Nah, I've tried very hard but am unable to stick with just one railroad.
I've tried many different railroads, but quickly became frustrated at all the stuff that is not available for many of them.
Now I'm modeling the Southwest--in the form of 3 scenes, in different seasons: 1. A Saguaro Desert scene near Tucson. 2. A Utah red-rock/autumn scene--based loosely upon UP's Echo Canyon. 3. A winter mountain scene also in red rock country.
All my diesels have been sold, and I'm using steam power that would generally fit at least some of those scenes. It is documented that UP Challengers actually did operate on the SP Sunset Route on occasion, etc. However I have a Rio Grande (1943 UP version) challenger operating on the Sunset Route, with UP 4-12-2's instead of the brass SP 4-10-2's (which are difficult to find and not cheap at all).
I'm trying to generally represent or capture the vastness of the southwest with appropriate steam power and rolling stock from the railroads I like--but again--the layout is a series of 3 large scenes.
Perhaps someday in the future I'll return to brass and buy the SP 4-10-2 and the DRGW 4-8-2's, but until then, I will content myself with the readily available 4-6-6-4's, 4-8-8-4's and 4-12-2's.
John
I have my own railroad (The Golden State Railroad), which was a merger of nine short lines. It is a regional line running from northern California to southern Oregon. We mostly purchase second hand engines from any railroad, so until they can get into the paint shop you will see engines from the Hoositonic and Conrail in the east to UP and SP in the West and CP to the north.
My modeling interest is in the Seaboard Air Line operating on the Gulf Coast of Florida during the late 1940's.
It was my original intention to model the ACL, FEC and the SAL. However, it soon became apparent that financial priorities at the time determined that I select just one of the three roads I was interested in modeling. It was not an easy choice but I did want to also do as much research as was possible into the road I eventualy chose to model . One road is more practical for me to model and think about than three - it's just that simple.
Bruce
I try to stick to one era in each scale.
In N scale it's CN and Great Northern circa 1956.
In HO scale it's CN and CP circa 1974, but I also have small fleets of Penn Central, Chicago & Northwestern, and Burlington Northern locos.
Nope! Most days it's the Cedar Branch & Western with the yellow engines, other days it's the Ozark Northern with the plain green engines. Occasionally the layout becomes a branch of the Missouri Pacific. SP and UP units have been known to make occasional guest appearances, too.
The Cedar Branch & Western--The Hillbilly Line!
Eric97123Do you try to stick with one railroad or do you mix it up. When I started I figured I would get what engine or rolling stock floated my boat but now I am trying to make more of an effort to stick with....
Right now I could outfit large layouts in any of Santa Fe, Rio Grande, CB&Q, MP, GN, or NP. Oh, just think of what I would have if I had focused on only one of those....
And even more so had I stuck to a given decade!
I highly recommend choosing a theme and STICKING to it. It will save time, money, and make the modeling experience more enjoyable. Notice I said theme not specific railroad. A theme could include two railroads that interchange (such as the AT&SF & Mopac in Kiowa Kansas).
I'm watching NCAA tourney and my mind is wondering. You won't see the UP or Santa Fe etc. on my layout
I stated era is late 70's into the late 80's, on the east coast. This pretty much lets me run anything on the east coast during the mergers of the time. Just about the only ting you see on mine is UP or Santa Fe etc. Thats why I specifically chose this time period.
As you can no doubt tell from my pic and sig, I model the Reading. I have only Reading locos, but my rolling stock is from any railroad that interchanged. with them. I need to sprinkle in a couple of Western road cars. The only other locos I might pick up would be for Ironton, my branch interchanged witht he Ironton, and the IRR was joint owned by RDG and LV, plus I just love the Stewart Baldwin switchers. My grand plan for when I have more than a spare room for a layout actually includes modeling part of the Ironton, so one of the IRR Baldwins would be perfect. And a caboose. Both are exactly the same as Reading units except lettered Ironton.
I do have one 'random', it's a GE 44-tonner, factory lettered PRR but I am plannign to paint out the PRR name and add a Lehigh Cement logo and weather it with lots of concrete grey to use as a plant switcher. None of the pictures of the actual plant I'm modeling shows a dedicated plant switcher, but other Lehigh plants had one, and my justifiction is the PRR found them just too small and sold at least one to Lehigh Cement.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Craig North Carolina
I definately model the BN in 1975 to 1985, but I haven't settled on a specific area yet.
Motive power is 100% BN, but I've though about getting a few DRGW or SP engines for some run-through freights since I grew up with them. Passenger trains would probably be Amtrak. Frieght cars are about 65% BN, and all but 5% aren't interchange or predecessor roads.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
I model a freelanced railroad (click the link in my signature for my website) and while the engines and one caboose are all home-road equipment, the rolling stock fleet is from all over the country. I would like to have some run-through engines from neighboring shortlines eventually.
I (mainly) model one specific area at one specific time (see my signature for details) and the two railroads that were present there/then. The Nihon Kokutetsu was a national monopoly, so keeping things relatively pure is a no-brainer. The Kiso Forest Railway (renamed Kashimoto Forest Railway to assure domestic tranquillity) is a non-competing, non-interchanging (and, for the moment, non-operating) feeder.
HOWEVER!!! I arbitrarily moved two other rail operations into the area. One is another narrow gauge non-competitor, modeled after the Kurobe Gorge Railway.
That leaves the TTT (Tomikawa Valley Railway,) which is (to drastically understate the case) different. Its (sort of) prototype ran in relatively flat country, but my version has to climb a sustained four percent grade. In 1964, the prototype was a JNR branch, but my version is owned by the coal company which provides all but a miniscule percentage of its traffic. The locomotive roster is similar to the practices of the coal hauling private routes that once existed in Hokkaido - as long as the loco has eight or less drivers. There is no Japanese equivalent to the 2-6-6-2 that is currently operating or the Garratt and Golwe that are waiting in the wings. Likewise, the hopper fleet has nothing in common with cars of similar purpose run elsewhere. Mainly, the TTT allows free rein to my inner frustrated machine designer.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with modifications)
My 60s-70s layout is the Southern Pacific, but will need to get a Union Pacific diesel switcher for the new UP branch line being built. My modern day diesel project is after the prototype Modoc Northern.
I have engines from 6 different roads, and only get those that really appeal to me. I have concentrations in four of them.
It helps at my young stage in the hobby to keep it emotionally interesting, but I am certain I'll turn to a more focused approach in the years ahead. I will want to sell off some engines and stick with one or two roads. It will also mean a more focused approach to scenery and structures, so it will continue to be costly as I develop another layout.
-Crandell
I mainly model the Western Pacific. However they shared trackage with the Southern Pacific in certain areas. They also interfaced with the Denver and Rio Grande Western at Salt Lake City and the WP was one of the partners with the Calfornia Zephyr passenger train. So I do have some SP and D&RGW power. I believe they used Sante Fe trackage in one area so I have a little Sante Fe. I also have some Union Pacific diesel as they were seen on WP tracks in the era I model.
I have a freelanced RR and mainly run freight cars ( coal hoppers-ore hoppers-boxcars-gondolas-stock cars ) in its logo
All the engines are in our own colors but I have 3 display cabinets with prototypes
It is based in eastern to north middle PA
So I have one box-one covered hopper and one coal hopper from lines it connects with --the PRR-RDG-CCNJ-LV DL&W-then later PC and EL
I also have tankers and covered hoppers from local industries and a goodly supply of billboard reefers
51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )
ME&O
I model the Davenport RockIsland, and Northwestern railroad Circa 1995, which also includes the Burlington Northern and Soo Line, so I have 3 prototypical lines. Occasionally the Union Pacific will run coal trains through the Quad cities, so I also purchased one of them. I have17 top of the line engines with 6 that have sound. I will be replacing a soundtraxx DSD LC decoder with a Tsunami next week.
I have a preference for motive power, Canadian Pacific-D&H-Soo, but I don't stick with them.
My motive power also includes NYC, AT&SF, Conrail, CSX, NS, Milwaukee, B&M, MEC, UP, Via & Amtrak to name a few.
Gordon
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
I buy what ever catches my eye. Main favorites are Mono, Santa Fe and Rio Grand. But there are CSX, PRR, N&W, UP and others. I all so don't care about era either AC 6000 sitting by the Big Boy looks fine to me.
I am picker about buildings and cars for the towns. Cars nothing newer than 1970 (got to have some Hemi Cuda's and Road Runners) and building all around 1940 to 1960.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
Eric97123 Do you try to stick with one railroad or do you mix it up. When I started I figured I would get what engine or rolling stock floated my boat but now I am trying to make more of an effort to stick with CSX trains and rolling stock that is either CSX or of a railroad they incorporated/took over (such as Chessie). Not to say that I wont branch out but if I do it would be only two or three other railroads, at the most. Just curious what folks do since it seems that more people take effort of an era not an area.
Do you try to stick with one railroad or do you mix it up. When I started I figured I would get what engine or rolling stock floated my boat but now I am trying to make more of an effort to stick with CSX trains and rolling stock that is either CSX or of a railroad they incorporated/took over (such as Chessie). Not to say that I wont branch out but if I do it would be only two or three other railroads, at the most.
Just curious what folks do since it seems that more people take effort of an era not an area.
I started with my C&HV,then NS,then CSX,toss in 2 Southern units and 2 Santa Fe units..I got derailed along the way in N.
Not to shabby in HO since I am sticking with my C&HV and lease units and 2 CR units,2 IHB units and several short line CF7s..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I am very lucky in that I live in Eastern KY, I grew up watching coal trains and now that I am 27and got some room i am ready to model I am like'n the clinchfield railroad. I was very suprised once I started to read up on the clinchfield. I found that I can run just about any loco or car that I want. From steam with the Clinchfield Challenger, to many leased steam locos. Am i am a very big fan of the big diesels and With CSX running the line now I can use any of theres.This realy works good for me because I like many railroads and with the books and pics of the clinchfield I have found these roads, Clinchfield, CSX, Norfolk Southern,BNSF, UP, Missabe,L&N ,Sea Board system, C&O ,Family Lines just to name a few that have used this part of the rail.
I Have a few hundred coal cars from these roads and many of my locos are clinchfield,CSX, N&S, and L&N. my other cars are from all over because this was a very happen place in its hay day and many roads used this rail and if you don't tell Even the Daylight SP GS4 can be found running around in my Clinchfield as a PR move
Eric97123Do you try to stick with one railroad...?
Why on earth would I do that?
I'd miss out on so much fun!
I'm currently stuck with what motive power and cabooses I've accumulated over the years, which was before I focused on coming up with a realistic history for my layout. So, I operate it with "my" railroad but using rolling stock from a variety of roadnames until I get the money to get locomotives painted in my company's paint scheme.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
Eric97123Do you try to stick with one railroad or do you mix it up.
My layout concept revolves around a semi-fictional railroad called the "South Pennsylvania Railroad" that operates between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh PA. In my version the South Penn RR is largely owned by the Pennsylvania RR and is heavily influenced by it but still has its own identity. Also on the layout is another railroad called the Montour, which is also heavily owned by the PRR (this is true in real life too). On my layout the Montour exchanges directly with the South Penn. On the "real-life" South Penn RR, had it been built, it would have also exchanged with the East Broad Top, and Huntingdon & West Broad Top Mtn railroads. On my layout one of those railroads-- probably the H&WBTM-- may be represented. In addition there will be a couple of other railroads represented along the fringes-- selecting from among N&W, Western Maryland, C&O, B&O and a couple of others. I doubt I'll include them all but there are several to pick from. I have a long un-designated leg on my layout that I may name as Connellsville or Uniontown PA.
Past 5 years I've been modeling CSX, with a few Conrail locos in the mix. Focusing on the early 1990's, since that was before ditch lights were required by law on all road units. [And I liked the Yn2 paint scheme better too!]
Now I'm getting ready to go back into modeling the B&O as of 1970. Once I've built up my B&O loco roster, I'll pickup a few Western Maryland units as well.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
When I started my (newbie) layout, I was adminent about only running D&RGW, but when I recently saw 3 BNSF's and 2 UP's consist (SD70ACes) pulling 100+ CSMX coal cars near my house, well I changed my mind....
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
If having all your rolling stock from your favorite railroad is how you want to enjoy the hobby, more power to you. But the prototype railroads don't just "stick with one railroad". Interchange guarantees that. Generally, if you're committed to modeling a particular railroad, you make sure that the locomotives, cabooses, and passenger equipment match.
Usually, the majority of the frieght cars on a line will be home road cars. Next will be cars from railroads with direct connections. (Somebody once worked out an elaborate formula for this.) But there will be a sprinkling of foreign road cars, and rules of interchange specify that available foreign road cars be given preference when selecting an empty for loading.
Dan
I thought I would stick to C.P. However, I really like the steam power of some other RRs, like the BLI C&O 2-10-4 that I bought. It's lease power don't you know. I hope they did a lot of that in 1957 as I have my eye on some other things I may incorporate to my C.P. op's.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."