Cast your vote for your favorite!
Once I get my 5x8 layout going, I plan to run what I think the Union Pacific specialized in, fast freight over Sherman Hill. When I get that Big Boy (and that Challenger), I think it’ll be a mostly freight layout, but I will include 1 or 2 passenger trains. (the UP passenger cars always caught my eye) 
Hmm…there’s a really long thread on thsi already, most seem to like Frieght, very few seem to like the elogant Passenger layouts.
As for that 4-8-8-4, it was designed for heavy frieght use, But i think it’d be more impressive pulling a long consist of passenger cars up and over a mountain. ;p
Jay.
I like both–although in my layout’s case “passenger” means passenger trolleys rather than big passenger trains.
I run all types of passenger trains on my layout, which I drop and pickup cars enroute. I also run all types of freight trainsand use a card order and way bill system, so I guess I like both types of trains equally.
yea well when i start seeing reasonably priced modern LRV’s i’ll be happy too. I’m not modeling 1940 cities, so those trolleys just don’t cut it.
Jay
going to be all freight all the time on my layout. the layout is going to be 4x8 so i won’t really have a lot of room to run the big passenger trains. also i don’t really like passenger trains. i know thats what trains were used for when they were first invented but nowadays we have airplanes and buses and cars so i don’t really see the point. thats just my 2 cents. nowadays i know we have semi and plane but i think trains are meant for freight use.
oh well.
Passenger: NYC smoothside and corrugated; 4-6-4 Hudson
I prefer to ride in a luxury passenger train as it snakes across Canada / USA, but I model the freight trains (they look interesting, but aren’t comfy)
Fast heavy rail commuter is king of my layout! Mainline freight is mixed in as are absolutely beautiful streamliners and bullet trains.
I am kind of split right down the middle, But since there are more freight trains than passenger trains on the rairlaods I model, I tend to more freight modeling than passenger train modeling.
Steam powered freight is king on my layout. The fleet of freight of freight cars number in the 200+ range. Most of them sit in boxes on the shelf in bubble wrap to protect the details and weather jobs. Alot of detailed Athearn, some Accurail, MDC, and some Walthers. My freight is mostly various western boxcars, and eastern coal hoppers to run the occasional N&W unit coal drag.
But I also have a bunch of Southern Pacific heavyweights piloted by a heavy 4-8-2 or light mikado. And a group of Daylight streamliners headed by the GS-4.
I started the other string on this very question,HMMMMM???
But, anyway, I model passengers on two tracks and model a
freightline on the third track, complete with industry sidings,etc.
I feel that modelling both completes my “world”. !!!
Passenger trains-theres something about them. Yes, freight trains do provide alot of operating, however, must have a lot of realestate in model form to operate. Passenger trains don’t need as much realestate unless modeling a hub which would include union station, post office, REA facility and coach yard.
Ch
San Francisco still runs PCC’s, which can be had from Bachmann for $25 brand spanking new, or less than half that used or on eBay. They’re “streamlined” enough to pass for modern, and there is sufficient justification for running them on a 1980’s-present layout.
I’d agree that there aren’t enough inexpensive traction/electric models available, of any era–there aren’t that many reasonably priced 1940’s trolleys either! But they are out there, and eBay offers many an interesting possibility for bargains–both for the old stuff and for LRV’s.
Local trolley lines are a definite possibility for those modeling the 1890’s-1950’s, and while they went out of fashion in the 60’s and 70’s, they are definitely back.
And the allure of 6" minimum radius (in HO!) is strong…
Yea but those PCC’s aren’t quite modern enough for me, but i did find a Boeing LRV in England that might do till i can get a decent US one. Also thinking of adding a 2-car subway set to run around on an elevated track alongs side the fast communter trains.
Jay.
Got to have sidings for the freights to sit on while being passed. Didn’t get to see many passenger trains growing up, but often catch a Amtrak in Mendota, IL on the way to Chicago on Saturday morning or leaving Chicago going West on Sunday nights around 5:30-6 or so. So have Amtrak P42 set of 2 and Superliners. Also saw a Amtrak as we came down the pass into (I think, Las Vegas, NM), we passed it, checked into our room, sat there, watched it go by.
Used to see ATSF on the line through Pasadena toward Chicago with the Budd cars in the evenings in 1970, living in Arcadia, CA a couple blocks south of Huntington Drive. My N scale Budds and E8A/B train is most prized, as are my PA/PB in Daylight with Daylight smoothside set, heavyweight set and Lark set. Have to have the freights though, I’m really grumpy over the F3A/B Kato in Warbonnet that should have been my ATSF freight locos. I don’t need more passenger trains. Never did see or remember seeing SP passenger, so my favorites were the cattle cars and F7A/B in Black Widow. Would like to have a Fruit block of cars. What I liked about the Freights was the cars and logos from all over the US, NP to NH, so all western lines are game, all eastern lines shipping in a boxcar are game, oil, chemicals.
Freight all the way! Don’t get me wrong, I have traveled on Amtrak several times in my life and loved watching that villages, towns, farms, etc as the cars rolled by. But, since I live about 3 minutes from CSX’s DeWitt Yard, and all I do is dream of having a switching layout w/ 1 or 2 “off” mains, then that’s what I shall have.
Freight, of course. But with all these new nice passenger cars coming out, makes me want to add some varni***o the layout. two sets of the Walther/Rivarossi smooth siders will do nicely.
Passengers get the priority, freight pays the bills.