From what I know, lots of railroaders model what had the most influence on them, which usually is what they saw when growing up. What helped bring me into railroading was the old Southern Pacific yard in Roseville, CA. I was constantly exposed to it in the '90s. I latched onto Espee, but then went back in time. Now I model semi-generic west, heavily looks like northern California. [:I]
What I create is near the region where I grew up. How you compare? Do you model where or in the general vacinity of where you grew up?
I don’t model the general vicinity but I do model the railroads that ran through my home town in Southern Illinois – the Illinois Central and Missouri Pacific. I don’t have a home layout where I could specialize in a specific geographic area, but must rely on a club layout.
I’ve got two layouts: O Hi-Rail and HO. The O Hi-Rail layout is generic “Lionel Display Layout”. The HO layout is based on where I grew up in Chicago - multitrack, more passenger than freight, etc.
I think AggroJones and I got the same inspiration–SP operations in Roseville (as well as Sacramento.) I didn’t grow up downtown but was always fascinated with downtown Sacramento from a very young age, and have lived downtown for eleven years, so I model the trains that ran down here.
I was born in Chicago and always find that town inspiring in a railroady sort of way when I go to visit.
when i was little we had tons and tons of Chicago and Northwestern trains going through town. since UP bought them now we have like 3-6 trains a day go through. usually at like 12:30 there is one. and then a couple at night. thats when they usually come through. i don’t get to see them that often because i’m in school but hopefully i can just sit one day and watch and take pictures.
i model/will model Burlington Northern and its subsidaries like CB&Q and GN. i also plan to have a little Rock Island and maybe depending on what i get this weekend some BNSF if i can find a locomotive.
I grew up and still live in Maine, all the Maine lines are my 3rd choice behind BN and UP. I not sure why, maybe it like this, I grewup in Vacation Land but I take my vacations usually in the west. samething with the trains I model. I found it interesting that Model Railroader has printed many articles about different Maine lines including the series on Roque Bluffs. It is still my railroad world, I can model a BN or UP and MEC intechange based on an projected expansion of the MEC.[;)][:D]
GO PATRIOTS
With what was left of the Erie main line in my town, there wasnt much inspiration to model anything. I basically had to deal with seeing things in magazines and other sources to get the flavor of railroading. All I had to go by were commuter trains as most of the freights were gone, and I currently dont model any form of passenger railroading.
Thanks to NS, all the freights on the former Erie main are now gone.
I grew up north of Toronto and use to hike up to the CN main line that runs east/west just North of Steeles Avenue at Yonge. But since coming to the Maritimes i much prefer the scenery and diversity it offers. The nice thing about Nova Scotia is, if the scenery is starting to bore ya all you have to do is blink, cus it’ll change for ya!
I grew up in North Florida, but I model the Southern’s Murphy Branch in Western North Carolina. I moved to the mountains in NE Georgia almost eleven years ago. My home is about 25 miles from Murphy so I discovered the branch after I got up here.
Tom Watkins
Living in the Chicago area has given me numerous focal points that I find fascinating. From riding the commuter trains pass the old Englewood Station on the Rock Island line (even as it stood unused and woefully deteriorated prior to being demolished, it had an incredible allure)…to leaving for summer vacations in the South from Chicago’s Union Station…to where I live now…all have left an unforgettable impression on me. As such, I want my railroad to reflect most of what I found fascinating growing up. Small towns with the obligatory Main Street–with a double track mainline close by–excites my senses to this day, as does urban scenes surrounding the approach tracks to a major train terminal. The influences of these scenes and others like them are always in thought as work progresses on my little railroad.
As an Army brat, I grew up all over (I lived at 20 different addresses by the time I was 18 from California to West Germany). But my main interest is the middle east coast, where I have lived since I was 16 (except for a tour in Germany when I was in the Army).
Enjoy
Paul
I grew up in Pennsylvania and the PRR and Reading were both ran through the area I lived in. Not surprising (I guess) is that my collection is mostly Reading followed by PRR, Lehigh Valley, a little Jersey Central and maybe a piece or two of the Lehigh and New England.
Don’t have a layout yet but when I do you can count on it being a coal hauler with loads of Reading Equipment.
I model the area, but not any particular line. It’s a total freelanced1870-1890 railraod focused on the southern wisconisin/northern illinois area at the moment. it may expand further out from there as i add to it, but for now it’s only focussing on this small area.
So nice to hear from another MoPac fan. I grew up on MoPac’s Sedalia Sub in west-central Missouri. My first layout was a single town on this line. My present layout, however, is based on another personal railraod experience. It is BNSF’s Witchita Falls Sub in North Texas. I chose it because I lived in north Fort Worth near Saginaw, TX, an area which simply begged to be modeled . . . so I am.
Ron
If I want to watch modern roborailroading, I’ll go railfan (which is rare). I model 1950 in central Illinois, so I can watch all the cool stuff I missed being born too late (1970): mainline superpower steam hauling 79 cars at 75 MPH, passenger trains of all heavyweights being pulled by a Pacific or Hudson at 95, or a terminal yard filled with wood 38’ boxcars and more than 25 engines from 10 different roads, all simmering away.
When I do railfan, I chase steam excursions or a shortline. At least they still have SOME character…
I grew up in South Central Kansas 1970’s with my Dad as an Engineer for the AT&SF.
Later we moved to north Central Kansas, where the UP runs. This is reflected in my choices of road names on my layout…and what the scenery is starting to shape up to be…but nothing is certain.