Source of prototype information

[coalminer3]

In no order:

Measurements off the real thing (though there's not too much "older" material running anymore)
My own slides/photos
"old heads" (like me) who took pictures
Historical societies and their meetings
Books - especially some of the stuff put out by publishers like Morning Sun.

One other thought - Get pictures of everything - even if you don't think you'll ever need it. Some of the most useful pictures I've made over the years were general shots of buildings, neighborhoods, billboards, cars, trucks, etc. IOW pictures of the veryday, commonplace things we take for granted. For example, think of how fast food places have changed in appearance over the years. Many of the scenes I took in my town are now long gone and the historical society wants prints.

work safe

[coalminer3]

In no order:

Measurements off the real thing (though there's not too much "older" material running anymore)
My own slides/photos
"old heads" (like me) who took pictures
Historical societies and their meetings
Books - especially some of the stuff put out by publishers like Morning Sun.

One other thought - Get pictures of everything - even if you don't think you'll ever need it. Some of the most useful pictures I've made over the years were general shots of buildings, neighborhoods, billboards, cars, trucks, etc. IOW pictures of the veryday, commonplace things we take for granted. For example, think of how fast food places have changed in appearance over the years. Many of the scenes I took in my town are now long gone and the historical society wants prints.

work safe

[Anonymous]

Narrow Gauge Gazzette is great for narrow gauge "how-to" articles. Model Railroader, Model Railroad Craftsman both have excellent general articles on topics such as installing DCC. I love and model the Colorado Narrow Gauge, especially the RGS, and the best source of information is in books such as Mal Ferrell's "Silver San Juan". I have a pretty nice library of books primarily on the RGS and the D&RGW. I also enjoy other wonderful books about the many other roads that did not get as much coverage as the first two.

I also try to go on a few camping trips in railroad territory each summer and am a member of the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec and have participated in several of their work sessions.

[Anonymous]

Narrow Gauge Gazzette is great for narrow gauge "how-to" articles. Model Railroader, Model Railroad Craftsman both have excellent general articles on topics such as installing DCC. I love and model the Colorado Narrow Gauge, especially the RGS, and the best source of information is in books such as Mal Ferrell's "Silver San Juan". I have a pretty nice library of books primarily on the RGS and the D&RGW. I also enjoy other wonderful books about the many other roads that did not get as much coverage as the first two.

I also try to go on a few camping trips in railroad territory each summer and am a member of the Friends of the Cumbres and Toltec and have participated in several of their work sessions.

[Anonymous]

My mother gave me some thing to do when as a teenager I was sick in bed
around 1950.
She came home with a Mantua B&O RR black Gondola car with embossed
cardboard sides. Never knew where she found it but later she said she wished
she had given me some thing different . I had seen lots of Lionel with my friends
but that was my first taste of HO Trains . and I have been hooked ever since. I
dropped out when I first married and picked it up again after a few years . I
moved south selling all my HO equipment .. Since then I have collected a brand
new assortment of HO trains, mostly North East prototype. and strictly in the
fifties. Retired now I recently switched to DCC and have been converting all
my HO engines to run that way .. I still love HO and only HO.
harfos FLORIDA USA

[Anonymous]

My mother gave me some thing to do when as a teenager I was sick in bed
around 1950.
She came home with a Mantua B&O RR black Gondola car with embossed
cardboard sides. Never knew where she found it but later she said she wished
she had given me some thing different . I had seen lots of Lionel with my friends
but that was my first taste of HO Trains . and I have been hooked ever since. I
dropped out when I first married and picked it up again after a few years . I
moved south selling all my HO equipment .. Since then I have collected a brand
new assortment of HO trains, mostly North East prototype. and strictly in the
fifties. Retired now I recently switched to DCC and have been converting all
my HO engines to run that way .. I still love HO and only HO.
harfos FLORIDA USA