Starting over - hmmm
I admit that doing a 1900-1910 layout in 2 rail O scale has a real appeal for me. I also would like to do an Interurban in S in the 1920's. And a 1950's Santa Fe in HO scale could be fun. So could a modern N scale BNSF. And then there's the Maine 2 footers in On30 or the EBT in Sn3. There's also.....
Well that's the problem, too many to do them all.
But I also like the Maryland & Pennsylvania early 1950's in S scale. So that's what I'll continue to do. Starting out now in S scale (as opposed to S HiRail) is a problem if you want steam. There never was much available and now there's only Northern's and Pacific's plus occasional brass offerings on the scale side. Fortunately, I have acquired enough stuff already, including kits for Ma&Pa 41, 42, 43 and EBT 0-6-0 kits that's I will label Ma&Pa as well as an SHS B&O 2-8-0. The kits are no longer made and I don't know if MTH (who bought SHS) will do the 2-8-0 again.
If I didn't have all the S stuff already, I would do a freelance shortline in the 50's in 2 rail O scale.
Paul
...I wouldn't. I'm happy with my current choices.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Howard,
When I lived in Scum City for 35 long years I changed scales and gauges several times. My problem (well.....ONE of my problems!) is I like practically everything railroading with the exceptions of NYC, UP and modern diesels. I tried Colorado NG in On3, Sn3 and HOn3 and for various reasons I lost interest.
I grew up NE of Baltimore between the B&O and Pennsy and very close to the Ma&Pa. I started a generic Eastern style layout with B&O, PRR and some Reading and then decided the N&W & Virginian were too awesome not to model them. All these changes have cost me a lot in buying and selling equipment or trading for paint jobs.
My next venture was into S scale. My original American Flyer roots made me yearn for the size and great operating features available through S scale. I did find near total happiness with S scale. Just about THE most perfect size for operating. I did that for many years until 1995 when I was diagnosed with Cancer and my inept Quack told me "you aren't going to make it". So out of pure terror and a desire to save my wife the hassles of disposing of everything I managed to sell most everything. Then I defied the Modern Man of Medicine and managed to live through it.
So then..........no trains in hand..........I found a customer who had tons of brass and other equipment but no money! SO........paint jobs were traded for new HO stuff and a new path was opened for me. This next "big thing" was doing the Ma&Pa. A great deal for 2 desperate modelers! lol It's a fantastic little RR and has so much charm and attraction it's hard to believe. I modeled that in HO for about 12 years and then decided mountains and coal trains were too intriguing so enter the Western Maryland.
I've been doing the WM now for over 10 years and so far it's been the most fun I've had. The engines are interesting, chunky and colorful. The coal trains never lose interest for me and the scenery is beyond compare.
I retired 4 years ago and my new train building and shop are about to be completed to where I can start painting again and get the layout going. I'm REALLY looking forward to getting the paint shop running again probably even more thaan building a new layout!
So, I can say I truly "have started over again".......several times. It can be fun but also expensive. Doing the research has been a lot of fun and seeking out the often elusive equipment can be fun as well as frustrating.
My 2¢,
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
It's all about the journey, so I have no regrets. I've found skills I never knew I had, and I'm proud of what I must very soon dismantle.
I'll be selling my home of 37 years, and the real estate people say the train layout must go before the house can be "shown." So, I'll have to pack it up and tear it all down. It has kind of a modular design, so I should be able to preserve it in sections, but I wish I'd done that better. Not having settled on a new home yet (this is a divorce) I will certainly have to put the trains in storage for a while, probably at least a year, and may never really resurrect this layout.
I would do my subways differently. I first built a simple oval with a passing siding for them, built beneath the surface layout and only exposed on the edges where the stations were. If I were to do it again, I'd make a longer, point-to-point subway with automatic reversing. I think that would be fun.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Given the change to start over? I would model the same era that I am modeling now, circa 1950. What some folks refer to as "the transitional period". This gives you probably the largest selection of motive power to choose from, as more and more diesels are being brought onto line. People are still traveling by rail, although the Eisenhower highway system is now becoming a major threat to the railroads. With jet powered passenger aviation coming onto the scene, travel by any other means seems archaic and passe'.
But even though I was born a little too late to witness this "golden age" in person, if given the chance, I would still model circa 1950.
Now since i've past the artifact and relic stage and being classified as a "collectible",...............I find myself wondering what would I have done or modeled if I were just beginning.
I began in 1962 modeling the SP as I once worked on the T&NO (don't be impressed....my job was one rung below cleaning the company latrines). That did not work so then PRR. Great, but everyone I knew in the hobby during that period was also modeling the Pennsy. I then went into Appalachian roads due to the incredible scenery, but I soon learned that I had no history with the toys I was playing with..........only in photos or video. Now I'm into modeling roads I knew and witnessed during my youth which were Erie, PRR (yes, again), NYC, and CNJ. I find this rewarding but in essence it is only a time capsule as are most model railroads today.
Knowing that I'm picking and modeling a period long lost to time, why not something different?
If I were just a decade younger, I would most likely tear everything down to the bench work and model the period from the late 19th century to around 1910. My interest now (and most of us do change) are heavy into this period of railroading as most equipment would have to be scratch built or bashed, code 55 rail would be a rewarding challenge to hand lay along with stub turnouts, and runs would be enormous as the average passenger train was hauled by either a 4-4-0, 2-6-0, or 4-6-0 and consisted of three cars, Most freights were headed by 2-8-0s and 2-6-0s and consisted of around 20 cars. I love the architecture of the period and the overall imagery......but this most likely will not happen as 5 years ago I seriously considered again ripping everything down and going to On3. Only my 7 foot ceiling brought me into reality. Possibly this new bug could bite me, but the thought of completing a late 19th century pike and then dropping dead the following day is food for thought.....but the real fun is not completing, but in the design and building.
Thanks for reading my rant.......anyone care to share thoughts?
HZ