Steam & diesel lovers. Age correlation?

[trainfan1221]

I would be a hypocrite to say the fact that I grew up with diesels didn`t sway my opinion.
Yes I do love steam, but I definitely have an attitude that you have to go by what you are going to see on the next train going by, and it ain`t gonna be steam!

[fiatfan]

Many people have raised a number of good points in this discussion My personal preference for modeling is early diesels up to the late '60s. For train watching, I love the mammoth new diesels. I have seen both 844 and 3985 up close and personal. They are magnificent machines. On my layout, I plan to run an excursion train wilh either a Challenger, Big Boy, or one of the SP cab forwards. I may also set up an interchange so that I have an excuse to run and SD90 or an AC4400. Outrageous? Yes. But it does give me an excuse to run at least one of each of these to show the changes (notice I did not necessarily say improvements!) to one of the major forces in the developement of our nation.

I think there are so many factors involved in our choices that it would be difficult to correlate age versus motive power. Another interesting correlation might be between occupation an motive power prefernce.

Tom

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 4884bigboy

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

My question to Dougal would be "have you ever SEEN a real live steam engine like UP 8444?

(just pointing somethingout) Actually, vsmith, UP 8444 is now 844 again. The number 844 was taken by a diesel. But 8444 outlived it's diesel succesor[:D][:)][;)] and now it's 844 again.

Well i get them confused at my age...[;)]

[AntonioFP45]

I'm 40 and was raised well after the steam era. [:)]

Even though I model diesel, I definitly like and appreciate steamers! [tup] As a middle school student in 1978, I found several several library books printed in the 1950s that featured a lot of steam. The librarian noticed that thoughout my 9th grade year, I continuously checked out: Trains, Tracks, and Travel which was printed in the mid 50s. Lot's of detailed info and photos. She let me have the book! I still have it today! It was from reading this book that I grew to admire the NYC Hudsons, Niagaras, SP GS series, Pennsy T1s, etc.

[:D][8D][:)]My first "live" steam experience was in 1981, I was 17 years old when the Chessie 4-8-4 #614 came to Tampa on an "Operation Life Saver" run. I had joined the National Railway Historical Society or NRHS, so I got to be a "car host". This machine, a Lima Greenbrier, was an absolute thrill! I have very fond memories of the trips.

Even though I was the only black Hispanic in the Tampa Bay Chapter of the NRHS, these guys always treated me like family! I was in it for two years before school and work ate up most of my time. I'm very grateful to the NRHS for the experience. One member, Bob Warren, co-wrote the book "Seaboard Coast Line in Florida". It's an excellent book with crisp black and white photos. After nearly 15 years, it has recently been reprinted.

Railfans are Railfans regardless of background.

[^][:D][8D][8)][:)][;)][C):-)][(-D][swg][tup]

[Anonymous]

I am like both and I am only 12. I have to say those older deisels are pretty flashey. nver been much of a person for trains beyond the 70's. Steam rocks though ![:D][:D]

[johncolley]

I am 66 and during my senior year in HS I oiled freights at night in Oakland, CA. I remember the mallets, northerns, and even the switchers. But my heart throbs with the first generation diesels that came in the years following graduation when I did the apprenticeship in car repair, then student firing, then they got rid of the firemen and I was out of the railroad business. While I appreciate and enjoy seeing a good model steam engine I have a stable of diesels including SW's, FT's, GP7's and E-7's.

[lupo]

Hello I am LUPO, I am 49, and my son is TOMMY he is 7
and we both love:
TRAINS
I can remember steamlocomotives running freight and passengertrains from holidays we spend in Germany when I was a kid,
my son only knows steam from the museum railways, I think a steamer is much more of a spectacle to wach, you can SEE it "working" maybe that is the reason little kids prefer steam engines: they can see what the engine does to makes the wheels turn, he can mimic the movements of the rods with his arms as he runs around the "tracks", so in his mind he can BE that steamer !
The reason he loves diesels is because of the bright colors they come in and their horns;
TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT

[Anonymous]

Not particularly in my case. I have seen exactly ONE steam engine and I was three years old, I could only see the top of the boiler, so couldn't even say if it was an EM-1 or a Pacific, or a Mikado. I remember the sound it made was much different from the diesels, even though I was about half a mile away.

Having grown up in the early- to mid-50's, diesels were coming into their own. We'd sit for hours on my grandmother's porch and watch the B & O trains going by, E's and F's were the rule of the day.

Having said that, there is something about a steam engine, something elemental that stands out and says, I have power! Perhaps it's outmoded, it's smoky, dirty, and subject to breakdowns due to the complexity of the gear, but watching those siderods moving the drivers and seeing the smoke blast out of the stack with a load of steam just says it all for me.

I model steam (my very first Lionel locomotive was a steam) and first generation diesels. That doesn't mean I don't like the looks of an SD80MAC, though.

Good answers from all of you.

[Jetrock]

One thing I have never gotten is the suggestion, largely put forth by steam aficionados, that diesels don't make enough noise. Having been inside an E-unit while its diesels were being fired up, I'd beg to differ. Diesels may lack that groovy side-rod play and the clouds of steam, but diesel engine throb gets to me as much as a steam engine's action.

As for electrics, there's something about the electric engine's LACK of noise that I find appealing. They're still powerful, they just don't see much need to brag about it. And the sound of the compressor provides just enough high-tension backbeat to make them fit into a city environment...

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jwieczorek

I think the age correlation is more a matter of economics than nostalgia. I am 42, have three kids, a mortgage, etc.. Diesels are generally less expensive to buy than steam. I expect as I get older and the financial burden eases, I would purchase more steam power. If I had the resources, I would definitely backdate my layout to the late 40's to run almost all steam. I think this is the main reason more younger folks run diesels and not steam. Maybe I'm off base. Whaddaya think?

I was refering to prototypes. Real steam and real diesels.

I said I model the '50s because I very much love the equipment in the '50s.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

My question to Dougal would be "have you ever SEEN a real live steam engine like UP 844 or SP4449?"

I've been on steam tourist RRs but never seen any big steam. NS and CSX both have no use for steam trips.[:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(]

[ShaunCN]

I am 15 and love diesel locos, but I have only seen steam engines run once so i have not had that kind of experiance. Also I think that most steam engines look the same as they are mostly black. Unlike diesels wich come in many colours. I respect the opinion of others who do happen to enjoy steam locomotives.

[Anonymous]

im 16 and im all for steam!

[CP5415]

Shawn, go look at 6069 sitting down by the waterfront!!!!
There's almost as much green as there is black!

If you like I could send you a picture of 2816. There's way more colour on her than there is black.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

I model a modern layout but i do include steam engines in it that I use.

[CP5415]

Being up close to 2816, I was able to hear her simmering before the trip.
I could see the movement of the rods turning the drivers going around curves.
Hanging out on the vestibule of the passenger car, I was able to breath the intoxicating aroma of the exhaust.
With diesel, you can't see the wheels working, you don't want to hear it work, unless it's an Alco & the exhaust is the same as a Mack truck. COUGH COUGH!!!!! HACK HACK!!!!!

Steam over diesel any day for me.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

ShawnCN,

If you think all steam is black, take a gander at SP 4449!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Orange and yellow!!!!!!!

[AggroJones]

That would be "red and orange"!

[Anonymous]

Steam is not alive? Well technically that may be so, but if you want to understand how it can seem alive I recommend that you watch the 1965 Burt Lancaster movie, The Train. This movie stars Burt Lancaster as a French locomotive engineer during WWII and a whole fleet of SNCF steamers. Toward the end of the movie there is a scene where an old Ten Wheeler is gingerly pushing a flatcar loaded with civilian hostages, sort of as a human shield, when the track is blown up and the flatcar and engine run off the track onto the ties. In retaliation the *** machinegun the whole group of hostages and leave. Burt Lancaster approaches the derailed engine which is sitting quietly hissing as air is leaking somewhere. The air compressor keeps kickin in and out in a soft rythm like a heartbeat. There is no music, no sound but the silent screaming of the dead hostages and the beat of the compressor, sssss-thump...thump, sssss- thump...thump like the beating of the heart of a wounded beast that can no longer fight and quietly awaits the predators to bring on its fate. That may not be life, but it sure is a good imitation of it.


It is always January 21, 1943, my date of birth, on The Mountain Route. I am 61 years old. I was a rail nut even as a child. And I was always fascinated by steam engines and I saw a bunch of them. I only wish I had been more mature so I could have more clearly understood what I was seeing. I had some experience with steam in Europe and Mexico in my later teens and really revelled in it.

Big boy, you're just a young pup next to ol' Odd-d, but I'll be glad to take you under my wing and teach you about steam. After all, I've seen as many diesels as you have, but I've also seen the steam. There is no comparison. There is more to the steam era than engines. In those days railroading was a way of life, now speaking as an exrailroader I can say it is just a job and the only thing that matters is the bottom line. There is no flair, no service.......no life, at least not like there was. Odd-d

[Anonymous]

If you think that steam engines are mostly black (which still looks good), check out this link.

http://www.steamlocomotive.com/colored/

[Anonymous]

I am 33 and love steam I have seen the 3985 twice rode once. Saw the 844 once never rode. I have a hndful of diesels due to pricing but they are equaling out it seems or they are just raising the price of the really good diesels.
I am modelling 40-50's steam era diesels really are boring steam is like a huge animal it has feelings

[Anonymous]

In somebody's signature I saw "If it has flanged wheels, I like it".....I agree........TOTALLY!!!!![:D]

[Anonymous]

I'm 12 and I will say that I like diesiel more than steam. I like diesiels from the 50's 60's and 70's best. the trains in the 70's look so dirty, I think they would be good modeling projects and I think they look good to a certain extent. I will be modeling the late 50's and diesiels will dominate although I will have some steam. I will also have some 60's and 70's era diesies and some modern KCS and Oklahoma shortline diesils. Just my opinion.

[Anonymous]

Hey Argo. You and meshare the same pasion. I am 30 but for 12 years I love the steam to diesel era, mostly the 1950s. U go dude!

[pmsteamman]

Being 28 I grew up with diesels but it took riding behind 2101 (how many remember that loco) and I was hooked. Now I model in HO and live steam. I saw sombody say that they are not alive, which is true, but a steam loco is the only piece of machinery I know that if you dont treat it well it can make you look like a hero or a zero.

[Anonymous]

Chipmonk010, YOU RULE!!!!

[EL PARRo]

I'm almost 18, and I love both old steam and current diesel, although I probably like steam slightly more than I like diesel. That's probably because I think that watching a steam engine operate is more fun than watching a diesel because there are more moving parts, especially on articulated steam locomotives.

[Anonymous]

I like the big, powerful late steam era engines, like Hudsons, Northerns, Colorados(name for a Texas type on the CB&Q), and any other steamer seen between 1920-1958. But I also like EMD E and F units and Alco Pa's and Fa's, Luckily, you could see any one of the afore-mentioned locomotives on any line in the time I model (1945-1950), although on heavy main lines, F units were pretty much the rule, so I model a single track mainline.

[MudHen_462]

I am 65, and I guess the period that "imprinted" me most was the transition era, of when steam was in it's last years amd diesel was the new kid on the block.... I guess that is why my locomotives are "Mikes", steam switchers, E-7A and NW-2 diesel engines. Even though, years later, I worked for the NYC, and later the Penn Central and that was totally diesel years... that steam/diesel period just means "railroad" to me.
IronGoat

[Anonymous]

I think there are many factors that go into what era your modeling. Age is definitly one.
I model what I see around where I live. Which includes Diesels and no steam. Another factor apart from motive power is also the scenery and car types. I prefer the sleek longer cars more than short wood cars. Lasty i think price and space is another factor. If your layout tcan only handle shorter radius curves and you want to run a good length consist a diesel is the best bet. Most of the young kids getting into the hobby can't afford a decent steam engine but could afford a decent looking athearn blue box diesel. there is a correlation but there are other factors.
Neither steam nor diesel is right for everyone and some may not be impressed but a steam passing by but are amazed when a string of 5 diesel comes roaring through. Like art, a painting to someone may be just splashes of paint on a canvas but to another signifies something totally different. There's really no use argueing over what is better.