ACY TomA Kalmbach book with reprints of these articles, possibly with supplemental material, would be most welcome.
Tom,That would work quite well with updates since GWI has bought several of those short lines and COLT operates the former Wabash/N&W Columbia branch that was featured in MR back in the 60s.
Kalmbach did a great short line guide back in the 90s but,its hopelessly outdated now.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Many of these fearures also appeared in MR's sister publication Model Trains in the 1950's and early 1960's. I remember coverage of the Middle Fork, the Preston, the Bevier & Southern, and others. A Kalmbach book with reprints of these articles, possibly with supplemental material, would be most welcome.
Tom
mlehman Doughless Writing and photography skills are things that are compensated in the marketplace, like maybe $30 an hour. I'm pretty certain a lot of folks would love to see that kind of compensation for their writing. As an academic, I can tell you those numbers are pretty optimistic, so even when you're talking about people who have formal credentials to justify such pay, most do not receive anywhere close to that hourly rate. Then there's the tradition in this hobby of people sharing what they know by writing it up. In particular, the NMRA will credit authors in its Achievement Program working toward the MMR for exactly this sort of sharing. For readers, it's fortunate that there are generally not expectations among writers that they should receive such relatively generous compensation. I know that MR does pay its authors, but most likely those who are paid also make less than $30/hour when all their time is accounted for. And don't get me wrong, most working people could make good use of a general increase in their compensation, it's just that the "market" hasn't come through for us all yet. I know a fellow who is a highly skilled rail photographer, published in Trains and many other places, and who is respected among his RR peers enough that when the special arrives in this territory with brass aboard, he's often rubbing shoulders with them aboard the PVs in management's train. So far, he hasn't quit his day job, although I'm sure if he could actually expect $30/hour he might seriously think about it. While writing can be lucrative, it's usually in some field other than model railroading. Thank goodness that doesn't discourage most authors we enjoy reading here.
Doughless Writing and photography skills are things that are compensated in the marketplace, like maybe $30 an hour.
I'm pretty certain a lot of folks would love to see that kind of compensation for their writing. As an academic, I can tell you those numbers are pretty optimistic, so even when you're talking about people who have formal credentials to justify such pay, most do not receive anywhere close to that hourly rate.
Then there's the tradition in this hobby of people sharing what they know by writing it up. In particular, the NMRA will credit authors in its Achievement Program working toward the MMR for exactly this sort of sharing. For readers, it's fortunate that there are generally not expectations among writers that they should receive such relatively generous compensation. I know that MR does pay its authors, but most likely those who are paid also make less than $30/hour when all their time is accounted for.
And don't get me wrong, most working people could make good use of a general increase in their compensation, it's just that the "market" hasn't come through for us all yet.
I know a fellow who is a highly skilled rail photographer, published in Trains and many other places, and who is respected among his RR peers enough that when the special arrives in this territory with brass aboard, he's often rubbing shoulders with them aboard the PVs in management's train. So far, he hasn't quit his day job, although I'm sure if he could actually expect $30/hour he might seriously think about it.
While writing can be lucrative, it's usually in some field other than model railroading. Thank goodness that doesn't discourage most authors we enjoy reading here.
I didn't mean to delve into the compensation of our hosts or people professionally in the hobby. I was saying that it takes a lot of time to do the research and legwork to write a publishable article. While I might do that for fun because I might get want to base a layout on it, when all of that time spent gets channeled into a product that others might profit from, I somehow start to compare time spent with compensation. I think the research performed, quality writing, and quality photography are skills that require just compensation. I don't know what that number is and just grabbed one
- Douglas
DoughlessWriting and photography skills are things that are compensated in the marketplace, like maybe $30 an hour.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
mlehman To be certain, there are people who live near shortlines and industrials, as well as the more backwater tracks of Class I's, who know things, people, and equipment well enough to put together a nice article completely without the need for cooperation from the subject RR. With some exceptions, RRs operate in rather public places and there is lots of basic info online about them. What's key to such an article are a good topic (something you know tends to work well), decent pics that are good enough to reproduce and represent the theme of your article well, and at least some sketches of track or other items of modeling interest like structure plans. The basic subject matter and story can then be polished with the help of the editors, but to get specific stories, you need people with specific interests to write them as well as assist in getting the supporting graphical materials together.
To be certain, there are people who live near shortlines and industrials, as well as the more backwater tracks of Class I's, who know things, people, and equipment well enough to put together a nice article completely without the need for cooperation from the subject RR. With some exceptions, RRs operate in rather public places and there is lots of basic info online about them.
What's key to such an article are a good topic (something you know tends to work well), decent pics that are good enough to reproduce and represent the theme of your article well, and at least some sketches of track or other items of modeling interest like structure plans. The basic subject matter and story can then be polished with the help of the editors, but to get specific stories, you need people with specific interests to write them as well as assist in getting the supporting graphical materials together.
I would say that there are more skills to having an article published than having knowledge of the subject railroad. Writing and photography skills are things that are compensated in the marketplace, like maybe $30 an hour.
I would think it would be easier for a publisher to accumulate a nest of accepable articles by having one of their compensated employees perform research on a railroad, maybe leveraging their access to TRAINS or other databases, and a few professional field visits like BRAKIE suggested, than it would be to rely on uncompensated hobbyists to learn how to write and photograph in a professional manner.
I enjoy sharing my knowledge (how little I have) in a free open forum, but when somebody else would gain income or revenue off of that work and knowledge, I'd want to get compensated at a professional rate.
To be fair, "write it yourself" doesn't really work when it's something you want to be exposed to. I don't know a lick about some lumber hauler in Idaho that went under in 1978, but would be happy to read about it if someone else did. I can't write that article because it's an unknown unknown.
I think the series should exist to bring forward some lesser known railroads or branchlines of larger railroads, either to model exactly or provide inspiration for a freelanced or protolanced layout. So it would be difficult for an individual hobbyist like ourselves to know about the operations of those candidates unless it is/was part of a person's interest. The point of the articles is to create interest and inspiration, so I would think it would be in Kalmbach's interest to devote time in researching these lesser known railroads and branch lines.
More text devoted to the railroad, not as much about the modeling of it. The size of the propective layout didn't really matter. It's understood its a suggestion.
Thomas Kilmoski provided a nice article in a recent MRP about his Georgia Northeastern shortline layout. I wish he would have discussed the railroad more.
Steven Otte Bayfield Transfer Railway You know, MR is always looking for articles, so one way to see more "Railroads you can Model" about short lines with layouts in small spaces would be to write the articles. ^This.
Bayfield Transfer Railway You know, MR is always looking for articles, so one way to see more "Railroads you can Model" about short lines with layouts in small spaces would be to write the articles.
You know, MR is always looking for articles, so one way to see more "Railroads you can Model" about short lines with layouts in small spaces would be to write the articles.
^This.
I fear that may be easier said then done..Like their big brothers short lines are growing weary of railfans. I can remember when short lines was much friendlier then today and that hasn't been so long ago.
A experience author would stand a far better chance then Jim bob off the street asking fool questions.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Thanks to Steve for pointing out that familiar themes come in new forms. MR changed many things over the years, but continues to serve the whole of the model RR community.
In this case, articles on prototypes for modeling tends to be more concise than in the past. Why? Anyone with an internet connecton -- and anyone with access to a public library has that -- can do more detailed research in many cases than anyone thought possible a couple of decades back.
Now, there are areas where MR may be able to offer special access to subjects in its collections that it holds and few or no one else does, photos, documengts, whatever.
Thus, many articles are more introductory, serving as guides to further research that can easily be more comprehensive than anything that MR would have ever had room for even when paper and postage were cheap and ads plentiful. In cases where a certain pic Kalmbach holds could enhance a story, that's a real treat, but not to be expected every time. In 70 years or so and with a limited number of subjects introducing new topics and materials on the prototype on a monthly basis is not as easy as it may sound.
never mind
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
cuyamaTo make a distinction on layout size and say that shortline layouts are inherently more compact is the false statement I was contradicting.
The majority of short lines I've seen modeled over the years was in a spare bedroom and short lines can be compact in layout design since short line vary in milage and there's no need to model every inch or towns that lack rail serve industries.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
BMMECNYCFor me it is.
Agree, that was my point. To make a distinction on layout size and say that shortline layouts are inherently more compact is the false statement I was contradicting.
cuyama BRAKIE Any short line track plan can be cut to fit a spare bedroom unlike the basement fillers. 16'X23' isn't a "basement filler"? There are plenty of small segments of Class 1s that also make great switching layouts. It's not only shortlines that can be the inspiration for a fine small switching layout.
BRAKIE Any short line track plan can be cut to fit a spare bedroom unlike the basement fillers.
16'X23' isn't a "basement filler"?
There are plenty of small segments of Class 1s that also make great switching layouts. It's not only shortlines that can be the inspiration for a fine small switching layout.
For me it is.
NVSRRou could do the HawaIn railroads.
You might be interested in my article on the Oahu Railway in Model Railroad Planning 2008. It consists of multiple unconnected decks linked by operations and staging. While it’s designed for the roughly 12’X12’ MRP spare bedroom, segments of it would make fine small switching layouts on their own.
Model Railroad Planning has actually featured a number of “Railroad you can Model” type articles over the years – for layouts large and small.
Byron
BRAKIEAny short line track plan can be cut to fit a spare bedroom unlike the basement fillers.
Edit: As one example, see Keith Jordan's ATSF "Patch" small switching layout in Model Railroad Planning 2011 and Great Model Railroads 2012.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
You could do the HawaIn railroads. The military buffs would be interested in those especially. Plus they were already compact
IRONROOSTERThe HO trackplan was 16'x23' - a little bigger than most spare bedrooms. Paul
Any short line track plan can be cut to fit a spare bedroom unlike the basement fillers.
BRAKIE Steven Otte We brought back the "Railroad You Can Model" feature with our April 2017 issue, and Bob Sprague's article on the UP's Spine Line. Track plans were presented in HO and N scale. The series continued in our August and November issues, and another installment is coming out in January 2018. Steven,That is true but,try to compare that to A Railroad You Can Model: The Aberdeen & Rockfish no comparison at all. Then there was that wonderful A Railroad You Can Model "Wabash/N&W Columbia Branch". Then there was the A Railroad You Can Model "Progressive Rail". All of those railroads can easily fit into a spare bedroom and don't need dozens of engines and a 300 cars to operate.. With the popularity growth of ISLs maybe MR could do a article on a terminal switching road?
Steven Otte We brought back the "Railroad You Can Model" feature with our April 2017 issue, and Bob Sprague's article on the UP's Spine Line. Track plans were presented in HO and N scale. The series continued in our August and November issues, and another installment is coming out in January 2018.
We brought back the "Railroad You Can Model" feature with our April 2017 issue, and Bob Sprague's article on the UP's Spine Line. Track plans were presented in HO and N scale. The series continued in our August and November issues, and another installment is coming out in January 2018.
Steven,That is true but,try to compare that to A Railroad You Can Model: The Aberdeen & Rockfish no comparison at all. Then there was that wonderful A Railroad You Can Model "Wabash/N&W Columbia Branch". Then there was the A Railroad You Can Model "Progressive Rail".
All of those railroads can easily fit into a spare bedroom and don't need dozens of engines and a 300 cars to operate..
With the popularity growth of ISLs maybe MR could do a article on a terminal switching road?
Uh, the Aberdeen and Rockfish appeared in the November 1965 issue. The HO trackplan was 16'x23' - a little bigger than most spare bedrooms.
Paul
Steven Otte Not everyone likes the same kind of railroads, Larry.
Not everyone likes the same kind of railroads, Larry.
True enough Steven, and it may take a special breed of modeler to model a no frills let's get it done short line like we have today and I dare say there is far more short lines then Class ones.
I highly suspect after the next round of mergers there will be two or three of the big boys left to model if one models contemporary times after those mergers happens.
Remember the design a layout contests? That could be combined with the " railroad you can model" to see who can come up with a good small layout design of the railroad to model article. With the website now. So many more designs could be posted
Wolfie
The Aleghany Valley railroad AVR would be easy to do.
(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).
DavidH66 there's still a lot of prototype based layout plans in MR. Just last month we had the "KD Sub" (although a lot of modelers liscense was used there) and before that the UP Spline line was portratyed in two scales. So what if they don't have the "Railroad you can model" name attached, there's still a lot of Prototype layout plans in the mag. Oldline, I think that may be the case for layout tours but here been a lot of track plans for smaller railroads.
there's still a lot of prototype based layout plans in MR. Just last month we had the "KD Sub" (although a lot of modelers liscense was used there) and before that the UP Spline line was portratyed in two scales. So what if they don't have the "Railroad you can model" name attached, there's still a lot of Prototype layout plans in the mag. Oldline, I think that may be the case for layout tours but here been a lot of track plans for smaller railroads.