Automobiles are a good way to show specific time frame. Not sure whether they fall under rolling stock.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
don't forget unit coal trains.
Not all of your locos need to have ditch lights.
In my area, the spartan cabs seemed to out number the wide cabs.
Cars and trucks from the 80's would still work, even some from the late 70's could be found, like pick up trucks.
TOFCs varied in length and type. Remembering some trains in my area of WI., TOFC trains were kind of a hodge podge of different cars, along with some COFC arrangements.
Some of the earlier cars for container stack trains had the big "bulk head" thing, and I think they all were pretty much 40' or 20' containers.
I'm trying to think of things I seen watching the WC, from start-up in 87, and into the 90's.
Mike.
My You Tube
Rolling stock though really does sell the 90's. It was the last grand age of merger's; were CNW, SP & DRGW equipment had all joined the UP fleet, Conrail was being split up by CSX and NS, and BN and ATSF flew together under the new BNSF banner! Correct rolling stock is a must for the era.But if you want more than just rolling stock suggestions, you could also run trains such as MOW work installing new fiber optic cables (SP ran a lot of trains to lay cables for SPRINT before the merger with UP). 90's got a distinct style in pop culture too, so if you have an urban area maybe put up some billboards advertising Friends or Seinfeld or some other 90's TV show to help date the era.
I plan on having my railroad set in the 90s, I'm wonderring what are some good ways besides period correct rolling stock to make the layout look period appropreate?