Let's see, if I couldn't model the Pennsy, or anywhere else in North America, my next choice would be post-grouping pre-nationalization England. Either the LNER or the Great Western. I admit I've always had a soft spot for British steam with their colorful uncluttered and clean boilers and all around ellegent looks.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
We're vacationing and a few days ago made a day trip to York England and discovered the Britain Natl Train Museum. Pressed by the remaining time on the prepaid meter we breezed through in 20 minutes. It was teriffic, loaded with vintage trains, mostly steamers and their passenger cars. I took in each loco briefly. I don't think one could enter the luxurious cars but could see within.
Then, taking a train to London, the Manchester newsstand had 13 different rail magazines, mostly about prototypes but one nice one on modelling. Mostly OO, O and some N. Lots of neat stuff available which got my interest up before seeing this post. Maybe someday.
While here, watched a teriffic tv show on the history of the diesel combustion engine, from early development to the monsters powering the mega container ships.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
That would be one memorable stop on a layout tour.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
BATMAN richhotrain I have decided to model Fiji and its railway system in my bathtub layout.
richhotrain I have decided to model Fiji and its railway system in my bathtub layout.
Alton Junction
Rich, that is a very cool and novel idea, Please assure us that if MRR ever does a photo spread of said layout or we ever come to visit in person, you promise not to be in the tub running said layout.
richhotrainI have decided to model Fiji and its railway system in my bathtub layout.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
JaBear, good news.
I have decided to model Fiji and its railway system in my bathtub layout.
Rich
And now I will totally highjack the thread by recommending a wonderful book "Shipwreck" text by John Fowles (the novelist) and photography by the Gibsons of Scilly. The Isles of Scilly are some of the most treacherous for ships and the Gibsons photographed some spectacular wrecks and abandoned ships. It is a 1975 book but well worth seaking out for those with a taste for shipping in the days of sail and dramatic photography.
Dave Nelson
richhotrainTruth be told, I live on the Isles of Scilly.
Scilly, Sicily or just Silly?
richhotrain I live on the Isles of Scilly
Critics.
All critics.
Truth be told, I live on the Isles of Scilly.
BATMAN Now how about Tahiti?????
richhotrainI live in Vatican City, and there are no railroads to model.
Rich - I am sorry, but I stand to correct you!
Vatican City has a reasonably well developed transport network considering its size (consisting mostly of a piazza and walkways). As a state that is 1.05 kilometres (0.6 mi) long and 0.85 kilometres (0.5 mi) wide, it has a small transportation system with no airports or highways. The only aviation facility in Vatican City is the Vatican City Heliport. There is a standard gauge railway connected to Italy's network at Rome's Saint Peter's station by an 852-metre-long (932 yd) spur, 300 metres (330 yd) of which is within Vatican territory.
Pope John XXIII was the first Pope to make use of this railway. Pope John Paul II rarely used it. The railway is mainly used to transport freight.
Train service is rendered by Trenitalia.
BATMAN Now let's not make this too easy. If Canada had no railroads, I would most likely model a U.S. railroad. But that is way too easy. So let's make it that it has to be a different part of the planet. Pick a different region and maybe a country in that region and tell us why.
Now let's not make this too easy. If Canada had no railroads, I would most likely model a U.S. railroad. But that is way too easy. So let's make it that it has to be a different part of the planet. Pick a different region and maybe a country in that region and tell us why.
Shall I move to Monaco where I spent my youth?
BATMAN Sheldon, I see where you are coming from. I model the CPR because of my interest in the history of it long before my time. While I would still model something if the CPR did not exist, the interest would be at a much lower level. Bear, thanks for answering my question on Fiji. At the top of the thread when you mention that there are probably very few countries without a RR of some sort Fiji came to mind, as I didn't remember seeing one when I was there. Now how about Tahiti????? I was too busy looking at the beautiful woman to notice much else. Those outer islands are the most beautiful place on earth, and the scenery is not bad either.
Sheldon, I see where you are coming from. I model the CPR because of my interest in the history of it long before my time. While I would still model something if the CPR did not exist, the interest would be at a much lower level.
Bear, thanks for answering my question on Fiji. At the top of the thread when you mention that there are probably very few countries without a RR of some sort Fiji came to mind, as I didn't remember seeing one when I was there. Now how about Tahiti????? I was too busy looking at the beautiful woman to notice much else. Those outer islands are the most beautiful place on earth, and the scenery is not bad either.
Brent,
A few additional thoughts:
First, the premise of your question is very interesting, even if my response is outside the "normal" relm of the question - maybe that is what makes it such a good question?
For me, starting in the hobby at a young age, and having very good mentors in the hobby at a young age, I possibly developed a more unique perspective, also possibly influenced by working in the hobby shop at a young age as well. I was selling trains to adult modelers at age 14.......and running a train department in one at 22.
I don't see my perspective as special, or better, or more insightful - just different from most, as evidenced by some of my interactions over the years on this forum.....
I figured out years ago that I would never have the time and money to build/run/have every train that caught my eye - so I decided to examine what I really found most interesting and to zero in on that.
I have taken that approach with a number of things in life - it has served me well - well rounded is over rated......
Sheldon
Crandell, I think I read the grade was 5%. I am thinking of a cartoon I once saw where the grade was so steep they threw out an anchor from the back of the train.
You must have been pretty young at the time. You didn't have the old Browny camera with you, did you? Pic's would have been fun.
Our friends just returned from their third visit down the West coast of South America. I have made the East coast myself, but from what I hear the Pacific side is a much more pleasent place to visit. I don't think I will make it at this stage of my life. Though my 40 year old back pack is still in my closet.
Brent, that is a very good video you found of the Central Andino. You couldn't have missed how steep the grades are when it shows the first switchback about seven or eight minutes in. Nothing moves quickly except maybe downhill.
We only took the train maybe twice in the nine years we were there, but I do recall Matucana, Chosica, and Ticlio. The Junin pampa (prounounced who-NEEN) between La Oroya and Cerro de Pasco was a long flat stretch where the Consolidations' rods flew. I recall getting cinders in my eyes if I dared take a look.
richhotrainYou're getting on my nerves, JB.
richhotrain It is Fiji, not Fuji.
While I do find any kind of railroading interesting to some degree, I must admit I would have a hard time getting interested in modeling a different region of the US, let alone another country.
I've never owned a model loco that said "Union Pacific" or "Santa Fe"..........
My modeling focus is very narrow, and based on a clearly defined set of goals - short of that, I might not even be in this hobby. Interestingly, while my goals are narrowly focused, they are not obsessively "strict" regarding prototype accuracy. At one time they were - but it proved to be "not fun".
I don't think modeling some other place would be fun for me.......
As to Rich's question, surely the answer is "none of the above", or, "best at what?".
PS - while I do model a "place" that I am very familiar with, I model a time before I was even born - and maybe that is an important factor for me - asking the question, "what was this place like before my time?".
richhotrainTibet Smile, Wink & Grin
Then it would be the wireless DCC system with the Highest frequency.
You're getting on my nerves, JB. It is Fiji, not Fuji.
BATMAN It all depends on which region of the world you are modeling.
It all depends on which region of the world you are modeling.
BATMAN Guy's, I am never bothered when a thread of mine strays from the original topic, I figure a thread like this is just like a conversation and whatever direction it takes is fine with me.
Guy's, I am never bothered when a thread of mine strays from the original topic, I figure a thread like this is just like a conversation and whatever direction it takes is fine with me.
Yowza, good one, Brent.
Lots of fresh air on the Devil's Nose, too
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL