The Birth of a Railroad (and a user)

[The Jet Clipper]

Hello,

I'm a new user here on the forum. I'm a new to the whole "realistic modelling" thing, and seeing as this is a model railroading forum, I'm here for tips and tricks, as well as expanding on my own railroad.

On to the topic of that railroad, it is known as the California & Pacific. It was established in 1945, although service started 1946 after they took delivery of an A-B-A set of F2's. The railroad's main service was hauling Santa Fe's San Diegan after a deal with the Santa Fe. Throughout the years, a deal with the Southern Pacific was made to assist with the Daylight service and heavy freights through the Tehachapi Pass, as well as serving the Santa Fe's "Chief" routes. In return, they recieved some of the profit from the runs, and that went to expanding their fleet of F Units. By 1971, after Amtrak's establishment, the C&P started only pulling freight. By 1980, after the deals with the SP and SF ran dry, the C&P was absorbed half by the SP and half by the SF. 

Seeing as this lined up with the era I'm going to model (mid-40's - early 50's), I wanted to make my own railroad. So, what do you guys think? 

 

[BigDaddy]

Start with this book  https://www.amazon.com/Track-Planning-Realistic-Operation-Railroader/dp/0890242275/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501016378&sr=8-1&keywords=john+armstrong

Welcome to the forum.

[SeeYou190]

It sounds like you are creating a "made up" or "freelanced" railroad that you want to be reallistic. If so... welcome to my world!

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Do not dwell on location early on in the hobby. I have moved the "location" (actually the type of scenery and terrain) on my railroad every time I have started a new layout. With a fictitious name this is easy.

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Enjoy yourself and have fun. Build something quick to learn a lot, then tear it down and start over with what you learned. Building a few layouts fast with no intention of any of them being permanent is a great way to learn what you really enjoy.

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There really was a California Pacific Railroad in the 1800's. I don't know if that will effect your choice of name.

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Welcome to these forums.

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-Kevin

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[xdford]

Hi there Jet,

The advice offered by Kevin and Henry is very valid so consider their points. I have sent you a private message so feel free to follow the links and hope this helps you too!

Cheers from Australia

Trevor   [e-mail] 

 

[The Jet Clipper]

Thanks for the tip!

[The Jet Clipper]

Well, that is a coincidence. I didn't know about the California Pacific RR. Thanks for the advice!

[The Jet Clipper]

I've seen your message. There's some good stuff in there. Thank You!

[angelob6660]

It's very possible for me. I created a lot of dose railroads.

I created the Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio Railway is located within those states and it with and against the Southern and Norfolk and Western. 

This is longest railroad I imagined in 2002 but it really started in 2006. Along the ways it had a name change, history reimagined, and a change of class from I to II.

If you make it to realistic you start to believe it is a real railroad. Glad of like the V&O that Allen created.

So yes have fun creating and building the California Pacific Railroad.

[The Jet Clipper]

Thanks! I've been having a thrill just thinking of what I want to do with my railroad. I want to try to keep my railroad small so I don't have to make my own mainline, branches, etc. Maybe, some passenger cars to spice up a Chief or San Diegan, but only time will tell.

[hon30critter]

Hi there Jet Clipper!

Welcome to the forums and to the hobby!!    

Sounds like you have a good idea of what you want to model. The next step is the 'how to do it' part. I will strongly second the recommendation of the 'Track Planning for Realistic Operation" book. I thought my first layout design was a masterpiece until I read the book and discovered that my 'perfect' plan wouldn't do half of what I wanted it to do. The plan was actually quite disfunctional to be honest.

Have fun!

Dave

[dstarr]

Welcome aboard.  Plenty of famous model railroads, featured in Model Railroader magazine, were freelance railroads.  Sounds like you have a good convincing "legend" for your freelanced road.  A suggestion, model an interchange with a class 1 road, this will give a good legend to explain the presence of rolling stock painted for a well known class 1 as well as rolling stock painted for your freelance road.   I can repeat other's endorsement of "Track Planning for realistic operation" by John Armstrong.  Invaluable information for layout building.  Another suggestion, set your freelance road somewhere close enough to visit, go railfanning, take photos of trackside structures, the landscape. 

Good luck and have fun.

[The Jet Clipper]

Thanks! I'll try to pick up the book.

[The Jet Clipper]

I didn't know a lot of the famous railroads were freelanced. When it comes to railfanning, I don't live too far way from the original stops along the Surf Line, so pictures of the past as well as today's trackplan can give me a rough idea of what to model. Thanks for the tips!