Great Model Railroads 2005

[88gta350]

Received my copy a couple of days ago and I've made it through most of the articles. Looks like a great issue. There seems to be more info on each layout and how it's operated, which I appreciate. Also some awe-inspiring photos! I'm usually not a big fan of Western desert modeling, but TedYork's Sante Fe is great. Among my other favorite are Blair Kooistra's short line (very similar to my own shortline), Lee Nicholas's UCW, and the FCSME's modular layout. Of course Jack Ozanich's large scale railroad is great too! Who wouldn't love to have real steam engine running around their property?

Great work to all those featured in the magazine! I just had to throw my opinion out there... I haven't seen a thread on GMR '05 yet.

[ClinchValleySD40]

Agree, a great issue with some fantastic layouts. I'm lucky enough to have operated on a few of them. If you've ever been to Cajon Pass in person and then see Ted York's layout, you'll be amazed at how well he has done it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for noticing![:D]
As Secretary, and unofficial Minister of information of the FCSME, we hope you all enjoyed the article! We will be appearing next at the Great Scale Train Show in Timonium MD (www.gsmts.com) the 1st weekend of February. As good as the article is, it only shows a small part of the layout, there is a lot more where that comes from. Look for lots more stuff in the coming year, as we have another 30 ft of railroad planned to add this year![:D]

[gjwilliams]

My copy arrived on Saturday. No work of any substance was done until I had read it through once.

This issue brings together several layouts I wished to see covered in greater detail. The larger page size is a definite plus.

MR will have to work hard to beat this issue.

[Anonymous]

While I won't stop buying it, I found the overabundance of HO steam-era layouts more than I could handle. Oh well, I hope that next year there will be something a little more modern. And maybe one or two more in N scale. The large scale layout was quite fun to read about, though.

[Anonymous]

*sigh* I don't have it yet (as usual).

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

*sigh* I don't have it yet (as usual).

"Patience young Jedi" [:D]

[winks147]

An overabundance of steam HO???? Wahhhhh-hooooooo. No more Growling Pests or Stupid Diesels. Can you all say Hallelujah!!!! Home mine gets here soon.[:p][^]

[Anonymous]

There is just no such thing as too much steam. This was an awesome issue!

[Anonymous]

It is an OUTSTANDING issue and I really appreciate the new larger format. Andy has always been a good editor. Not to take anything away from Terry, but I miss Andy's touch month to month in MR. He was an exceptional editor for the magazine and has brought his talents to bear once again in GMR. I found the HO switching layout in a bedroom article very interesting. Although I have more space than that available, my own layout grew out of a plan for a similar space.

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by shawnvann

While I won't stop buying it, I found the overabundance of HO steam-era layouts more than I could handle. Oh well, I hope that next year there will be something a little more modern. And maybe one or two more in N scale. The large scale layout was quite fun to read about, though.

Lemme see here. HO is the majority scale and steam/diesel transition era is still the most popular modeling era. So let's do a breakdown.

Ted York's Cajon Pass - HO, steam to diesel transition. 1 HO, steam/diesel
Blair Koistra's WWV - HO, diesel era 1 HO, diesel
Ed Loiseaux's NYC - S, steam to diesel transition 1 S , steam/diesel
Lee Nicholas UCW - HO, diesel era 1 HO, diesel
Jack Ozanich AGE - HO, steam/diesel or diesel era 1 HO, steam/diesel or diesel
SRCL - 3 3/4" Steam era 1 gigantic steam
Dudley Ross C&) - N steam, diesel 1 N, steam/diesel
FCSME - HO, steam/diesel depending 1 HO, depends who's running
Frank Miller Cascade Valley - O, steam/diesel 1 O, steam/diesel
John Stomatov MVRR - HO, steam/diesel 1 HO, steam/diesel

OK, the preponderance is steam/diesel transition era, regardless of scale. However, of the 10, only 6 are HO. Of those HO, 2 are solidly diesel era and Ozanich can run diesel only sessions, and also has a "layout" in a such a rare scale that there can't be too many readers with time, money and sheer acreage to duplicate it.

The 2004 GMR had no fewer than 3 N scale layouts, only one of which was steam/diesel transition and the O scale layout was solidly diesel era. The 2 diesel only N scale layouts were modern era diesel. Of the HO layouts in that issue (4 of the 10), only 1 actually featured steam. The other 2 were set in the 90's.

GMR is an annual. It depends on contributors for its content. So is MRP, which is probably why York's Cajon Pass was also featured in MRP 2004. Let's face it, York has captured the essence of Cajon. A few years ago, there were 2 N scale layouts based on Cajon Pass (MRP 1999 IIRC), and I recall one in an issue of MR which was based on a 1956 John Armstrong HO layout.

If there are to be more modern era N scale layouts featured in GMR and/or MRP, there have to be more contributions from N scalers who like the modern stuff. In any case, if it doesn't appear in GMR or MRP, chances are it will appear in MR.

As for era, although I much prefer the steam/diesel transition era, I still appreciate more or less modern era modeling (Eric Brooman's Utah Belt comes to mind, as does Doug Tagsold's Denver Front Range and Western ). As a matter of fact, if anyone's example could get me to move out of the steam/diesel era, it would be the 2 gentlemen mentioned above, although I would probably go no further than about 1978-1982.

Any O, S or HO scale layout plan can be adapted to N and most can be updated to a more modern era. Keith Jordan's Surf Line (August 2004 MR) could be adapted (albeit heavily) to the current time and to N scale. 'Course, the emphasis would be even more on passenger trains. The former SP line over the Siskiyou's would make an interesting model whether modeled in 1954 or 2004. In fact, there's an N scale plan for it in the 1997 MRP and it will fit in a bedroom. As I recall, there was an N scale plan for the ex-D&RGW line from Helper to Soldier Summit in a recent issue of MR and makes a good model whether you're using F units with L-131 pushers or AC4400W's and SD70's in distributed power mode.

To borrow from the Capital One ads, "What's in your basement (or garage or spare room)"?

As a side note to kbfcsme - that's a really nice picture of your Potomac on pages 80/81. One of these days I'll have to visit and see for myself.

Andre

[trollw]

"While I won't stop buying it, I found the overabundance of HO steam-era layouts more than I could handle. Oh well, I hope that next year there will be something a little more modern. And maybe one or two more in N scale. "

I continue to see remarks like "need more N" or "need more O" or whatever gauge. In general, unless the layout is 3-rail O gauge, I have to read the article or details of the layout plan to find out what gauge it is (granted, in some pictures, there are some hints that give the size away). The point of this is that I like to see a good looking layout. I am not going to directly copy anyone's layout, but I will most definitely take ideas from whenever and wherever I can - regardless of gauge. I don't have a 40 x 50 foot basement, but I sure can take a siding or structure idea from a 40 x 50 foot layout (TT, N, HO, O, or large scale).
I think this issue definitely raises the bar and gives me a lot of food for thought (and ideas to copy).

Thanks, MR. Without issues like this, I wouldn't have as clear an idea of what I wanted to shoot for with my own layout.

John

[Noah Hofrichter]

Unfortunately I made the goof of not getting an advanced copy, but I hope to pick one up on my next visit to the hobby shop. Sounds like a good issue from what you all are saying.

Noah

[bn7026]

Just got my copy today. Looks good - damn more modelling time gone while reading a magazine!!

Tim

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by andrechapelon

As a side note to kbfcsme - that's a really nice picture of your Potomac on pages 80/81. One of these days I'll have to visit and see for myself.

Andre

Thank you![:D]
Hopefully over the next year, you may see even more of the modules. MR took over 100 pictures, and may use them in trackside photos as they see fit. So tell MR you want to see more!

[CBQ_Guy]

I'm a sucker for layout photos. It's my favorite part of the mags as well as the track plan and Layout At A Glance info which I generally study.

I buy this thing every year, sight unseen. So far, I buy the Planning annual each year, too. [8D]

[n2mopac]

I'm an N scaler too, and I can't believe that we keep this argument going continually about less HO and more everything else. I'm surprised that those who seem unable to appreciate and learn from layout articles in scales/eras other than their own do not simply subscribe to scale-specific magazines rather than ones that cover the hobby in a more general fasion. Personally, I model moder diesle era in N scale, but I love to see O or G scale in any era, and even (heaven forbit) HO scale steam. I just love trains and models, that's why I read general hobby publications like MR and GMR. As for my vote, great issue of GMR this time Andy et. al. Keep up the good work.

Ron

[Fergmiester]

I got my copy on Friday and to tell you the truth have been oblivious to scale. It has been overall an excellent edition and more importantly inspiring. HO is dominant as it is by far the most prevalent. Loved the N scale and all the others as well. It's more then size that counts, it's good looks as well.

Fergie

[Anonymous]

Yes, another great issue. Just hope the Model Railroad Planning in February doesn't waste any space to Barrows plywood pacific. Minimalist modelling?...yeah ok...

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CPD95

Yes, another great issue. Just hope the Model Railroad Planning in February doesn't waste any space to Barrows plywood pacific. Minimalist modelling?...yeah ok...

It sure meets the KISS RR prerequisite!

Simple can be good

Fergie

[Anonymous]

Since when does scale even enter the equation? Great model railroading can be diesel, steam, or both in my opinion!

I guess some of you would complain if you were hung with a new rope!

[PennsyHoosier]

Great issue, some amazing shots, and overall very inspiring. I loved the "west of the Catskills" layout. Really amazing S-scale work.