Hi Jabear
Well you defy the way things are supposed to be
All the evidence I have come up with which isn't really a whole lot states that all the models no matter which nationality.
Come from the persons youth so there is an element of nostalgia to it just for starters
I think this explains why the models are the figure I heard quoted was generally thirty years or so behind where the real ones are.
So according to that you should be modelling NZR approximately thirty years or so ago??,
and although I live Aus I should be modelling the BR during the transition from BR green To BR blue livery
Extremely off topic do you know where the NZ Triang factory was and what the dirty great big NZ steam loco that looks a little bit like a C38 is.
Any way back to topic I have gone through fazes where it is UK trains US trains Or European trains
All in the previous mentioned time frame-ish period with a bit of a slip towards the steam end of things.
In the case of the US it has to be the bright colourful world that is created UK freight stock of the same period is generally grey or bauxite coloured.
But I do like steam the baby oil smell coal smell the movement ITS ALIVE!!!
I don't model Australian trains the local ones see your own comments SN31/2 just like the accurate NZ ones.
The national standard gauge network well I can pick up a foreign IE UK, US, Euro loco of reasonable size and quality for $100Au the local HO standard gauge RTR locos are $300Au.
Big difference and you don't get $300Au worth of quality in my opinion.
They are probably made in the same Chinese factories that a lot of the US UK and Euro Stuff is these days.
Ok so why do I keep at it with the trains I like it and enjoy it I never really stopped came very close during that period when cars and girls suddenly become a whole lot more interesting.
regards John
I model the Conrail Lowgrade line from Dubois to East Brady PA - which is in western PA.
The time period is 1975 to 1985 which was the peak of Coal Operations in this area so the 6 shortlines in the modeled area were running coal as fast as they could with 100 car trains the norm!
This also made it easy to model prototypicaly as I just had to hop in the car and drive down the road a few miles to see the area I needed a few more pictures of.
The terrain has lots of hills so there are lots of Bridges and Tunnels as well as cuts and fills. Just what most modelers love! And Lots of Trees!
There were a lot of industries yet (they are all gone now along with the Railroads) so there was lots of additional freight (which makes for a fun Layout to Operate on).
AND WHY?
No one will ever want to model a little Bridge line of the old PRR railroad which connected the two North/South PRR/PC/Conrail mainlines
Pittsburgh to Buffalo & Harrisburg to Buffalo mainlines.
While some try and model the mainline traffic convincingly - Few ever are able to devote the necessary area that is needed. Doing a feeder Bridge Route one can run any type of Train (as the line is a BRIDGE between Major Mainlines ) and Yet have the slower pace of a backwoods railroad (running the latest equipment) and the charm of 6 little Shortlines that fed the 100 car trains of coal to this Bridge Line.
LEF&C - P&S - Falls Creek RR - Sligo & Rimersburg - B&P - Reynolsville & Falls Creek RR - B&LE Kaylor Branch as well as parts of the Pittsburgh/Buffalo mainline from Kiski Jct to Phillipston yard.
And it all within an hours drive from my house!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
I model the W&N in 1900-1905.
Why? Because I grew up in SE Pennsylvania, the PC and PRR were too big, the LV and CNJ were too far gone. The RDG was the right size and traffic mix, a little of everything. The W&N branch of the RDG was the longest single track branch of the RDG, it was both rural and heavily industrialized.
Why 1900? Because I like the smaller equipment. It has big advantages in radii, track length, switch size. Its unusual and different. I am not building just another 1950, 1960 or 2000 era layout. I like to kitbash and scratchbuild so it presents better opportunities to do that.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
I model the pre-Chessie B&O [1968-72]. Why, you ask? Coupla reasons:
1) It's the one railroad I got to know really well, especially after I got my drivers license and was able to chase trains. Brings back a flood of happy memories.
2) I loved the dark blue diesels with yellow trim, because they reminded me of the C&O in Michigan where I lived until I was 13.
3) The paint scheme was very easy to duplicate (unlike the original blue-and-gray), no special talent needed. Blast 'em with Floquil Dark Blue, throw on some Champ decals and your good-to-go!
4) They still had a broad variety of 1st Generation EMD - F's, Geeps, SD7's and 9's, And they each had their own unique spotting features.
Since I came back to the hobby in 1988, I've had the impression that the B&O during this period seemed like the "forgotten middle child" among modelers. Lots of people modeled the Transition era, and another group modeled the Chessie era (which I hated because they killed the Western Maryland). Maybe that's because this was a very unhappy period in railroading history due to declining freight business and loss of passenger trains?
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
NP2626 I model the Northern Pacific in the transition era.
I model the Northern Pacific in the transition era.
But WHY????
Cheers, the Bear,.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
What?
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
I model the Bangor & Aroostook line (with the Aroostook Valley shortline thrown in for seasoning) in Northern Maine during the late transition era, circa mid 1950's.
Why? Well, because I grew up in Aroostook County, Maine during that time period. I remember marveling at the BAR's BL-2's, GP-7's and the AVR's little 44 Tonners shuffling frieght around the Fort Fairfield/Caribou/Presque Isle area. I was also fortunate enough to have seen some of the last runs of the BAR's sole remaining Consolidated 2-8-0 steam loco, which was finally retired in 1956. So, it's kind of a nostalgic thing for me and I enjoy modeling & recreating that area, as I remember it then.
Carl
"I could never belong to any club that would have me as a member."
"JaBear" It is often claimed that modelling the "Modern Diesel Era" is now getting to be more popular than the "Transition Era" because we tend to model what we know and are familiar with.
It is often claimed that modelling the "Modern Diesel Era" is now getting to be more popular than the "Transition Era" because we tend to model what we know and are familiar with.
Well, neither apply to me. I model the New York Central in the early 40s because:
I'm not old enough to have seen the latter "live" first-hand. I also grew up in the Florida and the NYC didn't even make it further south than Kentucky and West Virginia.
I do find steam and early diesel more interesting than modern stuff. And there was much more variety to the locomotives back then.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Why do I model the Northern Pacific? I was a very small child when I was exposed to both the Northern Pacific and Great Northern Railways, driving along highways where their mainlines were located. Having been born in 1950, I have some hazy recollection of steam still in use on these lines. However, most of my knowledge about them has been gleaned from being a model railroader. When I first started my present layout, I was totally freelanced in my thinking. Then, I came across and bought "The Mainstreeter", the magazine put out by the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association and I realized I was very interested in this line. The N.P. won out over the G.N. as I don't like the Belpaire fire boxes on G.N. steam locomotives.
Why do I model the Transition Era? I would have no interest in Model Railroading, if it would not include Steam Locomotives! However, I also like early diesels; F units early Jeeps and Alcos, so the transition simply makes sense for me.
Now I don't wish to reignite that debate,but am more interested in why do you model what you model ????
I"m a New Zealander and am far from being unusual here "down under" in modeling the North American prototype, in my case a Free lanced north Eastern road in the "Transition Era.
Why??? When I renewed my interest in model railways, and finally had some disposable(??) income I visited the local club, where they had, at that time, the following layouts,an N and OO British, a HO Marklin, and a HO North American.
Now as New Zealand was a former British colony and especially after WWll had a large number of European immigrants, I could understand the British and European layouts, but North American ????? What sold me, ( and I don't wish to reignite the "I miss Athearn BB" debate either) was the price, running abilities and reliability of the aforementioned and "like brands", locos and rolling stock. An article by W Allen McClelland on his "Virginian & Ohio" was also a big influence.
Why not "New Zealand Railways" ??? well everything has to be virtually scratch built and what RtR locos there are are very expensive!!! I take my hat off to the hardy souls that do, do a great job, but too much for me!!
So What and Why do you model what you do????
Remember the is no "right " answer and there fore no prizes or second place, and this time I will now thank you all for your contributions.
Have Fun
Cheer, the Bear.