95% of my developing RR is 30-50’s. I have almost all FSM buildings, South River Models, Master Creations,ect. I will run Bigboys huling long trains (80+ cars) with a SD90/40MAC pushing in the rear. I know it looks stupid but I like it. I run all sorts of mixed trains. I like the sight of (3) SD70’s with a Allegheny pusher. [:)]
It’s YOUR railroad and you can do whatever you want! That’s the FUN of model railroading. No real requirement to have everything in the same era unless you want to! Have fun!
Bob Boudreau
Does having a couple dozen PS2 hoppers built in 1952 operating on a layout set in 1946 qualify?
I’ve always believed that if you can’t justify it legitimately, just make up a ‘layout specific’ story to go along with it. I’m modelling modern era (1990’s-present) CSX here in the south, but there’s not a single Alco RS diesel on their active duty roster… but you think that’s gonna stop me from having a badly weathered unkept RS around for light duty local switching at the coal mine? And speaking of which… who ever heard of a coal mine in Georgia? It’s your layout… make up a story to explain it. 
And if nobody asks… then only you will know!
I do all modern stuff. But then a few weeks ago I go out and buy a F1 ABBA with sound and build a 4-6-0. Go figure…
Change era’s? - Absolutely!- Mix era’s ? No.
‘Back to the Future’ - Just not on same session
I gotta join in here. There isn’t anywhere in the world that you can see the Amtrack Acela running right next to a freight train loaded with Seaboard Air Line, Seaboard Coast Line and Atlantic Coast line boxcars and hoppers, that’s headed by an E6AB in the gorgeous Purple and Silver of the Atlantic Coast line.
Of course I say that, and someone will come out with this obscure little short line in New Jersey that bought some OLD ACL equipment.
Hey! It’s your RR. [#ditto]What Bob said. If someone doesn’t like it- Theres the door.
Adios- goodby-so long- farewell and don’t come back.
Flip
My layout takes place in the late 80’s to now. I can have CSX “Dark future”, the later blue, grey, and yellow, and the most modern scheme. I also have an Alco Boston and maine S3 switcher, which stopped running in about, the 70’s?
This brings up another point. Does anyone model a certain locale, but with equipment that never ran there?
My layout takes place in California, but almost all of the equipment is based on northeastern prototypes. A guilford freight running on a bridge over a Los Angeles flood control river? Only on my layout.
Dave
I model an SP branch based upon actual locations, in my scenerio, the SP sold the megar profit branch to one of the many traction companies in the area who merged it into their existing system . They installed overhead wire and use electric motors for power. As a condition of the sell, SP has run through rights to service the cement and gravel plants. Now i’ve got to install poles atop the cabs of my steam fleet to activite the crossing and interlock signals as was done in the real world when steam and diesel power was assigned to the Pacifc Electric.
Yup, From 1880-2005
I try to keep my equipment in the transition era, but you have to understand, that was about 10 years of transition, the C&O never used 0-8-0’s and GP9’s side by side, but thats what i plan on doing.
Its my layout, I could run a doublestack behind the 0-8-0 if I feel so inclined.
I’m with cheese3…do whatever suits the current need. I just wish I had a number of diesels to choose from. I am one of those modelers who is “stuck” because of all planning that I keep reading about… Think of this, remember that…oh by the why, don’t forget this, that loco will need 24" radii, etc. etc…It all boggles the mind, even tho I’m only resuming an interest from way-y-y-y back. To DCC or not… Roundy-round or a point to point, due to lack of space…wish I had this and that and that and those and four of those!!!
Gads…I think I’ll stick with going to the Club…
You bet. I run 4-8-4s and 2-8-0s with FP45s and SD70Ms.
I model small town Minnesota in the 80-90’s. All my locomotives are from that era and most of my rolling stock is. My loco’s are Burlington Northern, Chicago and Northwestern, and Amtrak – all prototypical to the area I model. The only real no-no’s I have are a couple of boxcars with roof walks and a reefer purchased before I knew better.
There are so many interesting engines and cars that I can’t resist. My layout is set in 1953, but I have a couple of cars from the 60’s and my narrow gauge is from the 30’s. As others have said do what is fun. If anyone comes out with a 4-4-0 from the 1880’s in S, then I’ll have that too.
Enjoy
Paul
Last week,my Challenger met with a friend’s Shinkansen on a double track bridge at the club’s layout…kind of special looking I admit…but so what!We both enjoyed it and that’s what’s important.Rivet counters probably would scream at this sight.
My own roster is made up of different types and eras locos (11 steamers,2 DD40AX’s and a dozen modern ones like AC4400CW and SD90/43MAC’s plus a Veranda I just purchased) and I certainly won’t avoid running any one that my humour dictates,nor will I expect the other guys to match what I’m actually running.
I’m running a Dash-8 and a Hudson on the same layout, along with an E6 and an SD40-2 and an SW-, and an RS-2, and a Mikado, and a couple f7’s, and there’s a shay over in the corner rotting away, and roadnames like NYC, Pennsy, BNSF, GN, UP, RI, SF, and probably a few more I’m forgetting. Oh yeah, my plan is to also add an AT&L setup with a GP7, and a couple GP9’s whenever I can find them with low noses. Now that’s mixing, but I couldn’t pick on any one area or ere, so I have a mountain, a desert, and farmland all on my layout too.
If you want to see a real mix on a free-lance layout, check our club at
http://members.cox.net/cacole2
This Web site was just updated today with all new pictures.
forty foot box cars mixed with 53 footer rail boxes f three AAz, with gp18z my layouts suppositivly present day, have fun!
“the only thing we have to fear, is derailments its self”