I like the look of shorter cars on a small or medium sized HO scale layout. That could dictate railroad or era.
Modern era railroads would run cement hoppers, corn syrup tankcars, etc.
Older eras would provide more options.
Suggestion,
FREELANCE
You can do this and be prototypical, I plan to do so with my NWP SWP, so if you feel like it that’s an option.
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Oh wait, you said DO NOT do these things. Uh oh.
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-Kevin
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Oh yah. That was my start to the hobby. Except, people gave me all their train junk, so I didn’t have to buy anything… I was elated, until I discovered it WAS junk.[:'(]
I agree. If you only buy 1 book, this is it.
Since you’re new to the hobby, I would not worry over much about a prototype. You won’t really fit a portion of the prototype in 5x9, so pick a railroad whose paint scheme you like. Use Armstrong’s book to help you develop a track plan and start building.
Some experience with a layout will go a long way toward helping you understand what you want to do in this hobby.
Good luck
Paul
I do all these things. This is a hobby not a job. [swg]
Paul
Okay thanks, that’s a good idea. I could model my own railroad but still run it prototypically. Thanks
Okay thanks, I look forward to reading that book.
Assuming you’re familiar with airbrushing models, and making your own decals on a computer, etc. Otherwise modelling a ‘real’ railroad is probably a lot easier.
If you’re modelling fairly recent times (say 1990’s to today) I’d suggest your first locomotive be a lease engine. Leased engines can turn up just about anywhere, so no matter what railroad you end up modelling, that engine (or engines) will fit right in.
http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH91681
Consider the cargo you’d like to haul. That will limit your selection and help decide facilities and rolling stock.
LION models New York City Transit Authority.
Subway Trains! Lots of Subway Trains !!
Now once upon a time there were no cheap plastic subway cars, so my new layout was supposed to be a commuter railroad running in push-pull mode with ancient modified equippment.
Combines contained the HEP power plant, and so any (freight) locomotive could run the train. Contro stands “from other equipment” were set up in the “cab cars”.
Nice, eh?
Then came the plastic subway cars, (I now have ten 6 car trains), and I reworked the layout to accomodate them.
Oh, on the bottom level I had some nice staging yards for regional trains, but I tore these out and installed a four-track subway mainline. Working there with only 12" of vertical space was difficult for me, but I had to do it.
Oricinally that level was completed before the second level went in.
It also turned ou, and I do not know why, that the subway trains could not make the same grades as the locomotives could, so more track was taken out and helixes were added between the second and thrid levels. That alos added two more stations to the west blob.
Bottom Line… Your ideas will keep changing even as you build this railroad, so do not hesitate to rip things out an build them differently.
9x5 is nice, but 2 1/2 feet is a long reach over a train table, especially once the scenery goes in. Sure you can set up a scenic divider, and only keep scenic elements that are marginally outside of your reach.
LION has (The west blob) that is 18’ x 6’ wide. LION cannot reach the middle, but then him never intended to. It is dead space completely unseen from the outside. This is the inside of said blob…
And this is the west edge of the west-blob…
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This is so true.
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No one should hesitate to correct a mistake.
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-Kevin
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I chose the New Haven RR to model because I am into my local history, and the NH used to run within line of sight of my home for over 75 years. What also helped is that my father is a model railroader and had a number of NH passenger cars when I was a kid. The black, orange & white scheme always appealed to me, and when I found out that the real NH cars ran right by my home, I was hooked.
So I model the NH, and the specific line I live near. But I also model the entire NH, which includes electric locos and branchlines that are no where near me. I also don’t have an “era” other than pre-1969 (the date the NH disappeared into another railroad). I’m more of a NH universalist; all places at all times work for me. But when I built a layout, it was based only on my local area of the railroad.
As for advice, unless you come into it with a specific interest like I did, it may take you some time to find out what you really like.
Do you like steam or do you like stuff you see today?
Do you like mountains, deserts, plains, swamps, or wooded hills with autumn colors? Coastal cities or rural farms?
Do you like little branch lines with 1 train a day, or do you want to model a 4-track right of way with multiple trains per hour?
I would suggest you think about what you really like, what sounds like the most fun to you, then come back here and post 'em. Then the forum can then suggest various railroads that fit your criteria.
Thanks for the idea
I plan on modeling a shortline railroad. I wouldn’t mind having an industrial harbour but that will be a lot of modeling. I also like logging operations.
Sounds like you should model the pacific northwest. Seems to fit perfectly.
Thanks for the idea, I will do some research about that railroad.
If you thought that in my post when I referred to the pacific NW that I was talking about a railroad, none under that name have ever existed to my knowledge[:D]. I was talking about that region of the US. If you would like a list of good pacific NW railroads, I can give you that…
Oh, my bad. I understand now. Thanks. You don’t need to go through the trouble of listing any railroads, I can do that in my free time. Thanks though.
Have to say I’m a little puzzled about the question…
As a kid in Chicago, it never occurred to me to go looking for a railroad to model. They were all around me, and I could pick what suited me - which turned out to be the Santa Fe and Illinois Central.