Why do you model what you model?

[JimRCGMO]

I model a fictional freelance ('bridge') line connecting the Rio Grande and the Santa Fe in the mid-to-late 1950's - because:

1) The 1950's were when I first got interested in MRR'ing,

2) At that time I think my train set had an ATSF loco with it (and Santa Fe was a popular RR line),

3) On my one vacation when I was married, we went to Phoenix area (my Dad was living there then) and then up through the Four Corners area, into Cortez (Mesa Verde country) and Colorado Springs before heading home, and I love the scenery out that way,

4) I like the Rio Grande's black and gold/yellow colors, plus the Santa Fe's stripes (like the SP's Tiger stripe schemes, also),

5) I like medium or smaller towns & cities, so my freelanced RR is serving some (in an alternate universe where the Navajo nation would lease out land for a RR to cut through - that part's probably not realistic, but see #6 below),

6) Because I like all of the above and it's my railroad!

Model RR'ing allows me to use my creative side more (I have an undergrad degree in art and currently work in another career area, so gotta have an outlet, right?). It involves some (limited) craftsmanship, research skills (to find out what would be typical for RR's in my layout's time period, etc.), operations, design (in planning the layout of track, structures, etc.), painting, and other skills.

That's my , anyway.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[marknewton]

Because the railway I work for is too mundane and commonplace to me after 30+ years service. The railways of Japan are exotic in many respects by comparison, but operate in a manner quite familiar to me...

Cheers.

Mark

[Jake1210]

I model (well will be soon enough) C&O, N&W, Southern, Western Maryland, PRR, B&O and my own company AC&S (Yes, those 6 prototype railroads all operated within a good vicinity of each other!) Circa 1935-45 in the Allegheny Mountains. All because I love steam engines & spectacular scenery/mountains.

[PA&ERR]

Why not?

-George

[SD60M]

Lets see my first train set was santa fe but passing by BN's Tennessee yard everytime i went to my grandma's just made me love them even more! I saw alot of power even saw my first conrail and santa fe loco's there. It seems that since the merger i seem to like BN more and more all the time!

[riogrande5761]

Most model what they grew up seeing - its pretty standard fair.  I grew up watching the SP in northern California.  However, several trips to Colorado converted me to the Rio Grande because the gorgeous mountain scenery and the desert scenery is hard to beat.  I, on the other hand find all midwestern and eastern rail roading boring and unappealing, mainly due to the boring and completely ordinarly scenery and land scape.

[EJE818]

Well, just saw this forum. I have quite an extensive collection of EJ&E engines, including 665 (J-Ball paint), 657 (J-Ball paint), two different versions of GP38-2 703 in the J-Ball and outer belt paint jobs, a ex-DM&IR SD18 that I patched for the J, a SW1200 in the mineral brown paint, a second SW1200 in the green paint, SD18 852 (low hood, custom built, very very hard to find and probably by far the rarest of all my model engines) in the J-Ball paint and a NW2 in the old orange and green wave scheme. I try getting engines from railroads that run or have run in the Chicago area, and have an Iowa Interstate GP9, two IHB engines, a GP38-2 and a SW1500, a WC SD45, SW1500, and F45, three IC EMDs, 3 SOO EMDs, a SD60M, a SD60, and a SD40-2, and also a DM&IR SD38-2 and DWP SD40 5908 along with too many others to count. EJ&E engines are HARD to come by, so I've bought every EJ&E engine I've found, and other then the SD38-2 665 and the NW2, they have all been custom painted or in case of the DM&IR SD18, patched. I'm also known for putting together the most unusual consists, the other day I put the WC SD45 with the EJ&E GP38-2 on a local.

[Keith Browning]

I own a Grand Trunk SD-40 and a small Canadian National switcher and run them on my small layout for my grandchildren.  I rent my home at this time so this is a temporary layout.  Some day I plan to build a fictional layout in the basement of the home I plan to build.  I enjoy watching the CN and the Michigan Southern, but my layout hopefully will be something closer to the Gorre & Dappetid.  Of Course not nearly as spectacular, thats right Mr. Allen was the King of model railroading.  I know I don't have his skills but I will do my best. 

[ICman]

It's a little bit of the area I grew up in, seeing the orange & white ICG Paducah rebuilts runnning through my home town, the equipment that I saw running, and that I still remember local freight operations just a couple blocks away from our house.  I have been very actively researching my home town and the surrounding railroad scene in northwestern Illinois in the mid 1970's, to include the Illinois Central Gulf, and Burlington Northern.  I guess I'm not really modelling it yet, but I am building my rolling stock roster, collecting information, and slowly assembling a Paducah rebuilt GP8 as a multi-media kit, i.e. resin shell, P2K chassis, extra details, etc.  I've found some very valuable online resources, and books in print that have spurred my research.  Who knows; maybe someday I'll finally have the space to build the "dream layout."  Until then, I'm having a great time researching and building my roster and key structures that I know I'll use later.  Model railroading is fun!

[T-Motor]

I'm with you also James! I also missed the "Electric Road" era. Wish I knew what was going on out there in the 70's when they started tearing it up. I was still in high school but I would have at least paid attention. Alas, I didn't know the road existed at the time. Was too busy getting through high school and thinking what the Marine Corps was going to be like.

At least now like you, I can collect those "joes and bi-polars" and all the rest of the unique Milwaukee Road stuff.

BTW-Any manufacturers listening? WE NEED SOME NEW PLASTIC, AFFORDABLE, LITTLE JOES AND BI-POLARS!!!!! Enough with the Remakes like F-units!

Thank you.

T-Motor

[Cederstrand]

[Horror of horrors I also run modern diesels with steam. I model to have fun in my retirement.]

I do relate to that! I may be a big steam fan, but you would have to pry my old UP Gas Turbine from my cold dead hand. Sold most of my diesels off to justify buying more steam locos, but there are a few diesels I will keep. And when I have a layout built, I will happily run them along side all those old steamers. Enjoy creating and doing whatever brings joy into your life.

Cool that you got to watch the new engines roll out of the GE plant. I have always loved the Santa Fe color schemes. Half my collection is AT&SF.

-Rob ps: "Wish I could retire, but I know that will never happen."

[Lillen]

I choose the B&O because of their F and E units in combination with there beautiful Heavyweights. It's just such an awesome sight to behold. I also wanted some lovely coal hoppers and the B&O sure had them. The only thing I'm missing is big steam, so I got an unlettered Y6b and the Big Boys from PCM to cover that, I guess that means that I'm really freelancing since I do what I like. But the B&O is the focus of the railroad and I am building up a nice roster for them.

 

Magnus

[f14aplusfl]

I model the Central New England Railway specifically in Dutchess County, NY.

I'm debating doing the same with a modern day New York, New Haven, & Hartford. Based upon the McGinnis scheme on the CDOT GP40s and P32DCs, it looks awesome! I think it would look great on modern power. But the idea behind this is also based upon an old NYNH&H Historical Society calendar I got when I was younger too. But the premise would be that the New Haven is now a regional carrier (I made a map of the "modern New Haven" based upon a copy of a CNE and its connections map I found). But it’s also under the premise of certain lines were never abandoned, others acquired, and some sold off. Course being "freelanced", it's be a mix of EMD GP38-2s, SD40-2s (and a random SDF40-2 for business/freight), GE U30C, B23-7, C40-8Ws, C40-9Ws in an attempt to stick with New Haven's diesel roster dominated by Alco/GE.

The other option would be "small" railroad in Florida (1920s - beginning of WWII) where the primary traffic is fruit, fruit, and more fruit. Yes some tourists and local passenger/freight traffic too.  Not quite a shortline but neither would I call it a "regional".  But I am from Florida (I see the FEC) and steam, well, is always interesting.

 So right now it’s more so research, drawing, and thinking.

[trainnut57]

I model the Santa Fe, but I'm not a rivet counter-you would probably never see any towns on my layout that even slightly resemble any that may have been on the AT&SF mainlines. I model Santa Fe because I watched them roll out of GE here in town right after being built, run on test tracks then shipped west. I like their particular color scheme, especailly the super fleet Dash-8 Warbonnet. I also throw in some UP's, SP's, and D&RGW's just for more color and fun.

I model towns for the sake of modleing towns-a school, grocery stores, banks, homes, industries, etc. I love to build things and be able to show them off whether they be kit built, kit bashed or scratch built. Horror of horrors I also run modern diesels with steam. I model to have fun in my retirement.

[PRRT1MAN]

I model the Pennsy because my grandfather worked there and I have many photo's memoribilia  etc. from him. I am trying to model the enginehouse & yard facility of Mahoningtown PA ( called Lawrence Junction) where he worked.

 

Sam

[CNE Runner]

I model the Central New England Railway specifically in Dutchess County, NY. The Central New England was absorbed into the New Haven and was abandoned in the late 1930's. I can remember, as a child, walking the old roadbed that crossed my father's farm and wondered what it must have been like riding on this line. Unfortunately retirement did not bring a larger home, so I am relegated to a fold-up layout (yard) in the garage. Because I could not do justice to the Hopewell Junction yards, I decided upon a fictitious location called Sweethaven Harbor. Since it is my world, I have decided the CNE never went out of business and continues into the modern age. Over the years, I have been fortunate to collect books and one (very precious to me) 1920 CNE timetable (I now know what time the daily trains passed through Dad's farm). The CNE and its predecessor the Newburgh, Dutchess & Connecticut had a colorful history that I felt I could carry on in some small measure.

[Norman]

I model early to mid 1950's L&N.  That road and era was where my love for the "iron horse" began.  My grandfather worked for the L&N from 1908 to 1959 in Nashville.  We spent a lot of time together, and it was often connected with railroading, whether going with him to Nashville's Union Station to get his paycheck, stopping to see one of his friends at the South Nashville yeards, or just a visit to Centennial park which always included time spent with the gorgeous NC&StL Dixie-class on display there.

This isn't an easy period to model.  Engines and rolling stock are scarce cpmpared to other road and eras.  It has to be early to indulge my love of steam.  There is nothing quite like the sound of a steam whistle.  It's just a shame you can't smell the coal smoke in HO!  At least I get to do that on summer weekends. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kemNkIdWnA

 

 

[Anonymous]

Simple..I model what I do because I like modern railroading but want to get away with now aging and disappearing locos such as As SD40-2 types and so on.  So I model a modern regional line which doesn't have to be inundated with all modern power, though I have that too.  Plus I can run any type of train and don't have to act like I am trying to run a major system but can do a lot more than with a short line.

That's pretty much what I model; my freelanced railroad runs from Springfield, MA, to Albany, NY. One of the main reasons I model a freelanced system is trainfan1221's reason, also, most of my motive power was either purchesed when I was much younger and just bought what I liked, or gifts from friends or family that didn't understand, example:UP dosn't use SDP35s anymore!

Oh well. I like this better anyway becouse I can make up trains instead of using the prototype's schedule.

 

[BNSFhomodeler]

I have a small freelance layout that I pretend is BNSF somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.  When I start my dream layout I am leaning towards Marias pass Whitefish to East Glacier.  I love the mountain scenery and big time mainline railroading.  In my teens and twenties I collected alot of Santa Fe rolling stock modeling BNSF just after the merger I can run Santa Fe and it will fit right in.

The Marias pass area offers the following things that I want to model:

- Busy single track mainline.

 -Variety in traffic (Grain, Passenger, Intermodal, Autorack, Lumber...)

-Tunnels and bridges.

- River canyon.  Tracks follow middle fork of the Flathead river.

-Depots.  Amtrak makes stops at East Glasier, Essex, West Glacier and Whitefish.

-Helper District.  Helpers stationed at Essex mainly to help Eastbounds up the 1.5% from Essex to the Summit.

-Diverging branchlines with plenty of switching.  Columbia Falls to Kalispell and Stryker.

Model Railroading the perfect hobby - Phil Herman

[Anonymous]

Two highly practical factors combined for my choice -- short and green. My condo is pretty small so my layout is only 3X8 which means my curves are slightly less than 18" radius in places. So the best rolling stock for me are short ore cars. I picked Burlington Northern because my son loves anything green. The layout is a mining area -- one mine, one small town, with one small yard -- that interchanges with the Burlington Northern. I'm soon adding a long spur down the side of the room for the interchange. It will "dead-end" at a tunnel portal (with mirror insert) into the wall of the bar across the room. Truly a touch of wimsey, very cool.

[T-Motor]

Growing up in the Penn Central era (god forbid), that's all I knew. Up here in Ogdensburg, N.Y. that's all there was for me. Stuck up here at the end of a dying branch line off the "Hojack Line" from Dekalb Jct. Yet I never modeled it, what with it's steady Alco RS36's and regular Transfer type cabooses. When I modeled, it was always the glory years of the New York Central. I collected many of those Shiny, black, lightning striped machines till the Conrail era arrived. Then after reading much about western railroading in the pages of Trains, the Burlington Northern caught my eye. I started collecting much of that (and still do occasionally). But everything changed when I took a trip to Southern California. The first sighting of a freight train was a five unit set of "Tunnel Motors" and SD45's barking their way out of the siding at Bealville and heading for the Loop! That was it, I was hooked! Nothing I've ever seen had compared to all that show of horsepower and smoke straining to move it's train up the grade! The trip itself was actually my honeymoon! My wife even made the suggestion that I try to get a cab ride into Mojave! (God bless her!) But the train already had it's signal and was on the move as we approached the area. (wishful thinking though, I know)

So needless to say, I now model the SP. The ultimate is in the Shasta and/or Donner Pass areas. Trains with Tunnel motor's and that mountain scenery...it just doesn't get any better than that!

[e-mail]

[railvis]

I was wondering why you model what you model? Was it the railroad you where most exposed to. Or is it the scenery. How about a type of locomotive. Or do you model just because you like it? I model WC because I lived around it, I also model Soo because...whell I don't know why. So why do you model what you model?

Back in 1957 I spent a year at the U of W in Madison, Wi. an enjoyed it!

In the 70's Atlas/Rivarossi came out with their US N scale models. I was hooked. I named my freelance layout Wisconsin Central. In '87 or so I found out my layout now had a pretty paint scheme too. Heaven!! So most of my engines now sport a version of WC paint. I have adapted the WC scheme to fit Steam engines as well.

It is saddening to see the WC equipment fade a way at a startling fast rate.

Have fuN,

Maarten

 

[bpickering]

Because I like the heavy metal.

Union Pacific has so many unusual, large locos- especially the turbines and the double-diesels.

[hschroeder]

Growing up in California I was use to seeing Western Pacific and Southern Pacific. I once had an HO set done in the Sante Fe, but I now live in Richmond VA and there is a Norfolk Southern line near the house and there is also the CSX yard nearby. I freelance and my model of choice is Norfolk Southern all in N scale. I also have a (N) scale 4-6-6-4 Challenger and model it in Western Pacific. I really like modeling Norfolk Southern and make trips down to Roanoke once in a while to go visit the old Norfolk Western shops (Norfolk Southern) and can really find NS cars, locos, etc at some of the local hobby shops in the area. 

[Cederstrand]

CERY NICELY DONE! Wow, I could get lost in your train room and never care to find my way back out.LOL The amount of work you have put into such a creation is impressive. Thanks for sharing it! -Rob

[Texas Zepher]

Also model the Enid District from Guthrie to Kiowa KS, action centered around Enid Ok.

Since I've been driving through, I've always thought Kiowa would be a great place to model.  One gets the San Francisco Chief passing by, the interchange with the Mopac, the branch line traffic which I presume had local passenger train service because of the three station tracks.    Then it goes right by the great salt plains wild life preserve.

I only wish I could have figured out a way to save the real Kiowa station last year. 

[twhite]

I grew up around the SP Donner Pass line in the Sierras, rode my first AC-6 4-8-8-2 when I was just a wee little tad (my namesake great uncle was a brakeman on SP between Truckee and Norden).  For years, I thought all articulateds ran cab-first, LOL!   Spent some time in Colorado when I was in the Air Force, and though I was too late for Rio Grande steam, I fell in love with THAT railroad and the setting (and what Rio Grande steam must have looked like in that setting). 

So, when I got serious about model railroading, I decided to combine SP, Rio Grande and California's Sierra Nevadas.  Been a happy camper ever since.  Oh, I'm 90% steam, except for an SP/UP/CNW "City of San Francisco" E-6 A-B-B unit and a Rio Grande F-3 A-B unit (and that cute little Burlington Pioneer Zephyr).  And I'm very happily caught in a 1940's Time Warp. 

Tom  

[WCfan]

Wow! Three decks. Sound like a insteresting layout. I would like to see some photos.

***Allow me to 2nd that...would very much like to see photos. -Rob

 

http://home.kc.rr.com/rmmmr/

 

Bob

Nice photos.

[pastorbob]

Wow! Three decks. Sound like a insteresting layout. I would like to see some photos.

***Allow me to 2nd that...would very much like to see photos. -Rob

 

http://home.kc.rr.com/rmmmr/

 

Bob