When I started my layout, I decided to free lance. I can make the rules, have my own infrastructure, and change anything at any time. I model the mid to late 50s. The area is set in the mountains west of Harrisburg Pa. This area gives my fictitious South Penn a chance to interact with the PRR, EBT, Tuscarora, and the fictitious Blacklog.
To really mix things up, the Great Northern passes through on occasion.
I'm having fun, and that's all that counts.
I'd suggest it's not simply having fun, although that's always a good sign. Rather, are you finding satisfaction in your modeling? That could include fun, in and of itself, but also includes other factors. Your budget, your space for a layout, the support in the market for your interests, and the availability of information needed to put what you want together in a satisfying way are all important.
Because you could be thrilled by the UP, build a model that reflects that and then figure out your budget isn't UP-size, you've got 8'x14' to build in, you really like small UP steam from circa 1920, and no one has written anything about the obscure UP branch line you really want to model because your uncle worked there. There are ways around all that, but if your interest is dragging, nothing's getting built and everything seems too expensive, then maybe it's time for a change.
The place where this gets painful and difficult is when the budget is already sunk into gear for something you're not so fond of anymore or at least don't feel the pull of a longtime commitment. Give it six months if you're not sure, but ebay, etc make changing prototype or era relatively less painful than it used to be. Not saying painless, but there are now ways to cash out expended capital so that if you chose wisely in the first place, the transition can be practical in the sense of bringing in some financial assistance in making a switch, as well as finding deals to make a new start.
In doing so, you'll be wise to apply the lessons you learned the first time or two around the block. Getting out a clean sheet of paper is sometimes the solution if you don't change anything except decide your trackplan because it really blows chunks. It's when you start feeling enthusiastic about figuring things out to suit your givens and druthers about the hobby that you'll know it was the right thing to do, but taking the "track planning" approach to your hobby more generally by systematically deciding what it is you will find most satisfying can also be a guide to what's next when you're not sure. Lots of great ideas here already to accomplish that.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I suspect settling down on to a RR and a specific time frame is difficult for many because they see this and see that and like it all and buy this and buy that. Just go to a train show and see what people run - mostly a mishmash.
That said, when a person does have the "whatever" to get into something specific, the outcome can be magical. Even at train shows I've seem some run trains very faithful to UP or some other RR and they look really nice; even if I am not into that era or RR, I really have a great appreciation for someone who can run a faithful train!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761I suspect settling down on to a RR and a specific time frame is difficult for many because they see this and see that and like it all and buy this and buy that. Just go to a train show and see what people run - mostly a mishmash.
I have a mishmash collection but,I separate the eras-you won't see a CSX boxcar in my 77/78 era nor will you see IPD era boxcars in my 95/96 era.
I think I became a collector more then a era specific modeler since I can model 77/78,84/85 and 95/96..I can model 60/61 due to my collection of Kadee boxcars that's been in a tote since around 2003. I had plans on selling them but,some where along the line I decided to keep them and forgot about them since that tote was on the bottom of the pile and seldom bothered..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE I have a mishmash collection but,I separate the eras-you won't see a CSX boxcar in my 77/78 era nor will you see IPD era boxcars in my 95/96 era. I think I became a collector more then a era specific modeler since I can model 77/78,84/85 and 95/96..I can model 60/61 due to my collection of Kadee boxcars that's been in a tote since around 2003. I had plans on selling them but,some where along the line I decided to keep them and forgot about them since that tote was on the bottom of the pile and seldom bothered..
Some are more mishmash than others. I have fallen victim to being somewhat of a collector too over the past 30 years, but it was limited to mostly buying rolling stock good for my favorite RR between 1965 and 1991, which is a pretty darn wide time frame. Too wide really. I have decided to narrow things down to focus on about a 10 year period which is a big change from a 26 year period, tightening things to about 1975-1985.
I have systematically sold off most of my late 1980's thru early 1990's rolling stock until I am down to only a few items, mostly some well cars that would be difficult to replace so I can occasionally a double stack train. I also still have a full California Zephyr and an F3ABBA set which was retired by Jan 1966. Any new purchases are being limited to what fits in the 1975-1985 window these days, which allows me to run a lot of freight cars built in the 1950's and 1960's still on the rails in some cases thru part of the 1980's.
Selling off rolling stock that falls out side of my narrowed time frame helps fund purchases of rolling stock that fits better.
cats think well of 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.
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.
I love PRR rolling stock - K4s, L1s, H10, E6, M1/M1a, etc... and they're virtually all available in HO (if you don't mind spending $300+ that is) Problem is, the locales I'm actually interested in modeling eventually are (er, were) Reading and B&O country (SE PA and W. MD) Fans of those railroads will shudder I'm sure, but I've decided I'm just going to do my thing, and protolance the PRR into where I want it.
You will see whatever I want you to see in my relatively new 2000 ish layout The SIW never throws anything out as long as it's diesel and it has a northeastern road name CSX Conrail Chessie and of course SIW. But none of it is super modern GP - 38s and GE 70 are my go to locomotives.
I have no interest in steam except for an ocassional excursion train.
Joe Staten Island West
I like all eras although I model the modern CN/CP for practical reasons: lots of prototype models available on the market, and studying the prototype is as easy as standing at trackside not far from my house. No regrets about the era I've chosen.. I'm not an accomplished master model builder so something like 2 ft. gauge shay steam in MI in 1924 would be beyond my capabilites anyway.
I'm set in my circa-1910-anthracite-region theme, and happily so! And I've been on this trail long enough that my current layout and equipment roster are coming together nicely. Color me committed.
Now, if the house burnt down and I had to start over completely, I might (... might! ) take a look at On30 in a somewhat similar theme.
Jim
RRR_BethBr cats think well of 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 scenes for the trains to run through. I love PRR rolling stock - K4s, L1s, H10, E6, M1/M1a, etc... and they're virtually all available in HO (if you don't mind spending $300+ that is) Problem is, the locales I'm actually interested in modeling eventually are (er, were) Reading and B&O country (SE PA and W. MD) Fans of those railroads will shudder I'm sure, but I've decided I'm just going to do my thing, and protolance the PRR into where I want it.
cats think well of 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 scenes for the trains to run through.
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 scenes for the trains to run through.
I hear ya there. I'd eventually want to mix in some parts of the Shenandoah Valley, and even New England into a future layout. Purist may not care for such notions, but pleasing them is not my concern.
Alvie
mlehman I'd suggest it's not simply having fun, although that's always a good sign. Rather, are you finding satisfaction in your modeling? That could include fun, in and of itself, but also includes other factors. Your budget, your space for a layout, the support in the market for your interests, and the availability of information needed to put what you want together in a satisfying way are all important. ...
...
I think that's a very profound statement. The things I most enjoy building are what would probably be called quirky wooden structures (think E L Moore) that could include anything from a Maine sailing waterfront to grain elevators to Colorado gold mines. Just love building structures. On the RR operating side, in contrast my tastes lean toward covered hoppers, IPD boxcars, and tuxedo black dash 2s. If I could fit it in the space, I'd seriously consider doing two small layouts with different themes.
Need to be giving some serious thought here because if all goes well our daughter will graduate college and move out in a year's time freeing up her room.
jim
I grew up with a 4X8 layout of Gilbert S scale PRR as a kid.in Brooklyn. Had small N scale layouts when I went out on my own. Then the Governemt called and tripled my salary. Worked in northern California for many years modeling the Southern Pacific. Came back east with a mangement promotion and when Conrail sold out I decided to model BNSF, since I consider them the best run railroad. They also are very railfan friendly. Know them well as I rail fanned them from the Cajon pass area in the Mojave desert to Klamath Falls, Oregon.
I model using the BNSF all time roster, which gives me a wide range of motive power with many different paint schemes. I have ATSF, BN, BNSF and GN locomotives painted units in many of their differnt schemes. Even have few that they do not, just because I like the engines, such as the Kato/ConCor U50B's that I custom painted( one in Great Northern orange and black and one in BN green and black)..
jmbjmbI think that's a very profound statement. The things I most enjoy building are what would probably be called quirky wooden structures (think E L Moore) that could include anything from a Maine sailing waterfront to grain elevators to Colorado gold mines. Just love building structures. On the RR operating side, in contrast my tastes lean toward covered hoppers, IPD boxcars, and tuxedo black dash 2s. If I could fit it in the space, I'd seriously consider doing two small layouts with different themes.
Jim,
Here's another thought that came from observing how people describe their modeling and approach to layout concepts here -- and the juxtaposition of it ideally as some form of modeling monogamy...I'm not going to go too far down THAT road But when you see a pattern emerge, it is food for thought.
In our human relations, the idea of mongamy seems to work for many of us and others not so much. Probably a good idea to be a loyal partner and not play the field too much, as that can get really expensive and threaten your sanity. But I digress.
Model railroading is much more rarely defined by the idea of a mongamous elationship to the object of your affection. Sure, it works for some people, exactly what they need to stay on the straight and narrow and give their work the discipline it might not have if they didn't pay close attention to the needs of their significant other, their prototype.
Fact of the matter, most of us may have a favorite, but we have other sweethearts on the side. And why not? We're not going to break any railroad's heart. There's not children to arrange visitation for. There are no lawyers involved nor bank accounts and other property to divide.
I primarily model the Rio Grande, but will fully admit to fooling around with the Rio Grande Southern and the Three Little Lines that ran north from Silverton. Then there's my old flame, Ms. C&S, whose Palisades are still the stuff I dream of but will likely never live under the same roof as. I have to be satisfied with the ocassional trist. And we haven't even left Colorado yet...
Because back home, the Monon waits for me. Sure wish I had more time with her, as she's everything a model railroader could want in a partner.
Then there's the often rather frigid, but fun to visit in the summer Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic. Few know her charms, because she's so far away to visit, but I still try to work her into my busy social schedule.
Then there are a few more exotic creatures, railroads I've known briefly or at a distance, like the Newfoundland Railway and the Algoma Central, who even shared the honeymoon with my wife and I.
Yep, I will freely admit, not to "cheating" but to loving many and well. I have no shame about it and neither should you if that's your Heart's Desire (an actual station on the Newfoundland Rwy, BTW). Yes, some of us need to be faithful to one. But there are many who can't or won't be, because there's just too much to love about railroading and modeling it.
Available equipment picked the era for me. Not that I pay any attention to things lik era. I am going to put a baobab tree at the 242nd street station, and will build Hogwarts Castle somewhere in Brooklyn. I even have a place for platform 9 3/4, I'll eventually put a read steam engine down there just for fun, after all, I already have a secret tunnel between Lenox Avenue and Nevins Street.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
mlehmanFact of the matter, most of us may have a favorite, but we have other sweethearts on the side.
True enough..At one time (around 62) I had a Shay powered mining railroad the Owl Creek Railroad that served two coal mines in 1930.
Why was that? I had a United Models Class B two truck Shay..At times I been tempted to buy another one.
Another thing of late is narrow gauge and I caught this bug by watching the Chama web cams.The C&TS can put on a nice show especially when they are moving cars around. Its not hard imagining the way it looked back in the day since they have boxcars,gons,Gramp tank cars and flat cars.
Broadway Lion:
Why not put the Haywarts Catsle overlooking Prospect Park???
BRAKIEAnother thing of late is narrow gauge and I caught this bug by watching the Chama web cams.The C&TS can put on a nice show especially when they are moving cars around. Its not hard imagining the way it looked back in the day since they have boxcars,gons,Gramp tank cars and flat cars.
Larry,
Heh, heh, put a guy all alone far from his loved ones with a finelooking and devastatingly allurring RR like the C&TS, and any vows one might have to a prototype back home will tend to melt away -- at least for the moment. One might even find one's resolve weakening just by connecting to her webcam, so why not?
http://www.coloradonewmexicosteamtrain.org/camera-portal-horizontal.htm
And I can tell you, it's even harder to resist in person.
Ah, the possibilities of a often forbidden relationship like that...
"Son, don't let me catch you hanging out with those narrowgauge lines...they're not standard and they are not our kind!"
This has led to a LOT of broken hearts of lonely, rather Plain-Jane RRs when a fellow let's his eye and mind wander.
Mike & Larry:
"Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be..........
[insert your favorite RR prejudice]"
Tom