Hi gang. If You had to choose one of the following three roads which one would it be ?...
- Southern Pacific
- Union Pacific
- Santa Fe
I like the Santa fe for the name, the places it ran, and for it's large steamers, notably its 4-8-4's and 2-10-4's, the latter of which had more piston thrust than any other cylindered steam ever measured (219K lbs/sq in). Nowadays, if I want to run modern diesels for a switch, it's the warbonnet style or the BNSF paint job...my fave.
-Crandell
Santa Fe from me as well. Great name and great power.
If you are going to have a railroad with Pacific in its name, there is only one that I would consider and that is CANADIAN PACIFIC.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Depends on era but the most stuff already lettered is for Southern Pacific for some reason. If I was going to customize the name, I would proubly go with just Pacific.
Since I'm not a big UP fan, I looked over the maps of the other two railroads and concluded that it would definitely have to be the Santa Fe. Then I could exchange with my beloved railroad, the New York Central.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
The UP is one constant that has not changed..It still uses its old color scheme from the 50s even the "flag" units bares the scheme..
SP..A road that was different in many ways including being different then its sibling SS- Cotton Belt.
Howerever..
Something about Santa Fe I always liked and therefore I would choose the AT&SF-the yellow nose/blue body scheme.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Mine would have to be Santa Fe, seeing as how I already have umteen Zebra stripe power units of all flavors running around the layout.
And of course:
Frank
Colors: SP Daylight
4-8-4's: Santa Fe
Articulateds: SP Cab Forwards and U.P. Challengers (tie)
Variety of steam roster: Probably S.P. (who else operated Cab Forwards and a large fleet of 3-cylinder 4-10-2's, as well as the Daylights)
Diesel roster: Except for oddballs like Diesel Hydraulics & Centennials, it's a 3-way tie
Passenger trains: A 3-way tie
Traffic: A 3-way tie (mostly transcon thru freight, heavy on reefers)
Route: Purely subjective. It depends on what kind of scenery you like.
Overall: Purely subjective
Well, since I grew up along the UP Kansas division, I have to say I'm partial to the UP. Actually worked as a section hand for a month on those tracks, just out of high school. My dream model railroad would be modeled after part of the locale where I grew up. However, I am also fascinated by the SP. I later lived in So Cal for a while. I would have both roads on my railroad. Prototypical justification would be that in the 70's or early 80's SSW acquired the old Rock Island line from Tucumcari to KC, so the two roads were in the same vicinity. So, anyway, I would model SP and UP!
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Probably none since my pike is eastern but given the choice I would go UP if it fits your era.
Joe Staten Island West
Definitely Santa Fe. Good-looking equipment (both steam & diesel), superior passenger service and ROW. SP would be second, though the proportions of all of their steamers but the cab-forwards seem a bit off to me; love the Black Widow diesels. UP is definitely on my S*** list - their sabotaging of Amtrak schedules, contrary to Federal law, is outrageous.
---
Gary M. Collins gmcrailgNOSPAM@gmail.com
===================================
"Common Sense, Ain't!" -- G. M. Collins
http://fhn.site90.net
Sante Fe. The war bonnet paint scheme is the best ever for a diesel.
Enjoy
Paul
TracklayerIf You had to choose one of the following three roads which one would it be ?... - Southern Pacific - Union Pacific - Santa Fe
tstageI looked over the maps of the other two railroads and concluded that it would definitely have to be the Santa Fe. Then I could exchange with my beloved railroad, the New York Central.
Brent!
Stop trying to hijack the OP's thread! Canadian Pacific was not in his list of three railroads!
Of course, it should have been. Then I could have voted for it too.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
If those were the only 3 I had to pick from....then I guess I wouldn't be a Model Railroader.
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
Alabama Central Homepage
Nara member #128
NMRA &SER Life member
cjcrescent If those were the only 3 I had to pick from....then I guess I wouldn't be a Model Railroader.
Ditto here. I'd spend more time fishing.
Karl
NCE über alles!
Oh, I don't know, Carey. I'm of the school that ANY train is better than NO train. Which is opposite of my automotive preference of MOPAR or NO car.
Out of the 3 I'd have to pick AT&SF because of the Chicago connection.
Sean
HO Scale CSX Modeler
Sorry Mac, don't like any of those RR's. Why would I model something I don't like??? For me there is no other except Southern and that is where my modeling is focused and will remain.
hon30critter Brent! Stop trying to hijack the OP's thread! Canadian Pacific was not in his list of three railroads! Of course, it should have been. Then I could have voted for it too. Dave
Tracklayer, a really nice guy from south east Texas...
cjcrescent Sorry Mac, don't like any of those RR's. Why would I model something I don't like??? For me there is no other except Southern and that is where my modeling is focused and will remain.
Tracklayer
I grew up on the south Oregon coast, and it's pleasant to model the familiar, thus I already have SP. But I could be happy with the 3 chosen for the poll. Dan
For simple scenery construction, UP. (Check out the photos of Big Boy's trip home - with hardly a tree in sight!) Also matches the SP 3-cylinders and raises them one (4-12-2.)
In the real world, none of the above, as noted below.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
If I had to make a choice, it´ll be SP!
Why? None of the others had a narrow gauge operation - a must for me, as I am a narrow gauge buff for decades.
SP. Why??? Cab forwards.
Cheer, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Tracklayer Hi gang. If You had to choose one of the following three roads which one would it be ?... - Southern Pacific - Union Pacific - Santa Fe
A more descriptive topic title would be greatly appreciated.
Keep in mind, many answer will be biased because of people preferences. I am biased by the Southern Pacific because it was THE railroad which dominated the Davis/Sacramento area where I grew up from age 11 through 22 or so, and to this day it still has a profound effect on what I like to model and collect.
Thanks to companies like Athearn and Intermountain, there is a great deal of signature Southern Pacific locomotives and rolling stock available from diesels such asF units, tunnel motors, SD45's, AC steam engines, to freight cars like PC&F box cars, FMC lumber box cars, bay window cabooses etc. There has never been a better time to model the SP of the 70's and 80's than the present!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761 Tracklayer Hi gang. If You had to choose one of the following three roads which one would it be ?... - Southern Pacific - Union Pacific - Santa Fe First, I would put more info in the title so people would know what the topic is about rather than try to lure people in and they find it wasted their time. I dislike "hook thread titles! Having said that, keep in mind, many answer will be biased because of people preferences. I am biased by the Southern Pacific because it was THE railroad which dominated the Davis/Sacramento area where I grew up from age 11 through 22 or so, and to this day it still has a profound effect on what I like to model and collect. Thanks to companies like Athearn and Intermountain, there is a great deal of signature Southern Pacific locomotives and rolling stock available from diesels such asF units, tunnel motors, SD45's, AC steam engines, to freight cars like PC&F box cars, FMC lumber box cars, bay window cabooses etc. There has never been a better time to model the SP of the 70's and 80's than the present!
First, I would put more info in the title so people would know what the topic is about rather than try to lure people in and they find it wasted their time. I dislike "hook thread titles!
Having said that, keep in mind, many answer will be biased because of people preferences. I am biased by the Southern Pacific because it was THE railroad which dominated the Davis/Sacramento area where I grew up from age 11 through 22 or so, and to this day it still has a profound effect on what I like to model and collect.
I was just thinking (dangerous I know) All the kids South of the border are now being exposed to Canadian Pacific and Canadian National. So in fifty years when they are old geezers and getting in to MRR in retirement will CP and CN be on the list because that's what they were exposed to as a kid.
I think an awful lot of us model our childhood memories.
I wonder if Bill Gates will get into MRR and what would he model. He is getting older and owns more shares in CN than anyone else.
Carey, I'm a true-blue (and gray) B&O fan but I've lived or been stationed all over the country so I had a wide variety of influences in my rail-fanning. I'm up for any steel wheels on any steel rails, though narrow-gauge is far down my list (let the argument begin!).