I know that probably this topic has been explored before here on the board, but I would like to know what the opinions are. They is some very good modeling going on in model railroad periodicals today, but some excel above the crowd. When I first started reading Model Railroading and getting into the hobby as a newbie, I was totally enthralled with John Allen's Gorre & Dapethid. I enjoyed the full view of scenery from the bottom of the floor to the top of the layout. However not being a steam fan, I wished I could have seen that layout ran with diesel motive power. And then one day when I picked up Model Railroader, I fell in love for a second time with Rick Rideout's L & N. I loved the pictures of the layout by MR and the wonderful detail to construction and detail by him. I hate it that I did not purchase a copy of the CD that Great Model Railroads did of Rick's layout. I would pay big bucks for a copy of that CD today. Then a third lover came into my life when I saw the work of Pelle Soeberg. His contemporary structures and attention closely rival to me Rick Rideout's L & N.
What are your favorite MR layouts and modelers?
Here is my order of greatness
1. Rick Rideout L & N
2. John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid
3. George Sellios Franklin & Manchester
4. Pelle Soeberg's Modeling
Are we not truly blessed with great modelers? What are your favorities and the order thereof?
Here is an old thread with links to and descriptions of some of my favorite type of layouts - layouts with realistic looking urban scenes: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/p/135841/1523625.aspx
Smile, Stein
I don't know about greatness, everyone seems to want to argue about it. But my favorites are:
1. John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid
2. John Armstrong's Canandiagua Southern
3. Bob Hayden and Dave Frary's Thatcher's Inlet
Enjoy
Paul
Overall I would say, Cliff Powers ( MA&G RR ) Magnolia Route.
Johnboy out.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
~G4
19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.
It's really hard for me to pinpoint an exact favorite- I wouldn't even say I'm my own favorite (since I'm too hard on myself naturally). I tend to be amazed at the depth and reality of many model railroads I see- including those in the pages of MR to ones I see in person at train shows or in homes/clubs. I think if it is convincing it is one I really enjoy. If the modeler throws in a bit of "rarity" or humor (for example- the cop'n a kiss from woodland scenics in the woods behind a tree I've seen done before, pretty funny).
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
Such a loaded question with many answers and few questions!
Still hard to beat is:
1.Tony Koester's Allegeheny Midland
2. Allen McClelland Viginian & Ohio
----------------
Then there is
Lance Mindheim's East Rail District.
Bill Denton's Kingsbury Branch..
See there are many from freelance railroads to prototype switching layouts..
Name your favorite type of layout/railroad and there is bound to be several fine examples.
For me I must go with Lance's East Rail District since it repersents my favorite type of layout-the ISL.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE Still hard to beat is: 1.Tony Koester's Allegeheny Midland 2. Allen McClelland Viginian & Ohio
I'm going to say YES!! to those two----
And I'm going with Lance Mindheim's Monon Route one--(not sure of name?)--due to his suggestive quarry scenario.
A question that could be asked would be one involving what level of modeling detail would signify a layout is actually finished---but I'm thinking of that as a seperate thread-----
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
This is like asking what your favorite flavor of ice cream is. There are just too many good choices. The great ones are great for different reasons. I wouldn't want to rank them in any order. All of the above mentioned are impressive works although I must confess, I never got to see much of Tony Koesters AM railroad. I would just name a few that have had the greatest influence on me. It certainly starts with John Allen's G&D. The awe inspiring scenery showed us there are no bounds to what we can do in model railroading. Allen McClelland's V&O had a big influence on me because of his adherence to prototype practice and his linear design in which trains pass through a scenery once which was a break from the spaghetti bowl track plans that had been popular. George Selios did for urban modeling what John Allen did for mountain scenery. Majestic is the word that comes to mind in describing it. When I get around to building my large urban area, I hope to be able to do on a smaller scale what he has done with the F&SM.
George Selios
Rod Stewart
Charlie Comstock
jecorbett This is like asking what your favorite flavor of ice cream is.
This is like asking what your favorite flavor of ice cream is.
That's a good way of putting it; there isn't really a "right" or "wrong" answer. Our view of what is "best" is always going to be colored at least a little bit by our own experiences, upbringing, preferences etc.
One model railroad I would like to have seen more of was called the "Whiskey River RR" built by Jim O'Roarke (sp?) and featured in the Dec 1982 MR (IIRC). I still pull it out once in a while and look at the pics.
He was a fan of John Allen's, and when he built a new home that had a similar sized basement built a layout with a similar shape, running around three walls of the basement with a "blob" in the middle and a "blob" at each end...only his layout was based on Great Northern in the Montana Rockies. Unlike many modellers, he didn't believe that detailed backdrops detracted from the model trains, and used photos (from travel posters mainly) of mountains as backdrops. To me the backdrops, mountain scenery, and IIRC several dozen GN brass steam engines (and a few electrics) really made it an inspiring layout.
Other than that article, I never saw much on it. AFAIK it never was videotaped at least not commercially. It would have a been a great "Great Model Railroads" video!!
Ditto on Cliff Power's MA&G. Also, Dick Elwell's Hoosec Valley Railroad. I have DVDs on both of these gentlemen's layouts. They are equally impressive.
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 think it's a mistake to try and pick a favorite. Any well conceived layout is actually a window into the modeler's mind, a chance to see the way he views his ideal world. Some folks like neatness and exactness. Others like dilapidation and decay. Still others like a balance of neatness and grime. For operations, an ideal layout should have enough possiblilites to keep the modeler and perhaps an operating crew occupied with interesting activity long after the layout is complete. Themes vary greatly, logging, shortline, heavy duty mainline. narrow gauge, prototypical and freelance. Any one could be a work of art and genius and comparisons are hard to make. Personally I love 'em all.
Best is really hard to say, but these two influenced me the most:
John Allen's Gorre and Daphetid - it was an inspiration!
Linn Westcott's Sunset Railway and Navigation Company - I never saw an article on this layout as a whole, but Westcott used it to demonstrate techniques in his articles. In that way I learned a lot by way of this layout.
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
Man, TStage and LastMountain & EasternHogger! I had not seen this layout called the Magnolia Route. I went to the web site and was just FIBERGLASSED! What a layout! The scenery and structures are absolutely incredible. If you need inspiration for modeling, GO THERE!
Thanks so much for suggesting this layout as a great one because it definitely is! MANY THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS!
"FIBERGLASSED"?
You know, some of us think in pictures...
http://www.pandw.org/
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
So who was before John Allen?, must have been someone.
Phoebe Vet"FIBERGLASSED"?
Sure, all the cool kids are saying that now.
rrebell So who was before John Allen?, must have been someone.
In particular there was Frank Ellison and before him Minton Cronkhite, but there were certainly some others whose name folks today would never recognize.
CNJ831
Remember Frank but I had always thought he came later, If I remember right he built his for operations first and foremost were as John was photography first, never heard of Minton, anyone got any info?
rrebellRemember Frank but I had always thought he came later, If I remember right he built his for operations first and foremost were as John was photography first, never heard of Minton, anyone got any info?
Google does :-)
http://www.midnightrailroader.com/museum2.htm
http://users.foxvalley.net/~osn/MintonCronhite2000.htm
How about David Barrow's Cat Mtn. & Santa Fe??
Jimmy
ROUTE ROCK!
I certainly respect the pioneers, but my votes go to the Reid Brothers and Gordon Odegard's Clinchfield, the two layouts that rescued N Scale from the train set crowd...
I also think our own Dave Vollmer shows the way for high quality in a small space.
And I would put David Popp in the same bag with the Reids, Koester and anyone else who knows how to build a great theme layout with a strong operations element.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Thanks and I remember the Cat Mountain and that parts of it were available on ebay. Always looking for a John Allen car but those are very rare as most were distroyed in the fire, but there are a few around.