I was just wondering if and how any other modelers fudge the era they are modeling. As for myself I like to model 1957(the year I was born) but have some 1964 B/A tank cars because I remember seeing lots of these as a kid. Plus I have some B/A oil cans,maps and stuff still kicking around the house that came when I cleaned out my parents house and it just takes me back. How do you cheat or are you true blue to your era?
Does running a Mikado and a Dash 8 on a 1980’s era layout count as fudging?[:-^]
Seeing I model my memories, experiences and imagination, everything is prototype. Those with different memories or experiences will wonder on occassion. I do make an extensive use of wormholes and time warps to get everything to fit.
Nothing made or repainted after July 1956 is on my layout.
That includes trains, automobiles, and brand-names on signs.
Even my figures (for the most part) have clothing styles similar to the era.
Or how about 35 war emergency hoppers behind 3 SD50s? Eventually I will get the proper hoppers for the B&O/ Chessie era, but these were an unbelievable deal that I couldn’t resist. I can’t see running out to buy 35 Bowser hoppers and loads just to be prototypical for my newer power.
Now when I pull those hoppers w/ my Stewart Fs, P2K SD7/9s or GP9s I can be right on for the time period. But who cares, I don’t.
It really is such an interesting thing though isn’t it. I got myself down to only modeling Sante Fe, BN and BNSF. But I won’t stay with just one time period. (I love the bookend paint scheme on the SF and have about 4 painted that way)
But all the same I haven’t run the M350 hoppers (1960s -ish) with my HD4 trinity hoppers. (ok I did once to make a really long train) Maybe I’ll try that just to see how it is. I have to admit it seems silly but it really is important to us; right? So it’s not silly!
“One of these days, one of these days,” I tell myself. I started out with my old engines and rolling stock, “modern era,” but when I bought them the “modern era” was the early 1960’s. So far, though, I’ve been pretty good about not going any later than that. I decided that the layout’s time would be defined by the pin-up on the back wall of the roundhouse, Miss August, 1967.
My problem, though, is the past. I’ve got too much of it, and it’s all there right now. My eventual plan is to “dual-era” the layout sometime back to the 1930’s. I’m not, however, being fanatical enough to read the “born-on” dates on my rolling stock to decide when I can and can’t run them. I’ve got a number of Jordan kits to build, and I’ve started picking up Athearn Model A’s, but right now I think the main thing that’s keeping me in 1967 is the lack of autos that go back far enough.
Also, I don’t have much trouble running rolling stock that was built in the 40’s in either era.
Believe me, I cheat. I model modern but don’t have any problems giving older equipment a spin if I can. Granted, I stick with mostly new stuff, but if you get pleasure running things slightly out of place then why not? My original HO layout of years back ran f units with steam and modern power all on the same train! Yeah, it was a mess as was the layout. With my modern N layout I am more organized but still wouldn’t mind bending the rules. Its your layout and your creation so I say run with it and do whatever you want.
I have not settled on an era yet and not sure I will. I just run what ever strikes my fancy that day. I must admit I am partial to the “J” and “F” units. There you go, see the incompatibility. Besides there are so many engines and life is just to short to try them all. Why limit your self ?
I don’t cheat too awful much. A lot of older cars driving around on my modern era layout. A GP9 running amongs GP38’s isn’t too bad. And an accasional Bachmann steam switcher running around for scenic purposes. Now the boxcars and such I have tried to thin out so all can fit into my modern era layout, but it’s getting to be a stretch.
-beegle55
Another thing, there’s always a reason to run something. If you model modern and want to run steam, make it an excursion or something like that. Older GP7 types and the like will fit in still in most cases. Like I said, its about what you want. I think sometimes these things get taken too seriously.
Well said trainman. I’ll run what I want when I want, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to intentionally go buy a steamer or older loco, or anything out of era for that fact, unless I get a good deal on it. Like my P2K GP9 for $60 new, who could resist??
-beegle55
EVERYTHING I model is correct for MY VERSION of history, which is, I will grant, SLIGHTLY different than the ACTUAL history that occured on my Colorado and Southern Denver to Silver Plume (and beyond). Everything. Afterall, remember, it’s MY railroad!!
I inherated most of my stuff; buildings, cars, locos, ect. I model a shortline to justify having U23Bs, SDP35s, and modern power all together. I have to fudge a lot, but I’ve got a story worked out: It’s a short line, hence all the antiques, the Lake Shore Limited has been diverted off Conrail, (which runs parallel over the berkshires), so that justifies my Amtrak stuff, and Conrail leases power to me for the high priority trains (that’s why I have a C40-8). I can get away with this, but my main problem is my cars. I still have 40 footers hanging around in interchange service in 1998! Many are painted for fallen flags, such as M&SL, and the rest are painted for other freelanced railroads or railroads that scrapped theirs long ago!
I need to revitalize my fleet, but I am broke, I just spent all my money on a Digitrax walkaround throttle and plugins for it. I am 13 and have a very limited budget! Luckly, lawn mowing season is starting, so maybe by fall I will have made some progress. Then again, I still need to finish the layout, It’s pretty much all temporary stuff right now, so maybe not.
My layout is a staging-linear-staging up-the mountain pusher-service-design that allows me to switch my era as needed. One day the Selkirk is pulling the Dominion through the pass, the next day its a Big Alco!..what ever I feel like.
David
I certainly do “cheat”. On my B&M layout based in the late 70’s you’ll frequently find 50’ box cars that still have friction bearing trucks, running boards and full height ladders. I will from time to time even run 40’ers that suffer from the same symptoms. For the most part I usually run this equipment behind GP9’s or RS-3’s but every once and a while they’ll appear behind the road’s “new” power, my single GP40-2.
Most of my hoppers are also of the same age as the box cars. This is all primarily due to it being equipment that I bought 20+ years ago when it looked good to me on the shelf and it being prototypical for the time not really a concern. I’m slowly updating my freight car fleet but for now my Athearn BB rolling stock with friction bearing trucks roll on into the 70’s 
And then of course there are the few modern 50’ cars I have which for the most part fit into my time era, except the couple of Conrail box cars I have with build dates from 1983 [:)]
I fudge it a bit. I model the PC. However, I couldn’t resist painting my Athearn BB F7A/B set into lightning-stripe colors. By '68, ex-NYC power wore the “cigar band” scheme. Even though that scheme is correct, I like the earlier one better. Eventually, I plan on doing my NYC P2K E unit as one that’s been repainted…but with PC logos, and the earlier paint peeking out. Also, by the '70s, all PC passenger runs (well, other than commuter runs) had been discontinued. Not so on my layout–I’m currently piecing together a PC passenger train
Fudging?! That’s a MRR felony! [swg]
I like to think it’s in the 1960’s in N&W territory on my layout, but the ACL, ATSF, & UP loco’s that run through stretch that a bit. [:-^]
I run an AC4400 right alongside PA’s F7’s and E units.
It’s only, “cheating,” if there is some law or moral code that is being broken. Otherwise is is simply, well, whatever you do.