I model the Canadian Pacific. As it stands their choice of locomotive is the ES44AC and before that it was the AC4400. So here is my point, I think the SD70MAC or SD70ACe would look good in CP colors. Yes I like both EMD and GE. So to partially overcome this issue there are two SD70MAC’s in BNSF colors running on the layout pulling unit trains and the excuse is that CP is testing them. All the UP modellers do not have such issues, but for the rest of us how do you feel about the rosters your favourite railway had/has and wish they would have.
I model Southern Pacific in the early to mid 1990s. There were several locomotive types and seven paint schemes (3 SP, 1 SSW, and 3 DRGW). I have thought about buying models of newer (post 1996) locomotives and painting them for SP.
This is another reason I model the transition/first gen diesel era. There were more loco manufacturers and most roads at least tried all the major builders, so I get to have one of nearly everything. Plenty of variety without having to resort to proto-lancing or whippign out my modeler’s license.
The CNW and Milwaukee both used a wide variety of power. They just used very little of it around Mankato Minnesota. I’m already cheating by using a Berkshire in this area. I know CNW had a couple of them, but they didn’t have them around here. That’s the most I’ve stretched the truth so far.
I am one of those bemoaned collectors. I do have an operational layout, but it is not entirely representative of all the roads represented in my varied collection of locomotives. So, that should tell you that variety is definitely not a limitation for me. I like the Santa Fe, the UP, the N&W, the NYC, the Pennsy, the C&O, the CP, and the TH&B. And I collect transition era steamers and diesels, but I have a couple of SD75’s in warbonnet livery from the Santa Fe.
You may be a closet collector, too. Come over to the dark side…you won’t regret it. [;)]
Much like “Selector”, I consider everything south of the Canadian border and north of the Mexican border as “fair game” for my roster/collection. I do have my favorites but that doesn’t stop me from running a pair of Santa Fe 2-10-2’s next to a NYC H10b 2-8-2 after all it still comes down to one very important thing. They’re “my” toys and I’ll do with them what pleases me and that’s really all that matters. My nickel, my toys, my way…
The cool thing about this hobby is if you really like a locomotive whether it’s steam or diesel, you can always find a prototype for everything.
Much to my amazement, I found a youtube video of a D&RGW SD70Ace with a passenger consist with UP Sreamliners. I was like, wow that is awesome. Then I seen an excursion train with an UP Challenger and the same exact UP Steamliner cars.
So now I’m venturing into steam for a couple of excursion trains. I’m getting the UP Challenger and the UP 9000 4-12-2.
My interest in trains and model railroads spans the world. I like British diesels (blue period), the PRR steamers for their “family” look, big steam like the Challenger, Big Boy or TTT´s and just about anything that runs on narrow rails.
Unfortunarely, combining all that on one layout is not possible, or would look hilarious.
After I unearthed a real treasure some days ago (see last week´s WPF), I have decided to concentrate my interest on the D&RGW narrow gauge lines. Supply is not really vast in that segment, but there is a sufficient number of locos and rolling stock available, be it as used brass locos, or the upcoming releases from Blackstone. The limitation suits my budget as well…
I have thought of prototype modeling sometime in the future, (im in college), but I leaned away from it for the restriction power. The prototype I thought about was a small CNW branch line that ran through my hometown in central Wisconsin, but the motive power was not vast in this area. I particluarly like F units and alco road switchers like the RS-3, but these were not even seen in the area. Seems the main power was a lot of Fairbanks Morse locos, alco yard switchers, GP7s and GP-30s. So like it was said before, the CNW had a vast majority of power but not a lot in one area.
It sounds like you are trying to change the reality that exist into your reality version. Give it up. Go with the reality that exist. Enjoy your model railroad. Don’t forget, we are just boys playing with toys. Most of us know very little about how a real railroad runs,
Well, if you want to wish that your prototype was more readily available in models, try modeling Rio Grande and Southern Pacific steam during the WWII period–WHEW!
For the most part, it’s brass imports. Which means haunting brass cases at LHS and consignment sections at Caboose Hobbies–at least for me. Just about the only way you can get Rio Grande steam–brass. And of course, that somehow IMMEDIATELY puts me in the ‘collector’s’ niche, even though I buy them to run.
Of course, I’m not alone in this. Try modeling GN, NP, SP&S or Burlington steam without having to go the ‘brass’ route. [:P]
I (sorta) model the GTW. With all the roads that CN, their corporate parent, has taken over, and considering that any of their power can show up anywhere, I have no shortage of roster opportunities: GTW, CN, IC, WC, DM&IR, EJ&E (and all those repainted in CN colors with sublettering for their original owner).
BN had a lot of variety until the alco purge of 1980. Although all the alco switchers, FAs, RS1s, RS2s, and baldwins were knocked off the roster after 1972.
How many ther roads can run F45s along side C636s?[:)]
Who are you looking to please with your layout and roster? Yourself or the imaginary accuracy police?
And what do you value more - a variety of motive power on the layout, or prototype fidelity?
Fact is that your prototype has a limited selection of motive power in the era you have chosen to model. You can’t change that fact.
You can do any of the following (and many others I haven’t thought of):
model the CP accurately and not complain, but enjoy being true to prototype
create an alternate history or reality for the CP
select a different prototype
free-lance a fictious prototype similar to the CP, but different choices in motive power
model more than one prototype
Personally, I’ve chosen a different route. I have free-lance lines with a made up history and roster based on history and practices of real railroads in the region at the time. I do my best to model portions of that roster through bashing existing models and kits.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
…modeling foggy coastal Oregon, where it’s always 1900…
Just the opposite. The Milwaukee Road was innovative. I wish I had the space to run a line “under wire” for their electrics. Yup, if I had the resources of Rod Stewart, that’s exactly what I’d do. (And if my wife had the resources of Martha Stewart, well, then I’d do nothing of the kind.)
3 classes of diesel-hydraulics, all with different wheel arrangements.
8 classes of catenary motors, with 6 different wheel arrangements.
4 classes of powered DMU (one is a diner!)
3 classes of powered EMU.
A motley collection of passenger equipment in 3 colors.
1/700 of the prototype’s freight roster - not all black.
still not enough variety?
A rural trolley line, granted with only one car.
An electrified narrow gauge, with midget equipment and heavy-duty bridges.
A narrow gauge logger, with teakettle steam, seriously ugly ‘critter’ diesels and a gazillion disconnects, some modified for other uses.
And if the prototype isn’t good enough?
How about a freelance private coal hauler that runs a motley collection of superannuated teakettles, articulateds never seen in Japan (or anywhere else!) and 3-truck articulated coal hoppers?
Of course, if you model 21st century North American prototype, you can mix and match railroads with great gusto - including diesels on run-through agreements or power balancing. (Seen in western AZ, on BNSF - BNSF, CN,NS,BNSF; in a single four-unit consist.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - and now you know why)
CP still has a fair number of SD40-2s running around, and GP38-2 and GP9u units for locals and roadswitchers. Most of the SD40-2Fs are still kicking too. Don’t forget also that CP does have SD90/43MAC engines, although most of them have been stored since the downturn. (Apparently some have been coming out of storage again this summer). The 4 6000HP SD90MAC-H units are all out of service and CP is trying to get rid of them (they’ve been on CP’s surplus assets site for over a year)
They also quite frequently lease units from CEFX. (Those blue CEFX AC4400CWs were basically CP units, and they occasionaly have a wide variety of rebuilt SDs on lease.)
If you backdate 20-25 years, then there’s tons of variety. No GEs, but a good variety of MLW units still on the roster, and throughout the 1970s and 1980s CP borrowed all sorts of power from different roads. IC C630s in the early 1970s; C&O/B&O F units during the 1970s, tons of C&O/B&O/Chessie GP30s and GP35s in the '80s; Algoma Central GP7s in the 70s, SD40-2s in the 80s; Precision National ex-QNSL GP7s and GP9s in the mid 1970s; B&M F-units and RS2 or RS3s.
Also during the 1990s CP was picking up secondhand SD40-2s from UP, MP, KCS, NS (high-nose units that were made into B-units) so if you modelled that time period, that adds some colour.
Heh, heh. I model the New Haven because of the variety. [;)]
In 1940, the NH had 35 steam loco classes and sub-classes in 12 different wheel arrangements.
They had 27 different diesel loco types from 6 different builders from 1934 to 1969. These locos were painted in colors from drab dark green to black, white and orange. Some diesel classes had up to 8 different paint schemes over their careers. Throw in the self-propelled passenger cars (RDC-1, 2, 3, 4 and A & B units, plus rail busses, doodlebugs & high speed trains) for even more variety.
The NH had 5 classes of passenger electrics and 4 classes of freight motors. They also had 3 classes of electric switchers and multiple types of electric MU cars.
There was a large passenger fleet of heavyweights, lightweights, and stainless steel cars from the simple commuter coach to the most luxurious parlors, lounge, sleeper, and tavern cars.
Freight equipment wasn’t as varied, but they were in some color paint schemes. Plus the NH had 6 classes of cabooses…3 in wood and 3 in steel.