It might not apply to everyone who creates their own freelanced railroad, but another consideration to keep in mind is the lettering required to decorate your locomotives and cars.
Many years ago, when I decided to create a freelanced railroad to interchange with both the CNR and the TH&B (both being real railroads in my hometown, but represented only by staging tracks on my layout) I created the Elora Gorge & Eastern. The Elora Gorge is a scenic area on the Grand River, which eventually empties into Lake Erie in southern Ontario. I added the "Eastern" to make it a little more "railroady".
Looking through my all-time roster of EG&E locomotives, there were 47 diesels, most with the roadname spelled out using Champ alphabet sets. A couple of examples...
...and in-colour...
The lettering on this one was done using dry transfers as a masking device: paint the whole loco yellow, add the lettering and masking for the striping, then paint the green and black areas. When dry, use bits of masking tape to lift-off the dry transfers, revealing the yellow lettering, and remove the masking tape to show the striping...
On this one, the black outline striping was done with decals for a CNR loco, while the lettering is from a C-D-S dry transfer alphabet set in black...
Now 47 diesels aren't an unusal amount, and it was not too onerous to hand-letter them as shown.
However, I also wanted some passenger cars, and eventually ended-up with 75 of them (many sold-off some time ago). The were eight stainless steel Athearn cars, plus a couple of RDCs, all lettered using black C-D-S dry transfer alphabet sets. I have no photos of any of them.
The rest were in EG&E green, like this one...
All were lettered using C-D-S dry transfer alphabet sets, both for the letterboards and for the car names and/or numbers. Many of those were sold, too.
I'm pretty sure that my EG&E helped to keep both Champ and C-D-S in business.
Of course, I also had some EG&E freight cars, too, about 257 of them. All but the latest dozen-or-so were done with custom designed C-D-S dry transfer sets. some in conjunction with Letraset dry transfer alphabet sets.While the roadname is not spelled out on my freight cars, saving some time and effort, if you're freelancing your railroad, your home-road cars will need suitable dimensional data, which is usually available from commercial decal- or dry transfer-suppliers.
Here's one of the early boxcars done with custom-made C-D-S dry transfers. The large lettering and numbers, along with the two-part herald, are from my own artwork, refined by my brother on his computer. The dimensional data was done using C-D-S dry transfer data sets...
...for some cars, I used a smaller and simpler version of the herald...
Some older cars didn't get the slogan...
...and since I was, at one time, also running more modern cars, the lettering had to be modified to fit on such cars...
Cars with less room for lettering got only the basics, with heralds to-suit...
When I finally decided on the time frame for my layout to be the late '30s, most of the too-modern stuff was sold, and I re-did quite a few of the remaining homeroad cars to better-suit the era. (I do have some cars that are a little too modern for my chosen era, but that's one of the advantages of freelancing).
While all of this lettering with a made-up name was rather time consuming (not to mention a bit expensive), I was extremely surprised at how quickly the items which I sold were bought-up, many at prices that I had feared to be excessive (Most were sold at a hobbyshop, now long-gone. I gave the proprietor my required price and left it up to him for his mark-up, which in some cases was double what I felt they were worth.) The result was that I had enough to re-equip my layout's rolling stock and locos with more era-appropriate stuff...which also required new lettering.
I also have three other freelanced railroads on my layout, but only one of them has freight cars.
Sometimes, freelancing your layout can lead you down a slippery slope.
Wayne
ndbprrFor Georgia I would consider using Deliverance with a canoe under the name
Slogan "We paddle faster" or "We know how to call the tune" or perhaps even a hog with "Sooo-eeee-t service!"
I have a class 1 called the Allegheny that follows PRR practice and a short line the Cumberland Valley that uses central of Vermont decals including the script CV. For Georgia I would consider using Deliverance with a canoe under the name
Overmod Thats one of the many reasons I never did that project lol joe323 I was going to name a railroad the G & D with the slogan the best GD railroad ever! It would have to be really, really, really good to wear that title. But I'd love to see you try, and I suspect so would John Allen...
Thats one of the many reasons I never did that project lol
joe323 I was going to name a railroad the G & D with the slogan the best GD railroad ever!
It would have to be really, really, really good to wear that title. But I'd love to see you try, and I suspect so would John Allen...
Overmod joe323 I was going to name a railroad the G & D with the slogan the best GD railroad ever! It would have to be really, really, really good to wear that title. But I'd love to see you try, and I suspect so would John Allen...
Joe Staten Island West
joe323I was going to name a railroad the G & D with the slogan the best GD railroad ever!
I was going to name a railroad the G & D with the slogan the best GD railroad ever!
by fleet, i meant locomotives.. i'm thinking of a mixture of steam locomotives and diesel locomotives
richhotrain The Georgia State Flag is tri-colored, red, white, and blue. So, how about two more colors, red and white, to go along with your chosen color, blue? Here is an image of the Georgia State Flag. Rich
The Georgia State Flag is tri-colored, red, white, and blue. So, how about two more colors, red and white, to go along with your chosen color, blue?
Here is an image of the Georgia State Flag.
Rich
The colours, red, white, and blue are fine, but I would strongly advise against using the graphics or image of the Georgia State Flag for anything, because it is just the First National Flag of the Confederate States of America with a Georgia seal added.
I don't even have any confederate flags in my American Civil War military miniatures.
First National Flag of the Confederate States:
-Kevin
Living the dream.
TheP725I Decided To Go With Central Georgia And Eastern! Now, I Need Help In Figuring Out The Railroad's Livery! My Favorite Color Is Blue, So The Primary Color Shoild Be Blue! What Should The Other Color Be?
If your field color (the colour you paint the body) is blue, your only choices for lettering are white or yellow. Any other colour choice will not "pop" as strong.
If you want a colour for lettering (red, black, or green), you will need to put a white or yellow background behind it.
TheP725okay, what should the fleet be?
Do you mean your collection of freight cars?
okay, what should the fleet be?
BigDaddy Anything I would like to add, would get me banned again.
Anything I would like to add, would get me banned again.
Alton Junction
dehusman Georgia and Pacific
Georgia and Pacific
Um... Georgia Pacific already exists, and their route map is not near as impressiv as teh name suggests-- though they do have barges on many Rivers so...
I think knowing the story of your road might help name it a bit, and I agree that this is ultimately your decision. I don't have a physical model railroad righ tnow but the one in planning has gone through a few names, though i finally settled on "Wilamette, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain." The three distinct landmarks it serves. That could give you some ideas.
The Beaverton, Fanno Creek & Bull Mountain Railroad
"Ruby Line Service"
I model steam era. How I ended up with over 70 road diesels Ill never know (or admit!). Always interested to try something new in the hobby, I figured, why not have two railroads. Im not sure theres any rule that says a Railfan cant.
Ive imagined two eras on the same layout (just switch rolling stock betwixt oper sessions) or, and even better in my mind.... two actual layouts.
How does this fit in this post.... i needed a name too.
Well, its pretty much a given what line I model in the steam era if you havent guessed. What I need now is a roadname for the diesel era. Anyone remember Sid Meaers(sp) PC game "Rails" from back in the 90's?
I had a really good game going one day. When you save the game it asks for a railroad name to save under. This coal hauler set on the right coast (as opposed to the left one) crossed 4 rivers. Thus, the Four Rivers Railway was born, which eventually became the Four Rivers Railroad after a company reorganization. (Yes, I gave my new line a background history too. Remember, its not just a name.... its a railroad. Gotta give it a reason to exist!)
Its either that, or I use extraordinary modellers license and continue my steam era into the diesel era (which didnt happen) as the PM. To include doing drawings of liverys etc. I mulled over both ideas and liked the former better (better paint schemes lol).
The moral - just walk out your front door, just about anything can be contrived into a name. Its your railroad, its your choice. Do a few drawings, write the name down a few times. Something, eventually will light your bulb and youll be .... "AHAA! I have it! That fits!".
Then let us know.
All the best,
-PMR
At least you have a name for your mr. After 6 or 7 years I still have not named mine.
Mike
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
OvermodBut is that any better than the Pennsylvania "Nether Providence, Gap, Intercourse and Paradise" interurban line?
Not to belabor the double entendre too much... I could be wrong but I thought there was also a Blue Ball, PA and Climax, PA and that someone had actually modeled a RR that ran from BB to Intercourse to Paradise to Climax. Seriously. I swear I read this in a RR forum somewhere.
Andy
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Milwaukee native modeling the Milwaukee Road in 1950's Milwaukee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/196857529@N03/
SeeYou190Well... In Florida, we could have the KISSIMMEE AND OKAHUMPKA!
(They were famous for the slogan "No Matter What Speed You Pay For, We'll Get You To Paradise" Perhaps it is best that they did not survive into the '60s, as their pre-WWI ad campaign about "Every Trip with us has a Happy Ending" might have been an added cause for unintentional mirth by then...)
The Milwaukee Road Warrior Got me thinking about all of the native american place names in my native state of Wisconsin. Hard to imagine a Wauwatosa, Waukesha, and Oconomowoc Railroad. Yikes.
Well... In Florida, we could have the KISSIMMEE AND OKAHUMPKA!
ROBERT PETRICK A friend in Atlanta named his layout the Napanoch Lackawack and Kerhonkson Railroad. Which I thought was ridiculous. But as it turns out, those are actual towns and/or counties in upstate New York. Go figure. Has a nice ring to it . . . Robert
A friend in Atlanta named his layout the Napanoch Lackawack and Kerhonkson Railroad. Which I thought was ridiculous. But as it turns out, those are actual towns and/or counties in upstate New York. Go figure. Has a nice ring to it . . .
Robert
I'm still laughing about this days later. Best name ever. Got me thinking about all of the native american place names in my native state of Wisconsin. Hard to imagine a Wauwatosa, Waukesha, and Oconomowoc Railroad. Yikes.
Since you've chosen a name now, you might consider a "mascot" similar to good ole Phoebe Snow. Her name, of course, would be Georgia right?
You could always find a paint scheme that is applied to models, and patch out the existing name on the locos. Freight cars are usually on color so paint and decal shouldnt be hard.
That is the paint job I was talking of earlier. The CRPA is Central Railroad of Pennsylvania. It did exist many moons ago but merged into the PRR. there was also a Pennsylvania Northern.
That was a simply paint job to apply. Based on a real one from down that way in Georgia
Shane
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Hello All,
mbinsewiCuriosity got the best of me, went to Google Maps, the Bowie Resources facility?
Yes, that's the one.
They actually supply the coal for The Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad.
South of Salida, Colorado; on the Arkansas River, there is also a mining facility with a large loading facility and dilapidated sidings further downstream.
It's located at Wellsville, Colorado.
I took some inspiration from that facility too.
Thanks for your curiosity.
Hope this helps,
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
dknelsonI always did like the Lackawampum however as a layout name.
Lackawampum sounds similar to Hadabuck.
Maybe the LACKAWAMPUM AND HADABUCK should become a thing!
I wonder if the fellow who came up with this one grew tired of it.
Since I only have the one car, I like it, but for an entire railroad it might become tiresome.
If you went with White, it would be easy to find pre-painted locos for your railroad.
Just look for Missouri Pacific locomotives in the Jenks Blue Dip paint scheme and decal white lettering CG & E over the buzzsaw emblem. An easy way to get your fleet up and running without having to bother custom painting anything. As long as you find acceptable locos and can rub out the buzzsaw.
Delaware & Hudson Blue and Gray lightning stripe scheme is very snappy looking. Again, rub out the D&H emblem and decal yellow or blue CF&G lettering on the cab sides.
B&O locos. C&O locos. Both blue and yellow.
Its a fictional world. Just pretend those railroads don't exist and that your railroad came up with the schemes.
- Douglas
Shock Control The Parsley, Sage & Rosemary. The Railroad that is always on Thyme!
The Parsley, Sage & Rosemary.
The Railroad that is always on Thyme!
SeeYou190 up831 The only thing I would suggest would be to resist cutesy names Absolutely, cutesey names are a bad idea. So are naming the railroad after family members like the SHARONVILLE AND DAVIDTON. But... I do like this one... And this one also... -Kevin
up831 The only thing I would suggest would be to resist cutesy names
Absolutely, cutesey names are a bad idea. So are naming the railroad after family members like the SHARONVILLE AND DAVIDTON.
But... I do like this one...
And this one also...
TheP725I Need Help In Figuring Out The Railroad's Livery! My Favorite Color Is Blue, So The Primary Color Shoild Be Blue! What Should The Other Color Be?
It depends on how experienced you are when it comes to painting? You could go the simple route and do a single color "dip job" i.e. Conrail, or a two color scheme like BN's Green/Black, just change green to blue.
jjdamnitAn actual coal branch loop exists outside of Paonia, Colorado, that I based my pike on.
Curiosity got the best of me, went to Google Maps, the Bowie Resources facility?
Mike.
My You Tube
My paint scheme grew into the modified paint D&H paint scheme over time. So I have a few variations running around. Starting with a blue dip with black accents type. Call that the econo 70's scheme.
there is a quarry company with a perrywinkle blue strip and accents on a very light grey base. Really nice scheme. I did a knock of that on my gp8 and gp10 as a short line industrial. I will post it when I get home.
you could always check out rrpoctures.net. Or the other site that has a lot of locomotive pics to get ideas. The Great Lakes eastern has a nice blue and white paint scheme
shane