it in the '90s. I latched onto Espee, but then went back in time. Now I model semi-generic west, heavily looks like northern California. [:I]

What I create is near the region where I grew up. How you compare? Do you model where or in the general vacinity of where you grew up?

[cacole]

I don't model the general vicinity but I do model the railroads that ran through my home town in Southern Illinois -- the Illinois Central and Missouri Pacific. I don't have a home layout where I could specialize in a specific geographic area, but must rely on a club layout.

[cbq9911a]

I've got two layouts: O Hi-Rail and HO. The O Hi-Rail layout is generic "Lionel Display Layout". The HO layout is based on where I grew up in Chicago - multitrack, more passenger than freight, etc.

[Jetrock]

I think AggroJones and I got the same inspiration--SP operations in Roseville (as well as Sacramento.) I didn't grow up downtown but was always fascinated with downtown Sacramento from a very young age, and have lived downtown for eleven years, so I model the trains that ran down here.

I was born in Chicago and always find that town inspiring in a railroady sort of way when I go to visit.

[Hawks05]

when i was little we had tons and tons of Chicago and Northwestern trains going through town. since UP bought them now we have like 3-6 trains a day go through. usually at like 12:30 there is one. and then a couple at night. thats when they usually come through. i don't get to see them that often because i'm in school but hopefully i can just sit one day and watch and take pictures.

i model/will model Burlington Northern and its subsidaries like CB&Q and GN. i also plan to have a little Rock Island and maybe depending on what i get this weekend some BNSF if i can find a locomotive.

[Anonymous]

I model Eastern Pennsylvania since I'm growing up with it now!

[PistolPete]

I grew up and still live in Maine, all the Maine lines are my 3rd choice behind BN and UP. I not sure why, maybe it like this, I grewup in Vacation Land but I take my vacations usually in the west. samething with the trains I model. I found it interesting that Model Railroader has printed many articles about different Maine lines including the series on Roque Bluffs. It is still my railroad world, I can model a BN or UP and MEC intechange based on an projected expansion of the MEC.[;)][:D]
GO PATRIOTS

[trainfan1221]

With what was left of the Erie main line in my town, there wasn`t much inspiration to model anything. I basically had to deal with seeing things in magazines and other sources to get the flavor of railroading. All I had to go by were commuter trains as most of the freights were gone, and I currently don`t model any form of passenger railroading.
Thanks to NS, all the freights on the former Erie main are now gone.

[Anonymous]

Hi all, Igrew up and live in south/east Australia and model north americam shortline,I used to model Australian prototype.Keith[8D]

[Anonymous]

I grew up north of Toronto and use to hike up to the CN main line that runs east/west just North of Steeles Avenue at Yonge. But since coming to the Maritimes i much prefer the scenery and diversity it offers. The nice thing about Nova Scotia is, if the scenery is starting to bore ya all you have to do is blink, cus it'll change for ya!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainfan1221

With what was left of the Erie main line in my town, there wasn`t much inspiration to model anything. I basically had to deal with seeing things in magazines and other sources to get the flavor of railroading. All I had to go by were commuter trains as most of the freights were gone, and I currently don`t model any form of passenger railroading.
Thanks to NS, all the freights on the former Erie main are now gone.

Here in eastern, Pennsylvania NS has messed things up also! I wish Conrail was back!!![:(][:(][:(]

[tomwatkins]

I grew up in North Florida, but I model the Southern's Murphy Branch in Western North Carolina. I moved to the mountains in NE Georgia almost eleven years ago. My home is about 25 miles from Murphy so I discovered the branch after I got up here.
Tom Watkins

[Anonymous]

Living in the Chicago area has given me numerous focal points that I find fascinating. From riding the commuter trains pass the old Englewood Station on the Rock Island line (even as it stood unused and woefully deteriorated prior to being demolished, it had an incredible allure)...to leaving for summer vacations in the South from Chicago's Union Station...to where I live now...all have left an unforgettable impression on me. As such, I want my railroad to reflect most of what I found fascinating growing up. Small towns with the obligatory Main Street--with a double track mainline close by--excites my senses to this day, as does urban scenes surrounding the approach tracks to a major train terminal. The influences of these scenes and others like them are always in thought as work progresses on my little railroad.

[Anonymous]

I don't model WHERE I grew up but WHEN I grew up. I discovered trains in the 50's, so that's the era I model.

[IRONROOSTER]

As an Army brat, I grew up all over (I lived at 20 different addresses by the time I was 18 from California to West Germany). But my main interest is the middle east coast, where I have lived since I was 16 (except for a tour in Germany when I was in the Army).
Enjoy
Paul

[ReadingBob]

I grew up in Pennsylvania and the PRR and Reading were both ran through the area I lived in. Not surprising (I guess) is that my collection is mostly Reading followed by PRR, Lehigh Valley, a little Jersey Central and maybe a piece or two of the Lehigh and New England.

Don't have a layout yet but when I do you can count on it being a coal hauler with loads of Reading Equipment.

[Anonymous]

I model the area, but not any particular line. It's a total freelanced1870-1890 railraod focused on the southern wisconisin/northern illinois area at the moment. it may expand further out from there as i add to it, but for now it's only focussing on this small area.

Jay.

[n2mopac]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

I don't model the general vicinity but I do model the railroads that ran through my home town in Southern Illinois -- the Illinois Central and Missouri Pacific. I don't have a home layout where I could specialize in a specific geographic area, but must rely on a club layout.

So nice to hear from another MoPac fan. I grew up on MoPac's Sedalia Sub in west-central Missouri. My first layout was a single town on this line. My present layout, however, is based on another personal railraod experience. It is BNSF's Witchita Falls Sub in North Texas. I chose it because I lived in north Fort Worth near Saginaw, TX, an area which simply begged to be modeled . . . so I am.
Ron

[orsonroy]

If I want to watch modern roborailroading, I'll go railfan (which is rare). I model 1950 in central Illinois, so I can watch all the cool stuff I missed being born too late (1970): mainline superpower steam hauling 79 cars at 75 MPH, passenger trains of all heavyweights being pulled by a Pacific or Hudson at 95, or a terminal yard filled with wood 38' boxcars and more than 25 engines from 10 different roads, all simmering away.

When I do railfan, I chase steam excursions or a shortline. At least they still have SOME character...

[Anonymous]

I grew up in South Central Kansas 1970's with my Dad as an Engineer for the AT&SF.

Later we moved to north Central Kansas, where the UP runs. This is reflected in my choices of road names on my layout...and what the scenery is starting to shape up to be...but nothing is certain.

Roger[:D]

[Anonymous]

Well, I grew up in a county whose last rail line was abandoned long before I was born (1969). But trips to the "big" city fueled my interest-my paint scheme is Mopac inspired--red replaces the blue. I do model the general vicinity--the fictional "North Texas Central",a modern shortline, though I use the term "modern" quite loosely!!!

[Anonymous]

I model the E,J, &E, a shortline RR that loops around the southern and western edge of Chicago. The EJ&E has a double mainline which runs thru Chicago Heights(Il)--and right past a small creek where I spent many childhood hours fishing and watching the bright orange EJ&E locos pull cars over the creek. My "old fishing hole" and the Sun Steel rolling mill, which was up the track a bit, are currently situated right in the center of my N-scale layout!

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tomwatkins

I grew up in North Florida, but I model the Southern's Murphy Branch in Western North Carolina. I moved to the mountains in NE Georgia almost eleven years ago. My home is about 25 miles from Murphy so I discovered the branch after I got up here.
Tom Watkins

Tom,
I to am from North (actually Northwest ) Florida. I travel to Western North Carolina
every spring/early summer for a couple of weeks. I'm familiar with the Murphy Branch and the GSMR. I am basing my layout on this area of the country. The rivers and streams are some of the most beautiful that I have ever seen. And the mountains are incredible. I also visit a lot of towns in North Georgia. Dillard, Highlands, Cashiers, Clayton. All great towns. I was "lucky" enough last year to be in the area in May when it rained for almost 48 hours straight. The waterfalls were at capacity. Especially Dry Falls. We have been wanting to move to North Carolina/
North Georgia for years, but where would we vacation? Florida?? Dave

[leighant]

Can't imagine why I got interested in trains considering where I grew up in the east end of Houston, Texas.


I designed a 4x8' HO layout my brother built that made two corner curves into the interchange tracks at non-working diamond crossings in two corners, capturing much of the track layout of the old neighborhood. The church were my parents were married, two or three blocks in the direction of the square with the cross on top, was the basis for a kitbased church on my existing layout.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aah.jpg

I want to include the Texas Chief as it ran through Houston and other big city features based on Houston in the big city scene if I ever get to build my big layout.
Family trips to Galveston along the old GH&H were my first experience of following a rail line some distance and seeing how it connected cities. I want to build some scenes reminiscent of Galveston, the causeway across the bay of some of the on-the-way scenes. Someday... On one of those trips, my dad pointed out a sight miles in the distance, the huge blimp hanger, largest wooden building in the world. I have had a chance to model that scene on a tiny 2'x3' portable layout.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aac.jpg

When I was in high school, the ROTC went on maneuvers several times in the piney woods 45 miles north of Houston and I fell in love with that area. I HAVE modeled that.

http://www.railimages.com/albums/kennethanthony/aad.jpg

Kenneth L. Anthony, Corpus Christi, TX

[Anonymous]

I grew up in Northeastern New York, so I don't really model a particular roadname,(although I will admit I am partial to the NYC), as much as I model the feel and general historical architecture from my old hometown. Most of the buildings were designed to look like either something you might see in New York City or something you would see anywhere in New England. I've found that this allows me to run either steam or modern disels without compromising any sort of era specific structure. My only problem is with vehicles, since they are pretty much dated by body style. When I become rich, I'll have a vast collestion of all types so as not to have that problem. I now live in North Carolina, so this allows me to wish I was still in New York without the bitter cold and snow.

[CBQ_Guy]

I grew up on the south side of Chicago in the shadow of the large Campbell Soup plant on 35th street. This was back in the early 1960's. Behind the plant was what I recently read refered to in Trains mag as the Western Avenue corridor, or some such. There used to be a gazillion tracks when I was a kid but are much less nowadays. This treasure trove of rail activity was at the end of a dead end alley one block from my back yard. At that time there was rail activity on the various tracks by the PRR, C&O, B&O, B&OCT and a couple blocks to the north was the SF and IC(?),. IIRC at what's called Ash Street Junction. To the south a couple blocks was Brighton Crossing with the IC/GM&O. I mostly hung out at the tracks behind the soup plant, though, and they had a Pennsy switcher stationed there which I used to watch pick and kick cars on the storage tracks -- I have a soft spot in my heart for PFE reefers!

When it came time to pick a prototype to model when I switched over from N to HO a dozen or so years ago, I naturally thought about picking one of these roads from the "soup lines" to model since that's what I saw growing up. But I decided the B&O/C&O paint schemes were pretty dull. PRR as well as SF seemed almost a cliche as so many modelers chose these roads, I wanted to be different. Somehow I ended up modeling the old CB&Q (Burlington) because as a kid I had a Burlington passenger set.

A sister consideration to this thread is the era you saw where you grew up. I'll get back to that specifically in a moment. I originally wanted to model the year I was born, 1953, so I could run both steam and diesel on the layout, but it turned out I didn't have the room for any way to turn steamers at each end of the layout, including a roundy-round layout or return loop...not even room realistically for a small TT. Fast forward to the era I grew up in, at least in terms of when I was doing most of the "soup plant" railfanning, which would be the early to mid-1960's. This is where I started then, but as certain pieces of rolling stock or locos became available, the era got bumped up to the late 1960's, to the point where, if I wanted to nail it down would be something like March of 1969, so I just decided I would model late summer/early fall of that year or about 6 months before the merger which created the Burlington Northern. And some day I may bump it up to just after the merger, and possibly even up to just after the creation of Amtrak in May of 1971...This could get interesting!

[Anonymous]

As a youngster in grade school I used to walk to school and on my way was the WMRY in my town. At lunch I used to walk home gulp down my lunch to hurry back and watch the switching form several of the sidings on my way. I also had the PRR shops behind my home and got to see the turntable in action all the time. I started out modeling the PRR but my heart always was with the WMRY. After several years of modeling the PRR I was pulled back and built the WMRY lurgan branch from Hagerstown MD to Shippensburg PA. The hard part was finding and remembering what the buildings etc looked like in the 50s and early 60s but it all worked out well and I now have bulit all the buildings from scratch so they look just like they did when I was a kid.

[coalminer3]

I model the era more than the prototype; late 50's allows steam and 1st generation diesel.

work safe

[88gta350]

I grew up in a very rural farming vally in Central PA that didn't have any lines running close by. Recently I've discovered that the valley had it's own short line that went bankrupt in the '40s. I've always loved that area so I've decided to model that short line as if it prospered and survived into modern day. So I guess you could say the area I grew up had a huge impact on what I model... it IS what I model.

[pkazmir]

I grew up on Mopac's main line across the (Mississippi) River from Baton Rouge...just south of Addis, LA. (Even got to do some switching in the yard there when I was about 10 or so...no kidding! Engineer invited me on board and let me handle the throttle and the horn! (He handled the brakes <g>))

Anyhow...I'm modeling Mopac from that era (just before the UP merger) but not in my home town area -- I don't particularly want to model the chemical plants. I'm going to move it a little west and model east/central Texas somewhere (somewhere where I can have an interchange with BN and maybe ATSF).

Strangely enough, I now live minutes away from Mopac's former (now UP) main line in Austin, Texas....which runs right down the middle of the "Mopac Freeway"!

-Peter