I know this sounds really stupid and everything but Im really new to trains and I hear this prototype stuff and I really don’t know what it means?!?!?!
Could you guys give me some explanations please?[:)][:)]
Welcome to the forum. and to the world’s greatest hobby.
The prototype (as used by model railroaders) means the full-scale item being modeled.
In my immediate neighborhood, the prototype railroad is the Union Pacific’s Los Angeles to Salt Lake City route, which means Armour yellow diesels and modern freight cars, with an end-of-train device hung on the coupler of the last car which, once clear, allows me to resume my drive down Craig Road (traffic signals permitting.)
If, on the other hand, you like the look of UP’s Big Boy, North America’s largest steam locomotive, you will find the prototype standing in a park. It hasn’t been run in half a century. That doesn’t stop you from buying a model, backing the tender down on that ready-to-leave freight in the yard on your layout and pulling it away.
Other people may model other railroads in a variety of scales, but the prototype is always the full-size item.
You will also hear the term, “Freelance.” A freelance model is built to realistic standards, but is not a model of any particular prototype loco, car or building. If properly done, it’s a, “might have been.” If engineering standards are not followed, it’s a, “say WHAT?” As you get more familiar with railroading in general, it becomes easy to tell which is which.
The best way to learn about full scale “prototype” railroading is to read lots of books. Check your home town library first. What you want is those books that have lots of photos and go into detail about track arrangements, rolling stock and operation. Some books will tell you all about the financial shenanigans and boardroom politics behind a specific railroad. In general, reading them is a waste of time unless you’ve decided to learn everything there is to know about that specific railroad. Even then, they won’t help your actual modeling very much.
Once again, welcome. Come on in and enjoy
Chuck
RAPTOR 55 [#welcome][#welcome][#welcome]
I’ve used that word thousands of times in over 40 years and never thought to ask…pretty good answer Chuck [8D]