Shortlines and regionals such as Morristown & Erie and Montana RailLink typically offer up an interesting mix of older locomotive power, perhaps ALCOs or GP30s on less well kept lines that the Class Is gave up on. Their operations are smaller and slower, yet highly customer oriented when compared to many Class I operations.
Class I operations on railroads such as Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific offer the most modern horsepower available like AC44s and SD70Ms. Their fast paced mainline focused operations are fast-paced in comparison to shortline/reginal railroads and offer a larger variety of freight trains to model. Additionally, they operate out of modern, state-of-the-art facilities that are typically quite large.
So which type of operation do you prefer modeling and why?
I’ma shortline/regional modeller for similar reasons as Neil gives, though my engines only drink water when the radiators are leaking. [:)]
I like the more laid-back style of operations on a regional, and the variety of motive power and paint schemes is stimulating to model. I won’t be caught up to the prototype in locomotive types or paint schemes for a long time!
I model a modern class 1 (BNSF) with an branch line.
I get the best of both worlds, high speed intermodel and a couple of GP38 poking around on a branch.
Short, very short lines.
My layout is narrow gauge, mining, with an industrial (distillery) siding. All equipment is either second hand or home made so I can anything that strikes my fancy and really gives me a creative outlet.
To me its no fun having to mimic a loco or a railroad exactly, I would rather build my own or at least my own varient of an existing type as it would be modified for use on my line.
I love modeling short lines for many reasons. Tight curves are prototypical. Funky, old diesels look great pulling 2 or 3 modern freight cars. Lots of various industries to switch cars at. And best of all: modeling a short line with a small roster keeps peace and harmony in the family when it’s time to create a budget!
I started off modeling a shortline, branchline to be precise. Now I’m rebuilding my layout to include a mainline, junction and a branchline. It will give the excuse to run more trains and also run more variety because after all, everybody knows that the track and bridges of a branchline won’t support large mainline locomotives. This gives me license to run short trains pulled by switcher diesels or perhaps a Mogul or Ten-Wheeler.
I prefer to model shortlines and regionals. For me class one’s are a little bland. I find the plethora of similiar modern units (usually only one or two types are used for most trains) quite dull. I prefer the oddball, older and worn equipment that can be found on the shortlines and regionals. Often times the equipment used on shortlines and regionals are painted in various paint schemes thanks to it being bought used and their lack of capital to repaint. The facilities and yards that are used by these railroads are usually a fraction the size of many class one’s. I feel that I can come closer to modeling these types of railroads more faithfully due to this. I also enjoy the slower paced action. If I had the space to model, I think incorporating a junction with a class one would be great. In this manner one could add even more variety in locomotive power and operations.
I model A regional railway that is a bridge route for a transcon. That way I get the locals and small operations of switching, but then have runthru trains for the transcon. plus I added a little commuter for the large city on the line.
A mix of everything and the operators are never bored.
I model a branch of a class1. it is a 4x8 layout and is a branch of my fictional Oklahoma, Mexico, and Gulf. the branch is located in western Oklahoma. Ilike branchline/shortline modeling in the mid-50’s because it alows me to run steam along with diesels and prototypcle sharp curves.
I enjoy modeling shortline / regional / backwoods railroads especially narrow gauge but also in standard gauge. I like the older, oddball, timeworn equipment and the one - of-a kind wooden structures found on these railroads. I like to freelance a lot of my equipment and structures so this type of modeling is just the ticket for me.
I model a class I in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, circa 1940-50, but that also means that I can model locals and turnarounds and way-freights, since that’s the time when railroads did almost everything. So I kind of get the best of both worlds–big articulateds on time-freights and reefer extras, and little chunky 2-8-0’s and 2-8-2’s on locals and turns. Depends on my mood on any particular running session. I will admit that I have one HECK of a lot of fun with the locals, though, stopping and switching at every little station on the line (and hiding in sidings while the big trains clatter past). I even have a local passenger that stops at every fishing hole on the North Yuba river, so there’s even fun with that. I like 'em both. Big time railroading and small, personalized customer service that you get with a local.
Currently I model a short line that was owned by a Class 1, so it’s sort of a branch but not really. I tend to prefer short lines–the shorter the better! Old, used, slightly dilapidated equipment is my favorite kind–someday I’m going to model the Fiddletown & Copperopolis, dagnabbit!!
I have to go with many of you above. I model a short line with occasional run throughs by the Missouri Pacific. This allows me to operate a whole railroad from end to end, use small engines and short trains, model tight curves and unique settings, have my Mopac equipment put in occasional appearances, and have what ever else I want on the rails! In short, I have my own little railroad modeled like I want it.[:D][:D][:D]