Have you ever "changed roads?"

[Anonymous]

I was at the point where I simply couldn't commit to any one railroad. Every Railroad has something I like about. (The basic steel wheel on the rail for starters) that I simply couldn't commit to any one prototype. My favorite one and the one I get most exited about is the Great Northern in the late 1960s. But I am also a big fan of the B&O, the MILW, the CB&Q, The NP, the SP&S, the N&W, the C&O, and Union Pacific (Yes I am mad at them, but only because I am a fan) While my favorite era was the late 1960s, I collect stuff from all eras, so you will see the 4-4-0 "119" running down one track with the comparitively huge DDA40X heading up a train on a paralell track. It is my goal to by the time I die have modeled the entire North American Rail Network as it was in the late 1960s. If I get that done, I will do another as it was during WWII.

So in closing, I never had to change roads. I never could commit to one to start with.

James.

[cwclark]

I haven't changed roads but have added them to stay prototype...it was exclusively SP at one time until they bought out D&RGW..then they were added to the layout...then UP bought out SP so here we go again...SP, D&RGW and UP all rolled up into one layout...Chuck[:D]

[twhite]

Never 'changed' roads, but I've added some. Started out with Rio Grande when I was a kid, have always kept it my main focus. Added SP, since I live in what was SP territory (Northern California) and have added some WP and GN since. Since I model 100% steam in the '40's and '50's, I can always 'borrow' from another railroad if I want, so I've ended up with some Eastern and Midwestern prototypes from time to time. Actually, what I'd do if I were you, n2Mopac, is unpack your Missouri Pacific and run it occasionally as a 'time-travel' line. A lot of model railroaders I know who change Eras, keep some of the older-Era equipment for 'nostalgia' runs. I've got an old 1880's D&RGW Consolidation and a few mixed old freight and passenger cars that I run as a 'Movie' train, since the Rio Grande appeared in so many hollywood productions during the '40's and '50's. It makes for some interesting contrasts.
Tom

[n2mopac]

I made a major change in my modeling focus a couple of years ago. I have always modeled MoPac because I grew up around a busy MoPac main and remembered them from my childhood. Then I lived in a town for 4 years with a busy BNSF main just after the merger. When I moved from there I ended up in another town with a BNSF main and industrial area that I though simply begged to be modeled. I have always modeled fairly modern timeframes (was 1980's, now 2000), but I have switched roads completely. I moved again about a year ago and am building a new layout, my first in BNSF. I still collect MoPac memorabelia, but my models are packed away.

I am curious how many people have made a major shift in the railroad they model, the time period, or the part of the country during their model railroading career. Let us know about your experience.

Ron