Hello everyone,Currently I am working out my interests and what interests me in the hobby along with the real world industry of rail transport the hobby is based on etc, as I am not ready to build a layout at the moment, so for now I am making plans for projects I want to do when I get my skill level up, collecting what interests me and what I know I will use, running my trains on kato Unitrack loops etc.For my post discussion today, I am looking for critique on my building of a locomotive (HO & N Scale) master wishlist to help list out what locomotiuve I most like, wish and want to own etc. Below is an example from my word document listing such an example.
Here is the link to show it. Reason being as its a bit complicated to post photos here without the need to link it.It lists the basics being...
A short paragagraph below beginning with "Why Do I Want This Model" and after the beginning question I would write explaining why I am interested in this locomotive model, why I want it etc to help justify and give me a reason why I want it.
So what do you think, and anything else I could do to improve how I do this list?
Edit Note: Thank you all for the questions asking for specifics, but at least do allow me several hours to reply, so I can come up with a good and well worded response to your replies.
I am not sure we can tell you what you should do or like. It's totally up to you. But one thing I can say for myself, my interests have evolved over time and come more and more into focus. So what I liked as a teen or college aged person is different than now that I am decades older. Likely this will be similar for you.
You just work at the level you can, financially, skill-wise and preference wise, but don't be surprised if, over time, your interests change. They probably will.
It kinda sounds like you are obsessing over minutiae (noun - the small, precise, or trivial details of something.) - but sometimes people get paralysis over analysis.
Sometimes its better to do what Yoda says. "Do!" Get some trains you like, work on a smaller layout and get your feet wet with track laying, scenery, buildings, elecrical and trains themselves. Don't get to caught-up in a "head trip".
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Not sure what you want everyone to critique. If that is the railroad you desire to model, then do it. If you like that particular railroad because of a video then great. We all have reasons we like our favorites. It might be memories of a railway, a book, a family member, etc. There is nothing to critique.
For all layout planning you need to answer for yourself what you want versus what space you will have and your budget.
For my needs and wishes, the Stewart/Kato EMD F-unit locomotives (F3 and F7) are the best option for the STRATTON AND GILLETTE. As such, they make up the bulk of the fleet I intend to operate, I think I have 11 or 12 of them. I built my locomotive fleet from there, looking for locomotives that would go with a large number of F units in 1954.
I decided to add 3 LL P2000 GP-9s, a GP7, and an SD7. A pair of Walthers Alco FAs and a Pair of Walthers FM H10-44s are power for the local turn. An Athearn PA/PB pair powers a passenger train. My beloved Athearn Trainmaster needs to be included regardless of how it fits in. An Atlas S2 and Kato NW2 are my switchers.
Then a bunch of brass steamers, mostly USRA designs, are the steam fleet.
How has your fleet evolved, what are your criteria for the must haves. and what era are you representing?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
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SeeYou190 How has your fleet evolved, what are your criteria for the must haves. and what era are you representing? -Kevin
It sounds like you are collecting locomotives that do not fit with one another, but are appealing to you.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing this. You should always buy what makes you happy and you will enjoy.
The only problem is that other people will have a hard time making useful suggestions to help you along the way. We have no way of knowing what locomotive model will suit your fancy.
I am looking forward to more detail about what makes any certain locomotive appealing to you.
The thing about collecting "shiny things", i.e. trains that are pretty to your eye, is that you end up with a mish mash and no theme and don't really look like a real train you would see, modern or in the past. But if that is satisfying to you, you don't need us to approve or to recommend. Often if you ask people on train forums, they tell you what they like, which much of the time is different from what you like. I like trains that look like real trains around 40 years ago in the Rocky Mountains, but that's me, not you. I like trains that follow a theme, not random engines that just look cool. So ...
Again, it's your trains, do what you like. As my wife would say, now off with ya! Get cracking.
It's kinda hard to critique a list like this when it's so very personal.
Are you collecting stuff you think is "neat"? Or are you building a layout with a particular era and/or theme?
If you like having different things, that's not wrong.
If you are building a layout and looking for a cohesive theme it helps to pick a railroad/era/location to narrow your focus and define the equipment you need. Big Boy? Didn't run on the Johnstown Branch of the AB&C railroad in 1965 so don't need it... Picking a theme is a whole other discussion based on your preferences... what sort of trains and operations do you like. Do you find a specific setting that fits a majority of your wants, or do you freelance something so it has everything you want... nothing is really a "wrong" answer.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
Don't make wish lists. Your interests and needs will change. How many of us have shelves or boxes full of stuff we really can't use or don't want? How much model railroad equipment is being shipped all over by eBay because people bought stuff and never used it?
A layout can take on a life of its own. As it grows, it will suggest what it needs next.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
MisterBeasley Don't make wish lists. Your interests and needs will change. How many of us have shelves or boxes full of stuff we really can't use or don't want? How much model railroad equipment is being shipped all over by eBay because people bought stuff and never used it? A layout can take on a life of its own. As it grows, it will suggest what it needs next.
My locomotive wishlist currently only has two models on it.
1) Westside Models 2-10-0 "Brute"
2) N&W Class A 2-6-6-4
I think your list should reflect your pike, or what you are planning for. Era, industry, track radius, pike size, all of these should impact your list.
Personally, I don't have a list, but I do have a preset list of search items that I have on my ebay menu. These have included specific locos I have searched for in the past and that I checked for on Ebay on a regular basis. Such a list makes total sense for me. By the way, some locos are offered by more than one manufacturer, each with there own pros and cons.
Simon
SeeYou190 It sounds like you are collecting locomotives that do not fit with one another, but are appealing to you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing this. You should always buy what makes you happy and you will enjoy. The only problem is that other people will have a hard time making useful suggestions to help you along the way. We have no way of knowing what locomotive model will suit your fancy. I am looking forward to more detail about what makes any certain locomotive appealing to you. -Kevin
Hey Kevin thanks, although sorry for the late reply,Addmittingly when started collecting I had some sort of vision, but I will have to, for future posts asking for advice and useful suggestions, along with asking myself if I really want X or Y model.
I appriciate that your looking forward to more detail, however I am not sure of how I will link or show my specific list to the forum. Any idea of how I can?
Random_Idea_Poster_6263I appriciate that your looking forward to more detail, however I am not sure of how I will link or show my specific list to the forum. Any idea of how I can?
I am not good at inserting links in the forum. There is a skill to it.
When I built my first N scale layout I had a crazy assortment of locomotives. Back in the 1980s there were very few N scale locomotives that ran well, so you bought what worked rather than what you wanted.
The decision to place my second N scale layout in 1968 was entirely because of Kato releasing the GP-30, GP-35, GP-40, and SD-40 that all ran so well.
Today I am in HO scale, and good running locomotives are available for any era in HO, so I was free to back-date the railroad to 1954.
There are many things that will effect your desires for certain locomotives, so hopefuly you can figure that part out.
Interestingly, I have become more interested in characterful and unique freight cars than locomotives, so now I spend a lot of time building resin freight car kits and buying some brass. I own about 4 times as many brass freight cars as I do brass locomotives.
Engi1487A short paragagraph below beginning with "Why Do I Want This Model" and after the beginning question I would write explaining why I am interested in this locomotive model, why I want it etc to help justify and give me a reason why I want it.
Revisiting this topic and thinking about the locomotives I want to add to the STRATTON AND GILLETTE roster.
Westside Models Freelance Series 2-10-0 "Brute": I have no operational purpose for this model, but I love it. It looks a bit like a John Allen creation, and the boiler has enough USRA influence for it to be right at home on my roster. If needed, I could use it as a helper on the steep grade to Manchester.
Oriental Models General Electric 65 Ton Locomotive: This beauty would be used as a switcher along with my NW-2 in Centerville. This model is beautiful, and I hope to add it "someday". Hopefully I can make a quality upgrade to the mechanism for it to run right. These models have a reputation as bad runners, but I have never seen one in real life. For a poor runner, they sure demand a very high price.
I also have the option of making one of these using a superstructure from Shapeways.
New Jersey Custom Brass Streamlined NEW HAVEN I-5 4-6-4: I just recently became aware of this model, and it checks a lot of boxes for my roster. I have wanted a streamlined passenger steamer, and was going to convert a Bachmann USRA 4-8-2, but this one right from the box looks perfect for me. The streamlining is simple, and I think it will look great with a red boiler.
Precision Scale NEW YORK CENTRAL F-12 4-6-0: I simply think this is the most beautiful Ten Wheeler I have ever seen. Pulling a short train of three Branchline heavyweights, it would be just gorgeous. The boiler also appears to have a USRA shape to me, good enough!
Thats it. Those are the only four locomotives on my most desired list, and why I want to add them to the roster.