Which do you prefer the most, trains of the past or present ?...

[Anonymous]

Though I'm the one that came up with this poll and topic, it would be awfully hard for me to have to choose just one, but if I did, I'd have to say trains of the past... I really like the old steam engines and the simpler times they ran in.

trainluver1

[trolleyboy]

I like the deisels of the past. More elegant and less big and brutal than today's techni-toasters. Rob

[dave9999]

What about diesels from the past? Dave

Edit: Rob, you beat me by five seconds[8D]. Dave

[IRONROOSTER]

I prefer steam, but I have 2 early diesel switchers (sw1, sw9) along with a GG1 to go with a 2-6-0 kit and a 2-8-0 kit for the standard gauge. The narrow gauge has a Forney and 3 2-8-0 kits and a shay kit.
Enjoy
Paul

[RedLeader]

There are steamers of the present too. China, Eastern Europe, India, Malasya, Africa and some countries in South America still use them.

Have anyone ever built a layout of the future? That'll be interesting. I had a friend that once had the idea to model a layout based on the future of the 1930's. It would look like the movie metropoly and have these super streamlined steamers running on sleak designed concrete viaducts and huge zeppelins will be docked atop of the pinacles of 200 stories "art decco" skycrapers.

[espeefoamer]

You should have included diesels of the past.Most of the good stuff has been replaced by today's techno diesels.Most of the interesting units dissapeared in the 1970s with a few lasting into the 80s.Most of the GE Dash 9s,and AC units have basicly the same carbody,and the only relief is sometimes seeing an SD 70 or the SD70 ACE,which has a different (and fugly) carbody.

[Anonymous]

Present definitly. I love the colorful paint schemes of rr's like BNSF and CSX.

[West Coast S]

Give me steam prior to 1930 and all associated with it.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

Trainluver,

I didn't vote. If I may suggest that you modify your poll.

The trains of the past were also diesel powered! The E-units made their debut before WWII. My favorite being the E7. There were the Alco DL109s, Alco PAs, Baldwin "Baby Face" units, the Zephyrs,.................diesels everywhere!

Also, don't forget that a number of trains were hauled by electrics, like the Milwuakee Roads Boxcabs, Pennsy's P5s and GG1s, New Haven EP4 and EP5, New York Central's P motors and S motors.

Just a thought!

Peace out.

For those of you that have mentioned that I left out diesels of the past must have missed the enclosed following the two choices. One says steamers and the other says diesels. That's the only two choices I intended to offer.

trainluver1

[hminky]

Give me Big Stacks,Wooden cars and Iron men, the 1870's.



Model the 1870's at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1879/why/

Just a thought[:D]
Harold

[selector]

I marvel at the sophistication and nostalgia associated with the 1910-1940 era steamers. Some, like the tiny 0-6-0, were built in weights from 40-over 100 tons (what a range!), while the FEF's, Texan/Selkirk 2-10-4's, and all of the articulated engines (yes, Aggro's SP is included) were leviathans that must have required rail straighteners pulled after the tender. But, if you have never done so, seek out a simple little steamer and have a good long look at all of the pipes, valves, gears, rods, stays, bolts, access plates, and so on. How did those things ever work well enough to make any money for their patrons?

[Anonymous]

I'm leaning heavily toward old steam, but have way to much modern equipment to just give up on the french fry grease burning locomotives of the future (don't laugh, it's just around the corner!).

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1

For those of you that have mentioned that I left out diesels of the past must have missed the enclosed following the two choices. One says steamers and the other says diesels. That's the only two choices I intended to offer.

trainluver1

Well, if that's the case then I would choose steam over diesel everyday and twice
on Sunday. I have early diesels because they fit my era, but if pinned down and
forced to choose between the two... steamers win. Dave

[railroadyoshi]

Though the big guys of the 21st century are extravagent, you see the same style locomotive in every train.

I prefer early generation diesels through the late 1970's, even though I wasn't born until 1992.
-Siddharth

[JohnT14808]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trolleyboy

I like the deisels of the past. More elegant and less big and brutal than today's techni-toasters. Rob

'Techni-toasters'??!? [:D] Where does that name originate from, Rob?? That's the first I've heard of that one!! Give me STEAM, baby!!! Especially the 1880s to 1905 era..a wonderful time to model.

[Anonymous]

1930's steam Allllllllllllll the way & "modern" steam (roamers & non-museum owned engines). The diesels & electrics of the 40's & 50's also are cool.

[Anonymous]

By the way whats up with those ugly SD-90's

[twhite]

I like the big steam of the 1920-40 era, and though I don't have any diesels on my Yuba River Sub, I am fond of the early E's, F's and Alco PA's, and the later Rio Grande Tunnel Motors and even if they weren't very successful, those Baldwin Centipedes just knock my socks off! But by and large, give me the indivuality of big steam--today's techno-diesels all look alike. How do you tell them apart--louvers? Number of fans? Cab size? Heck, I don't know. Don't much care, either, LOL!
Tom [:P][:P]

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainluver1


For those of you that have mentioned that I left out diesels of the past must have missed the enclosed following the two choices. One says steamers and the other says diesels.

trainluver1

o.k.............

that's a 10-4, on that

[Anonymous]

I chose present, since I've always liked being able to model what I can see in everyday life. (I do have some 'past' diesels as well though.) If I'd been lucky enough to actually see steamers in normal revenue service, Id probably have been a steam modeler like the majority.

[Anonymous]

I didn't vote, because I'd have to say I like both.

[Anonymous]

I'm with those who prefer diesels of the past (1960s-1980s)

[selector]

I have already responded, but I have been thinking about the results so far, and they seem to be what I'd expect.

In twenty-five years, though, I'd bet those who prefer steam will be very much in the minority, say in the order of 15%. Steam will have no particular relevance for those who join our ranks over the next quarter century, so those absolute numbers will slowly.....um....die off.

In case my point is lost, it means that those 'better' streamers that we purchase now, and preserve, will possibly become quite valuable to the minority who might appreciate them. That minority is going to be demographically older, and often more capable of paying higher prices for truly valuable locos.

Just a thought..

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JohnT14808


'Techni-toasters'??!? [:D] Where does that name originate from, Rob?? That's the first I've heard of that one!! Give me STEAM, baby!!! Especially the 1880s to 1905 era..a wonderful time to model.

The article in 1999 (either Great Model Railroads or Model Railroad Planning) which described Gary Hoover's Missouri, Kansas & Quincy referred to the newer units as "Techno-toasters" (as opposed to Techni-toasters--pretty much same difference) so I guess that makes it a six year old reference.

Cheers ;o)

Ed

[rexhea]

I model the transition period where I have both steamers and diesel. But, you can't beat the history and romance of the steamers. Growing up in the 40s and 50s, it was always exciting to see a steamer chuffing and blowing its whistle, but very sad when the whistle was replaced by a horn. [:(]

REX [:)]

[tstage]

I like trains of the past - steam AND diesel.

Crandell, I'm going to have to beg to differ with you. Albeit, the number of steamer fans may dwindle but I think there will always be a steam contingency amongst modelers and railfans. However, if tthe higer powers-to-be should ever outlaw the running of live steamers in the future because of environmental reasons, that may indeed strike a serious blow to the remaining number of fans over time. I would hope that wouldn't be the case...

Tom

[aloco]

I like diesel locomotives that were built from the late 1930s on up to the end of the 1950s. Those were the days when locomotive builders were more stylish with their body designs.

[oleirish]

[bow]I like them all so I try to stick to the 30's through the 60's.I also rember the days when I was a kid and my Grandma used to hall me with her on the OLD P.E in southren calif.([;)] old as dirt here)

JIM

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dave9999

Originally posted by trainluver1

For those of you that have mentioned that I left out diesels of the past must have missed the enclosed following the two choices. One says steamers and the other says diesels. That's the only two choices I intended to offer.

trainluver1

After reading this again, maybe the question should have read: "Do you prefer steam or
diesel". Most people who model the "past" model diesels as well as steam. They overlaped
for many years. So narrowing the past down to steam only really doesn't work. Dave

GO GATORS !! Old layout http://photobucket.com/albums/v491/davegator/ New layout http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v491/davegator/New%20Layout%20Building/

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