Would You Model Overseas Railroads?

[Anonymous]

Well, for those of you who said that foreign trains look strange, just think about how foreigners think our trains look. Actually, though, there are more examples of North American trains running in other countries than you might think.

The very first Pullman car to run in Britain came from the US and was very American-looking. Also, in the early 1900's a small British railway (I can't remember more, but I did read this somewhere) bought 2 (I think) Baldwin Moguls because at the time it would have been a long wait for a British locomotive. A GG1 also operated on British Railways on some top-secret experimental runs in the late 50's. It was later discovered again in 1973 and was then used in general service for 4 more years. There was also a coal mine in Britain that used Alco S-2 switchers.

During WWII there were several types of steam locomotives designed by the US Army that were sent all over the world. There are many types of diesels made by EMD and Alco for export that are close to their domestic products.

Many South American railroads also are very simmilar to North American ones.

The motive power of the Ali Shan Forestry Railway in Taiwan consisted entirely of Shays.

[METRO]

The British Railways GG1 is one of the weirdest stories of politics in railroading: Classified as the BR Class 80, the lone American GG1 was tested on a new AC line in England. It was seen as a potential embarressment to the Brit Labour Party and as such was painted black, only run at night, and was even guarded by MI-5! Eventually it was locked away in a station and remained there until the station was demolished, and the engine was found. By then the political worries were much less and the unit was placed as a backup in passenger running.

The GG1 (class 80) never really preformed to any outstanding degree on the BR, mainly due to the fact that it was heavy, and had an odd wheelbase for the twisting, tight-curved Brit lines.

[Anonymous]

Strange though,

For a big country as the USA it seams there are very few who look behind their borthers.
[8D][:)]

[DSchmitt]

How about a real "overseas" railroad[?] The Florida East Coast, Key West extension[:o)]

[DonaldAgne]

For those of you who might be interested in modeling a Japanese railroad, here are a few websites where you can purchase Japanese equipment:

http://www.katomodels.com
http://www.thefreightyard.com
http://www.nscaledivision.com

You can also find Kato, Tomix, Greenmax, and other Japanese manufacturers' products on eBay.

I live in Japan (that's why I'm always late joining these threads, sorry) and built a layout depicting rural Japan in the steam/diesel transition era. I modeled Japan because that's what I'm most familiar with, and Japanese products are, of course, so readily available here. I'm originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and would like to model that area next; but, first, I have to get back there and take some pictures and do some research.

Model railroading is very, very popular here, although there are very few permanent layouts because of the space restrictions. Most houses don't have a basement or a spare room in which to build a layout. Many model railroad clubs have modular layouts and others just set up thousands of feet of track in a gymnasium or someplace similar and run as many trains as possible.

Japanese railroads are electrified, for the most part, and are mostly in passenger/commuter service. Not very interesting, really, to me. That's why I modeled steam and diesels. Nothing can compare to the thrilling sounds of a large diesel locomotive or an old steamer.

Anyway, here's my website: http://ddwngauge.homestead.com/index.html

By the way, my layout is going to featured in the 2005 edition of one of the annual Japanese N-gauge magazines. It'll be published in September this year.

Happy Modeling![:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Hells no. Forign roads don't have the magic that the USA does. Nope, I'd never model any railroad outside the US and I don't even care about MR articles on forign modelled layouts. Just taking up valuble issue space. I guess some people find that stuff intresting.

Go American roads! [^]

I assume that the quote from Aggro is tongue-in-cheek! Nobody could be that bigotted and illiterate - well maybe he originated deep in the Louisiana bayoux . . . I spent 2 weeks there and thought I was on the set of "Deliverance" - talk about culture shock!
With respect to the 'magic' of USA roads, personally I find the modern rolling stock incredibly boring. The coaches look pre-WW2 with old-fashioned corrugated sides and the diesel locos would have to be the world's ugliest! Even the freight wagons all look the same - mostly hideous brown slabs.
For those of a broader mind and a spark of intelligence, check out some of the beautiful liveries on modern rolling stock in Europe, including the UK. They are bright, cheerful and the sleek styling is stunning. There is a multitude of choices to pick from no matter which epoch you wi***o model.
My own choice will probably make the rivet counting purists shudder . . . I love steam locomotives - especially the monsters from the USA. I also like the old British steamers and I like modern profile, too. So how did I satisfy my likes?
Well, I only have a 3metre by 2.1metre space, so I chose a modern period in a fictitious town (Rocksberg - which could be any English speaking country) and then designed the layout to be set during International Transport Week. This gave me an excuse to run any darn thing I wanted as they were mostly Special Excursions! My friends think it is hilarious - but I have a lot of fun. I just love the cool way my favourite Bachmann diesel loco (Chinese!) silently slips out of the Railway station pulling a rake of Chinese coaches as the Royal Scot gently glides to a halt with a train of Mk 1 coaches. Naturally the passengers are all keen rail enthusiasts!
A-a-a-h! The bliss of fantasy! [;)]

[johnmartin]

Like LUPO, I already do model an overseas railway, and not just from the US perspective.
I model both the contemporary scene on the east coast of Australia and the BNSF & MRL in the Pacific Northwest.
It provides me with a lot of enjoyment and also mental stimulation researching something that I can't see out of my window.

[robengland]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Hells no. Forign roads don't have the magic that the USA does. Nope, I'd never model any railroad outside the US and I don't even care about MR articles on forign modelled layouts. Just taking up valuble issue space. I guess some people find that stuff intresting.

Go American roads! [^]

Hmm, explains a lot about US foreign policy doesn't it [:D]

The world is rich in fascinating railroads to model, especially ones that are mainline heavy-traffic roads but still twist and wind like the sleepiest US narrow gauge. As a modeller you can have your cake and eat it too: model picturesque scenery and structures, have tight curves, tunnels and short rolling stock, but still prototypically operate more than one train a day.

The US has typically looked no further than Mexico or the UK for this kind of operation, but I urge you to check out the dozens of interesting nations you can model: Burma (as mentioned above), Ecuador, Switzerland, or my own homeland http://groups.msn.com/kiwirail as examples. And it isn't all scratchbuilding: New Zealand for one has a thriving kit industry. Trust me - buying kits from overseas is easy - we foreigners do it all the time [;)]

I can understand that most people want to model the local stuff, because of nostalgic connections. But for a change....

And if you think foriegn stuff looks weird, most early NZ steam trains were build by Baldwin and other US builders (once they realised UK stuff was unsuitable), and once we started making them ourselves they still looked pretty American...
http://www.railmodel.org.nz/jewel-KA945.jpg
http://www.websnz.com/mse/images/rf02.jpg
http://www.websnz.com/mse/images/jb1236waiouru.jpg

Many NZ diesels are EMD or GE made:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=50966
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=21223
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=56372

Me? I model Southern Pacific and AT&SF [:D][:D][:D] Actually I set them in New Zealand, to have the best of all worlds

[Big_Boy_4005]

Not only am I NOT modeling an overseas railroad, I'm not even modeling an out of state railroad. Heck, not out of town. I can drive the length of the prototype section of track that I'm modeling in about an hour. I can drive to any point along the route in 30 minutes or less. It's called research.[swg]

[ddechamp71]

QUOTE: Originally posted by METRO

Well CBQ_Guy, just think how weird our hood units must look to the Europeans (especially the British) who have a majority of their units with full-width bodies.

I actually think the future of American railroads will look more European, especially Amtrak.

OK guys, but please keep diesels! They are so more enjoyable than #@in' electrics that are the rule here in Europe....Each time I spend some time railfanning in Canada or California, I'm in love with the noise and the smell of diesel exhaust[:p] coming from heavy freights crawling on a 2.5% grade...Very more challenging to my eyes than a cold and spiritless TGV......I won't change my Geeps, SDs and Dashs for Acelas....

[Favrefan04]

I am currently buying rolling stock to be able to build an Australian RR. My wife is from Australia, and we are planning to build a combination American/Australian RR. At the moment the plan is to model both countries and then to connect them together and then eventually we want to make a unique roadname of our own. We just came back from there and bought 3 boxcars and will work on getting some decent Locos when we can. We want to get the American part of it put together first but work ourselves into the Australian part shortly after that. We are both new to the hobby and we want to perfect our skills before we move to the Australian part of the layout. It is so very interesting learning about other countries RR's and how they are different from ours in the States.

[Supermicha]

With New Jersey Transit and Amtrak i model an overseas railroad, no problem until i live in germany...

I also will ty to start with some New Zealand models next time.

[sarailway]

I sure do!

I model an Australian outline, specifically South Australian Railways.

Upto fairly recent times, the railways in Australia were mostly all government owned (a few private lines, mostly mining based) and ran along state lines.

The market in Australia is quite small by comparison to the US market, but quite vigorous none-the-less.

So GO FOREIGN RAILROADS!!!!
ps: Thats how ya spell forign Aggro jones! Keep smilin' buddy!

[lyctus]

Just to pick up on Maureen's post - the "style" of British modelling - short runs with a station layout and a "fiddle yard" can be replicated and relevant to any nationality railroad and can enable space starved modellers to operate a lot of equipment in a small space. Iain Rice shows some options here in his MR articles based on a UK background.
For me, I model O/seas railroad (US) 'cause I haven't got the time to scratchbuild and tinker with non-standard coupler set ups and US stuff can be built, weathered, re-wheeled and prototypically operated in the time and within my patience level so easily.
Given different circumstances, I would love to get into my local prototype in S scale.

[Anonymous]

I'm a newcomer to the hobby, but I'm interested in modeling Spanish railroads. I'm having no luck at all finding anything to do with them. If anyone knows a company producing trains and accessories for Spanish RR lines, please let me know! I'm also interested in participating in forums/conversations/whatever about modeling foreign railroads in general.

Eric

[Anonymous]

I suppose what people model most is what visually attracts them and their exposure to the models or the prototype. No mystery here I guess! I grew up near the B&O, C&O, N&W, PRR, L&N, and Southrern. I love them all! However, I also had a German Uncle and an early exposure to Fleishmann and Marklin.
Yup, I model the DB, SBB CFF in HO. I do have a couple of Kato Tokyo subway sets too...Have always intended to run a short elevated line with a model of Japan's favorite railway enthusiast "Godzilla" looking on from above! [}:)] Yes, the Japanese trains are very interesting. If I only had the space and a hundred gazillion dollars! [:D]

[tajsbb]

Yes. I'm currently building a Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) layout with a very scaled down Zurich HB (main station) at one end. My wife and I lived in Zurich for two years some time ago, and loved the rail system there. Modeling it keeps us close to one of our favorite parts of the world.

Tim Johnson, Tucson, AZ

[leighant]

Thirty years ago, I visited West Berlin and was fascinated riding the S-Bahn train that ran OVER the Berlin wall. Picked up some German N scale equipment and built a Berlin scene railroad with a little of the downtown area, a double track mainline and a freight yard (guterbahnhof), and a double track elevated line and elevated station. On a 27" x 34" layout I could carry around in the trunk of my Pinto.

How so much in that space. The double track mainline was just two small ovals, one inside the other with no crossovers or connections. One cheap train-set power pack was wired to both ovals, but cross wired so that on the double track, one train would run clockwise while the other rans counterclockwise. Two spurs coming off the outer loop in a tight space alongside the double track made a 4-track wide array of track which suggested a yard and allowed some switching. The double-track elevated line ran diagonally across the layout with no connection at each end-- non-operating "dummy" tracks you might say. But I felt like I got a lot in a little space.

It was fun mixing traditional old European buildings with modern looking buildings.

I also made a slide show for my local train club sampling the local rapid transit and commuter trains of the exotic cities of the world associated with intrique and adventure,
including the train that ran over the top of the Berlin and the Istanbul commuter train that ran over the last 10 miles of the Orient Express route. I called the slide show James Bond's Electric Trains.


Kenneth L. Anthony, Santa Vaca & Santa Fe Railway

[Anonymous]

No.

[Anonymous]

YES - here in UK, my attic is full of ACL, SOU, SAL, and old-NS model trains in H0, I used to collect them whilst on business trips to Raleigh, NC. Tje point is, I sold all my UK trains in the 70s. Until recently, the 1950s chassis design of a central motor, cardan shafts to gears on trucks was smoother the favoured pancake motor you might even find in the three axle tender of a UK steam locomotive. They had to change. So for me it was the operability of the US model trains that influenced me then. .

[Anonymous]

As someone on the outside (England) looking into the USA, I find that most americans regard foreign as being in another state. 70% of americans don't have a passport because there is no need to leave the USA. We europeans need passports if we want to spend our vacations in sunshine, it rains a lot in England.
Foreigners scare americans, the foods differant, they drive funny little cars, and we don't always share the same values. As am enthusiast for American modelling I am regarded by other modellers as a pariah. I can understand why many americans would regard someone building a Japanese layout in a similar vein.
Good luck to those of you that want to build foreign, after all it's a hobby that we do for fun.

[Anonymous]

i am modeling mexican railroads is greats
fernando torres monterrey nuevo leon mexico

[K4s_PRR]

Sure, why not? I have quite a bit of British locomotives & stock in storage. I bring it out to display at my local library during Model Railroad Month. I may build a small terminal in the future.

[Supermicha]

@ Egelliot:

Many spanish models are produced by electrotren (http://www.electrotren.com), an old spanish company.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Favrefan04

My wife is from Australia, and we are planning to build a combination American/Australian RR.

Actually, a friend of mine in the hobby got sent to Australia a few years back for his job and he brought me back some HO scale kangaroo figures. I was going to put them on the layout at some point out in the boonies near the road with a yellow sign that says "'Roo Crossing".

Really...

[railfancwb]

A few new-made standard gauge locos have been imported from China. At least a few narrow gauge locos have been (re?) imported from South America and other places. A RR in Maine -- Belfast & Moosehead I believe -- imported a whole steam passenger train from Sweden if memory serves. The Cripple Creek & Victor, a 2-foot gauge tourist road in Colorado, operates foreign-made steam over an old wider (standard?) gauge right of way. And a number of locos were reimported from Hawaii when the plantation and common carrier lines were closing down. Charles

[pab-windmills]

I am in the process of designing and building a model RR for my son and me. It will include a New England line and a Swedish (because of my heritage) line. I plan to weave them together, with bridges, etc, but they will each have their own tracks, as the Swedish line will probably be based upon Marklin. Overseas lines open up an entirely different range of locomotives, "goods cars", structures, electrified (ie, catenary) lines, etc. There a a lot of overseas mfrs that offer high quality equipment, some of which you can find at auction. Go for it!

[leighant]

I put a photo of my 1971 Berlin layout on Railimages.com so I could share it.



Kenneth L. Anthony, Corpus Christi TX.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I model a "foreign" RR, the German Reichsbahn in the mid-1930s. Great steam engines with "Wagner" smoke deflectors, black locos with red running gear, lots of quite interesting passenger coaches, and very interesting (and different) freight cars. Lots of quality stuff available from Roco, Trix, Fleischmann, Piko, Liliput, etc. Operation includes a fair amount of passenger traffic. Of course, even the Reichsbahn had a diversity of "regional" and distinctive locos (Prussian, Bavarian, Saxon, etc.) So my Bavarian trains come in from the south and the Prussian & Saxon trains from the north. Trackwork is Peco & signals are Veissmann. Only "reservation" is that we who model the Reichsbahn need to keep the livery pre-1940 to avoid the Nazi stuff. Even though the stuff is available, I personally do not own and would not run Reichsbahn trains with the swastika for the same reason that US prototype modelers would not have a 1940s train station in the South with "colored" and "white" waiting rooms. So, expand your horizons - it's a big and interesting world-wide hobby.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AggroJones

Hells no. Forign roads don't have the magic that the USA does. Nope, I'd never model any railroad outside the US and I don't even care about MR articles on forign modelled layouts. Just taking up valuble issue space. I guess some people find that stuff intresting.

Go American roads! [^]

Hi
Do not pass go do not collect $200 Breep Fail
All model railways have that magic you speak of just ask their owners.
All of my railways have and allways will be what you call overseas railways.
The US Railroads are nothing special just a different version of the same thing.
They have no more and no less magic than any other kind. of railway.
Bigger is not necaseraly better.
Particularly if you don't have room for it.
regards John