Steam & diesel lovers. Age correlation?

[Anonymous]

I'm 20 and absolutely LOVE steam. Especially the articulateds. Although I grew up with C44-9Ws, SD40-2s, SD-60s, and GP38-2s, I would much rather own a SP AC-11, NP Z-6, DMIR M-3, and B&O EM-1.

[Anonymous]

I'm in my 50's and never saw the steam engines in service but they are DEFINITELY my first choice!!!!!! There's nothing like those old locomotives belching smoke and the sound of those steam engines!!!!!!

[Anonymous]

My Grandpa influenced me for steam his Father was aboiler maker for the L& N railroad. I used to like diesels when I was younger but I thinhk it was just due to price. Now I am totally steam driven I really can't see any beauty for a diesel.
Gotta have steam

[Anonymous]

The fact that someone said earlier" Steam is alive" which in MHO is true! I'm 34 and love steam have no intrest in modeling deisel, and when you get down to it I prefer the smaller narrow gauge short lines that were short lived but served the purpose of reaching destinations the major railroads couldn't touch due to cost but were important for tying the little man to the rest of the world. Give me a 260 or a K27 anyday over a big boy or Hudson.

[twhite]

I grew up with steam--I was in high school when SP ran the last of their cab-forwards over Donner Summit. I miss it, the clank, the hiss, the chatter of the cross-compound pumps, the four cylinders going in and out of sync. With steam, since so much of the mechanism was external, you really got a feeling of MOVEMENT! Something I'm sorry to say I've never gotten with a diesel, even though I admire some diesels, especially the old Alco PA's and the later EMD Tunnel Motors. But I find that as I get older and chase trains, that it's the TRAIN I'm interested in, not so much as what's pulling it. However, since I model exclusively steam, I suppose you could say that I'm attempting to relive my youth in the Sierra Nevada. Hey, nothing wrong with that, it's keeping me 64 years young, right?

[j1love]

I would assume (dangerous I know) that age does play a big part in what one models. I am 38 and like others in this forum, I break that mold. The only steam engine I have seen is in the Franklin Institute here in Philly, however, I LOVE STEAM!! I will model the late 40s to the late 50s when I get enough room, but in the meantime, I thoughorly enjoy researching and collecting Pennsy steam and first generation diesels. (sometimes I feel like BLI and Bowser should send me a check instead of the other way round :-) IMHO, a steam engine is the closest a man will ever come to producing life on his own.

[rexhea]

I am 59 and although I like the diesels, I favor the steam. I suppose a lot has to do with the awe that I had as a boy with the huffing and puffing and the turning of all the drive mechanisms---the power of it all. Yes, I remember them from as far back as the late 40's to about 58 or 59 when IC changed out their steamer for a diesel [:(] in Providence, Kentucky.

Fantastic memory!

What do you have with a diesel? Noise and fancy lights. (Just Kidding![:-^] )

[orsonroy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by j1love

I would assume (dangerous I know) that age does play a big part in what one models. I am 38 and like others in this forum, I break that mold. The only steam engine I have seen is in the Franklin Institute here in Philly, however, I LOVE STEAM!! I will model the late 40s to the late 50s when I get enough room, but in the meantime, I thoughorly enjoy researching and collecting Pennsy steam and first generation diesels. (sometimes I feel like BLI and Bowser should send me a check instead of the other way round :-) IMHO, a steam engine is the closest a man will ever come to producing life on his own.

Jim,

You live in Philly and you have only seen ONE steam engine? For shame! You're less that a two hour drive (in good traffic) away from DC and the Smithsonian, Strasburg and TWO railroads (Strasburg and the RR Museum of PA), and East Broad Top (OK, that might actually be three hours...)

Take the family and wander north to Strasburg next month. There's something for everyone in that town, and you'll be able to hang around what's arguably the prettiest steam railroad in the USA.

Go now!!! The Power of Steam Compels You!!!

[Anonymous]

I am 55 and so missed steam in its glory days. [V] I remember seeing ACL F3's (I think) behind my granfathers farm in south Georgia when I was a child. However, my preference is for steam simply because I like to see all the 'monkee motion' involved.
This does not mean I don't like diesels, but the diesels I have tend to run more toward the unusual (F-M's, Baldwins, etc.) Everybody seems to have GP's and F's, so I have none. (die hard contrarian)

Cliff

[Anonymous]

I am 55 and so missed steam in its glory days. [V] I remember seeing ACL F3's (I think) behind my granfathers farm in south Georgia when I was a child. However, my preference is for steam simply because I like to see all the 'monkee motion' involved.
This does not mean I don't like diesels, but the diesels I have tend to run more toward the unusual (F-M's, Baldwins, etc.) Everybody seems to have GP's and F's, so I have none. (die hard contrarian)

Cliff

[hd8091]

Whan I was a kid my friends andI would watch the Rayonier log trains come down from railroad camp. Ever since then I've always been partial to steam. I've still got the pennies they flattened.
tom

[darth9x9]

I am quite impressed with a real steam engine. When I am near the Western Maryland Scenic Railways engine, I can feel it breathing and being "alive" if you will. But the old adage that you model what you grew up with applies to me.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BoRockhard

I'm 20 and absolutely LOVE steam. Especially the articulateds. Although I grew up with C44-9Ws, SD40-2s, SD-60s, and GP38-2s, I would much rather own a SP AC-11, NP Z-6, DMIR M-3, and B&O EM-1.

I'd also rather own a steam locomoitve.
Even though you can buy 2 or 3 modern high-end plastic diesels for the cost of one HO articulated, I'll still hold out for the articulated!

[Anonymous]

Im 25 I love newer engines, but there is always something catchy about steam to me!

[tatans]

Over 50:: Diesels stink and make noise and look like tin macaroni boxes, see, there is a correlation. We are right and you young whippersnappers are all wrong. Isn't that the way things are??? I wonder what the younger vote will be in 30 years from now, comparing SOMETHING to old fashioned diesels ??

[KenK]

I'll be 40 next month. I like Steam locos, prop fighter planes, and front-engined Indy Cars, even though they're all before my time.

[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.

[Anonymous]

I enjoy the look of steam but I perfer Diesel

[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.

[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.

[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. [:)]

[Anonymous]

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

[railfanespee4449]

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

[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).

[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.

[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]

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

[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

[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.

[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