Favorite railroad

[RetGM]

I'm surprised that Lee hasn't logged in yet, but am sure he would agree that the "Wild Mary," as the Western Maryland Ry was nicknamed, is an easy choice.  Now gobbled up by CSXT (What's left of the ROW), the WM was a Class One class 1 RR. running from tidewater in Baltimore to the coal fields of WV, Connelsville & Shippensburg (Lurgan) PA, to interchange with almost all the major roads in the mid-Atlantic region.  The mainline went thru my home towns of Westminster and Union Bridge, MD, but the "Dutch Line" left the main at Emory Grove, MD and went thru PA (Hanover, Gettysburg, Blue Ridge Summit, etc) before rejoining the main at Highfield, MD. Passenger service was run until the 1950's, with the high-nose RS-3's replacing their 200 series 4-6-2 Pacific steamers in their last decade of operations.  The Port Covington piers in Baltimore saw eastbound MD & WV coal loaded on ocean-going vessles, and brought in coke and other commodities for the westbound freights.  WM had almost everything for a rail fan or modeler: 2-8-0 Consolidateds lugging up the Black Water  grade; 2-10-0's (both Russian I-1's and the later, larger I-2s on the East  rails; 4-8-4 Potomacs in the later days of steam; and, well, you get the picture.  My HO inventory includes 37 engines (7 steamers: 3 Pacifics, 2 Consolidateds, 1 I-1 and one 0-8-0 switcher) and FA-2's, RS-3's, GE 44 tonners, F-3's

 F-7A & B's,GP7's, GP9's, GP35's, GP40's and one SD40, so you can see that there is a wide range of opportunity for one choosing to model the WMRY.  Oh, yeah:  we have a very active HIstorical Society, too.   JWH 

[Dusty Solo]

I like the B&O in the North East, the RF&P, ACL, SAL and the FEC in the South East. These are the roads I most think about and like to read about. I model a mix up of these ones.

Dusty

[St Francis Consolidated RR]

   Union Pacific (even though I don't model much of it at all, especially modern times).....here's a picture I took on a bridge a few blocks from my work:

[Ashley]

For me, it will depend on my mood. I have lots of favourites. So when I feel sunny, then the Southern Pacific fills my needs. When feeling a bit dour the New York Central in battleship grey fits quite nicely. When I'm feeling more balanced in myself, something from Chicago; an Insull interurban like the Chicago North Shore & Milwaukee. When I revert to my heritage, the British Southern Railway, because the sun always comes soonest in the south.

 

[gabeusmc]

I thought that the UP would have been metioned many times over by this time. Is it that no people who like the UP are on here or is that nobody likes them that much.

[PennCentral99]

My favorite railroad is the Lykens Valley RailRoad.  I was born and raised in this area, my grandparents and some family members worked in these mines.  Not only did I cross these tracks daily, it also ran behind my grandparents house.  Here's a little history obtained from the internet:

"Lykens Valley Railroad History - The real development of the valley commenced in 1825, with the discovery of coal by Jacob Burd, Sr. and Peter Kimes, who then lived at the lower end of Short Mountain. Shortly after a wagon load of coal was dug, the new era for the valley had commenced. The Wiconisco Coal Company was organized in 1831, mines were opened in drifts at the Bear Creek gap, and coal was sold in the region about 1832. The Lykens Valley Railroad was built sixteen miles, from Bear Creek Gap to the Susquehanna, and was in operation in 1834, transporting the coal by horse-power over the flat strap-rail. The cars were carried across the Susquehanna on "arks", the coal dumped into chutes on the canal, loaded on the canal boats and transported to the various markets. This was the fourth railroad in the country and the first in Dauphin county, to transport anthracite coal. "The first canal boat load of Lykens Valley coals", now so famous, was sent April 19, 1834, by Boat No. 76, forty-three tons, Captain C. Faunce, cosigned to Thomas Bobridge, Columbia, Pennsylvania" (Professor Sheaffer, Pottsville). Quoted by Kelker, History of Dauphin County

The Wiconisco Canal, connecting Millersburg with the Pennsylvania Canal, was built in 1848. Up to the year 1859 the total shipment of coal from the Lykens Valley amounted to 848,781 tons, showing how great this industry had become even at that early date.

This railroad, which was the 4th railroad to transport anthracite coal in the United States. It was completed in 1834, but did not use t-rail. It used a flat-strap iron rail, which caused frequent derailments. It went from Millersburg to Lykens, and Wiconisco (I'm not sure when they extended it there.) Ten or more small cars were coupled together and pulled by horses to Elizabethville where they were unhooked from the horses and the cars went by gravity to Millersburg.

At Millersburg the coal cars were floated on flat boats across the river to Mt. Patrick. They later built the Wiconisco canal which took the coal from Millersburg to Clark's Ferry.

In 1856 the Pennsylvania Railroad Company took control of the line and replaced the rail with t-rail. In 1856 the Susquehanna Division of the Northern Central Railway completed a line from Dauphin to Millersburg which meant that coal would be shipped by rail instead of boat.

The Summit Branch Railroad was built in 1866 from a point near Lykens to the Williamstown Colliery. The Lykens Valley Railroad extended to Williamstown and was leased to the Summit Branch Railroad. It was operated until 1880 when it was placed in the hands of the Northern Central Railway. The railroad branched in to freight and passenger service. In 1928 the steam train to Harrisburg was replaced by a gasoline-electric train. Passenger service was discontinued in 1937.

In the 70's the tracks were torn up from Lykens to just before Elizabethville. Then the tracks were eventually torn up from Elizabethville down to Millersburg."

I'm pretty sure a model of the Williamstown Colliery has been produced.  I have not been able to find any locomotives and or rolling stock for Lykens Valley RR.  I do have some pics and have given thought of modeling the Alco S-2 that worked this line in the 70's and 80's

[tgindy]

I'm torn between one of three railroads -- Either the Pennsylvania, PRR, or Pennsy.

[dowop62]

Mopac,Frisco,Rock Island,D&RGW; what the heck  RAILROADS.

[mcddhawk4]

ATSF Grew up riding the Super Chief & El Capitan in the 60's 

[UncBob]

PRR cause I live in PA

 

B&O cause it was around in the beginning

 

UP cause it was there in1869  and still exists today

[CJW]

The Interstate Rail Road for me.

[last mountain & eastern hogger]

The Western Pacific,     doncha know ?     and of course their affliates,  Tidewater Southern, &

Sacramento Northern.

Others that you see putting in an appearance on the LM&E are.  SP&S,  BN.  GN.  D&RGW,  and one lone SP. U-33.  At a later date I might add a couple of NP. units as I love that Lowery Paint scheme... and it would make Sue happy too    Lol..

 

[wm3798]

RetGM

I'm surprised that Lee hasn't logged in yet, but am sure he would agree that the "Wild Mary," as the Western Maryland Ry was nicknamed, is an easy choice. ..

I don't even like trains.

Lee

[GP39]

There is my favorite group of old railroads. Having been exposed to many lines, there is no single one. In no particular order; Santa Fe, GM&O, CB&Q, ICRR, Soo, Milw, GN, and Chessie. I could add more, depending on various eras ,as well. B&O, Rock Island, CNW, SP, BN, PC, NYC and D&H.. are a few more.

Union Pacific would be my current day pick. Almost through a lack of anything left with an original name. The history and the fact that they run some steam trains gets it done!

[Sailormatlac]

tomikawaTT

The late, great Japan National Railways - since chopped up and privatized.  Some changes are not improvements.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - when it was JNR, not JNR-West)

Chuck, habitually, any railway that is [********] National Railways is bound to be a great endeavour that inspire people... except in the USA! ;-)

I miss the time when I could be proud of my national un-privatized CNR... It's bigger now, but it tastes less too. But I must agree this is only a scratch when compared to real JNR went through the meat grinder all the way!

Oh! and one other I always loved: Quebec Railway Light & Power which was the quintessence of Monopoly = electric traction + interurban tramways + streetcars + small steam + old rolling stock + touristic resort + control over all public utilities = totally awesome!

Matt

who prefer CNR when the letter "N" meant something!

 

[trainluver]

I love the basic black and white of the Norfolk Southern Railroad.  I have loved this railroad since I was a kid growing up in Virginia.  Norfolk Southern used to run behind my house along the river and it was a joy to hear the roar of the black and white.  A train would pass through everyday at 6 am, like clockwork.  This is the railroad that I model currently.  The coal drags that come down through West Virginia, Lynchburg, Roanoke, are just phenominal.   

[Texas Zepher]

UncBob

UP cause it was there in1869  and still exists today

Actually not.  The original Union Pacific Railroad went out of business in 1880 after the Credit Moiblier scandel.  At  that time the resources were turned over to Jay Gould who created the Union Pacific Railway.  That railroad in turn went bankrupt in 1893 and was disected and reorganized into the railroad we know as Union Pacific Railroad in 1897.

That was actually a common thing back then.  X Railroad goes out of business and for marketing purpose the new railroad is X Railway, or X airling to take advantate of the X name.    The Santa Fe that merged with the BN was not the original Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe that started the name.   I am certain there are others but the only railroad that I know of that started and lasted through modern times was the CB&Q (they gave a dividend to stock holders every year too. even in the great depression years).

[hon30critter]

Hi Ashley!

Welcome to the forums!

It will be an interesting project to figure out how to model all of those various railroads in one layout. I am thinking you will need 4 staging yards so you can keep your railroads separate, and then if your scenery is from a common era you could switch between railroads at will.

Please keep us posted.

Dave

[J.Rob]

I can think of 5 for various reasons. C & O for it's steam power. Pennsy for it's diesel power. Virginian coal to tide water and wanted to go west but never did. Wheeling and Lake Erie because I am from Wheeling. B & O it ran through Wheeling and down the Ohio River. Since I have two many to choose and the tracks and most industry in my hometown are now gone as well as most of the people I have decided to do a what if railroad.

The Virginian and Lake Erie. The section to model will be from Wheeling to Benwood Less than 20 miles and consist of a large junction yard and some busy man line and industrial track. I will be able to have guest appearances by the 3 lines not covered by my proposed merger as my route will connect with all of them.

As of this date nothing has been done but collecting structures and rolling stock.

[stevechurch2222]

My favorite railroads are the Milwaukee Road,Rock Island and the Chicago and Northwestern.

[boct8418]

I am partial to the B&OCT.

 

Rich

[fwright]

Oregon & California  - before SP take-over

Oregon Pacific

Coos Bay Lumber Company

Caspar Lumber Company

Florence & Cripple Creek

Denver, South Park & Pacific (before C&S)

Colorado Midland

Fred W

....modeling foggy coastal Oregon, where it's always 1900....(with a little Colorado influence)

[Texas Zepher]

fwright

\Florence & Cripple Creek

That is a pretty rare one.   How did you develop a liking for it?     Three generations of my family are buried in the Union Highland Cemetery in Florence.  I spent many a day gold panning along the old right of way.

[mononguy63]

I'm a late entrant to this conversation, though by my avatar it should be pretty apparent that my favorite railroad is the Chicago, Indianapolis, & Louisville.

Though the Monon was merged into the L&N before I celebrated my ninth birthday, I still have fond images of watching those gold & black locomotives pulling long strings of hoppers with that distinctive block lettering across the field from my grandparents' living room window in Orleans, Indiana. So modeling the Monon honors the memory of my parents and grandparents, and even today I still once in a while get little shadows of that little boy's excitement when a 1:87 version rolls by.

Jim

[Avoght]

How do you begin to answer, I have several.

PRR - This is easily my grandfathers favorite and that has rubbed off on me greatly.

Nickle Plate - The first house my wife and I bought after we got married shared the rear property line with N-S on a line that was Nickle Plate.  I could always imagine one of the Berkshires running that line.  Need to get my boys over to see 765.

Erie - I can look out my kitchen window and see the abandoned railbed

CB&C - I have to throw this one in just because I'm so close to where it ran.  It's nickname always amused me.

 

Adam

[aloco]

CN and CP obviously because I'm Canadian, but I have some locos in US roadnames too: Burlington Northern (including some equipment in fallen flag paint schemes), Penn Central, and Chicago & Northwestern.

[the North East Rail Modeler]

I've got a good list of favorites, with a little bit of everything in it:

Still in service:

1. Florida East Coast*
2. CSX  *
3. BNSF
4. Heart of Georgia
5.  most small regonal/industrial railroads
6. Montanna Rail Link

*Both because they operate in Florida, and are common in my area

Fallen Flags:

1. Conrail
2. Seaboard System (and all precessors)
3. Southern
4. Burlington Northern
5. Santa Fe
6. DRGW (mainly for the Tunnel Motor SD 40T-2)
7. Milwaukee Road

[galaxy]

I always loved the Chessie Intercahnge cars and occasional loco going by on the EL {which I never cared for} near my house growing up in the 70s.

SO, naturally the Chessie system is my favorite.

BUt WAIT!!! I LOVE steam! so what to do? Well...the Chessie came out of the C&O, which came out of the B&O...so Guess what? I Like all three!!!

BUT wAIT!!! The CHessie isn't around anymore...SO what to do? Well the CSX came out of the CHessie...so there is my "modern day counterpart" to the Chessie!!!

SO I can model any different era to get what I want.

BUt WAIT!! When I went to Strasburg Railroad and visited the RR Museum of PA, I fell absolutely in love with the Majestic PRR M1a/b {conversion} loco wiht the Belpaire FIrebox  they had on static display!!! What to do??

Imagine the B&O gave PRR some "trackage rights" to run both the M1a and The K4 loco on my layout. But wait!!! I found out that certain areas the B&O DID indeed give the PRR trackage rights in real life!!!

SO I can run my steam models or diesels in B&O, C&O or CHessie, CSX. If I run the steam, I can run the PRR steamers too!

BUT WAIT!! There's more!! My Other Half {MOH} and my initials come out to D&H.......What to do??? COllect some D&H stuff as well!!!!

But Wait!!! There is no more now!!!
{aren't you glad??}

 

[bulldog_fan]

I'll join a few of you and claim the Milwaukee Road as my favorite.  And as with many of you it's all about those early years:  as a kid I would visit my grandparents in Deerfield, Illinois, easy biking distance from the MILW main line.  My grandfather was a lifelong railfan and would sometimes take me to watch the trains at Rondout or Techny Junction, or right there at the Deerfield station.    Been close to 40 years since I went to sleep at night in their house, hoping to hear a train before falling asleep and usually getting my wish.   Sure would like to hear that deep far-off rumble of multiple heavily-loaded 567s again.

After MILW there's a shifting alliance of other favorites:  CNW, GN, Santa Fe, Erie Lackawanna, Maine Central, the Monon... which perhaps explains why I have *way* too many trains in boxes in the closet, waiting for me to figure out what to do with them. 

Dean

[Southwest Chief]

As has been said before,

Santa Fe all the Way