Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

What's your favorite railroad to model?

2953 views
44 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
What's your favorite railroad to model?
Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, September 30, 2005 8:43 PM
What's your favorite railroad to model? Why?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Mile 7.5 Laggan Sub., Great White North
  • 4,201 posts
Posted by trainboyH16-44 on Friday, September 30, 2005 10:23 PM
Canadian Pacific
SD40s,GP9, H16-44s, need I say more? Plus, the multimark, a bit of horrible design that turned out great.
Matthew

Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296

Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/

  • Member since
    May 2015
  • 5,134 posts
Posted by ericsp on Friday, September 30, 2005 10:25 PM
My favorite railroad to model is Southern Pacific, probably because that is the railroad I grew up seeing. I also have an uncle who used to work for SP. I did see ATSF as a kid, but not nearly as often as SP.

Another reason is that SP had tunnel motors. Of course I may like them because they were predominately SP and SSW locomotives.

"No soup for you!" - Yev Kassem (from Seinfeld)

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 30, 2005 10:29 PM
CSX. Let's see, U18B's, BQ23-7's, and let's not forget all those GP30's and GP30M's.

AND the slugs!

AND the MOW Units!

AND their first scheme!

The list goes on and on and on...
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by Dr. John on Friday, September 30, 2005 10:32 PM
Gulf Mobile & Ohio.

I love their old Alcos and the beautiful red and maroon paint scheme. The former GM&O mainline still runs through Prattville where I live (it's now a joint NS / CSX line).

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: S.E. South Dakota
  • 13,569 posts
Posted by Murphy Siding on Friday, September 30, 2005 11:04 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

Canadian Pacific
SD40s,GP9, H16-44s, need I say more? Plus, the multimark, a bit of horrible design that turned out great.
Matthew


What is the multimark?

Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 30, 2005 11:17 PM
Great Northern 1969.

I am an addict of all things blue. (Except Thomas the Tanke Engine)
  • Member since
    March 2002
  • 9,265 posts
Posted by edblysard on Saturday, October 1, 2005 5:29 AM
UP/ SP and where I work...who else had Big Boys, Challengers, Gas Turbines, and the ugly but tough SW10?
Pretty much if someone built it, UP or SP bought one to try it out!
And it allows me to run a steam engine side by side with a SD70M...as long as I have the excersion cars behind it!

I also have an excellent prototype for industrial switching...my own work place...which provides a good excuse to scratch build MK1500Ds!

Ed

23 17 46 11

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Defiance Ohio
  • 13,310 posts
Posted by JoeKoh on Saturday, October 1, 2005 5:42 AM
B&O /chessie/csx.never knew what color engine was going to be on the point(kinda like csx today huh?)I also have some nkp N&W and ns engines too.
stay safe
Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 1, 2005 9:27 AM
PRR, well cause it's the PRR
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 1, 2005 9:34 AM
Conrail! Big 5000 HP SD80MACs, SD50s, SD40-2Rs, SD38s with MT6 slugs, the list goes on.
  • Member since
    April 2001
  • From: US
  • 590 posts
Posted by kschmidt on Saturday, October 1, 2005 9:37 AM
Chicago and Northwestern,

Grew up in St. Francis, WI where two mainlines from Chicago to Milwaukee came together. Love the yellow and green color scheme. Also the CNW Dash-9's that was an awesome paint scheme.

Keith

Keith Schmidt KC9LHK You don’t bring nothin with you here and you can’t nothin back, I ain’t never seen a hearse with a luggage rack. George Strait Check out Flickr Train Photo Page 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 1, 2005 9:44 AM
Santa fe
gotta love those b23-7's and gp30's and fp45's
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 1, 2005 9:46 AM
MONTANA RAIL LINK, with the help of a friend, I am off to paint an SD45[:)]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 1, 2005 11:22 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by ericsp

My favorite railroad to model is Southern Pacific, probably because that is the railroad I grew up seeing. I also have an uncle who used to work for SP. I did see ATSF as a kid, but not nearly as often as SP.

Another reason is that SP had tunnel motors. Of course I may like them because they were predominately SP and SSW locomotives.


Eric.... where did your uncle work? What was (is) his name?? email me ...Virlon@aol.com
  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: Green Bay, WI
  • 197 posts
Posted by Green Bay Paddlers on Saturday, October 1, 2005 11:36 AM
Personally - I really like modeling the three lines pictured at the bottom of this post. BN Cascade Green is absolutely beautiful. I grew up on the racetrack and I love that stretch of mainline...
  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Nanaimo BC Canada
  • 4,117 posts
Posted by nanaimo73 on Saturday, October 1, 2005 1:17 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

Canadian Pacific
SD40s,GP9, H16-44s, need I say more? Plus, the multimark, a bit of horrible design that turned out great.
Matthew


What is the multimark?


The Multimark was created in 1968 when Canadian Pacific changed its name to CP Rail and switched locomotive color to red. There was a black triangle (movement) inside a white circle (global activities, CP also was an airline, a chain of hotels and a shipping line) and a red square (stability).
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=122460

This is interesting
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=107829
Dale
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 1, 2005 1:21 PM
I like modelling museum lines - my current layout is a fictional museum loosely based on the Illinois Railway Museum (mainly as I like their collection of stock and there's plenty of photos on the web to help with choosing the right stock). I don't stick strictly to what they have though - there's an Erie Built that I justify by saying that it survived dumped in a yard somewhere and has been rebuilt internally to F59PH specifications (fiction, but I hear the NYC did rebuild some Eries with EMD power so it's not too far from reality). You can have almost anything turning up, short trains, interesting mixes of stock and power - anything goes!
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: New Brighton, Minnesota
  • 1,493 posts
Posted by wctransfer on Saturday, October 1, 2005 5:29 PM
The Wisconsin Central. Why . well lets see.

They had a SW1 up until 2000.
A whole fleet of TRUE SD45's
Ex SOO GP30's with alco trucks
an Ex SOU, FRV SD35.
2 Ex FRV SD34's, the only ones left un rebuilt.
1 SDP45.
6 F45's and 1 FP45.

What else do you want?
Check out my pics! [url="http://wctransfer.rrpicturearchives.net/"] http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=8714
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 1, 2005 5:52 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by wctransfer

The Wisconsin Central. Why . well lets see.

They had a SW1 up until 2000.
A whole fleet of TRUE SD45's
Ex SOO GP30's with alco trucks
an Ex SOU, FRV SD35.
2 Ex FRV SD34's, the only ones left un rebuilt.
1 SDP45.
6 F45's and 1 FP45.

What else do you want?

The only thing about them is that they're partially owned by CN. BUT I am willing to overlook that and say that WC is my 2nd-favorite operating railroad today. CSX is still first[:P]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 1, 2005 5:54 PM
Oh, Alec, did you get outbid on a CSX covered hopper last weekend by a hotshot bidder in the remaining few seconds?
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Robe Valley, Wa.
  • 719 posts
Posted by GN-Rick on Saturday, October 1, 2005 11:39 PM
Great Northern Railway-1947 to 1967. Love their steam power, and grew up with the Empire Builder orange and green.
Here are a couple of examples:

Rick Bolger Great Northern Railway Cascade Division-Lines West
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, October 2, 2005 10:49 AM
Union Pacific in 1953-5.
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Huntington WEST Virginia
  • 384 posts
Posted by ChessieFan13 on Sunday, October 2, 2005 11:53 AM
well lets see..............Chessie system...........C&O B&O also into csx all cause of my location ................Huntington WV. There is also quite a few others that we see on a regular around here...........BNSF... UP... CONRAIL... NS... KCS...so on our pike if we see it around here then we model it on our line.........J.W.
  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Mile 7.5 Laggan Sub., Great White North
  • 4,201 posts
Posted by trainboyH16-44 on Sunday, October 2, 2005 12:31 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Murphy Siding

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainboyH16-44

Canadian Pacific
SD40s,GP9, H16-44s, need I say more? Plus, the multimark, a bit of horrible design that turned out great.
Matthew


What is the multimark?

It's a black triangle inside a white semicircle. I'll try to post one now.

a bit big, but I posted my first picture!
Matthew

Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296

Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Poconos, PA
  • 3,948 posts
Posted by TomDiehl on Sunday, October 2, 2005 9:40 PM
I do a free lanced model based on the Reading Railroad. I grew up near their lines through Pottstown, Royersford, and Phoenixville, PA. An approximation of their diesel paint scheme (lighter green) with my own road name, and I have it interchanging with the East Broad Top. (Yes, I know that was the Pennsy)
Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to. Chief of Sanitation; Clowntown
  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Monday, October 3, 2005 10:12 AM
The CB&Q through the heart of Wyoming, with some C&NW thrown in for good measure.

Why? Because that's where I grew up!
  • Member since
    September 2005
  • From: Middle Tennessee
  • 453 posts
Posted by Bill H. on Monday, October 3, 2005 10:21 AM




  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Southeast U.S.A.
  • 851 posts
Posted by rexhea on Monday, October 3, 2005 11:00 AM
Southern, GM&O, L&N, NW, are all roads names that I model on my freelanced southern Appalachian layout. As with many,I have chosen railroads that I have been familiar with throughout my life. (However, there are a few road names that pay the fee for track usage and others that can be seen as leased. [:-^][:D] )

REX
Rex "Blue Creek & Warrior Railways" http://www.railimages.com/gallery/rexheacock
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Gainesville area
  • 1,396 posts
Posted by scubaterry on Monday, October 3, 2005 11:14 AM
NYC 1950's. Rode NYC a great deal growing up in upstate NY down to Ohio. My grand dad was an engineer on the NYC back in the 30's-50's.

2nd fav is the PRR. I just like their color scheme. Trying to incorporate a PRR line into my layout with an interchange so I can have at least one PRR loco running.
Terry
Terry Eatin FH&R in Sunny Florida

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!