Are you interested in the history of the line you model?

[j1love]

[#ditto]...I am in the same situation as rrinker. Right now I do not have a pike, but the history of my chosen RR (Pennsy) is rich and LONG!! It more than keeps my interest and motivation. I wi***o model the Ohio area around Cincinati so I can incorporate The NYC, The C&O, The L&N, and The NKP [tup] That way I can get a more realistic bang for my buck! (Not to mention that I will have a LARGE pool of possible modeling opportunities) Just my [2c]

[simon1966]

You bet, I am a member of the Burlington Route Historical Society. I find a great deal of pleasure in reading about the social history associated with American railroads and the industries served by them. My Wife's Grandfather was killed down a coal mine in the 30's. My wife and I have put quite a bit of effort into researching the mine and finding old photos and postcards to help me model the mine on the layout.

[cspmo]

I'm in the process in makeing a history of my locomotives ie when it was made, or what railroad they came from, when they retire them, what happen to them, or what railroad they went to. I have bought all the books I can fine on the railroad I model

[rrinker]

Absolutely. I have been collecting various books as well as actual company paper for soem time now. Before I had room for a layout, it was the ONLY way I was able to keep active.
I haven't yet join a historical society, but there are at least three that cover my area of interest, and I can't jin all three. Well, I can, but I have this thing about just being a member of an organization as opposed to actually participating, so what it comes down to s there is no way I could actually PARTICIPATE in three different historical societies, not if I want to keep working on my model railroad as well.

--Randy

[grayfox1119]

I am very interested in the lie/s that intend to model. In order to have the steam locos that they ran, I need to know WHAT they ran, therefore I need to know something of their history. I am in the middle of that now ,Mark. I am trying to find out all I can about the old Boston & Albany (later part of the NYC), and also, the B&M and MEC mountain division RR.

***

[Anonymous]

This could have been a poll, I guess. However, I would like you to be more explicit in your comments than a simple YES, or NO.

I model the Northern Pacific, in the early 1950s. I am a member of the Northern Pacific Railroad Historical Asso. and the Yahoo groups; NPModelers and NPTelltale. I have a few Northern Pacific books. When I am looking for books on my line I tend to buy them from the NPRHA, as this helps fund the various projects the NPRHS is involved in and generally the price the NPRHA has them listed for, is pretty good. I visit other websites such as the Great Northern and purchase other historical site's magazines occasionally such as the DMIR.

I find that my interest in the history of the Northern Pacific enhances my interest in model railroading, immensely! This interest in the NP causes me to be interested in other railroads, also. I seem to be regional, as my interest is in my local roads. I model western Montana (when I started, I could not imagine a layout without mountains) if I had to start over again, I think I would chose railroading in the Duluth, Minnesota/Superior Wisconsin area, as this would place me in Iron Ore Country with many other roads to model, including the N.P. Besides next to Box Cars, Ore Cars are my 2nd favorite.

Are you a member of a historical society? Is history an important part of your interest in Model Railroading? If not, you might want to think about joining one as the benefits are many and they truly increased my enjoyment!