Over the years I've kind of modeled different things, from an HO Clinchfield inspired coal haul branch with loads/empties connection to an N scale UP/BN generic along the Colorado Front Range, and now to a Southern inspired textile town.
But even as I've done these, I've always had it playing in the back of my head, maybe D&RG in Colorado. And then of course there's the Maine two footers inspired by the wonderful C&DR with those On30 models would make that easy. Or what if I changed just a tiny bit of my current layout and modeled a "what if the Piedmont and Northern had been able to connect the two halves...?" Well, you get the drift.
Anyway, do you ever wonder if you've made the right choice or should you tear it down and start over? Is it normal to always be looking over the next hill and around the next turn?
jim
(edited for paragraphing)
Jim -
"Do you ever wonder if you've made the right choice or should you tear it down and start over?" All the time!
"Is it normal to always be looking over the next hill and around the next turn?" Ofcourse it is. You wouldnt be a good engineer if you didnt. That applys to Modellers too.
Do what makes you happy. This is a hobby. Something to be enjoyed. One of its benefits is you can do it anyway you want. And if that aint good enough, or you want something different, well, torch that puppy and start again! Gotta love this hobby!
(Plus its a good excuse to avoid the wife for another 30 years! )
PM Railfan
Nope - I picked my proto-type back in 1974 (D&H) and have been modelling it ever since.
Mark.
¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ
Era? Not really. I've always planned any layout to be set in the mid 50's, about 10 years before I was born but new enough that there is plenty of historical evidence to see how nearly anything looked and how people lived. Plus the best diesels, first generation, with the most variety of builders - and steam too!
Prototype? Well, I was once caught up in the whole proto-lancing thing and set up a ficticious but somewhat plausible railroad complete with a history. But much of the route was similar or parallel to some Reading branches so eventually I figured, why not just do the Reading. And here I am, for the past 25 years or so. Previous layouts were 'flavor of' or attempts to model short branches. Current design is a basement size 'flavor of' type layout because I just can't make the scenese I would want to have truly fit in the available space.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
jmbjmbAnyway, do you ever wonder if you've made the right choice or should you tear it down and start over?
No, I've been pretty content with my early/mid 40s NYC layout, although at present it's temporarily in boxes until we buy a new home in the place where I currently live and work.
That said, I have pushed the envelope with a few recent purchases to include the early 50s (H16-44s, RS3s) and 1956 (NYC Aerotrain). The fictitious small town that I model can easily be updated by just adding a few new[er] automobiles to reflect the mid-50s and easily removed should I decide to take the wayback machine to the "Swing Era" again.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Some people hunt around, play the field and never seem to hook up, with the right prototype/era or the right woman.
Other, luckier, people slide down an ever-narrowing funnel and finally score a clean hit in the center of the bullseye.
My spiral went from NYC to N&W to 'generic Japanese' to a very specific time and place, where it dropped anchor 52 years ago and hasn't raised a sail or turned a screw since. The other spiral zeroed sooner - I've been married (to the Imperial subject who crystallized the 'generic Japanese' phase by giving me my first brass locomotive) for 56 years.
I can understand those who keep hunting, but am happy not to join them.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - since September, 1964)
I've modeled the Milwaukee in the Late Transition Era since I was a teenager, over 50 years ago.
Some years back, I saw and heard a small steamer at my LHS, and had to have it. Since then, I've added more engines plus steam-era rolling stock. I've bought vehicles, too, so that pretty soon I will be running a dual-era railroad. Right now, I have everything on the tracks to make sure my trackwork supports it all.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
jmbjmbAnyway, do you ever wonder if you've made the right choice or should you tear it down and start over? Is it normal to always be looking over the next hill and around the next turn?
While I modeled several prototypes I've always return to modeling a freelance railroad like my Summerset,CH&V,Huron River,SCR and CD&B.
Currently I have a nice selection of SCL and Family Line locomotives along with two oddball Seaboard System locomotives.I have NS,CR and CSX as well as IHB,OC,BRC and three C&O locomotives. A Bachmann DCC/Sound Santa Fe Alco S4 awaiting the paint shop to become SCR #12.
A 70 Tonner awiting Decaling for Lake Shore Terminal Ry(LST) a 1960 era switching road that switches the industries along the Maumee River.The main hold up is a Baldwin S12 or Alco RS1 may replace the 70 Tonner.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Long ago I decided that Northern and Eastern Ohio in the 1950's would be my focus. That's where I lived when I was a kid, observing the last years of steam and the early days of First Generation diesels in the classic paint schemes. The problem is that the target field is too rich. There were too many railroads (B&O, PRR, AC&Y, NKP, NYC, Erie, and others) and too many types of operation on too many disparate lines ranging from high speed multi track mainlines down to weed-grown branches. Some of the top passenger trains operated in the area, plus some truly unimpressive freight operations, plus everything in between. There's no way I can do justice to it all, and it's hard to come up with a track plan or operating scheme that tells even a small part of the whole story. I've been tempted to expand the era to include the last years of the Interurban era, but there's no way I'll ever be able to do all I want, let alone these other projects.
Actually, I love all railroads and have model locos from railroads in other regions, such as Union Pacific, Santa Fe, and the Pocahontas Region, plus some favorite shortlines in WV and PA. I also love East Broad Top and ET&WNC, and have done some narrow gauge projects in the past. I could imagine doing more n. g. projects in the future, but I doubt there will be time for more. I don't expect to abandon my principal focus on Northern and Eastern Ohio. If all of this means I'm dissatisfied with my first choice, then so be it. If anybody wants an apology, they'll have a long wait.
Mark R. Nope - I picked my proto-type back in 1974 (D&H) and have been modelling it ever since. Mark.
Except for a difference in the era, that's my way of modeling as well. I'm always somewhere between 1937 and 1957. With all that is available in HO these years, it's a cinch for me; no reason to question myself...yet.
I always loved the Soo, and the WC. My modeling does a free-lance road, the GLC,(Great Lakes Central) models no particular prototype location, but it interchanges with the WC. That kind of, by modelers license, lets me run a variety of "through trains", as you see on most prototypes, including the BNSF, CN, CP, WSOR, and even Amtrak, along with freelance passenger and commuter trains, and trains powered by the NS, and UP.
My last 3 railroads have always followed this plan. I started as the freelance road being the Rock Springs, then on my lastest layout, I changed it to the GLC.
Mike.
My You Tube
tomikawaTTtomikawaTT wrote the following post 2 hours ago: Some people hunt around, play the field and never seem to hook up, with the right prototype/era or the right woman. Other, luckier, people slide down an ever-narrowing funnel and finally score a clean hit in the center of the bullseye.
Well, I am happy with the era, 1995-1999 there a bouts. Railroad is short line off of the UP, so I can have different name cars and UP assimilated engines. And the area, a kind of semi arid west Texas look. Since 2007.
Oh, and still with the right woman.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
I like the UP,SF, and the SP even though I have never seen them in person living on the east coast.
I don't model any specific era or location but I like the super steam era and diesels from the late 90's to today.
I just like running my favorite trains thru the scenery I have built, for me nothing is better.
I have wondered many times if I had the right protoype railroad and era, and have changed my mind more than a few times. Even now I have issues sticking to one era with rolling stock. It is your railroad. Run what you want.
I love my T&P steam, but there's a Rutland 4-6-2 I would love to own...and I do have a couple Santa Fe diesels.
John
Started with PRR in the 1950s- cost of Pennsylvania big steamers, plus the lack of connection to it ended that.
Then went to NS, everyone is doing NS, plus the club I belong to is already doing a layout for my area As a PRR/Conrail theme
then I tried freelancing. I've still got my freelanced stuff, and plan to run it on a switching layout, and keep the six axle stuff I have to be runthrough power on-
the Wheeling and Lake Erie. I settled on modern protolanced era wheeling and Lake Erie because of a few factors.
1. The section I plan to of is the east end from rook to connelsville PA, a scale distance of fifty miles which can be done in HO scale fairly easy with a little compression.
2. They run unit trains of Coke (30-40ish cars), mixed freight trains, and through trains for the AVR, SWP, B&P, and interchange with NS and CSX.
3. The equipment is all "hand me down", so you have SD40-2 units as the sole road power, in varying different paint schemes. You have the corporate colors, a few units in Rio Grande still, a Wisconsin Central unit, tons of gray primer units,etc. You even have several high hood locomotives with AAR type B trucks.
4. It's the old PWV "high line". The bridges alone will be worth an NMRA certificate for engineering and scratchbuilding. Go look up "Speers PA trestle", "Mingo Creek Viaduct", and Pigeon Creek viaduct for examples of the scale of the bridge work. I can also put a 1.5-2.0 percent grade in.
5. It's my favorite road to railfan. The trains are restricted to trackspeed of like 25mph max, so even if I have to compress distance, prototypically running speed will make it seem even longer.
6. While there are not too many online business presently, I plan to protolance it, to reintroduce the former industries to a modern wheeling
You have to go with a railroad that will hold your interest.
(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).
Over these many years, through HO & O, I've changed many times
Shiny new red CP diesels, East Broad Top RR Mikados, SOO in the Great Lakes, back to NJ with Conrail. Etc. I've sold stuff, then bought different stuff .... many times.
But though it all, while I went head-strong into my new ideas, I always had a liking for 1950's CNJ in New Jersey. That's what I've permanently settled into now. I feel that I'm done "sowing my wild oats" doing all the other things.
So, I'm not questioning/wondering myself now. But, it took me quite a while to get here.
In my miniature world nothing gets thrown away by Railroads. Older locos may get a new paint and are maintained in good running condition !
I've been planning my someday "permanent" layout for the better part of 2 decades in and out of the hobby. It has changed more times than I can count, except for a couple unifying factors:
Change as one evolves as a modeler is almost inevitable. I can't imagine I'll ever be enthralled by true to scale industrial switching duties and/or car routing. But by the same token, a roundy-round spaghetti-bowl of track like many of my first layout ideas were would never satisfy me today. I understand the concepts of selective compression, and the elements of a real railroad that I want to include much better.
Of course, not having the space to build said layout has forced this sort of analysis, since I haven't had the option to 'just build it' and see what happens.
PM Railfan Do what makes you happy. This is a hobby. Something to be enjoyed. One of its benefits is you can do it anyway you want. And if that aint good enough, or you want something different, well, torch that puppy and start again! Gotta love this hobby!
This ^ Pick what is your favorite and enjoy it. I was for a long time trying to model "modern" until graffit and wide cabs became common - at that point I decided "Modern" was wrong for me and I've back dated to caboose era D&RGW and SP. I like that so much better now and lots of nice rolling stock from Tangent, ExactRail, Genesis, Moloco, Intermountain for that time frame.
(Plus its a good excuse to avoid the wife for another 30 years! ) PM Railfan
So I have to ask myself, why are you even still married to her if thats how you feel? I feel kind of sorry for your wife.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
jmbjmb Anyway, do you ever wonder if you've made the right choice or should you tear it down and start over?
Anyway, do you ever wonder if you've made the right choice or should you tear it down and start over?
If it doesn't have a caboose, it's not a train. Passenger trains excepted of course.
My main current layout era theme is the Union Pacific and BNSF 1998-2007.
My main focus on my train set in set in 1990s, I never really realized why I wanted to model it. But back in 1995-1997 or whatever year it was I can't remember. I planned to model the Cotton Belt, never really seen the Southern Pacific, but plenty of the name cars.
Although I can change railroads just in case (ATSF, BN, CSX, NS, SP) I get bored.
Since my favorite color was blue I saw Conrail in books and later bought a CR train set. I decided to also model Conrail in 1987 and again in 1998. So I have a landscape in each region.
I also made a UP and NYC in the late 1950s early 1960s.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I think there is a natural curiosity that goes with this hobby that, for me anyway, keeps me always looking at what I like about other railroads, other locales, and other eras. I love the prototype and era I model now--BNSF in North Texas and Colorado in 2003--but it is not what I started with. I grew up in the heart of MoPac territory along its first mainline--the Sedalia sub in west-central Missouri. Naturally I desired to model what I knew and my first layout was a ficticious town on the MoPac in 1980. All three layouts I have built have been N scale, and I love N scale. I do, however, have future dreams/plans that are very different. I hope in retirement (20 years or so down the road) to build a 1870's or 1880's era HO narrow-guage layout set in the Rockies with logging service and livestock traffic along with passenger service being the focus. It doesn't mean I regret what I am doing now. It is just a different area of interest I have developed over time and would like to explore. Will I? Who knows? I hope so. These are the things that keep this hobby so interestingn to me.
Ron
Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado.
Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy
Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings
Well, I have changed scales twice - HO to O to S. And prototype twice - PRR to freelance to Maryland & Pennsylvania. Along the way I acquired some Sn2 stuff that will eventually be a small separate layout. But for about the last 20 years or so it's been the Ma&Pa in S as the primary.
Enjoy
Paul
selector Mark R. Nope - I picked my proto-type back in 1974 (D&H) and have been modelling it ever since. Mark. Except for a difference in the era, that's my way of modeling as well. I'm always somewhere between 1937 and 1957. With all that is available in HO these years, it's a cinch for me; no reason to question myself...yet.
My era has been tight from the mid to late 70's right from the get-go. I did manage to eek into 1981 when the D&H acquired some C424s, but that was as far from the 70s that I ventured. ;)
For the most part, I've been a diehard Pennsy guy/SPF, though I've always felt a serious draw to N&W as I grew up in Virginia in the 80s through early 2000s. I also loved O. Winston Link's photography, so again, another draw towards the N&W. I did some N&W modelling for a short time, and think about it here and there.
I went from HO to N-scale in 2003. I went back to HO later on. I like the space saving factor, and I love seeing how far along N-scale has gotten since I tried it out 13-years ago.
I've considered O-scale but for various reasons doubt I'll take up O-scale, though Proto48 looks amazing. As are the details, and the sound output.
The variety of models, details, scale components in HO is hard to beat, so I stick with HO, plus the size works well for me.
Now, I have gone back to the PRR and I'm only buying passenger cars, and milk cars. When I build a layout it'll be set up to be the early 50s. I've not settled on a prototype and likely never will as I'm more interested in creating a freelance Pennsylvania countryside and city scales for the trains to run through. Not that many Pennsy environs do not interest me, many do, but not enough so that I may want to create in miniature what a particular locale looked like 65-years ago. A building, a small scene, absolutely. I'm more concerned with believable over super correct. I'm also more interested in 2-track operation, rather then the 4-track mainline. My interests may change and I may have different notions over what may be the more fun and interesting way to model railroad, especially if I get new space and resources to work in. Right now, I'm building and collecting models as I've no room for a layout.
Alvie
For the past 24 years I have always been modeling the PRR's Buffalo Line. An addition to the building where the railroad is located in 1998 increased the mainline run and some branches operated BUT it was still the Buffalo line. My issue or problem ( as the crew would say ) is my era switching that seems to take place about every 5-7 years. When first built it was the late PRR 1962-1968 it then slowly changed into the late PRR /PC a 1965-1975 era. From there it became a Conrail era 1976-1982. Then back to the late PRR/PC and 5 years ago to the 1956-57 era PRR. I sold off the Conrail equipment when I got out of that era so it won't come back BUT the late PRR/PC era will return sometime in 2017. I intend to sell off the 1956-57 era equipment to reduce the amount of equipment here . Also being in my late 60's has made me realize that any additional era changes will happen in my mid 70's and I may not want to take on that task at that time. The Railroad and operation stays basically the same . I do swap out vehicles but not buildings. Biggest change is loco's , rolling stock and cabin cars. The later era is much more colorfull than the mid 50's era. The era changes also gives me new things to do ,buy and try. Keeps things fresh. Railroad is too large to be tearing it down for a new one. Helps keep me young !! --- Ken
Well, nearly 30 years ago I moved from a late 60's era, to the early 50's. About 20 years ago I developed the current freelance "ATLANTIC CENTRAL" in that era.
The ATLANTIC CENTRAL interchanges with the C&O, B&O, and WESTERN MARYLAND, so prototye modling of those roads is intergrated into my freelancing.
Very happy, not changing. In addition to actually still being very interested in this era, I don't have the temperament, time or energy for the selling off and repurchasing thing.
I'll just be happy to complete most of what I have started now......
Sheldon
In 13 years of preparing to build my layout (which will be started soon!) I have never changed my focus. I want to run Canadian Pacific in the maroon and grey livery, with a few closely related roads like the Algoma Central and Dominion Atlantic, plus the Algoma Eastern which will fictitiously live on long after its actual demise. That gives me lots of different locomotives and cars to choose from, and a reasonably broad time frame to work within. Anything earlier than that will be run as a museum piece. I personally won't run anything newer on my track, but if somebody visits and wants run their own more modern engine that will be fine by me.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Great comments, thanks guys. Sorry I didn't respond sooner, just got home from Scouts.
I grew up in Upstate SC in a small textile mill town. Right in the middle of SR, Clinchfield, SCL, and P&N country. In fact my best friend's dad was a conductor for the SR. There was a culture and way of life to those towns that was rather unique and I keep being drawn back to modeling that "culture" rather than an exact prototype. But from a railroading perspective, it was pretty much just work-a-day railroading. A local crawling into a sleepy town lost between Mayberry and Hooterville. Or a drag freight on it's way from somewhere to somewhere temporarily disrupting Saturday morning shopping in Mt Pilot.
Then for 20 years the AF sends me to places like Colorado where the joint line is more than something to read about, and traces of Colorado Midland still dot the landscape. And California, where our first day in the state took us over Tehachapi. And the Northeast, and ... Well, there is so much to love railroading wise all around the country and my room is so small.....
tomikawaTT Some people hunt around, play the field and never seem to hook up, with the right prototype/era or the right woman. Other, luckier, people slide down an ever-narrowing funnel and finally score a clean hit in the center of the bullseye. My spiral went from NYC to N&W to 'generic Japanese' to a very specific time and place, where it dropped anchor 52 years ago and hasn't raised a sail or turned a screw since. The other spiral zeroed sooner - I've been married (to the Imperial subject who crystallized the 'generic Japanese' phase by giving me my first brass locomotive) for 56 years. I can understand those who keep hunting, but am happy not to join them. Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - since September, 1964)