Steam & diesel lovers. Age correlation?

[Anonymous]

I am 46 and prefer diesel era, but not strictly because of the trains, but the whole layout. I started noticing that much of the offerings for steam (old) era structures and such look rather whimsical and dilapidated, more like what you would see in a Popeye cartoon. They may be representing old structures, but many were new back then. They seem to model the structures how they would look today after 60 years of neglect instead of fairly new, painted, and properly maintained. I also don't consider then the good old days. Not much good about the 30's and 40's.

[TrainFreak409]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Ya boy Aggro here. I noticed that our 12 year old Mark seems to dislike steam engines. Is this a matter of what you see during childhood? I would take it that many of you older gentlemen love the steam. And I'll bet several of the younger crowd prefer the "modern" and "semi-modern" diesels.

Well, do you think there is a correlation between your age and what your favorite locomotives are?

Do you think a railfans age has something to do with what they like? I'm 22, not old enough to have seen steam locomotives in regular service. But I model the '50s and have a passion for awsome steam.

What are your thoughts?

HEY HEY! WHERE DO YOU MENTION TURBINES?!

I am only 15, and I am nuts over older locomotives, mainly turbines, but steam isn't behind by too much. And diesels, and electrics place a tight third.

It is like my boss says, you love what you see growing up. Younger ones, with exceptions of course, probably will like diesels more, since that's what they see, and because they replaced steam.

Me, on the other hand, I grew up with diesels, but watched enough Thomas for a kindergarden class, and my passion for steam developed. But, as I got older, and started more research, and discovered turbines, I immediately caught turbine fever. That may be the cross between my steam passion, and young "high horsepower" senses.

I love them all, to make it quick.

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~

[mcouvillion]

As a small child, I lived through the last years of steam. I do not remember it. Growing up, my HO trains were all diesels. As I got into trains as an adult, after beginning to appreciate things mechanical, I started to notice the "chicanery" on the steam engines and how neat it looked when it was running. My likes changed. I prefer steam now, but it is a little more difficult to get to run correctly, and to keep running well. The valve gear sometimes is a challenge to get right, and keep that way, but they still look great running! (I wish I could get my cab-forward to run right. It's a great looking engine.)

I have not embraced the newest generation of diesels. I have a couple, but they just don't grab me like the old ones do.

Mark C.

[camarokid]

After reading the letters on this subject, it is quite clear that we all agree to disagree. No matter what our age, we have a fascination for what intrigues us. I love steam because it was still running when I was a boy but I never saw it. So, now my layout has 2-8-2's to 4-8-8-4's and F7,s too many to count. I also have an FP45 and a DD40 that I simply liked the look of(big). I have seen the 844 and the 3985 in action and it is very disturbing how close they can come to you before you hear them while you watch them.

[Anonymous]

I'm 55 and by and large missed the steam era. However, my personal preference is for steam as I've always been fascinated by machinery and a steam locomotives running gear out in the open, in front of God and everyone are just irresistable.
Having said that I remember being mightily impressed one day in the early seventies watching a trio of U-Boats starting a long train on a slight grade. The engineer kept moving the throttle up and the air shook with the sound of the engines straining to get going. He kept having to shut down when the wheels started slipping. The engines would drop back to idle and then start up again. He finally go the the train moving on the fourth or fifth try. Very impressive!
I have both for different reasons.

Cliff

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rails5

With five pages of responses, it seems clear to me that the original premise (the older you are, the more likely you are to prefer steam) has been substantially refuted. (BTW, my now-16-year-old son has always preferred steam). Folks like what they like ... there is general agreement that steam locomotives are visually more interesting, but that diesels operate better (perhaps a case of models imitating life?). What hasn't really been mentioned, though, is price. Though there at least are quality mass-market steam models available now, seems that they will always be more expensive than qulity mass-market diesels. I personally know several young people who prefer steam but can't yet afford it. I also know several people in their late fifteis and sixties who have always preferred diesels.

I started this and I am also opposite of the original premise.

Go Cab-forwards!

[Anonymous]

With five pages of responses, it seems clear to me that the original premise (the older you are, the more likely you are to prefer steam) has been substantially refuted. (BTW, my now-16-year-old son has always preferred steam). Folks like what they like ... there is general agreement that steam locomotives are visually more interesting, but that diesels operate better (perhaps a case of models imitating life?). What hasn't really been mentioned, though, is price. Though there at least are quality mass-market steam models available now, seems that they will always be more expensive than qulity mass-market diesels. I personally know several young people who prefer steam but can't yet afford it. I also know several people in their late fifteis and sixties who have always preferred diesels.

[Anonymous]

I'm 69 and grew up with the CPR main line west two blocks down the street past our house in Calgary, Alberta. Saw all the great CP steam - Selkirks, Royal Hudsons, Mikados, Pacifics and Tenwheelers - and, as well, the beautiful covered wagons of the early diesel years. So I grew to love both steam and diesel and now all these years later I've got both on my N scale layout. Truly the best of both worlds can be ours. Ain't that something, eh?

[Anonymous]

I like both steam and diesel for different reasons. Some of the diesel have some interesting looks and styles to them which interest me. Steam has some interesting looks and style but steam does seem to have a life to it. My father was a fireman on the steam trains and an engineer on the diesel as he and many that worked with him on steam said " a steam engine talks to you and lets you know what it needs to perform a diesel just runs."

[ShaunCN]

i'm only 16 but i love first generation deisel power like GP9's and switchers, but not steam, well some steam engines are fun once in a while, but then again i don't like new deisels either, just first and early second generation deisels, something that i only saw breifly.

[Anonymous]

I'm 16 years old, and my last purchase was a BLI Hudson 4-6-4. I run transition era on my layout, with a few exceptions like the Dash 8 and SD-40-2.

[Anonymous]

I believe that the 'love' of steam comes from the fact that a steam engine is animated. You hear people talk about how a steam engine is alive and I think that comes from being able to see things happening with it; all the gears, rods, the entire mechanical apperatus. It gives a steam engine an advantage over a diesel that way. Anyone who has seen and felt, say the 844 or 4449 or 3985 or any large steam engine on a run by can't help but be taken with them. I get to work around a 2-8-2 Mike and a 2 truck Heisler on an excursion railway (Sumpter Valley Ry. in OR.)and THOSE are even infectious. I was born after the steam era and I really like big diesel power but there is always a soft spot for steam with me be it model or full size. I'm sure there must be some connection with the younger generations and what their favorite type of engine is because they never got to experience steam.

[Texas Zepher]

Steam was gone by the time I was old enough to start watching trains. Yet if I had to choose only one I would model steam.

I've also found it intersting that while most people have never seen a steam locomotive in operation they still call trains "choo choos".

Another observation my spouse made at GATS a few weeks ago, little tiny boys seem to prefer the steamers. Paint the steamers some color other than black and there is no contest.

[AggroJones]

Interesting fact: Prototype FM Trainmasters generated as much tractive efffort as some 2-10-4s.

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: Jennifer: I must be totally out of touch with small scale modelers....I have never heard of N scale being refered to as NORMAL scale!

Just an iNsider joke from us N scalers. We also refer to a very popular scale as Horribly Oversized. I suspect they refer to us as Nearly invisible, or other more colorful names (in fact, too colorful to repeat here!).

I suppose your group could be termed Narrow Minded..........

N scalers have to resort to Zee Smallest scale if we want to Narrow our Train of Thought.


Regards

Ed

[cisco1]

The growl of diesels was one of the first sounds I heard as a kid. The Q had just quit running fantrip steam and my first exposure to REAL steam was 15 years away. Thank goodness for the Freedom Train tours! I love steam and look forward to seeing 844 & the rest as long as fantrips continue. I'm 43 but still get a chill when I hear a recording of a 567 prime mover ratcheting up!
Chris

[Anonymous]

I must be totally out of touch with small scale modelers....I have never heard of N scale being refered to as NORMAL scale! One of my friends is in the benchwork-going-up and closet-full-of-trains stage in his N scale empire. I make sure to mention this to him...

Being into On3 at 1/4 inch to the foot, I must be in nOrmal scale.

[egmurphy]

QUOTE: Aggro: ...todays "bruiser" steam engines can haul time and a half of the most powerful diesel models.

Unfortunately this is not the case in Normal scale. While we finally have some decent performing steam engines, they can't pull like the diesel models available. Hopefully the technology will continue to improve.

It's not a big problem for me as I run short trains, so I'm content with the steam locomotives I have.

Regards

Ed

[PennsyHoosier]

My steam pulls very well. It does take some juice, though.

[AggroJones]

Larry, todays "bruiser" steam engines can haul time and a half of the most powerful diesel models. Like the BLI N&W A class and PRR J1. And the Rivarossi C&O H-8.

[PennsyHoosier]

Reflecting on this point, one of the great things about BLI Pennsy steam is the SOUND. I love diesel sound--i hear it all the time. But only my BLIs give me steam sound. That may be why I am modeling more and more steam.

[Anonymous]

I didn't read all the post's about this topic. I'm 66 & the only reason I have mostly Diesel
is; they pull a lot more cars on a steep grade than 2 steam engines. Years ago I was strictly steam & had a flat layout. Today I model the modern era & diesels are my thing.
I still have about 5 steam engines & use them as tourist rr's w/early passenger cars.
In my early years we rode steam all the time & now when I go on vacation I try to find a steam railroad for the love of Steam(prototype).

[railfanespee4449]

I like both, but prefer steam. i'm 12

[Anonymous]

Yes I do. I grew up in the 50 and 60's and love the GG1 and the Es and Fs

[PennsyHoosier]

When I was a child I HATED steam. It may have been because many folks were still pining over steam's demise. It seemed that that was all I ever heard about.

Then I discovered the K4--and everything changed.

As I've aged I've come to appreciate steam very much. Indeed, I've come to appreciate the wide variety of motive power and the incredible creativity that went into producing these marvelous machines that we model.

But nothing beats a K4. [:)]

[boomer5344]

I'm 44 and I love Steam, Diesel and Electric!
I too was too young to have witnessed live steam. But trips to the National Museum of Transport when I was young and riding shortline steam (Reader RR was still all steam in 60's and 70's) fueled the fire. I especially like late superower steam and plan to have as many models as I can get in N.

I'm also impressed by the locomotives of today. I still get goosebumps as a trio of UP AC4400's or SD90's roar by. I have models of those too.

[Virginian]

Platypus asked how someone can love an inanimate object. That's just it, a steam engine is not an inanimate object.
I guess everyone prefers steam or diesel based on some personal experiences or preferences. In my case a lot of it is age related, because I got to see and hear the magnificient steam engines of the N&W at the end of their reign. Having experienced a J on the head end of the Powhatan Arrow at speed on the 'racetrack', witnessed an A highballing empty hoppers Westbound thru the swamp, and stood in awe as a Y6b led a thunderous assault up Blue Ridge, I am completely a steam guy.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy the look of steam but I perfer Diesel

[Anonymous]

I've actually noticed this for the past 10 years or so. I've been a member of 3 different clubs and I've become convinced that for the most part, model railroaders are modelling what they remember seeing as kids. There are probably many exceptions, but it's an observation I've made time after time.