I was born 1975 and I run mostly steam. The only diesels on the layout are there because my eight year old wanted some. (I figure he'll eventually grow out of that phase.) I've seen great models of modern trains, but seeing 100 identical cars go by is not my interest.
One can see modern trains anywhere nowadays. But when a steam train runs through town, the masses come out to see it. Because it's just that cool.
Scott
I appeared in 1955 and I am modeling the transition era for a shortline railway (Algoma Central Railway) which I never knew existed until the late 1970s when I happened to see some of there motive power on lease to a major class one railway, CP Rail (known today by its original name, Canadian Pacific Railway)
During my research, I learnt that the ACR was the first railway in Canada to retire all of its steam power. They bought their first diesels during 1951-52 (2 x SW-8 and 21 x GP-7 from GMDD in London, Ontario, Canada); their last steam locomotives were retired by the end of 1953.
On a different note, I discovered an all steam railway operating in Paraguay during a holiday down their in 1992! Paraguay was the first country in South America to build a steam powered railway in the 19th century; by 1992, they were the only South American railway still operating steam power. They had no diesels at the that time. Their current status is unknown to me.
Christopher
I was born in 1946. Never saw a steamer in operation until I moved to Colorado. The narrow gague bug took hold a few years before that. The main reason for liking steam so much is the history involved - the famous people, the mining towns, the old buildings, the ways of life, the geography the lines ran through, the problems dealt with, the rolling stock (locomotives and cars). Add to that all the movement of a steam loco in operation, the sounds, the paint schemes on the early steamers, this period of time has so much going for it. To me it far out weighs the unit trains pulled by virtually identical locos going from one big city to another with no stops in between. Duncan
I am 66 and I am modeling the 20's & 30's of the last century. The engines were beautiful and full of life. Steam engines are living breathing beings. I did not really grow up with steam. It was already dead when I was a child. But whenever I witness an operational steam engine, it calls to me. Maybe I am nostalgic for the leaner, simplier life style. Maybe its the beauty of the large drive wheels or the song of the steam whistles. Diesels just don't do it for me.
I'm only 16 model railroading for 10 years but I still like steam engines and currently working on dual era layout. 1940s and 1960s. My favorite engine is NKP 2-8-4 berkshire 765.
Born in 1946, I'm modeling an early 1900's geared steam loco mountain logging / mining railroad with John Allen as my inspiration.
Born in 1956 and currently modeling Swiss metre-gauge with those typical Swiss-style boxcab electrics (like the one of my avatar).
I do have a preference for steam, but the ones fitting to my area and railroad are beyond my reach at $ 800 - $ 1,000 (and that´s DC only)
Modelling HO Scale with a focus on the West and Midwest USA
I am from the diesal era. I model steam. I love to watch the wheel action, the chuff, the steam. It almost seems alive
I didn't come into this world till 1980 and am freelancing a 1920's layout.
I love the smaller 2-8-0s, 4-6-0s, 4-4-0s, and geared locos. I also like short trains on my 13 x 21 foot layout as they help make the layout feel larger.
I'm a bit weird, my idea is an American version of the Island of Sodor so I can have as many different steam engines from all eras as I can house for the moment but I do have at least one diesel and am looking to get more. If I had to pick an era for my world it would probably be mid 90's to now. Of course I can't go too far because my layout is small but oh well
I enjoy the late steam era, but not in the USA. I am modeling Epoch(Era)3 of the German Federal Railroad(DB). This covers up thru the end of mainline steam in west Germany. I have always had a fondness for the brilliant red drivers and running gear of German steam. I am building a small layout, 4x7, modeling a Prussian branch line with a class 24 2-6-0, nicknamed the Prarrie Pony by locals and a class 261 diesel shunting engine. While I do not model USA steam era, I enjoy viewing others efforts in steam modeling! Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
What a great thread. I'm another late baby boomer, ca 1962, but firmly in the steam/transition group. I have a particular thing for the anthracite roads and for camelbacks, have a small but entertaining collection of brass camelbacks in various stages of restoration, refitting, and repair. Love USRA Mikados, I probably have the most of those and love my Trix NYC Mikes. Have a couple of Proto Heritage steamers. Have a couple of BLI steamers. There's even a couple of Bachmann Spectrums in there somewhere.
But then I have a boatload of early diesel switchers, mostly yard switchers. I've got most every LVRR yard switcher that has come out commercially, and several more that got custom paint jobs along the way. And other first generation diesel, but that's where my interest starts to wane. I like early GPs, RS units, and PAs, not so much the F-units, although I have them.
Modeling-wise then I guess you could say I average somewhere in the 1940s, but I like the idea of being able to photograph 1910-vintage consists on a layout or on dioramas. So I'm sort of in the 1900 to 1960 group. Pretty much anything before I was born.
Oh yeah, I grew up playing along the E-L tracks in NJ.
Jim
Great thread, nice to know what others are modeling and why. I'm modeling the the steam era, mostly because itis what I grew up with and it brings back memories of my youth. I was going to model the Erie but the Pennsylvania is what is rolling on the HO layout I'm building now because I can't find Erie cabooses to go with Erie steam. I do have a passenger consist in Atlantic Coast Lines headed with an older BLI ACL 'Mike" and a caboose that I painted and decaled ACL so that loco will sometimes head a freight. Along with the steam, I have a GP7 diesel and recently bought a MTH F3 A-B set, but at the present time it is back with MTH because the B unit was pushing the A unit so hard that it would derail. At any rate, enjoy what you model and have fun, as model railroading should be.
JimT What a great thread. I'm another late baby boomer, ca 1962, but firmly in the steam/transition group. I have a particular thing for the anthracite roads and for camelbacks, have a small but entertaining collection of brass camelbacks in various stages of restoration, refitting, and repair. Love USRA Mikados, I probably have the most of those and love my Trix NYC Mikes. Have a couple of Proto Heritage steamers. Have a couple of BLI steamers. There's even a couple of Bachmann Spectrums in there somewhere. But then I have a boatload of early diesel switchers, mostly yard switchers. I've got most every LVRR yard switcher that has come out commercially, and several more that got custom paint jobs along the way. And other first generation diesel, but that's where my interest starts to wane. I like early GPs, RS units, and PAs, not so much the F-units, although I have them. Modeling-wise then I guess you could say I average somewhere in the 1940s, but I like the idea of being able to photograph 1910-vintage consists on a layout or on dioramas. So I'm sort of in the 1900 to 1960 group. Pretty much anything before I was born. Oh yeah, I grew up playing along the E-L tracks in NJ. Jim
Great set of Camelbacks, Jim. Are they all brass? I wish manufacturers would make more of these interesting locomotives. I have one from many years ago that I beleive is a Mantua Mikado. The box is long gone so I'm working from memory. It would be great to see one in the BLI, Genesis, or P2K lines but I'm guessing the demand just isn't there.
jecorbett Great set of Camelbacks, Jim. Are they all brass? I wish manufacturers would make more of these interesting locomotives. I have one from many years ago that I beleive is a Mantua Mikado. The box is long gone so I'm working from memory. It would be great to see one in the BLI, Genesis, or P2K lines but I'm guessing the demand just isn't there.
yep, these are brass, from left to right, three LV N-1s, then a CNJ K-1, a CNJ K-1as, and a Reading L-7sb. The K-1as is a Precision Scale model, the others NJ Custom Brass. Only one of the N-1s has dcc/sound, the rest are on the to do list. The Mantua model is supposed to be based on the LV N-1s, and for its vintage it's actually a pretty good copy. I have not seen any of the more recent ones that Mantua has done, I have read that they run pretty well. I would LOVE it if BLI or Proto or Spectrum would do some of these, but you're right, it's a pretty small niche. Fifty years ago I think the bulk of model railroaders were in the eastern US, now they are pretty evenly distributed everywhere, so manufacturers have to make what will sell. Not sure how many anthracite-only folks are out there.
I actually just picked up another N-1, I didn't "need" it, but the price was too good to pass up. (The prices of older brass are pretty low right now, given that people want sound/dcc in everything. There are definitely bargains out there.) Those NJCB locos often need their gearboxes replaced, this newest one had already had that work done and is a smooth runner, which made a decent deal an even better one. So sometimes there are happy surprises when buying models sight-unseen.
trainnut1250 Born 1959. Never was a question. Always was interested in steam. I love the early 20th century short lines. All steam. The photo says it all for me: Guy
Born 1959. Never was a question. Always was interested in steam. I love the early 20th century short lines. All steam.
The photo says it all for me:
Guy
Actually, I prefer Pickering #12 like this: http://www.samlindsey.com/images/SteamExpo/SE86_28.jpg
I spent a good part of yesterday afternoon putting detail parts onto a Sunset 130P75 tender that came with their "Modern K4". I'm looking forward to putting a sound decoder into the model, adding a paint job, and adding a coal load load to create my own model of PRR K4s 1361.
I must admit that I didn't read the 2nd and 3rd pages of the thread, but...
I've wanted to model 1953 since I was 15. That was in 2005. I was born after the Rogers Pass pushers were no more, after the Boundary subdivision was abandoned, after the age of ALCo. However, I have a great disinterest in modeling anything I know. The past has an allure - possibly because I can reconstruct it in the way that my perfect past would be - but it's something that interests me greatly, especially the last days of steam. I don't model it. Why? I'd have to kitbash the heck out of anything commercially available, and I don't have the time!
Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296
Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/