I have deisel and electric on my layout. All Amtrak. The electric one is the Acela Express from Bachmann.
Steam has no nostalgic value for me. It was gone before I was born, though you wouldn’t be able to guess that from my name.
Wow # 11 !
Are you using a “hot” catenary ?
If so, aren’t operations (e.g. re-railments) & maintenance (e.g. track cleaning) incredibly complicated ?
I picked steam and electric, but actually I plan to have all three. One advantage of modeling the 40’s - 50’s. Guess I just like them all. Now if only I could find some operating horse drawn trolleys in S scale…
Enjoy
Paul
1st & 2nd generation diesel. EMD & GE. I like steam very much, but my modeling era is post 1964. My favorite steamer is the NYC J3a Hudson class, known for hitting 100mph speeds regularly pulling NYC’s top billing passenger trains. I’ve always wondered if there are any film clips anywhere showing them at full speed!
Mostly steam. I model NYO&W which went out of business in the late 50’s. At the time they had a few deisels. I also have a logging division with shays and heislers.
My layout will have mostly steam with some E units and early F’s. The predominent loco will probably be a 2-8-0, they’re good for just about anything.
I’m one of those avante-garde, out-on-a-limb types that models the transition era (yuk-yuk) so I enjoy running both steam and diesel. Normally the steam locos are pulling passenger trains and the diesels handle freight. The rationale I use is that the diesels aren’t yet equipped with steam generators to provide heat for the passenger cars. It works for me. The one diesel that is used for passenger operation is an Alco FPA-4 in green/gold Canadian National colours.
I just wish steam models were more affordable, otherwise I have found that my layout is gradually dieselizing.
Charles
Hillsburgh Ontario
I’ve only seen steam for Historical Society trips, even those are over now with insurance regulations and bs. It just never has done anything for me, maybe if I saw one at full speed, but give me a growling and smoking diesel any day.
Totally fascinated with balloon stack woodburners and anything geared and am currently lusting after a Mantua 2-6-6-2 logging tank.
I bought a 2nd hand diesel but just to try out new track and test my painting skills. It was painted for CN but I found out they never had sharknoses so it’s now blue. I have friends that keep and run diesels on my layout but I am very tolerant when it costs me nothing.
“That’s a lovely new locomotive, why don’t you take it out of the box”. “Oh you have…it’s a diesel”. “Never mind”.
I have four steam locomotives, and well over 100 diesels. Most of which are D&RGW, with 1 KCS SD40-2, 1 NS C44-9, and a couple of SD40-2s in UP paint. I also have several UTAH RAILWAY units.
I just came in at the end off the steam era one of my earliest memories is of an old NSW railways locos around Griffith NSW AU. So I have both
Hey Big Boy
Is that Diesel you got to help your Big Boy make the Grade!!!
Diesel need not apply on the MESS, Where the Allegheny’s meet the Ocean[:D]
I dont use catenary for two reasons. one, i dont have the money to do it, and two i dont have the money to do it[:(] But once i graduate from high school and college than i will get the money and do it.
Diesel. Steam was before my time. I do plan on adding some electric as well.
Tom
I’m building an industrail/mining layout so all my locos are small and all my locos are a mixed bunch. Steam consists of 0-4-0 Porters, 0-4-0 Baldwins, two 2-4-0’s and a dunkirk type shay. The rest are diesel or gas/mechanicals like Macks, Plymouths, and home made Critters.
No chance!!![;)][:D]
For the time, only diesels, as my interrest is towards modern era. But I consider having soon a steam engine (or more) to power corporate / railfans passenger trains. Waiting for a soon coming SP GS3 or GS4.
Now I model first generation diesel and steam. Steam is still dominant though.
I still have a fleet of UP modern diesels encased in boxes sittting on my shelf.
They are from my days before I discovered the glory of steam power.
Nothing but steam is used by Dalreada National Railways and always will be.