I never know how to answer these kind of questions because I break almost every 'rule' regarding time and place. But since Sheldon asked, I'll chime in as best I can without fear of heresy.
The 'official' era for my layout is modern, and by modern I mean 1975 to present. I even printed that info right on my layout plan. I realize 45 years is a pretty broad span, but even so, I cannot seem to be constrained to those years. I chose 1975 because a few structures on the layout did not exist before then.
My roster of engines and rolling stock is mostly modern. No problems. But I also have quite a few GP-30s and SD-35s that barely squeak in. I also have two passenger trains from the heyday of the mid 50s and two passenger trains from the heavyweight era pulled by steam locos. And Amtrak, of course. One of my favorite trains to run is a string of about 35 boxcars and reefers from the colorful 'billboard' era pulled by an ABA brace of F3s in ATSF red-and-silver Warbonnet livery.
But it gets even worse . . . I also occasionally run a JR Shinkansen N700 Nozomi and an SNCF TGV Lyria. Buzzing right past the CB&Q Casper Station.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Fall of 1949-1954 CNW + MILW Eastern Wisconsin
Scott Sonntag
Hi Sheldon,
No prizes for guessing which R/R 1995 - 2015 i.e. from around when Anacostia repainted all the Geeps into Orange livery and up to when the GPS plates were fitted to the Cab roofs. Regards, Paul
"It's the South Shore Line, Jim - but not as we know it".
Motley Colorado 1989. The same year D&RGW was merged into UP.
Colorado 1989. The same year D&RGW was merged into UP.
The merger took place in 1988. It's in the wiki.
My modeling interest is about 1977-1983 D&RGW Grande Junction and west into Utah.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I model a fictitious branch of the New York Central set in the 1940's-early 50's. Well before I was born.
Mike
I model a factious shoreline set in the mountains of Virginia between 1950 & 1960, summer season.
Gary
1969-70
PC has just taken over the NYC and an independent railroad is now running on ex-NYC trackage.
I was born in 1939.
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
1967-76.
Modeling interests: US east and southeast. ACL, SCL, New Haven, early Amtrak. I like this era as there was a nice, wide mix of attractuve motive power and passenger equipment running.
Originally my cutoff was 73, but extended it to 1976 as I wanted to include Amtrak E60CP's.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Although I have some interest in early-to-recent diesels (why not?!?), and have a few, steam is where my heart is. Big, brutish steam, but I also like the Penny's earlier WWI era steam. So, if I have an 'era', it runs from 1911 through to 1959 so that I can run all that brutish coal-fired power, including Canadian steam and the venerable Norfolk & Western Rwy's astounding Y6-b Mallets.
I have numerous eras but they're around the same timeframe. My main focus is mid to late 1980s and early 1990s proper to the ditch lights.
Conrail 1987-99. I'm planning on doing 1978 or doing all 24 years. New York Central will also share the same layout. Kato release of the 20th Century will make the layout backdate it in 1953. (Just missing a sleeper or two.) Ending it 1967.
Amtrak 1971-2007 I love this government run train. Any layout plan post 1971 an Amtrak train is required.
1994-1996 Santa Fe/ Southern Pacific Placed between California and Arizona. A fictional location without Joshua trees and cactus.
1998-2007 BNSF/ Union Pacific These two railroads will be shared together around Nebraska.
Some fun railroads I like Chessie System, and Burlington Northern.
I was born in 1986, witnessed the fall of SP and rise of BNSF. Gotten interested in Conrail a year after they split. Fascinated with the NYC 20th Century Limited at a young age.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
A vague period after ditch lights and reflective stripes were required, but before COTS plates went away. So, 2005 to 2016?
I was born in 68.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Sheldon,I model the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Co. which existed as a railroad from the 1872 merger of the New York & New Haven RR and the Hartford & New Haven RR up until 12:01AM on Jan. 1, 1969, plus any and all predecessors going back to the oldest one, which was the 5' gauge Granite Railway in Quincy, Mass. starting on Oct. 7, 1826. That being said, it's not easy getting models of 1800s equipment, let alone pre-Civil War stuff, so my collection is all 20th Century equipment. The oldest I have is an "As Delivered" NH EP-1 electric motor from the 1906-1909 era.
My goal is to accurately model every era of the NH, and I was born in 1975, just over 6 years after the disappearance of the NH from the railroad scene.My interest is so focused on the NH that I now digitally assemble the Shoreliner, the quarterly NH magazine put out by the New Haven Railroad Historical & Technical Association, and I'm the editor of our bi-annual NH modeling magazine, the SpeedWitch.I have one exception to my NH-only rule: I plan to own a model of all 15 locomotives that I've actually operated or got a cab ride in.
NHTX,Hey, I also model the Boston & Providence line. Or at least I did when I had a layout. I live on this line and rode it daily for 5 years in the 1990s. If you ever need NH assistance, please let me know.
I'm modelling the early 1940's to late 1950's Pennsylvania RR in the midwest of northeast Indiana.
I have a long way to go but have been collecting hardware( trains, locos, most are steam), also kits of all kinds for about 15 years now
I'm modelling the late '30s in southern Ontario, somewhat before my time, with both free lanced railroads and representatives of the real ones. I tend to play a little loose on the timeframe, since I have a lot of covered hoppers and a few others that weren't likely around at that time.All of the eight towns on the layout are named for real places, and likewise for the four modelled rivers, but none are intended to ressemble their prototypes.
Wayne
Fall 1953. But I'm not real fussy about it. I include Billboard reefers just because I like them. And some of the freight car paint schemes might be later than 1953. Also some of the paint schemes are the NMRA Heritage/Living Legend cars.
I was born in April 1947.
My earliest memory of trains is from 1957 when my father was stationed in Germany and there was a railroad line across the field behind our house. It was probably a branch line because it was single track and not many trains ran on it. I also remember the street cars of Washington D.C. from when I lived there in 1955.
Paul
I'm a conflicted individual who has two widely different favorite railroads, separated by approximately 20 years. First would be the 1964-1966 New Haven, with emphasis on 1965, the year I graduated high school. Second (?) would be the Southern Pacific, 1984-1986. My main interest in the New Haven would be the Shoreline between Providence and Boston. The SP's Sunset Route west of Houston, to El Paso, was a railfan/modeler's paradise until the end of gyralights, cabooses (up to ten) on EVERY train, unbelievable foreign power and, double stacks were an oddity.
I was born in 1947.
hon30critterI admire those like Kevin who are focussed on a very specific time, but personally I'm just not that particular. I anticipate that I will be running by myself most of the time so I'm not worried about having to justify what's on the tracks.
Well... I actually have several "fleets" that I am building.
1) The Fleet Of Nonsense: This group of models is strictly August, 1954, very well detailed, and all are ficticious roadnames.
This VIRGINIAN AND OHIO boxcar is the centerpiece of this collection.
2) The Prop Fleet: These are mostly broken models I have bought at train shows and painted well enough to use them in photographs. They do not run, might be real prototype roadnames.
This USRA Mountain is missing the valve gear, and does not run. The green SGRR head end car is the only one I have in that paint scheme for prop use only.
3) The Fleet Of Anachronism: Yes, I do love GP-30s, GP-35s, and SD-40s. I even have modern rolling stock lettered for the STRATTON AND GILLETTE. I even have a couple of CNW dash-2 diesels just because I like them. These show up sometimes.
I no longer own this SGRR boxcar, but it is representative of these cars.
4) The Fun Fleet: These are train-set cars that I have upgraded with Kadee wheels and couplers, and proper weight. I bring these out for nostalgia.
This PURINA tyco car brings back childhood memories.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
My teen years, early to mid 50s. I just fell in love with the Southern Pacific huge articulateds.Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Mostly the late Transition Era, but I am building a fleet of locomotives, freight cars and automobiles for the 1930s. Even a few structures.
My first HO layout was then modern era, but I've been around long enough that the same trains, which I still have, are now Late Transition.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
1910-1920-ish, way before I was born!
Jim
April, 1955, Dearborn Station, Chicago.
Alton Junction
I model the 50s with a lot of license. In other words, my favourite locomotives are from the 50s but I will run whatever I want whenever I want. That will include Hogwarts Express and Thomas if I have the right audience (that audience could be just me).
I admire those like Kevin who are focussed on a very specific time, but personally I'm just not that particular. I anticipate that I will be running by myself most of the time so I'm not worried about having to justify what's on the tracks.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Appox. 1939
My first layout is 2020, with one exception.
I have a complete UP City of Los Angeles from the 1950s, still running and carrying passengers in 2020.
I rode the similar City of Portland for two days and nights as a kid, and I've always loved it.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
1953-54
ATLANTIC CENTRALSo, if you model a specific era, or year, let us know what it is.
I think I am the most specific person in here:
Tuesday, August 3rd, 1954, 2:00 PM.
I entered into the real world in January, 1968.
My largest layout was in N scale and set in Spring of 1968.
Circa 1984.
1890
So, if you model a specific era, or year, let us know what it is.
Even if you are not real fussy, but just have taste that brings you to steam, or modern diesels, please speak up.
Do you model the "trains of your youth"? Or what you see today? Or some bygone era from history?
Mine is September 1954, I was born in May of 1957
Thanks,
Sheldon