Why did you choose diesel OR steam?

[tstage]

I've noticed that a variety of polls have been posted recently entitled "What's your favorite...?" I'll admit that I'm not big on polls but I have, on occasion, cast my vote or put in my opinion on particular topic that has caught my interest.

As I was musing about that recently, a particular thought came to mind. Let me preface it by saying that I am mainly a steam guy, but I do like and have one of the early diesels (a '40/'41 ALCO S1 switcher) on my layout at home.

My question(s) are this: For those of you who run strictly steam OR diesel (NOT both), what factors deteremined your decision to model them exclusively, rather than incorporating them both in your layout? Also, what attracts you to one vs. the other? Is it the locomotive, or is more the era in which the locomotive is in?

This is not a post to criticize one or the other. I'm just curious as to why some of you are more passionate about one particular type of locomotive (i.e. steam OR diesel) vs. the other. Thanks for your responses.

Tom

[SpaceMouse]

I like the sound of Choo-choo-choo.

I also have a romantic notion of the frontier.

But I have to admit, seeing a sleek passenger train winding through the mountains has it appeal, too.

But for me, there are two things: Redwoods and frontier--that means steam.

[grayfox1119]

I think it breaks down for the most part...to the age of the MRR person. This is not the case 100%, but from what I have observed, it seems pretty accurate.
I am 66, so I saw many steam engines as a boy, my first train set was a Lionel way back in 1947. I also like Diesel's, but I will always have Steam on my layouts.
Young modelers today, those born after the age of steam, 1960 , saw only Diesel, so they will be driven in that direction primarely. But, they also have some steam in many cases....they just look nice!!!!

[Anonymous]

Hi Tom,

I started off in strictly steam era. I love the old loco's, the chuff of smoke, the romance (if you will) associated with the Steam Era. We were a much less complicated world then. I think when I started the reading phase of model railroading I fell in love with Steam because of a striking cover shot on the Aug2004 MR. Forgive me, maybe Oct....memory is the second thing to go...[;)]

Of course, now my lovely wife has given me a deisel form my Birthday, so I guess I just became a combo era modeller.[:I]

Trevor

[whitman500]

This is just a random thought, but I think one factor in whether you like all steam or all diesel is your sense of aesthetics. By and large, going with steam means your locomotives will be black and grey and if you like a gritty, industrial feel to your layout then this will be your preference (this look extends to other aspects of the era since many older Pullman cars were dark green and traditional freight cars were dark red/brown). If you want your layout to have a clean, modern, bright look then diesel with its colorful roadnames has the stronger appeal.

Personally, I'm all diesel and while that may be linked to my age (29), I think the colorful side of diesel railroading was definitely part of the appeal.

[Anonymous]

Steam represents a very simple time. A time that will never ever be known today unless preserved at areas where steam is allowed to run.

I do a bit of desiel as well but there is something about the steam that is very striking. Perhaps because it needs to be fed coal and given water to gain strength to run the train over the line.

[AggroJones]

QUOTE: Originally posted by grayfox1119

I think it breaks down for the most part...to the age of the MRR person. This is not the case 100%, but from what I have observed, it seems pretty accurate.
I am 66, so I saw many steam engines as a boy, my first train set was a Lionel way back in 1947. I also like Diesel's, but I will always have Steam on my layouts.
Young modelers today, those born after the age of steam, 1960 , saw only Diesel, so they will be driven in that direction primarely.

I started a thread that kinda tramples that theory. [:0]

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=13023

[Anonymous]

well would you rather watch a wonderfully crafted peice of machinery go down the rails or would you rather watch a powered boxcar? I prefer steam, much more beautiful.

[RMax1]

I'm beginning to like steam for different reason. I'm finding myself liking heavyweight passenger cars more and more. I also like the old fashioned reefers. The engines are almost secondary.

RMax

[cwclark]

I run diesel for many reasons..but the main reasons are because I don't remember steam engines as a kid..the year i was born was the year the last commercial steam engine was taken out of service by the major railroads (1959)...another reason is that I grew up by the SP Kerrville branch line (it ran past my backyard) from the East yard in San Antonio and I still remember all the diesels that pulled the many limestone open bay hoppers and cattle cars to anf fro Beckmann quarry and Kerrville which i model today...I remember F-7 A&B units, RS-3's, RS-11's, GP 7's and 9's and all in the black widow paint schemes and later before leaving home and joining the navy, GP 35's, 40's, and 45's...the final reason is the cost involved..it's less expensive to purchase diesel locomotives than steam...ever price an "Atlantic," "Pacific," "Challenger, "or a "UP Big Boy " lately? ....Chuck

[IRONROOSTER]

When I startedin 1971, I was steam only, I just liked them better. Then MDC came out with it's boxcab diesel. It was kinda of cute, dated to the 1920's so I bought one and upgraded it when MDC came out with their flywheel, upgrade gear pkg. When I got into S scale, I was thinking all steam again, but then I got interested in modeling the Ma&Pa in the early 1950's so that meant I needed some small diesel switchers. So even though I prefer steam I am not an absolutist about it.

Enjoy
Paul

[rrgrassi]

Well, I do both. I was born in '65. The only Steam I have seen personally is #18 on the McCloud in CA and the Tarantula in Ft Worth, TX. My Great Grandfather started as a brakeman on the PRR, and worked up to Passenger Conductor. His train was pulled by the K-4 pacific. I grew up watching Diesel, SP, Cottonbelt, SF, KCS. My first train set was a 1972 Lionel Steam. I like them all, but nothing compares with seeing the mechanics of a steamer in action.

[Anonymous]

Personally I like both and model both.... I Freelance because of this.... with my layout idea I can run any engien from any time period because I am going to be setting it up like a movie studio..

not to mention the fact that in N scale steam is really expensive and so I will be doing diesel mainly.

[Fergmiester]

I like the movement of rods and the complexity of the pipes.

Sad to say though there are a few diesels that I do like the looks of given the choice, I'd go with steam all the way.

Fergie

[tstage]

So far it looks like preferences break down primarily into three (3) catagories: Nostalgia, Aesthetics, and Expense.

STEAM
Nostalgia:
- romance
- frontier
- simpler times
- It's what I grew up with and/or know
- a relative worked for the railroad
Aesthetics:
- looks nice
- chuffs of smoke
- wonderfully crafted
- it appears living and breathing (if I understand HighIron2003ar correctly)
- the look of the era (e.g. rolling stock/passenger cars)
- mechanics: the movement of the rods, the complexity of the pipes
- diesels not as interesting to look at

DIESEL
Nostalgia:
- it's what I grew up with and/or know
Aesthetics:
- more color vs. less industrial (i.e. dirt and soot)
Expense:
- less expensive to buy/run than steam

Interesting, and all valid points. I'm interested in hearing more. How 'bout more from all you diesel guys out there?!?

Tom

[METRO]

Yup I'd say I fit into the "what I grew up with" category. My grandfather worked at the ALCo plant in New York building first generation diesels, so he was quick to point them out. Probably because of him I still love first generation diesels, but I was born durring the seccond-generation so I never did get to see them in their prime. As such I model what I know, resurgent and running down first generation diesels mixed in with more modern power.

~METRO

[Mark300]

I model steam.....for a lot of personal and ancestral reasons.....both sides of my family were in railroading from the Civil war to maybe the early-to-mid 20th century in Western MD. Plus I get to model something that doesn't really exist anymore.

As a child I heard a lot of stories about the tough, hard, cold, hot, dangerous living that went on around steam engines......& saw a fair number in the early 50's. Beautifully haunting strong machines that struggled, steamed and ran (looking glorious all at the same time). But......they were dirty, and I didn't realize how maintenance intensive they were until I grew up and studied business.

A summer's night's visit in Hagerstown MD in 1953or 54 was a child's delight as the WM, B&O, PRR and the N&W would all contribute their different whistles thoughout the night as on each road, a train would leave or arrive.....all with the background chuffing, bell ringing and the rolling & screeching sound of the consist's wheels moving thru switches and frogs. Pulling or pushing slack made thunder that was better than the real thing! My parents hated all the noise.....but I didn't care!

SOooooo.....I get to model these jewels with their wheels, rods, lights and connect with what I recall....& remember the romance.....the best about steam without the soot.....modelling in a time when railroading was the king of transportation.

Happy RR''ing

Mark

[twhite]

Okay--one more for 'growing up with steam'. I know that diesels have more ratio of tractive weight per pound than steam, and those counterbalanced wheels could really tear up the tracks if you, say, decided to run a 2-10-2 and more than 45mph, but there's something about steam that just looks BUSY! Also, wheels. I like lots of wheels (I also like heavy electrics for the same reason). Diesels move very smooth and they're certainly probably more efficient than steam (at least that's what I keep hearing), but they don't have enough WHEELS! If I were to get a diesel, I'd probably go for a Baldwin Centipede and paint it in early Rio Grande black and yellow and be a semi-happy camper, but why bother when I can watch a 2-8-8-2 or 2-8-8-4 and see the same thing with rods moving? I just like the visuals of steam. Maybe if I'd been born in the '50's or '60's, I'd be saying the same thing about GP's or Tunnel motors, but I was born early enough to fall in love with steam (rode my first cab-forward at the age of 7 or so), and it's a disease that I hope I never find a cure for1
Tom
[:P][:P][:P]

[Anonymous]

Diesel becuase its more common and more reliable

[mersenne6]

Steam because a steam engine talks to you and says "I-think-I-can, I-think-I-can" as it struggles to climb a hill whereas a diesel is totally uncivilized it just whines and growls as it goes by.[:)]

[steveblackledge]

I love Steamers but i have a spot for Diesel as well (anything BN, Santa Fe, etc etc etc)
Jay

QUOTE: Diesel becuase its more common and more reliable

We have 2 mainline certified Steamers over here owned by Ian Riley based on the East Lancs Railway http://www.east-lancs-rly.co.uk/index2.php , these two are a Black five No 45407 and Standard 4 No 76079, they cover thousands of main line miles a year without any major faults, they are more reliable than most main line diesels, and they smell better[:P] Don't forget the Niagara's of the NYC they were the top dogs between New York and Chicago and ran more trouble free miles a month than most other classes

[Anonymous]

Yea, I got caught up in the diesel craze with all the new and big locos of today. But the more research I did, the more I became impressed with steam. All the people it took to build and maintain them. The power of modern steam. The complexity of the valve gear. Once you have been next to a live steam locomotive...well you'll know.

[DanRaitz]

In HO scale I'm primarily a diesel guy. The main reason, is that I could never afford to model the Great Northern Railway in steam (almost exclusively brass, VERY little avalable in plastic).
For my steam fix, I also model in Sn3. That way I only need a few locomotives, more economicaly viable. i.e. Take HO scale loco's and convert to Sn3.

Dan

[n2mopac]

I love steam locomotives, no doubt. But when it came down to it I grew up under diesel railroading--never eve saw a steam locomotive in commercial service outsite of excursions. I model what I have personal experience with--that is diesel.

Ropn

[Anonymous]

I'm one of the older guys. I own plenty of steam locomotives but I prefer the deisels because of modelinng and prototype running. I'm a SP enthusiast so they had many varities of diesels to model from, albeit, many steam locos too. But in modeling, other than the fancy new sound systems and some Sleuth smokers, the steam engines never actually sound or look like the real thing. Now the diesels aren't perfect but they run on electric motor power. For standing still steam is King but for operations diesels rule.

[dacort]

I got started in the hobby in N scale as a kid and accumulated a hodgepodge of stuff over the years, both steam and diesel. When I switched to HO as an adult in the 80's I wanted to try for a more cohesive theme. I grew up in California around the Southern Pacific and to a lesser extent the Santa Fe, so I have mostly modeled those two railroads. When I started in HO I was modeling the present day since I figured it would be easier to research things that were still around. Also, all the nice reliable modern plastic steamers weren't around quite yet, and I generally could not afford brass. Diesels were affordable and ran well, and I like detailing and painting them.

I do like steam engines, though. Excursion engines are a great excuse to run steam. I have a model of UP 844 and one of the BLI ATSF 3751 models. I also have an SP Mt-4 4-8-2 (my one brass loco) which doesn't fit my era at all, but I just really like them (it's too bad none of those were preserved, so far as I know).

[Anonymous]

Diesel .. The EMD F- Units have to be the Sexiest Trains ever built.. Especially in Santa Fe Warbonnet ...

[Anonymous]

I model diesel because that is what I grew up with. I do like steam, and will try to incorporate steam in my modern layout. Something like an excursion or tourist train.

Robert

[PistolPete]

I started with Diesel mostly due to cost and size of steam engines. The color of the different diesel engines and the equipment were also a factor. At some point I will add a steam engine as a restored rail fan type of train. I had not thought about the soot and grim associated with steam that would have been another factor in my choice. I enjoy watching any type of train model or real life.

[Anonymous]

My first HO locomotive was a Bachmann Spectrum UP 4-8-2. Since then I've aquired many more steam locomotives. I have a few diesels, and don't get me wrong, diesels are awesome, but they just can't hold a candle to steam.

BTW, I was born in 1990, obviously not a steam era. Guess I'm just different. [:)]