The Great Northern. My grandfather and his father worked on the railroad at some point in their lives. My uncle worked as a cook in a dining car. Then there is the DMIR because of their huge steam engines. And last the Whaerhauser and other logging railroads.
My favourite railroad is the long gone Algoma Eastern. It ran from Sudbury, Ontario to Little Current on the Manitoulin Island. It ran freight cars, ore cars and passengers. The thing that interests me the most is the terrain the railroad had to navigate through the La Cloche mountains. These mountains aren't tall like the Rockies but trying to find a route through them with reasonable grades was quite an accomplishment. There was no money for tunneling. At one point just south of Willisville the engine would be going east while the caboose was going west. That was with a very short train!
As an aside, if you ever decide to visit northern Ontario, the short drive south from Highway 17 to Little Current offers lots of great views. If you turn off at Willisville you can get a really great view of the old right of way which is maintained as an ATV/snowmobile trail.
I am not planning on modeling the Algoma Eastern because there is too little 'action' to be modeled for my tastes. There were a few passenger stops (the 'station at McGregor Bay was about 10' x 15'), a couple of mines along the way, and a relatively large coal facility at Little Current with a wye to turn things around for the return trip. The one feature that many will know of is the swing bridge at Little Current (still in operation but no more train traffic). I drew up a plan for the swing bridge and it required 6 feet for the bridge alone. I don't have that kind of space. Here is the bridge shown in its open for marine navigation position:
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/11969124.jpg
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
John - Welcome to trains.com!
Darren (BLHS & CRRM Lifetime Member)
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (DHVM), Railroad Adventures (RRAdventures)
My Blog
This is my first post; I just had to weigh in. Growing up in Conneaut OH in the 40's and 50's my favorites just have to be the NKP and B&LE. Lived 7-8 blocks from from the NKP division yard and roundhouse. Even then I thought the Berkshire engines were the most beautiful steamers of all.Relatives worked for the B&LE and my dad worked for the P&C Dock Co,the facility on Lake Erie that unloaded iron ore from the Iron Range in Minn.(think DM&IR on the other end) and loaded into B&LE hoppers for shipment to the U.S. Steel plant in N. Bessener (Pittsburg) PA. To watch a 100 plus car ore train working up out of the valley headed up by two of the hugh Texans with one pushing was pretty impressive to an 8-10 year old. And I didn't even know what I was seeing!
John Hill
gabeusmcForgot about the Iron Ore Railroads, whats not to love about them?
I love shortlines.....Apache Railway
Two for me, The Susquahanna & New York, and the Lehigh Valley.
The Susquahanna & New York was one of the many shortlines to operate in Pennsylvania during the lumber boom, but went out of business in 1942. It went through Towanda, which isn't far from my home, and two of the original depots are still standing.
http://www.rgusrail.com/album/msmbrr116/mbrr_116_02.jpg
One engine is still around, Baldwin built 2-8-0 No. 116. You can see a photo of the engine in the above link.
The Lehigh Valley did have some very massive shops in Sayre, PA, and the railroad built many of it's own steam engines there until the railroad switched to diesel and shut down the shops.
The Lehigh Valley Railroad, the Route of the Black Diamond Express, John Wilkes and Maple Leaf.
-Jake, modeling the Barclay, Towanda & Susquehanna.
NP2626 I'm also a fan of the Mesabi Road, (Duluth Mesabi & Iron Range Railway). My folks had a place near Silver Bay on Lake Superior, where the huge taconiite plant was; so, we saw ore trains all the time when driving between Lax Lake and Beaver Bay; or, Silver bay. I don't think there was a harder working railroad anywhere in the world, when the Taconite needed hauling! There are no less than three (that I know of) Yellowstone 2-8-8-4 locomotives, on display: one in the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, One near the Proctor rail yards and one in Two Harbors! I think the only locomotives larger then these would be the Big Boys. Although I think steam was done for quite a while before we had our place near Silver Bay, to see a string of D.M.& I.R. ore cars winding down the the twisting rails, going down to the taconite plant was quite a site. I could have been talked into doing a point to point from the Hill Annex Mine or Hull Rust Mine,down to the Ore Docks in Duluth or Two harbors quite easily, had I given the D.M.&I.R a thought previously to starting my present layout!
I'm also a fan of the Mesabi Road, (Duluth Mesabi & Iron Range Railway). My folks had a place near Silver Bay on Lake Superior, where the huge taconiite plant was; so, we saw ore trains all the time when driving between Lax Lake and Beaver Bay; or, Silver bay. I don't think there was a harder working railroad anywhere in the world, when the Taconite needed hauling! There are no less than three (that I know of) Yellowstone 2-8-8-4 locomotives, on display: one in the Lake Superior Railroad Museum, One near the Proctor rail yards and one in Two Harbors! I think the only locomotives larger then these would be the Big Boys. Although I think steam was done for quite a while before we had our place near Silver Bay, to see a string of D.M.& I.R. ore cars winding down the the twisting rails, going down to the taconite plant was quite a site.
I could have been talked into doing a point to point from the Hill Annex Mine or Hull Rust Mine,down to the Ore Docks in Duluth or Two harbors quite easily, had I given the D.M.&I.R a thought previously to starting my present layout!
Forgot about the Iron Ore Railroads, whats not to love about them?
"Mess with the best, die like the rest" -U.S. Marine Corp
MINRail (Minessota Rail Transportaion Corp.) - "If they got rid of the weeds what would hold the rails down?"
And yes I am 17.
twhite NP2626: I like S.P. and Rio Grande Steam also. I think N.P. had some wonderful looking steam locos, also. But then I like: Camel Backs, Shays, Climaxes and Heislers, too! I think that those Northern Pacific Z-series Challengers were one of the handsomest steam locomotives ever built. Tom
NP2626: I like S.P. and Rio Grande Steam also. I think N.P. had some wonderful looking steam locos, also. But then I like: Camel Backs, Shays, Climaxes and Heislers, too!
I like S.P. and Rio Grande Steam also. I think N.P. had some wonderful looking steam locos, also. But then I like: Camel Backs, Shays, Climaxes and Heislers, too!
I think that those Northern Pacific Z-series Challengers were one of the handsomest steam locomotives ever built.
Tom
I agree with Tom. The NP Challengers were the greatest. Unfortunately, we don't have the spacious curves to handle them.
We model mostly NP, & GN.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
The Maryland and Pennsylvania. I like it's short trains and sharp curves along with small engines.
I also like the WW&F for it's waterfront and Forneys, and the PRR for it's GG1.
Actually, I like them all, but the above are what I have models for. The Ma&Pa is the basis for my current layout.
Enjoy
Paul
dowop62 I guess I am the only MOPAC fan, but here I am
I guess I am the only MOPAC fan, but here I am
As I said I like them all, but the Bengall (bangall?) holds a spot in my heart.
I'm doing the mid to late 1990's in approximately the west of Texas, south east of San Angelo. As at this time UP has bought up my favorite railroads. I decided to do a freelanced subdivision that in my world was owned by the SP.
So I get to have engines with UP, SP, MoPac, C&NW, and for an interchange connection the Texas and Mexican, owned by KCS. So there are some engines with all of these logos as well as many rail cars from all over North America that pass through.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
SP, now the UP. If you chose the right time period, you can run lots of different road power.
The New York Central (NYC)
Why? For me - it has some of the most unique, handsome, and classic steam locomotives that existed. I'm also fortunate to live within a few miles of Collinwood; the eastern terminus yard for locomotives picking up or dropping off passenger cars coming from or heading to Cleveland Union Terminal.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Canadian Pacific. Which is odd I guess as it was the Canadian National mainline that ran through my home town. I used to love watching the F-7' passenger units screaming through town and the rows of box cars lined up on the siding at the four grain elevators we had. Sadly my hometown is slowly fading away. Just like the passenger trains the siding and all four elevators are gone. They are still alive on my layout though. only now it is maroon and gray CP units that go past.
Southern Pacific.
I grew up about a hours drive from the Tehachapi Loop. Nowadays, I live near Sacramento and it's only a 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive to the top of Donner Pass. Besides these great areas to watch and photograph trains, there are the one of a kind engines such as the cab-forward that the Espee operated.
I've been back in model railroading (I'm in N scale) about 5 years now (after a 25 year period) , and I'd say about 80 percent of my trains are Espee. Yes, I even purchased a cab-forward-N scale.
If I was to choose another railroad it would either have to be the Great Northern (I would model the Cascade Pass and the Wenatchee area1945-1970) or the Sante Fe (Southern California between 1950-160)
The Clinchfield is my favorite. It runs right through the heart of the Appalachian Mountains with heavy coal drags powered by multiple steam and later diesel engines. Beautiful scenery with massive power makes a great combination.
My favorite railroad is the B&O for a few reasons. It ran through my hometown and it also put food on the table for us as my father worked in the diesel repair shop at Glenwood Yard in Pittsburgh, PA. I also thought that they had some gorgeous steam locomotives with some of my favorites being the EM-1 2-8-8-4 (thank you Bachmann), the T3a 4-8-2, and the S-1 2-10-2 and of course those early diesels with the Blue and Gray paint scheme and the passenger equipment to match.
I like that they took pride in their equipment and kept their locos looking good with even the steam engines be well kept until the end of steam. I love the country side that they traversed and the mountains they had to climb. I also love that they were the first US common carrier railroad.
Of course all of this influenced the railroad I am modeling and the area that I am modeling. I am modeling the B&O from Glenwood to New Castle with me choosing Glenwood as the starting point as my Dad worked there.
TOm
Modeling the Pittsburgh Division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from Glenwood Yard to New Castle Yard following the old P&W Mainline.
Visit my website at: http://www.baltimoreandohiorr.com
As you can see from my avatar its the DT&I, but I model the Toledo Terminal as it is the perfect prototype.
The actual track around Toledo is an oval and it interchanged with the DT&I, D&TSL, WAB, NKP, B&O, C&O, PRR, NYC, OPS, and TAW. I can then run all my favorite motive power from these railroads.
Rick J
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
I spent my early childhood in Livonia, MI - C&O country, lots of Enchantment Blue and yellow geeps with a few F-units thrown in. Then my family moved to Maryland and our first place was in Rockville, MD, near the busy B&O Metro branch. More blue & yellow diesels. So I wound up modeling both those roads, but never Chessie.
In a misguided effort to get my son interested in trains, I started modeling CSX since it runs less than a mile from my house. Didn't work, now I want to go back to modeling B&O but can't afford it yet because I'm paying college tuition for my kids
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Uncle Pete and Big New Santa Fe
I also have a soft spot for 70-80s Southern Pacific, flared radiators, tunnel motors... mmm... Nearly makes me want to back date!
James, Brisbane Australia
Modelling AT&SF in the 90s
My favourite U.S road? Heck, whats not to like about any of the north eastern roads? However if someone was to twist my arm up my back, ( not that I'm condoning the use of violence), I have to go for the Clinchfield.
Cheers, The Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I have several so I am actually planning a free lanced line in and around my original hometown of Wheeling, WV. C&O, N&W, Pennsy, W&LE, P&WV, and Virginian are my favorite prototypes. The B&O ran through town as did Pennsy and the W&LE terminated there. I will be modeling the late 50s and possibly a second time frame in the late 60s with an eye toward building what might have been instead of what has been. It will be my chance to keep everything prosperous and growing instead of dying a slow death as it is now.
AggroJones Southern Pacific in the classic era 1920-1960. Its a big window.....
Southern Pacific in the classic era 1920-1960. Its a big window.....
I'm also a Southern Pacific fan having moved as a 7 year old to California (father was USAF) and lived there until I was about 24 - very much formative years to any train fan. In the 80's I took some trips to Colorado, partly to take my sisters to Aspen Music Camp and got interested in the D&RGW and Rocky Mountain scenery.
Due to the above, I mainly collect Rio Grande rolling stock between 1965 and 1990, but also collect a significant amount of Southern Pacific rolling stock. SP diesels, primarily SD40T-2, SD45T-2, SD45 and SD40 model diesels mixed with Rio Grande in the 80's and freight trains came out of the Pacific Northwest, lots of lumber traffic.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Mmm - favorite (US) railroad. Hard to say - there are so many interesting railroads.
My main interest is in urban or waterfront switching in cramped conditions in the late 1950s - that is the era and type of railroading I find most exotic, most interesting, most practical to model in small rooms. Short cars, short trains, colorful diesels from a variety of makers, lots of rail served industries, single car switching. Within that era and type of railroading, there are two places that really appeal to me - the Twin Cities and New York City.
The Twin Cities because of family connections - my wife is from the Cities, and because I have read quite a bit about the place. New York City because it's rail-marine environment look interesting.
Some railroads I like in the Twin Cities in the transition era: Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Milwaukee Road, Omaha Road, Minneapolis and St. Louis, Minnesota Transfer For New York: Brooklyn Eastern District Terminal, Harlem Transfer, Bush Terminal, Jay Street Connecting, New York Cross Harbor, South Brooklyn Railway (A list of some railroads here: http://trainweb.org/bedt/).
Smile, Stein
Well, I started off modeling the Canadian Pacific. Grew up a kilometer from the Agincourt Yard.
Started building a proto-lance layout in my previous house then found read an article that CP owned the D&H. Started reading up on the D&H, came across an article on the PA's then fell in love with the D&H. Because of this, I'm proto-lancing my current layout around the CPR owned D&H through New York State.
Trees, lake running along cliffs & more trees.
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
Dirty keyboards will do that....
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/