I had access to blocks of asbestos, was used on the steam engines back then, broke them up an softened them with water. Thats what I used to make hills and such. Formed easily, held it's shape and dried light as a feather. My folks house had asbestoes pipe wrap on all the hot water lines, again from the boiler shop. How times have changed!
God's Best & Happy Rails to You!
Bing (RIPRR The Route of the Buzzards)
The future: Dead Rail Society
Nice score on the Alco, Mike! That's a beauty.
I bought a few Rivarossi freight cars and a snow polw car at a shop a few years ago. They were cheap enough, and still in the original boxes. Very nostalgic. Somehow, I still have a curved brass turnout, Tyco I think, from my youth.
Then I showed a guy my layout, he said he had some stuff I could use; turns out a bunch of 60s and 70s junk, but I haven't tossed it out. Brass snap track, brass AHM switches, and some great cheesy plastic detail items. Want them?
I can see the fun in building a 60s "stuff" layout, and contributing to it, although I wouldn't build one myself. Dan
Sure it can be done, plenty of vintage magazines to look thru to chose what was on the market at that time, from Mantua and Bowser diecast steamers, Athearn freight cars or various craftsman kits, Brass diesels and steamers, which today can be had for less than the new fangled stuff from China with all the sound and stuff in them. I have gotten boxes of brass Atlas Snap track for free or next to free. A quick polish with my old bright boy and its good to go. With the older MRC throttles, if the cord is not dry rotted, then your most likely good to go. Most are rivited together, so past owners couldn't get inside and tinker. Seen many of the older metal Golden Throttle packs for sale new or nearly new in thier original box for dirt cheap prices. Basic scenery techniques havent changed much since then, just lots of stuff available RTR now vs build it your self back then. Building a layout 1960 style is a very cost effective way to enjoy the hobby amid todays market of high cost RTR stuff that you need to be tech savy to enjoy. For an example, I got this Alco Models brass RS32, mint in the box, for $30 at last fall's NMRA local division show. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
OK, if you use 1960 as your "cutoff" the hobby was pretty young in terms of scenery and a few other things.
But, as a decade, the 60's saw massive advancements:
Scenery - Zip texturing published in MR 1965
Signaling/adavanced cab control/CTC - Bruce Chubb, Ed Ravenscroft, Paul Mallory and others developed prototypical signal systems, dectection, and effective DC control of multiple trains.
Detail improved, track got better, couplers got better, wheels got better, locos got better, etc
I model 1954, and as mentioned previously in this thread, I still run my share of Athearn and Varney metal cars, Athearn Yellow box/Blue box plastic freight cars, and other vintage stuff from the late 50's and early 60's.
Much of it holds up rather well appearance wise.......unless you require every model to be uber detailed, uber accurate..........
And, in that period, much on the prototype was a little more "generic". The differences for example between many types of box cars was in many cases more subtle than in later eras.
I had an old Scintilla dual pack, it worked great with those old high current open frame motors.
And I use a DC signal system and control system based on the early works of Chubb and Ravenscroft......it works rather well......
Sheldon
It's evident that some folks responding to this thread did not understand the proposal, which is to create a layout using 1960 era materials, not to model the 1960s.
I think it is completely feasible based on what I see for sale at swap meets.
In addition to the concern expressed above about "authentic" scenery materials (yes, shredded asbestos and diatomaceous earth when it too had asbestos; let's not forget the carbon tetrachloride used to clean track) there is also issues with electrical stuff that old. My 1960 era MRC Ampack still gives good service on a test track and more importantly, the electrical cord and plug are still flexible, the circuit breaker works reliably, and thus I believe the pack is safe to use. An old Scintilla pack of about the same era had a gutta-percha cord and plug that deteriorated and I got rid of that pack when it started to emit disturbing electrical smells when it was plugged in (and it had a very crude circuit breaker). I think Scintilla also made packs for Varney.
Dave Nelson
PS (addition to post): Athearn yellow box? You are a mere whippersnapper unless you remember Athearn black box kits!
The power supply on my Dad's layout, circa 1950's. You would need something like this for your retro layout.
I had a layout in My parents basement that I started on in 1957 when I was 15 yrs. old. Two level Atlas code 100 Brass track hand spiked on Atlas fiber ties. Did not use flex track or sectional. Curves were laid on Tru-Scale plain milled roadbed, straights, sidings etc. were laid on cork, over 1/2'' ply. Turnouts were Shinohara, some Atlas. Power was from a MRC Golden Tri-pack.....that was 3 independant power packs in one unit. Most of layout was open grid, with screen plaster mountains and scenery........you could actually sit inside the tallest tunnel (I was a big fan of John Allen's layout. Mostly all steam from Mantua kits. I still have the steamers and Golden Tri-Pack. The 2 photos are from 1959, when 17 yrs. old. I believe I may have 2 more pic's somewhere. When My parents sold the house in 1974, the people that bought it, wanted Me to leave the layout and anything else I wanted to. I had gone back a few times then and got it working again for the people, when they purchased a couple power packs for it:
If You click on photos they will enlarge and look what is in the truck on the hill....Rubber Band drive Athearn motors.
Take Care!
Frank
BRAKIE Ed,Think Blue box and Roundhouse cars,Varney's 4-6-0 and 2-8-0s,Penn-Line engines,Hobbytown RS3s,Brass steam engines and the new and improved all gear drive from Athearn..
Ed,Think Blue box and Roundhouse cars,Varney's 4-6-0 and 2-8-0s,Penn-Line engines,Hobbytown RS3s,Brass steam engines and the new and improved all gear drive from Athearn..
"Blue box"? What's that? All the ends of my Athearn boxes are yellow!
Yup. Had a Penn-Line 2-8-0. Had a Hobbytown RSD-5 (cooler!!). Brass? A bit in the future, but I did have a PFM/Tenshodo 0-6-0T for $8.95. I spent more than that for the parts to "fix it up".
Trees was made by using lichen on a trimmed twig and bushes and weeds was also made by using trimmed lichen.
I went top-of-the-line there, and bought a box of 6 orange trees from Tru-Scale.
Like today those train set Styrofoam tunnels and grass mats was not used by serious modelers.
7j43k Myself, I don't have enough time, even if I wanted to. And I don't. One benefit, though, of building a "nostalgia" layout: There's so much less pressure. Scenery, for example. What was considered acceptable back then just doesn't cut it, now. And you don't have to worry about breaking off delicate ladders and other details--there wasn't any. Weathering? Nope! Signals? Nope. Just run a couple of wires from your hi-tech power pack. And it just goes on. One thing, it would be relaxing! Ed
Myself, I don't have enough time, even if I wanted to. And I don't.
One benefit, though, of building a "nostalgia" layout: There's so much less pressure. Scenery, for example. What was considered acceptable back then just doesn't cut it, now. And you don't have to worry about breaking off delicate ladders and other details--there wasn't any. Weathering? Nope! Signals? Nope. Just run a couple of wires from your hi-tech power pack. And it just goes on.
One thing, it would be relaxing!
Ed
The Columbus HO club had working signals controlled by a dispatcher with a working CTC board that govern six engineers train movement.. The engineer had to know the location of his train due to the cab signals on his control panel since the layout was point to point with passing sidings..
IIRC Life Like made ballast, cinders and grass.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
IRONROOSTERWhile I can't speak for everyone, I think it is a nostagia trip. A return to simpler times when the hobby was new and we were still young.
As I have posted earlier, that´s exactly the journey I have just embarked on - moving forward into my past!
IRONROOSTER And the fun is what I remember, the aggravations and shortcomings, if any, are long forgotten.
And again it is!
In my previous layouts, my thrive for perfection nearly made me forget what it is all about. Building that classic tabletop train set (I don´t dare to call it a layout) - using old materials, like tinplate track, with all the bells and whistles of the 1950s and 1960s, like operating semaphore signals, openeing and lowering gates at the grade crossing, the tinplate bridge and the tinplate engine shed with the doors closing like a jack knife when the engines reaches the contact, and, finally, colored sawdust for ground cover - is giving me back a happy childhood in my 7th decade!
It´s nevere too late for a happy childhood!
Now I better take my hat and coat, before someone suggest I continue in the CTT forum.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
I think the idea is interesting too, but again, who how many people are going to actually take the time to build a nostalgia layout? Especially if you already have another one.
If you do build one, don't forget that you need a styrofoam tunnel! I didn't realize they even still made them until I looked in the latest Walthers catalog.
And you need people with giant round bases on them.
Jim
DSchmitt Not according to my roster and buying experience. I pick a subject, Great Northern for instance free shipping. I get the whole kitten Kaboodle. It takes me an hour or two to go through everything but I get stuff I want for $15 or less. That's my quota. I never paid more than $15 for Rolling Stock. I have a slew of cars I picked waiting in my cart. They're a steal but I think I better start thinking about going to modeltrainstuff and getting my track now. Track fiddler A word to the wise. When you select the category of things you are looking for on eBay type in free shipping and start there first. I check "price + shipping lowest first" because most free shipping items are overpriced. They usually appear quite a way down the list.
Not according to my roster and buying experience. I pick a subject, Great Northern for instance free shipping. I get the whole kitten Kaboodle. It takes me an hour or two to go through everything but I get stuff I want for $15 or less. That's my quota. I never paid more than $15 for Rolling Stock.
I have a slew of cars I picked waiting in my cart. They're a steal but I think I better start thinking about going to modeltrainstuff and getting my track now.
Track fiddler A word to the wise. When you select the category of things you are looking for on eBay type in free shipping and start there first.
I check "price + shipping lowest first" because most free shipping items are overpriced. They usually appear quite a way down the list.
Sometimes this posting stuff doesn't quite act the way it should. What are you going to do though? Oh well!
I'm sure we're all intelligent enough to get the gist of things
P.S. I post from my phone. There was a time when I was definitely smarter than a phone but I'm kind of a dinosaur now, I'm not so sure I'm smarter than my smartphone.
BRAKIEPersonally I would not want to build a "heritage"layout from that time.
Well, OK, and I wouldn't either. Heck, I never finished my layout, started in the mid 60's. As I said, I got as far as starting on some paper mache hills, painted green, after waiting days and days for the paste to dry, then I moved out, right after high school, and everything was trashed.
So, I guess it's do-able, but who wants to do it? Not me.
Mike.
My You Tube
xboxtravis7992Not to say you shouldn't do it, if this is what you want then do it! Not my place to say what you should or shouldn't be up to.
Actually it was a discussion at a club I was visiting and since I know several of the members I was asked what I thought and I got to wondering what you fellas on the forum would think.
Personally I would not want to build a "heritage"layout from that time.
xboxtravis7992I guess I don't entirely understand the appeal of building a layout with vintage materials.
While I can't speak for everyone, I think it is a nostagia trip. A return to simpler times when the hobby was new and we were still young. For me the year is not 1960 but 1972. The Christmas of 1971 my wife gave me a train set and I found Model Railroader on the PX newstand. Over the course of 1972 I built 2 layouts and had a lot of fun. And the fun is what I remember, the aggravations and shortcomings, if any, are long forgotten.
Paul
I guess I don't entirely understand the appeal of building a layout with vintage materials. Things have evolved so much in the hobby in the 50 (nearly 60) years since I don't see a reason to go back to snap-brass track and DC power (full disclosure, I have never ran a DC layout. My experience in the hobby has been 100% DCC if that helps to explain my opinion on this idea).Not to say you shouldn't do it, if this is what you want then do it! Not my place to say what you should or shouldn't be up to.
I respect the old school modelling of years ago because if not for that we wouldn't have what we do today...
Just be careful how authentic you try to go. In Bill McClanahan's book "Scenery for Model Railroads" (has to be that era, but I'm not at home to double check), one of the scenery mixtures he used contained asbestos powder!
Mike
wjstixBTW I'm reading this to mean building a layout using 1960 technology - rubber band drive engines, craftsmans kits for freight cars and buildings etc....NOT necessarily building a layout set in the year 1960.
Yes,building a layout using 1960 era technology including Athearn engines with "all new 8 wheel gear drive" locomotives.
Diesel heads vs. steam heads at the Columbus HO club in the 60s was mostly one sided seeing the few junior and 20 somethings members was the diesel heads.
Just for fun.IIRC the ratio was around 10 steam engines for each diesel on the layout.Any road diesel made one trip across the layout and was promptly placed in the roundhouse never to be ran again that night. After who would want to model a diesel truck on rails?
We had a lot of fun ribbing each other.
gmpullmanI've got the glue ready!
BRAKIE Is it possible to build a 1960 era layout in 2018 using Atlas brass or nickel silver track and a MRC 501 Throttle Pack? Guide lines and scenery techniques for layouts of that era would need to be followed. I believe it can be done since a lot of 50/60 era cars and locomotives can be found on e-Bay and at train shows.
Is it possible to build a 1960 era layout in 2018 using Atlas brass or nickel silver track and a MRC 501 Throttle Pack? Guide lines and scenery techniques for layouts of that era would need to be followed.
I believe it can be done since a lot of 50/60 era cars and locomotives can be found on e-Bay and at train shows.
BTW I'm reading this to mean building a layout using 1960 technology - rubber band drive engines, craftsmans kits for freight cars and buildings etc....NOT necessarily building a layout set in the year 1960.
When I started model railroading in the early 1970's, most modellers only wanted to model steam. Diesels were considered 'the enemy', so many (most?) layouts were set in the pre-transition steam era. John Allen allowed diesels on his layout for photos for ads and once in a while when brought by a friend, but he never owned any himself. Remember, someone in their 40's in 1960 would have been born in the 1910's, so grew up with steam in the 1920's and '30's. That was often what they wanted to reproduce on their layouts.
I assume it was even more the case in 1960. I know MR in reviewing their history has cited a 1963 ('64?) article called "Diesels - I Like Them!" as being a breakthrough article, as it was the first article where someone admitted to liking the diesels more than steam.
I love the transition era- it affords flexibility in structures and engines/rolling stock that is somewhat lacking in 80s- modern era themes. The shorter box car lengths allow for that extra car or two on a siding or a short freight train. More modern architecture can mix with older style structures under the guise of "progress", etc.
It would seem that "HO Railroad that Grows" by Linn Wescott would serve as a touchstone here as it was written and designed in the late 50s.
On the brass track issue- I have not seen as much as I used to at flea markets/swap meets so I would stick with modern nickel silver and modern plastic tie flex track. The DC power packs might be okay if they were checked and rebuilt a bit for electrical safety. Otherwise, a great idea!
Cedarwoodron
Track fiddlerA word to the wise. When you select the category of things you are looking for on eBay type in free shipping and start there first.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
After reading another thread in here, I suggest you start saving saw dust . You'll need it for ground cover.
The only train I had in the 60's was a Penn Line FA unit and a few freight cars. It never really got past the plywood stage, although I did start some paper mache hills.
That all got trashed when I moved out, and didn't get back into trains until the early 80's, when we started having kids.
I think you could do a layout built with 1960 era materials. Seems to me at the RR flea markets I go to, there are tons of very old stuff being sold very cheaply. There's a magazine now on HO train collectibles, so there is an interest in such things. BTW IIRC in the TM video/DVD for Lionel's 100th anniversary they showed someone's then current (c.2000) layout built with only 1950's Lionel HO materials.
You'd have to decide if you wanted only items actually made before 1960, or just accept the modern versions of them. Like, a 1960 Athearn reefer with fairly poor lettering and horn-hook couplers, or it's recent MDC incarnation - same body, but with excellent graphics, better wheels/trucks, etc. Course you could paint and decal the cars...except the two big decal makers of the time, Walthers and Champ, don't make decals anymore.
I have lots of pre 1960 rolling stock on my layout, Varney and Athearn metal kits, early Athearn plastic kits (the boxes were yellow that far back), etc.
And I still use DC.......
Having run my layout with DCC, no, I could never go back. Don't even ask.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
7j43k You guys are making me feel bad about throwing out a big bag of old brass Atlas snap track. Well. Not really.
You guys are making me feel bad about throwing out a big bag of old brass Atlas snap track.
Well.
Not really.
I had a bunch of it from my 50s/60s layout, but I couldn't throw it away. I took it to a train show and gave it to a vendor who was selling the stuff. Everyone went home happy.