I’m new to the model railroading hobby, actually I haven’t even bought any gear yet. I’m a few years from retirement and have been thinking model railroading would be an amazing hobby I could enjoy for many years.
I like the classic Streamiliner EMD E and F diesels and would like to model a 50’s - 70’s railroad. I live in Arizona and think the red rock scenery is the direction I’d like to go for a layout and purchase the locomotives and rolling stock that ran through my state during that time. I’ve subscribed to Model Railroader magazine and I’ve purchased a few books to help me get started.
Anyway, I look forward to learning from everyone and enjoying the hobby!
If you want to model passenger trains that ran through Arizona in the 1950s and '70s, you have only two choices – Southern Pacific’s Sunset Limited and lesser known passenger runs through Yuma, Casa Grande, Tucson, Benson, and Willcox basically paralleling Interstate 8 and Interstate 10 on what is now the Union Pacific; and the Santa Fe Super Chief and others across the northern part of Arizona through Holbrook, Flagstaff, Seligman and Kingman on what is now the BNSF line.
During that time frame, the Southern Pacific ran passenger trains through Phoenix, but Amtrak abandoned that line due to the poor condition of the track sometime in the 1980s.
Amtrak was created in 1971 and took over all passenger trains on both lines.
You can also run any line; or, even your own freelanced line anywhere in this and any other world you can think of. You don’t have to model the prototype, if some thing else strikes your fancy!
Welcome aboard. “Track Planning for Realistic Operation” by John Armstrong is the essential book for layout planning and building. Model Railroader is excellent. My only advice on layout building is to keep your plans small enough for you to execute on. Start something small, get it running, and then, if you still have the energy, you can expand it. It’s a downer to plan a massive layout, and never get it finished.
First, from one Arizonan to another, welcome. [#welcome] I, too, am starting to think about retirement and decided a couple of years to add model railroading to the retirement plan. This was not a resurgent desire, but a brand new interest. In the course of the past two years, I have learned a number of lessons. My initial recommendation would be to start with a small, “disposable” layout to test and learn. Do you want to take the easiest route and use track with an integrated roadbed, or do you want the flexibility of flex track? In my case I started with Kato Unitrack and jettisoned it for Peco flex track.
Welcome. I retired and thought I might get back to the hobby later, then decided to start my 3rd layout, the last one around 1980. I’ve enjoyed it in retirement as there’s more discretionary time and I can take my time. I second the suggestion of books. There are others on benchwork, effective trackwork, scenery, electronic stuff, many of these at the MR Shop above. And many good websites on specifics (e.g., DCC wiring). Ask any questions here and you will get lots of helpful folks pitching in. For layouts, note the free trackplan database here, plus books available.
I went the UP route so have a decent supply of rolling stock available. The supply of specific new locos is limited for “current” production in a given road name, but there are lots of new in the box prior items available at hobby shops, train shows and even Ebay (with limited risk if you use high rated sellers, plenty of clear photos).
I found it helpful to see much of what’s available using the annual Walthers “reference book” (catalog) as it’s easier IMO to flip through than the website. There are a few lines they do not carry. There are some good web shops, my favorite is MBKlein (modeltrainstuff.com). It they have what you want, there’s a discount and service is good.
Looks like you are off to a good start, as you have a location and era in mind. Now if you can tell folks what the area you have available looks like (include windows, doors, posts, electric panel access and such) that will help others help you in your plans.
Also, what scale do you want to use, N, HO or some other scale. There are also some narrow gauge sizes, but it would seem for what you have said, they might only be branch lines for you.
Since you seem to be leaning toward some passenger trains, I assume you would like some long runs. You can use continuous running, hiding some of it to make it look longer. Point to point also works if you have the space to do long runs.
Plenty of folks here ready to give their advice when you have questions. You will find different opinions and methods. None are wrong, if they work for somebody. Just give each a try and see which ones work the best for you. You will also find that different techiniques work better in some spots, so don’t be afraid to do different things.
I agree, start with a small layout to help you get the hang of it. It can be designed to be part of a larger layout or it can be something to be given away or discarded once you are ready to tackle a larger layout. My pratice layout was not planned to be part of a larger layout, but changes have left it in the middle of my reduced available space. I hate to dispose of it before I have the larger one ready to run, but I may have to.
Good luck,
Richard
EDIT: Somehow I got that a little out of order. OH well!!
Red rock country. I associate that with Sedona, which didn’t have a railroad (Santa Fe’s nearby line to Prescott & Phoenix wasn’t too far away). Sounds like you’re talking about the Santa Fe main line through Flagstaff. F units on both freight and passenger trains in that era. Not many E units, although I guess you could justify them. PA’s would be nice. Maybe some late steam. Lots of product available. Yep. Quite doable.
Of course, you could also fictionalize the whole thing and run a railroad of your own imagining. Maybe your own unique paint scheme on those E’s and F’s.
You’ve already begun to think about your priorities and preferences. Continue that process. Think about how much value you put on such things as scenery, modeling a specific location, freight vs. passenger service, local switching vs. through service, mainline vs. branchline, etc. These things can help you form an idea of the railroad you want. A busy mainline means you will want broad curves for fast trains with big equipment. A branch means tighter curves will be adequate. Long trains mean long passing sidings; on a less busy line, you might find shorter passing sidings to be adequate.
I would agree that it makes sense to start small. Small equipment will work fine on a big layout if that’s what you choose to eventually build, but big equipment will be out of place on a layout that represents a lower-keyed operation.
So dive in. It will be a learning experience. I’ve been doing this for over 50 years, and it’s still a learning experience for me. Mistakes are part of the learning process, so keep a light-hearted attitude & don’t let those learning experiences be too discouraging. Keep the fun in it.
If passenger trains are your thing, make the radius on the layout you build quite broad and don’t compromise, even if you have to keep the layout simple.
Yes, I have been looking at Southern Pacific, Santa Fe and Union Pacific Locomotives. I especially like the Union Pacific passenger cars from that time but haven’t been able to find someone who makes the streamlined “art deco” rear car.
I went on a Route 66 road trip last year and traveled through the towns you mentioned. Also went to Winona and what I think they called Angel, or Angel Station. It had a very long T section of track where the depot was.
I may very well end up doing my own layout without any actual reference. I’ve seen some photos and video of the Verde Canyon Railroad and like that landscape, but even though the line runs F7 locomotives I don’t care for the paint schemes or the rolling stock.
Thanks for the tip! I have purchased several books from this website and am waiting for them to arrive. The space I have for a layout will be 16’ x 12’ along two adjoining walls about 4’ from the wall. So the space will look like an “L”. I bought my grandson a Bachmann starter train set for Christmas last year, and I bought him some additional EZ track this year. I have thought about doing a 4 X 8 for him to practice.
Thanks for the welcome! I think I will go straight to the flex track, maybe use some pre bent sections of curve track? I’m new to trains but I have some modeling experience behind me; I built 1/35 scale military models in the 80’s and I did scale R/C airplanes for about 12 years in the 90’s and early 2000’s.
Thanks for the tips! I was thinking for locomotives and rolling stock to buy good quality that don’t need any rework to make them perform well and then do some light weathering and see how I feel about that. I have been eyeing the Digitrax Empire Builder for a DCC system. Any thoughts on that system?
Red rock country. I associate that with Sedona, which didn’t have a railroad (Santa Fe’s nearby line to Prescott & Phoenix wasn’t too far away). Sounds like you’re talking about the Santa Fe main line through Flagstaff. F units on both freight and passenger trains in that era. Not many E units, although I guess you could justify them. PA’s would be nice. Maybe some late steam. Lots of product available. Yep. Quite doable.
Of course, you could also fictionalize the whole thing and run a railroad of your own imagining. Maybe your own unique paint scheme on those E’s and F’s.
You’ve already begun to think about your priorities and preferences. Continue that process. Think about how much value you put on such things as scenery, modeling a specific location, freight vs. passenger service, local switching vs. through service, mainline vs. branchline, etc. These things can help you form an idea of the railroad you want. A busy mainline means you will want broad curves for fast trains with big equipment. A branch means tighter curves will be adequate. Long trains mean long passing sidings; on a less busy line, you might find shorter passing sidings to be adequate.
I would agree that it makes sense to start small. Small equipment will work fine on a big layout if that’s what you choose to eventually build, but big equipment will be out of place on a layout that represents a lower-keyed operation.
So dive in. It will be a learning experience. I’ve been doing this for over 50 years, and it’s still a learning experience for me. Mistakes are part of the learning process, so keep a light-hearted attitude & don’t let those learning experiences be too discouraging. Keep the fun in it.