ATLANTIC CENTRAL "Having never owned a mainline layout such as yours, when do you justify "expanding the roster"? And does the railroad ever streamline the roster?" Those are valid and interesting questions. For me there is a "master roster" in my head, some of which are models not currently available at any price, others not as necessary for regular operations but desired for the ulimate flexiblity of operations. Just like a real division of a real Class I railroad in my era and locale, the roster is based on the needs of the shedule, number of trains, tonnage, speeds, etc. With allowances for reserve power for breakdowns, extra trains etc. A big part of the operational scheme is the customary power changes on thru trains at the division point yard. So for example, a 40 car freight train pulled by two Mikados (needed for the ruling grade), will require two more Mikados waiting in the engine terminal for that power change. Locos are generally bought in pairs or greater to give that "big railroad" feel to the roster. The roster has been developed to reflect what such a railroad would have logicly owned and used for the various types of traffic the layout simulates. And the motive power has been selected and detailed to give a 'family" look. Example - some wheel arrangements are simply excluded by virtue of the fact that east coast railroads typically did not use them. There is a complete "history" to the logic behind the roster based on the history of motive power on actual roads like the B&O and the C&O - which I also model and which interchange with the ATLANTIC CNTRAL. Being the early 50's most diesels are run in matched sets, ABBA or ABA EMD F units and Alco FA units, or 3-4 unit sets of GP7's, RS-3's, etc. Back to the meat of your questions - the roster is about 90% complete, so expanding the roster is now limited to fine tuning loco assignments and filling in those "missing" locos if something new apears on the market that fills the need. Example - if someone like Bachmann came out with a B&O class B18 ten wheeler next week I would buy three or four right away - until then we do without or hope to find a few brass ones at a reasonable price. At this point there is not, and has never been any desire to streamline the roster because all addtions are carefully considered. Except maybe one or two times when a model was purchased and did not meet my expectations. Example - I purchased the Proto EMD F7's undecorated when they first came out, only to find the undecorated version only came with a 1960's moderized shell (fuel tank skirts removed, etc) that did not fit my era - I promptly sold them off, never even took two of the three out of the box. I only need to own the models that make the layout what I want it to be - the rest I am happy to admire on the layouts of others. 40 years in this hobby - never owned a Big Boy or a PRR K4, etc - never modeled the UP or the PRR Sheldon
"Having never owned a mainline layout such as yours, when do you justify "expanding the roster"? And does the railroad ever streamline the roster?"
Those are valid and interesting questions. For me there is a "master roster" in my head, some of which are models not currently available at any price, others not as necessary for regular operations but desired for the ulimate flexiblity of operations.
Just like a real division of a real Class I railroad in my era and locale, the roster is based on the needs of the shedule, number of trains, tonnage, speeds, etc. With allowances for reserve power for breakdowns, extra trains etc.
A big part of the operational scheme is the customary power changes on thru trains at the division point yard. So for example, a 40 car freight train pulled by two Mikados (needed for the ruling grade), will require two more Mikados waiting in the engine terminal for that power change.
Locos are generally bought in pairs or greater to give that "big railroad" feel to the roster. The roster has been developed to reflect what such a railroad would have logicly owned and used for the various types of traffic the layout simulates. And the motive power has been selected and detailed to give a 'family" look. Example - some wheel arrangements are simply excluded by virtue of the fact that east coast railroads typically did not use them. There is a complete "history" to the logic behind the roster based on the history of motive power on actual roads like the B&O and the C&O - which I also model and which interchange with the ATLANTIC CNTRAL.
Being the early 50's most diesels are run in matched sets, ABBA or ABA EMD F units and Alco FA units, or 3-4 unit sets of GP7's, RS-3's, etc.
Back to the meat of your questions - the roster is about 90% complete, so expanding the roster is now limited to fine tuning loco assignments and filling in those "missing" locos if something new apears on the market that fills the need. Example - if someone like Bachmann came out with a B&O class B18 ten wheeler next week I would buy three or four right away - until then we do without or hope to find a few brass ones at a reasonable price.
At this point there is not, and has never been any desire to streamline the roster because all addtions are carefully considered. Except maybe one or two times when a model was purchased and did not meet my expectations. Example - I purchased the Proto EMD F7's undecorated when they first came out, only to find the undecorated version only came with a 1960's moderized shell (fuel tank skirts removed, etc) that did not fit my era - I promptly sold them off, never even took two of the three out of the box.
I only need to own the models that make the layout what I want it to be - the rest I am happy to admire on the layouts of others.
40 years in this hobby - never owned a Big Boy or a PRR K4, etc - never modeled the UP or the PRR
Sheldon
Fair enough. I was wondering why the roster wasn't satisfied back when you bought the bunch of gp7's for $39 each, and you had to now watch one on ebay for $70. It sounds like you just came up short one loco relative to what you eventually needed. That's a little different than what I would call expanding the roster, but its just wording.
Back to the original topic....
- Douglas
Doughless Back to the original topic....
Which was ?
Alton Junction
rrebell I know what you mean, my mainline is only going to be 2 1/2 miles when finished (half done). Deciding in the beginning what types of equipment to run and what not was a challenge (only room for so many industries on that short a layout). But my main driving force is to do it at top quality level but at a cheap price. Only a few cars do I pay over $10 for but I have cars like Intermountain RTR's and others in abundance (picked up bit by bit over the years),
I know what you mean, my mainline is only going to be 2 1/2 miles when finished (half done). Deciding in the beginning what types of equipment to run and what not was a challenge (only room for so many industries on that short a layout). But my main driving force is to do it at top quality level but at a cheap price. Only a few cars do I pay over $10 for but I have cars like Intermountain RTR's and others in abundance (picked up bit by bit over the years),
The fun is also finding the stuff you want at the right price.
richhotrain Doughless: Back to the original topic.... Which was ?
Doughless: Back to the original topic....
Funny, I was about to edit my own post and ask that too.