Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
Mike,my opinion would be for the cheapest prices,your best bet is going to be Accurail and Athearn.Also check out any area hobbyshops for used equipment from Athearn,Accurail,Roundhouse,and maybe Atlas and Walthers.
For mid 70's BNSF will not fit in as it didn't happen until the mid 90's.
Have a good one.
Bill B
Mike, they don't have to be even from related roads. There is no reason why a UP box would not have shown up on a BN train.
Accurail kits are plastic. They are pre-painted and all the decals are in place. They are not hard kits to assemble and come with decent instructions. My 7 and 9 year old assemble them with some help in about 20 minutes, so these are not complex kits at all. Most of the details are cast on to the kit so you are not left with lots of small parts to fit. I ususally replace the couplers with Kaydee's.
Mike,
I'm with Simon. If you've never put together an AccuRail or Athearn bluebox kit, you're missing a lot of fun. They are not challenging in any way, but quite enjoyable and satifying to assemble... at least for me. Along with Kadee (#5 or 148) that Simon mentioned, I also add metal wheels (I use Proto 2000 wheel sets).
Ebay.
Mike in Tulsa
BNSF Cherokee Sub
The subject line could contain the price range that is reasonable.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer