Looking for anybody that is modeling turn the last century railroading to swap ideas ect on modeling, I am just getting started modeling the IC running thru the area where John Luther (Casey) Jones died. Cheers Mike
This is a little earlier, but check out
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/
Also, someone was looking for a Teddy Roosevelt figure earlier today. He’d be about the same era as you’re looking for.
[#wstupid]
yep , i am . probably around 1910 to 1915 really
There are 2 groups that might be of interest in the Yahoo groups - Earlyrail (covers 1830 to WW1) and Turn Of the Century Narrow Guage titled TOCng. Both have lots of ideas and information sharing.
Fred Wright
jack of all trades…(you know the rest)
Picture Gorge and Western Railway - “none more picturesque”
Tillamook Head and Bethel Railway - “to Heaven and back!”
I’m dabbling in it.
Hello,
seems you are making IC like me… I too I am trying to put togheter a roster of steamers broadely 1890-1920… as you will find out, is quite hard to find the necessary equipment.
My approach is low key: everyting labelled IC goes… and even that is not easy: I was outbid at at least 10 auctions on e-bay when looking for the ‘casey Jones’ Rivarossi engine. Once I have it, the cars will be old roundhouse 50’open vestibule cars or Harriman cars (to be relabeled, at the time they are NYC).
For the IHC 4-4-0 (late) I found a set of Bev-bel/Athearn cars labelled IC/Panama limited, but those are already 1920’…
For freight… Consolidations from IHC and Bachmann (relabeled), coal hoppers and the Roundhouse caboose. Still missing boxes&gondolas.
beside that i am collecting from the internet pictures of the IC in those times, … I have already a big lot of them. It is amazing what you can pull togheter!
sebastiano
Make sure you check on ebay under both Rivarossi and AHM as I have seen the casey jones loco listed both ways. I just picked up a mint condition one from ebay, I already have the MDC Overton IC passenger set, that is a close, but not perfect train, however with my small layout it looks good. I also have been picking up turn on the century cars from both AHM and Mantua off of ebay. I can reletter them so road names dont matter. My current layout is quite small for now till room to expand improves, its about 3.5 ft by 6.5 ft. I want to get a MDC 2-8-0 kit to represent a period freight locomotive. Cheers MIke
Yup - 1913-1915. A western line, loosely based on an amalgamation of the Colorado Midland, the D&RGW, and the WP. Got the basic layout built, wired, and operating (only a 5.5’x11’ starter), but haven’t put the scenery in yet. I’m still researching the era, but fortunately, there are lots of turn-of-the-century kits these days.
You’re in luck if you’re modeling the IC - it was a Harriman road, so the MDC Harriman cars and engines are always options, and there are plenty of brass Harriman models running around that you could modify.
As far as research goes, for locomotives, the Kalmbach steam cyclopedia has lots of TOC and earlier stuff. John White’s books on American passenger and freight cars are also very useful. I try to find turn-of-the-century railroaders’ manuals to learn something about the actual techniques of the time; one useful one is Tratman’s 1909 book on track (a search on Alibris.com with the terms “Tratman” and “track” will pull it up) has a lot of practices that mark a layout as period, particularly the use of earthen ballast, rather than gravel or cinders.
regards,
I am starting to model the Wilmington & Northern in 1905, which was acquired by the Philadelphia and Reading in 1900. I have tried my hand at casting my own cars and i am attempting to modify some engines to resemble W&N equipment.
Dave H.
A good way to learn railroading in the 1910-1920…it sounds morbid, but reading the accident reports on http://dotlibrary.specialcollection.net/
the capter
I.C.C. Historical Railroad Investigation Reports (1911-1966)
give you a good idea how the trains were supposed to operate and all what could go wrong…
sebastiano
I model northern California steam logging in 1911. My freelance HOn30 bandsaw mill is located on the SP north of Weed and just south of Of Grass Lake. The logging operations there are dominated by the Weed Lumber Co. and their interchage spurs with the SP. I am doing a lot of reseach on the SP operations of that era and Signors books are my main reference. I have modeled SP 36 ft. box cars using modified MDC kits and Westerfield SP decals. I have modified a Bachmann 3 truck shay to represent McCloud River No. 16 built in 1911. I will be modifying a Bachmann 4-6-0 to represent an SP prototype of that era. I just return to Memphis from 4 days of research and hiking on Mt. Shasta.
Peter Smith, Memphis
Not yet but I plan on it, When my 1950’s layout is finished. The buildings will sit on their own peices of board and other buildings with the same footprint can be exchanged so I can have the same track plan in two or three era’s. Once I finish with the 1950’s I plan to model the time of Teddy Roosevelt. I get to model to great Presidents this way Ike, and Teddy.
James[C):-)]
I have a copy of the one accident report that pertains to my small layout. It covers the wreck at Vaughn Mississippi on the night of April 30, 1900. But yes it does give good insight into the short comings of railroading at the turn of the last century. Lack of signals, horrible amount of working hours. And railroad owners that cared more about timetables than lives and encouraged engineers to pu***he limits of the locomotives and the track. I have a good start on equipment, pick up a mint in the box AHM/Rivarossi Casey Jones locomotive, I managed to find all the Roundhouse MDC Overton cars in the IC paint scheme, not quite correct, but look good on my small layout. I also started finding vintage AHM and Mantua old timer freight cars. I am now looking for a motorizing kit for my O scale Casey Jones loco and a 2-8-0 freight loco for the HO layout. Cheers Mike
Interesting J. Gould’s dream. Are you using those road names or have made up a free lance one for it? I just learned the Colorado Midland was shut down by USRA (US Government) during WWI and never returned. I had also thought that the Midland went over Marshal pass to Grand Junction instead of up through Leadville. Learn something new every day!
I have a weakness for anything American Civil War to about 1920 too. I do like the IHC 4-4-0 Woodburners - I have installed decoders in them. Mehano, MDC, IHC , and Mantua. I watch for all of them. I have an old Tyco 4-6-0 that I should overhaul and update. I have the big IHC American (Coalburner), and Bachman’s 4-6-0 CNW. I don’t tell the diehards at the club, but I am planning to give it a paintjob. I have read sevearl articles in Mainline Modeler about backdating it - makes good “High Wide & Hansom” 1890’s engine. For passenger cars, MDC 80’ Pullmans work pretty good, along with their 50’ open platform units. I have even scratchbuilt some cars from an old MR article on Civil War cars. Pride of my old-time passenger fleet - A couple of AMBROID B&M cars. I also have a couple of LaBelle kits I haven’t done yet. For Bridges, buildings: think wood trestles & wood truss bridges; Scratchbuild and old time kits such as Cental Valley, and any craftsman wood kit. Water tanks - old time open top or backdate. Just keep your eyes open, and choose Carefully. Watch Model Mags for articles by “Don Ball”. He models Gold-rush California, and puts out very good articles.
For references - look for books by George B. Abdill. He did seveal books by Superior Publishing - A LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER’S ALBUM, THIS WAS RAILROADING, RAILS WEST, PACIFIC SLOPE RAILROADS, CIVIL WAR RAILROADS. (I think the last is in reprint and still available from “University of Illinois Press”)
Check out the (on-line) museums too - Sacramento, Nevada State, etc. A couple of years ago RMC ran an article about modeling the 1870’s snowsheds over Donner Pass.
HAVE FUN!!! [:D][:D][:D]
R.B.C.