I've always found thinking about what I want to do and planning for it, to be an enjoyable part of the hobby. As a new Model Railroader, you will find you have a few of these types of hurdles to jump. There certainly isn't anything wrong with trying out a few different eras; or, deciding you want to do multiple eras. This would have been easier to do, back when Athearn BB diesels were less than $40.00 each; but, I think you can still explore eras with minimal expense especially when you consider the resale value of the stuff you've decided to get rid of.
Lately, I have grown tired of what I feel to be the poor quality and high prices of the steam engines available today and am considering selling off most of my steamers and maybe getting a couple more 1st generation diesels. Like most Model Railroaders, I like locomotives and "maybe" have to many.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
NP2626 Lately, I have grown tired of what I feel to be the poor quality and high prices of the steam engines available today and am considering selling off most of my steamers and maybe getting a couple more 1st generation diesels. Like most Model Railroaders, I like locomotives and "maybe" have to many.
About three years ago, I reached the same conclusion you have, got rid of all my steam, and switched my era to 1957-1964--maybe a seemingly strange range, but it takes me from the end of steam on Sand Patch grade (late 1956) to when C&O influence really started to be felt on the B&O (first pool cabooses in blue & yellow, Dec. 1964). I can have a full range of cab and hood units from EMD, Alco, and FM, still have substantial passenger trains, and some very interesting freight cars that were coming into service. If your layout is operations based, you won't miss the steam since the fascination is with how the trains get from point A to point B, and not what gets them there.
Greg
NP2626Lately, I have grown tired of what I feel to be the poor quality and high prices of the steam engines available today and am considering selling off most of my steamers and maybe getting a couple more 1st generation diesels.
I know the feeling..I am thinking of using my modern stuff at the club and back dating to 58-62..I've always liked Santa Fe's zebra stripe scheme and if I choose that route I will fulfill a life long "like to model" dream.
I also like West India Fruit and Navigation boxcars-the ones that have a car ferry on the side.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
NP2626When I started out, I came to the hobby with a deep interest in modeling steam era and liked the idea of freelancing, as I could then use any steam locomotive I desired. As I got farther into the hobby, I determined that I was very interested in the Northern Pacific Railway and joined the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association. This peaked my interest in N.P. locomotives and fostered an interest in 1st Gen. diesels, so I updated my equipment to the transition period, so I could have both steam and diesel. As I have gone along, over time my interest has become more prototype oriented. The above has been my case, others will have a completely different journey.
The above has been my case, others will have a completely different journey.
fwrightI guess I'm a little different from most of the opinions in this thread. To me, having a hodge-podge of equipment with no real theme or reasoning is little different from what I did in 3 rail O for 15 years.
To me, having a hodge-podge of equipment with no real theme or reasoning is little different from what I did in 3 rail O for 15 years.
Texas ZepherAnd finally figuring out that making realistic freelance is a whole lot harder than just following and copying a prototype.
Depends on what you want your freelance railroad to be..
Some can be as simple a one engine short line or a small regional railroad like my Columbus & Hocking Valley.
It can be a one horse switching railroad that serves a industrial park.
The hardest part for most is understanding the rhyme and reason why a railroad exists and some of that may be found under the rationalization of the railroad plant.
Mr B & OAbout three years ago, .., got rid of all my steam, and switched my era to 1957-1964--maybe a seemingly strange range, but it takes me from the end of steam on Sand Patch grade (late 1956) to when C&O influence really started to be felt on the B&O (first pool cabooses in blue & yellow, Dec. 1964).
I settled on the B&O era 1969-1972 for a couple of reasons. First, winter 1971 was the time I got my drivers license and was able to start chasing trains. There were still a few non-Amtrak passenger trains running, and there was only enchantment blue locos with yellow trim & lettering. [I had grown up in Michigan and moved to Maryland at age 13, so the C&O really influenced me.] It wasn't until November 1972 that I first noticed Chessie-painted locos, which I thought looked garish compared to the simple elegance of the B&O/C&O scheme. But I also have the flexibility to pickup 1 or 2 factory-painted Atlas or Athearn Genesis Chessie models if I happen to find a really good deal on them.
As for steam locos, I never had the chance to see any of those in normal revenue service, thus I didn't get any sort of emotional attachment to them. I found the 1st-generation C&O geeps exciting enough!
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
CSX_road_slugAs for steam locos, I never had the chance to see any of those in normal revenue service, thus I didn't get any sort of emotional attachment to them.
Ken,I recall the last years of steam in revenue service and yet I never really caught steam fever.I've own 5 or 6 steamers over the years but,like you geeps and other first generation locomotives got my attention.
BRAKIECSX_road_slugAs for steam locos, I never had the chance to see any of those in normal revenue service, thus I didn't get any sort of emotional attachment to them. Ken,I recall the last years of steam in revenue service and yet I never really caught steam fever.I've own 5 or 6 steamers over the years but,like you geeps and other first generation locomotives got my attention.
Texas ZepherWater towers are still there just not used.
TZ, there's another advantage to my era - a good number of steam-related structures hadn't been demolished yet. I plan to build and install a Walthers concrete coaling tower [minus the hopper shed and dangling chutes] to decorate my engine terminal.
Era railroading can be fun. For my first 4 layouts, it was 100% steam. Over the next 2, I tried the very early transition era as I fell in love with the RS-1's. Never owned an F or Geep. On this, probably my last layout, (I always say that), I decided to go small and slow. Narrow gauge in the rockies. (Circa WWII) It's all steam with only 5 or so types of locos to buy, (all steam) and very little rolling stock. It offers minimal track work, 5-10 car train lengths and good switching possibilities.
Single track mains with passing sidings and 4 or 5 track yards, two stall engine houses, etc. I grew very tired of the rats nests of trackage and large yards on my early layouts. Oh, they were fun at the time, but now I long for the simplistic operation of a little road running little steamers, servicing a lot of marginal industrial and mining sidings where 35mph on the main is break neck speeds.
Good narrow gauge DCC/sound engines are very expensive ($350-$450), but are very good runners, too. You get what you pay for. Narrow gauge is a scratch builder's paradise.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
OUR FAN
You are absolutely normal. Take your time to decide. I think that a lot os have flip flopped back and forth before our minds were made up. I myself could not decide on steam or diesel so I model the transition era. But whatever you decide, remember, HAVE FUN.
What i like about where i live most of the industries been around since the 50's and havnt changed but in name as in ADM used to be Hiram walker same buildings different name. Kamatsu used to be wabco same buildig different name. So i can model form the 50;s to present. I have deisels in differnet roads for this from CB&Q to Iowa interstate.
CSX_road_slug a good number of steam-related structures hadn't been demolished yet. I plan to build and install a Walthers concrete coaling tower to decorate my engine terminal.
Texas Zepher fwrightI guess I'm a little different from most of the opinions in this thread. To me, having a hodge-podge of equipment with no real theme or reasoning is little different from what I did in 3 rail O for 15 years. Well I better say that just because I said it was hard to choose, does not mean I could ever be happy with a "do whatever in the world I want to do" type layout. That would make my skin crawl like finger nails on a chalk board.
To use John Armstrong's phrase, we all have different "givens and druthers" that determine how our layouts come out. Some folks may be interested in say the history of the New York Central RR and want to buy or build accurate models of NYC equipment and buildings, but not necessarily want to be tied down to one particular year or decade. Other people might want to model "America in the 1950's" but not be that interested in where their layout is set, or what railroad's equipment is running - as long as it's correct for that period.