I went to Caboose today, haven't been there in 3 years. I was all excited to buy some stuff. First of all they did not have a single D&RGW locomotive, and there was about 3 D&RGW box cars. Man what the heck happened to all the D&RGW equipment. I even asked the guys there at Caboose and they said no manufactureres are making any D&RGW stuff. This has to be one of the most popular roads out there, so why doesn't anybody make it any more?
So I'm bowsing all the isles, and they are mostly empty. They had a decent amount of locomotives. But thats about it. No ballast, no glue, no paint, very little Peco track. I did buy a few things but I wanted more and they just didn't have it. So now I gotta buy online.
I went to Hobbytown and bought paint, glue, they even had Peco switches.
Kinda depressing. I used to go crazy buying stuff at Caboose.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Michael,
You do know it's under new management, yes? That may have something to do with it...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I found the same thing searching their empty website. Not quite the same store from old! Very sad!
oldline1
For what it’s worth, my first visit to the old Caboose Hobbies was in 1991, the last in 2009. I felt that the amount of stock decreased dramatically between those visits. However, they were selling a lot online so that could explain it. There was still a ton of stuff, though.
Well I have never been to the hobby shop in question but it sounds to me like the store is trying to shift it’s focus away from selling trains, at least offline.
Regarding the lack of D&RGW stuff, I find that railroads from a region were a hobby shop is located often sell out there quickly, with other railroads selling a bit slower. This means that you will have less luck finding Rio Grande in Colorado than if you went to a hobby shop further away from Rio Grande territory, were you may find model availible that were long ago sold out were they are more popular.
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
As a Rio Grande modeler- you grab it when you see it. I am really the odd man out now- I live in Southern/ Norfolk and Western territory. While it sounds like Caboose has stocking problems- there is not a whole lot of Rio Grande stuff out there right now. There are the new Scale Trains tunnel motors is the only current release I can think of right now in an engine. Accurail only has four items I think in Rio Grande that are in stock. I think limited run has hurt roadnames like Rio Grande a little harder- they sell out. There always seems to be something UP Santa Fe, BN, and NS or Norfolk Western. Steam is even harder- The only thing out there right now is Bachmanns innacurate prairie. It sounds like there is a bit of a stocking issue with them on a lot of stuff right now too. Only made it into the original once back in 1986 and loved it. Even then I didn't buy as much as I thought I would- and that was before limited run.
You’d THINK you could find the distant road stuff whee the local stuff is out of stock - well, I found no Reading at Caboose in July, and one CNJ car. They did have a bunch of Peco track, but I wasn’t going to buy a bunch of track to haul back on the plane. And pretty much stuff in the scenery area. Surprised to hear no ballast now.
—Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Yep. Caboose is not Caboose Hobbies, although they are trying to ride the coat tales and spin a yarn about having the history of the old store. I guess they can say what they want but fact is, it's a new store, new owner/manager, doing things his way. That's ok, but don't expect it to be Caboose Hobbies cause it ain't. I check it during the 1st year and it was mostly full-priced merchandise, so I stopped looking after a while.
I even asked the guys there at Caboose and they said no manufactureres are making any D&RGW stuff.
D&RGW rolling stock, like many other fallen flags, is run maybe every 3-6+ years, not yearly or even every couple years generally from what I've seen over the past 30+ years. For that reason, going to a hobby shop is going to be a major disappointment unless you happened to darken the door just after something was just released.
There have been a few items run repeatedly by Athearn, namely the former MDC, upgraded RTR FMC 4700 covered hopper, which is has an announced 4th run now. First run was basically the MDC car factory assembled. The 2nd run was upgraded with wire grab irons and etched metal roof walk, and is much nicer, as was the 3rd run.
DRGWCS is right, Rio Grande standard guage tends to sell well and sells out usually. I've been buying D&RGW rolling stock over the past 30+ years and found that to be true.
The past run of Genesis GP40-2's sold out mega fast - I had to borrow a laptop while in England to order mind or lose out when they were released in Dec 2014. FWIW, Athearn is running more due out next spring. The next run will be all standard GP40-2's while the first run was split between the 2 standard and 2 late phase GP40-2's for Rio Grande.
Bottom line - you'll have best luck going to fleabay as there is often lots of past run stuff availabl. But there is a ton of Rio Grande foobies too, so you may want to steer clear of all that nonsense if it matters to you.
I took a quick spin through the first few pages of HO Rio Grande on eBay and immediately found some correct D&RGW models:
- Athearns FMC 4700 hopper.- Kadee 2-bay cement hopper.- Kadee PS-1 50' box car- Walthers and ExactRail 4427 PS2-CD covered hopper- Arrowhead Committee Design 3-pay coal car (very nice)- Walthers Mainline 50' FGE box car- Intermountain ACF 2-bay hopper- Walther 53' gondola both kit/mainline and Gold RTR are close stand-in's- Stewart 3-bay coal cars 12 and 14 panel.
You might find this list helpful if you are looking for models in HO for the D&RGW and avoid the outright foobies:
http://atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/thread/5232/ho-guide-rio-grande-models
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Can't speak about Caboose, but we have two legacy legendary hobby shops here in Florida that are looking similar.
.
H&R Trains in Pinellas Park and Colonial Photo & Hobby in Orlando.
Both are having serious cases of empty aisles, which I do not understand. Aisles only get empty if stuff sells. If you do not replace it, nothing will sell.
If you sell all your stuff, you need to get in more stuff. You cannot sell the same thing twice.
This is something new. Both places used to have full aisles and lots of stuff to browse through, and the cash registers were always ringing away. Both have been in business for 40+ years. Both have new owners.
Now they are no fun at all.
Zitnik's (St. Petersburg), Metro Hobbies (Fort Myers), Ready to Roll (Miami), Discount Trains (Fort Lauderdale), Gulf Coast Model Railroading (Sarasota), etc, all seem to have no problems keeping the shelves full.
It is sad to see two iconic legacy stores in this condition.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
riogrande5761 Yep. Caboose is not Caboose Hobbies, although they are trying to ride the coat tales and spin a yarn about having the history of the old store. I guess they can say what they want but fact is, it's a new store, new owner/manager, doing things his way. That's ok, but don't expect it to be Caboose Hobbies cause it ain't. I check it during the 1st year and it was mostly full-priced merchandise, so I stopped looking after a while. I even asked the guys there at Caboose and they said no manufactureres are making any D&RGW stuff. D&RGW rolling stock, like many other fallen flags, is run maybe every 3-6+ years, not yearly or even every couple years generally from what I've seen over the past 30+ years. For that reason, going to a hobby shop is going to be a major disappointment unless you happened to darken the door just after something was just released. There have been a few items run repeatedly by Athearn, namely the former MDC, upgraded RTR FMC 4700 covered hopper, which is has an announced 4th run now. First run was basically the MDC car factory assembled. The 2nd run was upgraded with wire grab irons and etched metal roof walk, and is much nicer, as was the 3rd run. DRGWCS is right, Rio Grande standard guage tends to sell well and sells out usually. I've been buying D&RGW rolling stock over the past 30+ years and found that to be true. The past run of Genesis GP40-2's sold out mega fast - I had to borrow a laptop while in England to order mind or lose out when they were released in Dec 2014. FWIW, Athearn is running more due out next spring. The next run will be all standard GP40-2's while the first run was split between the 2 standard and 2 late phase GP40-2's for Rio Grande. Bottom line - you'll have best luck going to fleabay as there is often lots of past run stuff availabl. But there is a ton of Rio Grande foobies too, so you may want to steer clear of all that nonsense if it matters to you. I took a quick spin through the first few pages of HO Rio Grande on eBay and immediately found some correct D&RGW models: - Athearns FMC 4700 hopper.- Kadee 2-bay cement hopper.- Kadee PS-1 50' box car- Walthers and ExactRail 4427 PS2-CD covered hopper- Arrowhead Committee Design 3-pay coal car (very nice)- Walthers Mainline 50' FGE box car- Intermountain ACF 2-bay hopper- Walther 53' gondola both kit/mainline and Gold RTR are close stand-in's- Stewart 3-bay coal cars 12 and 14 panel. You might find this list helpful if you are looking for models in HO for the D&RGW and avoid the outright foobies: http://atlasrescueforum.proboards.com/thread/5232/ho-guide-rio-grande-models
I don't have any idea how complete that list is, but based on that you can't model the D&RGW accurately in the 1950's?
Guess the "foobies" will have to do for some stuff on my layout...........
Sheldon
SeeYou190serious cases of empty aisles, which I do not understand. Aisles only get empty if stuff sells. If you do not replace it, nothing will sell. If you sell all your stuff, you need to get in more stuff. You cannot sell the same thing twice. This is something new.
You mentioned new owners, maybe its the way they run shops.
Both places used to have full aisles and lots of stuff to browse through, and the cash registers were always ringing away. Both have been in business for 40+ years. Both have new owners.
Many model train products have been made in limited runs for quite some time now so it's not that unusual for product to become hard to find, especially if you depend on brick and mortar shops.
Anyway, rather than be disappointed how shops are run, adapt to what gets you the goods. I gave up on depending on hobby shops after some very disappointing experiences myself around 12 years ago or so.
With the advent of the internet, I've found, sometimes with a little patience, I can almost always find what I need. There are a number of vendors I have on my short list and there is eBay and there are train shows. Problem solved.
This reminds me of the old Rolling Stones lyric:
"you can't always get what you want, but if you try, you get what you need ..."
ATLANTIC CENTRALI don't have any idea how complete that list is, but based on that you can't model the D&RGW accurately in the 1950's? Guess the "foobies" will have to do for some stuff on my layout........... Sheldon
My reply was aimed at Motleys needs which IIRC, is on the modern side, so he should be fine with any of those I listed or whatever else if it suites him.
At least part of it could be that the Rio Grande items they get sell fast, since I would presume many local (Colorado) folks model D&RGW, while items for other roads sit on the shelves.
riogrande5761Many model train products have been made in limited runs for quite some time now so it's not that unusual for product to become hard to find, especially if you depend on brick and mortar shops.
I am not talking about newly released limited run items.
These shops are low-empty on paint, tools, ground cover, ballast, brass stock, plastic strips, etc. etc. etc.
You know... the stuff that makes a brick and mortar store better than buying online.
SeeYou190 riogrande5761 Many model train products have been made in limited runs for quite some time now so it's not that unusual for product to become hard to find, especially if you depend on brick and mortar shops. . I am not talking about newly released limited run items. . These shops are low-empty on paint, tools, ground cover, ballast, brass stock, plastic strips, etc. etc. etc. . You know... the stuff that makes a brick and mortar store better than buying online. . -Kevin .
riogrande5761 Many model train products have been made in limited runs for quite some time now so it's not that unusual for product to become hard to find, especially if you depend on brick and mortar shops.
Sounds like they are in trouble, it takes capital and realistic profit margins to keep shelves stocked.
I have seen more than one brick and mortar store fail because it thought it could live on 25% or 30% and do a lot of discounting even though they were not buying at the direct level.
One guy around here (this general region) always had an interesting but small selection of stuff in stock. He told me he had lots of regular customers who placed orders, and his prices were pretty good. A year after telling me how good he was doing, he closed up...........
Fact is, he may not have been loosing money, just not making enough to make it worthwhile.
Discount seems to be where retailing is these days. Full price hobby shops only seem to survive if they are located in an affluent market where available today and service are worth more than discounts. Or they serve a wide number of hobbies where some (most) of them can be sold at msrp.
There's a pretty good hobby shop near me for paint, stripwood, and other miscellaneous supplies (all at list). He started with a pretty good train section, but list price (in some cases above list). That has dwindle in favor of other hobbies where apparently he can sell for a higher margin.
In the past all the train stores I have seen with empty shelves went out of business within months.
Personally, I do most of my buying online and at train shows.
Paul
SeeYou190I am not talking about newly released limited run items. . These shops are low-empty on paint, tools, ground cover, ballast, brass stock, plastic strips, etc. etc. etc. You know... the stuff that makes a brick and mortar store better than buying online. -Kevin
Maybe not, but the topic was started about trying to find D&RGW models, not raw materials, paint and the like. (steering back on-topic).
IRONROOSTER Full price hobby shops only seem to survive if they are located in an affluent market where available today and service are worth more than discounts. Or they serve a wide number of hobbies where some (most) of them can be sold at msrp.
Full price hobby shops only seem to survive if they are located in an affluent market where available today and service are worth more than discounts. Or they serve a wide number of hobbies where some (most) of them can be sold at msrp.
I live in an area which by all appearances is affluant, but decent hobby shops are essentially non-existant. *shrugs*
Personally, I do most of my buying online and at train shows. Paul
Me too. And I don't have much trouble finding what I need, including D&RGW rolling stock.
This comment is not aimed at any other comments, but I find this interesting.
Spring Creek Model Trains is in Deshler, NE., a town of 700. It is over 100 miles to the nearest large (over 270,000) city. They are 10 miles off a major highway, and 50 miles from an Interstate.
This hobby store specializes in HO and N almost exclusively. It is large -- they are in an old grocery store. They claim they have the largest HO and N scale inventory between Chicago and Denver. They just started online ordering, but it is very limited.
I think what makes them successful is very hard work, great service, and personal attention to buyers. The owners travel each weekend to trainshows, loaded with merchandise. When you meet them at a train show, you find yourself wanting to drive hundreds of miles out of the way to see the store. When you go into the store, you are meeting with the owners who are genuine friends.
It's interesting that in this day of failing shops, dropping inventory, etc., this store seems to thrive on an age-old idea: They know the products, they work very hard, and they know the customers.
York1 John
ATLANTIC CENTRAL ... I don't have any idea how complete that list is, but based on that you can't model the D&RGW accurately in the 1950's? Guess the "foobies" will have to do for some stuff on my layout........... Sheldon
...
Sheldon--
The Arrowhead Models D&RGW Hopper car that is currently available represents the last Rio Grande order for 400 of those cars, which was built by Bethlehem Steel during June, 1966. So as such, it would indeed be "too new" for the 1950's.
It's a beautiful car; I just got one along with some PRR H-39 cars and a Southern one. It's also readily available directly from Arrowhead, for less of a shipping charge than most retail dealers and Ebay sellers currently have for that particular model (if you spread it out over two or more cars). There are 23 road numbers currently available directly from Arrowhead for Rio Grande (48 for PRR H-39 class). Some Ebay and other sellers are also inflating the selling price ABOVE the $48.95 MSRP shown on Arrowhead's box.
Ordinarily I have been very much "pro-dealer", but when some dealers start inflating MSRP and shipping costs, as some are now doing, at that point I am fine with going direct to importer to save money.
John
York1 This comment is not aimed at any other comments, but I find this interesting. Spring Creek Model Trains is in Deshler, NE., a town of 700. It is over 100 miles to the nearest large (over 270,000) city. They are 10 miles off a major highway, and 50 miles from an Interstate. This hobby store specializes in HO and N almost exclusively. It is large -- they are in an old grocery store. They claim they have the largest HO and N scale inventory between Chicago and Denver. They just started online ordering, but it is very limited. I think what makes them successful is very hard work, great service, and personal attention to buyers. The owners travel each weekend to trainshows, loaded with merchandise. When you meet them at a train show, you find yourself wanting to drive hundreds of miles out of the way to see the store. When you go into the store, you are meeting with the owners who are genuine friends. It's interesting that in this day of failing shops, dropping inventory, etc., this store seems to thrive on an age-old idea: They know the products, they work very hard, and they know the customers.
And because of their location, I would bet the cost of their building, to buy or rent, is 1/3 to 1/5 what a similar space would be someplace like here in the Mid Atlantic. That cost can make a big difference.
I would also suspect that good help costs less there too........,
Have you tried having a local shop order from Walthers or other big distributors for you? My old LHS did that for me all the time, giving me the flyer discount, too. He had a whole bookcase in the back that was always full of stuff specifically ordered for customers. Sales tax had to be paid, but there were no shipping charges, saving more money.
Sadly, the landlord jacked up the rent, so my LHS owner closed the shop and retired, but I did this for years. I was at the point where my needs were very specific and typically not off-the-shelf anyway.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Darn, Deshler is just a little bit too far away for me to be able to hit them up while I am out that way.
--Randy
PRR8259 ATLANTIC CENTRAL ... I don't have any idea how complete that list is, but based on that you can't model the D&RGW accurately in the 1950's? Guess the "foobies" will have to do for some stuff on my layout........... Sheldon Sheldon-- The Arrowhead Models D&RGW Hopper car that is currently available represents the last Rio Grande order for 400 of those cars, which was built by Bethlehem Steel during June, 1966. So as such, it would indeed be "too new" for the 1950's. It's a beautiful car; I just got one along with some PRR H-39 cars and a Southern one. It's also readily available directly from Arrowhead, for less of a shipping charge than most retail dealers and Ebay sellers currently have for that particular model (if you spread it out over two or more cars). There are 23 road numbers currently available directly from Arrowhead for Rio Grande (48 for PRR H-39 class). Some Ebay and other sellers are also inflating the selling price ABOVE the $48.95 MSRP shown on Arrowhead's box. Ordinarily I have been very much "pro-dealer", but when some dealers start inflating MSRP and shipping costs, as some are now doing, at that point I am fine with going direct to importer to save money. John
John, I like accurate models if they are available and reasonably affordable. But I'm not replacing reasonably close stuff I already have, and I'm not leaving holes in my operational roster because no correct model exists.
I model the 50's, you see one 40' steel box car, you have seen 50% of them. The rest are obvious, B&O wagontops, x29's etc.
It takes 1000 freight cars to fill the operational needs of my new layout plan. Trust me, they will not all be uber accurate $50 models........but they will all have $10 worth of metal wheels, sprung trucks and Kadee couplers.
riogrande5761 SeeYou190 I am not talking about newly released limited run items. . These shops are low-empty on paint, tools, ground cover, ballast, brass stock, plastic strips, etc. etc. etc. You know... the stuff that makes a brick and mortar store better than buying online. -Kevin Maybe not, but the topic was started about trying to find D&RGW models, not raw materials, paint and the like. (steering back on-topic). IRONROOSTER Full price hobby shops only seem to survive if they are located in an affluent market where available today and service are worth more than discounts. Or they serve a wide number of hobbies where some (most) of them can be sold at msrp. I live in an area which by all appearances is affluant, but decent hobby shops are essentially non-existant. *shrugs* Personally, I do most of my buying online and at train shows. Paul Me too. And I don't have much trouble finding what I need, including D&RGW rolling stock.
SeeYou190 I am not talking about newly released limited run items. . These shops are low-empty on paint, tools, ground cover, ballast, brass stock, plastic strips, etc. etc. etc. You know... the stuff that makes a brick and mortar store better than buying online. -Kevin
Where you live, model train stores can't afford the rent.......
York1Spring Creek Model Trains is in Deshler, NE., a town of 700. It is over 100 miles to the nearest large (over 270,000) city. They are 10 miles off a major highway, and 50 miles from an Interstate. This hobby store specializes in HO and N almost exclusively. It is large -- they are in an old grocery store. They claim they have the largest HO and N scale inventory between Chicago and Denver.
If you are nearby... Spring Creek is an absolute must-visit location!
SeeYou190 York1 Spring Creek Model Trains is in Deshler, NE., a town of 700. It is over 100 miles to the nearest large (over 270,000) city. They are 10 miles off a major highway, and 50 miles from an Interstate. This hobby store specializes in HO and N almost exclusively. It is large -- they are in an old grocery store. They claim they have the largest HO and N scale inventory between Chicago and Denver. . If you are nearby... Spring Creek is an absolute must-visit location! . . -Kevin .
York1 Spring Creek Model Trains is in Deshler, NE., a town of 700. It is over 100 miles to the nearest large (over 270,000) city. They are 10 miles off a major highway, and 50 miles from an Interstate. This hobby store specializes in HO and N almost exclusively. It is large -- they are in an old grocery store. They claim they have the largest HO and N scale inventory between Chicago and Denver.
I have not been to their store, but see them at various train shows.
They also have a website.
https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/
Jeff
You guys are all spot on about the new Caboose. Whoever the owner is, he's doing a bad job and disservice to Colorado modelers, which there are a lot.
At the old store I used to like just browsing the isles, they had so much stuff it was crazy. And every single time I was there, be it a weekend or weeday any time, it was packed with people. They even had two registers.
Back then in 2010 I was a newbie and I got a lot of help from the empoyees there. Now I pretty much know what I want.
The new Caboose? I was the only customer in there! LOL
It just sucks that I will miss that experience because I have shop online now.
Motley You guys are all spot on about the new Caboose. Whoever the owner is, he's doing a bad job and disservice to Colorado modelers, which there are a lot. At the old store I used to like just browsing the isles, they had so much stuff it was crazy. And every single time I was there, be it a weekend or weeday any time, it was packed with people. They even had two registers. Back then in 2010 I was a newbie and I got a lot of help from the empoyees there. Now I pretty much know what I want. The new Caboose? I was the only customer in there! LOL It just sucks that I will miss that experience because I have shop online now.
I've aways been way too far away to visit Caboose Hobbies in person, but was have done business with them for a long time, consigning brass and other items, and buying brass and rolling stock. Caboose Hobbies had decent discount pricing on new items and always had a nice inventory of brass to peruse.
The new store has been trying hard to ride the coattails and describes itself as a continuation of Caboose Hobbies. It simply isn't as much as it wants to be.
What has always puzzled me is the name change.
Upon termination of the lease at that location in 2016, the assets of Caboose Hobbies were purchased by Kevin Ruble, the store was moved 7-1/2 miles west to Lakewood, Colorado and renamed Caboose (which is what almost everybody called it anyway).
Almost everyone called it Caboose? Not in my 25 or so years of memory have I heard that ever. There must be some legal reason the store name was not retained. Interestingly, if you search google for caboose hobbies, Caboose comes up. I guess you can lead a horse to water, but is it really water?
In my opinoin, Caboose is not Caboose Hobbies. It's a totally new and different shop and run by a different person with different ways of running the shop. Fine of course. But as Michael noticed, the inventory is not what customers used to see at Caboose Hobbies.
When the new shop Caboose opened, I perused the website for items I might have wanted to buy, but they didn't come up at Caboose Hobbies old discount prices, but rather at or near MRSP. Also, like Michael, most of the items I was looking for as a D&RGW were not available to buy. I might have found one item but at MSRP and shipping to my address, I chose to back out and not complete the purchase and to date, have not bought anything from Caboose.
By all practical real terms, this new shop is not the shop many fondly remember. The sad truth is Caboose Hobbies is gone, finito, history. Sure, it's good a new hobby shop has stepped in to fill the void but it really doesn't replace the store we used to know, not by a long shot. A hobby shop cannot survive on memories of a shop that has gone away, it has to earn it's own reputation. The old shoes are not easy to fill.
The good news is, with a little judicious shopping online, on eBay and at train shows and you can find what you need.
Fair enough. I can't fathom needing 1000 freight cars...my problem is where to put all the ones I have, and those 50 car trains my son wants can become unwieldy at times to deal with...
I was merely pointing out, for the benefit of those modeling the 1950's, that the Arrowhead Models cars are just a bit too new.
Because I don't need 1000 cars, I am able to have mostly high end cars (I have a few Trainman level cars too, for the rear of trains for my cat who likes to bat the last car or two off the track sometimes).
I do agree with this thread that finding "good" Rio Grande standard gauge equipment can be a challenge. That IS the reason why, as much as I can appreciate the railroad, I simply gave up trying to model it at least twice. If one can get and/or even afford some of the steam power...well, there are still no Pressed Steel Car Company Grande Gold over Silver 40' boxcars...which to me personally would be the "Holy Grail" of late '50's western road boxcars. Also, I can't accept a foobie for such an obviously different "signature" boxcar specifically because the straight lower side sill gives it away even at "layout viewing distances"...so that means all the foobies that don't have straight sills stick out like a sore thumb to me.
This is how I got to the point of just buying and running what I like...I couldn't stick to a road or era. The more I learned about the prototype roads, the harder it became to focus on one.
It's easier to like this or that model that is actually available that is outstanding, and to try to assemble a "representative" fleet of 1970's era freight cars. I loved the steam power, but I also loved the bright freight car paint schemes of the later eras. There was no way for me to reconcile the two. Steam era reefers, while colorful, didn't stay clean at all.
John, just because I know something, does not mean I have to have everything perfect.
That's why I do both, prototype modeling with my interchange roads, B&O, C&O, WM, and protolance with the ATLANTIC CENTRAL.
Believable fantasy (protolancing) is much more fun than the exact truth.
While there is a lot I don't know, and a lot I simply don't care to know, there is also a lot I know. Some of it I follow very closely, some not.
That is the "artistic" part of the hobby in my mind.
It's like full length passenger cars, I have a few, but most of my passenger cars are Athearn and ConCor 72' kit bash/detail jobs. Why? Because they look really graceful and cool like the real thing close coupled with working diaphragms on my 38" radius curves.
Hardly anybody really knows if EVERY passenger car on your layout is correct, and given the one off nature of many prototype passenger cars, nobody has every car correct.......at least not many people......
So why stress it, have fun.
I have a "what if" C&O George Washington of ConCor 72' cars, they look great. Who really cares if every window is in exactly the right place? I don't, even though I know they are wrong.
My trains, and my next layout will be "believable", not "totally accurate". Because we don't have all the info anyway, close enough is good enough.
I'm in this to build interesting models and have fun running trains.
1000 freight cars, about 24 staged freight trains x about 35 cars each = 840 cars.
A 20' long, 8 track freight yard with a 320 car capacity about 35% full = 112 cars.
And some more sitting in some industries, the piggyback yard, etc.
But this is an accurate enough representation of a 1950's Piggyback for me:
But if you look close, this is not just a stock Athearn piggyback flat.
The vans now have the correct single axles and correct landing gear location, there is a "jack" holding up the fifth wheel, there is no more incorrect "stuff" on the flat car deck holding the van in place, it has bridge plates and the stakes that would hold the bridge plate chains. Yes some details are left to the imagination, and some dimensions are wrong, but the effect is very good. I have nearly 100 of these in various roadnames.
Because I can.........