No knocks on the members on here that are past 50, but I am talking to the 18-40’s crowd right now. What era do you model? Do you plan to do modern era layouts based on the NS,CSXT,BNSF’S etc, or are you researching the Steam eras, (Golden era, the depression, transcontinental railroad,etc)? I am asking just because well, 22 year old here who is probably going to do the Pennsylvania railroad in the 1950’s with no diesels, and just wanted to do a comparison to what others are doing. Yes I do have some NS diesel power (GP35 and a Conrail GP38-2).
What about the 40-50yr old crowd?? [:D]
The PRR would have had many diesels in the 50’s, which isn’t a bad thing. I think many of the early diesel switchers were interesting, and even some of the electric units.
To answer your question, 90% of my engines take coal.
See below for my signature. I am not a fan of diesels really, and I got the diesels to run an operating session. So I am doing a twist, I am doing “post war”,but in my layout;s history, world war two broke out in 1952 instead of 1942. The economy crashed in 1939 instead of 1929,etc. SO everything is pushed back ten years or so.
I could littereally get away with this because I am doing a freelanced railroad, that connects with the Pennsy in the fictional town of Austinville Pennsylvania. In my freelanced history, the Pennsylvania had a branch through the cities of Austinville, Ransom, Easton, Dawston, Eagle Creek, and Dynamite City. There were tons of Narrow gauge logging railroads that went bust in the collapse of the economy that served the towns of Logging camps #1-4. But in the late 40’s the Pennsylvania abandoned that branch. The cities that were now cut off from the rest of the world, created their own railroad, the Austinville and Dynamite City railroad. It’s main purpose is commuter service from the small towns, to the transfer city of Austinville Pennsylvania. Although recently freight has picked up on the line.
In my case, I freelance as well but it is based on an ex-NP line (mid 70s to early 80s). (The theory behind it being that the BN leased off the NP line in Southern Montana creating a new shortline similar to the modern MRL.) It is a little before my memory but the forums have provided a lot of help getting everything right. The reason for the timeframe is that I have always loved trains for as long as I could remember (even before that, according to my Mother.) and the mid-70s is when I was born.
As a 40s man living in Sweden, I model New England standard gauge in 1943 and Colorado narrow gauge in the 30’s. Both in 1:87.
I model the Rock Island in Chicago during the late 50’s. I’m also 32. The Rock fell months before my birth so I have to research, etc. I like modern equipment too but don’t like the industry’s reliance on fewer bigger shippers and little or no passenger traffic. As I’m a big fan of passenger varnish, I model a Chicago terminal station based loosely on LaSalle Street.
modern short lines. I switch out every time i move between Arizona’s Apache and San Pedro & Southwestern with Florida’s FEC and First Coast Railroad.
At 33 I suppose I am part of the young crowd. For me, the 80s were my favorite period. I love GP35, 38, and SD40s…those type of engines. I’m currently modeling the late summer of 1989 around the Kansas City area (roughly). UP, MoPac, and MKT all merged at this time. Although I grew up in Michigan watching the chessie system roll by, When I moved to KC I fell in love with the landscape and the rail history. Couple more weeks and the benchwork will be complete.
What about the <18 crowd? I am a freshman in high school and I model the NYC (and a dash of PRR) in Buffalo, NY. I started out modeling the CSX & NS in Ohio, then I realized that the modern rolling stock is too large for 18’’ radius curves on a 4x8 layout. I recently (Christmas 2012) decided and switched to 1950s era stuff. I love the geographical research (x2 Nat’l Geographic Bee School Champ, & a trip to the state finals) and my ancestors settled (and the rest of the family still does) live in NY State. I enjoy the hobby greatly, and I never expect to leave the hobby.
Union Pacific in the mid 90s
To behonest, I really did not expect anyone under 18 to be here.
Ya I know. At school I’m the odd man out because I play with trains, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
I’m 24 and Im attempting to freelance as well, but I focus on Kansas and Nebraska during the 1940s and 1950s. I am basing my modeling off the Missouri Pacific, Texas and Pacific, and Kansas Oklahoma and Gulf. I model the era because I like the seeing the transition era Alcos and Steam.
I’m 19, modeling the SP&S in the 60’s I love the BN so much that I will be adding two BN(SP&S ordered) GP38’s and a BN caboose to my roster soon.
why the 60’s? I like the broadstripe scheme, and the big brutish SP&S alcos though nobody has produced a C425 or C636 in N scale. My 424’s are the wrong phase but they fill a spot on the roster. plus I can have maroon roofed locos and dulux striped passenger cars mixed with broadstripe cars. amongst other things.
Nice to see some “kids” here. As for me at 40 I’m modeling the PC Cleveland and Pittsburgh line (or attempting it anyways) circa 71-75
I’m doing well: no money, constant derailments, broken motive power and mismash passenger consists!
It actually has some advantages: rolling stock and motive power for freights came from PRR and NYC, lots of that availible cheap, Amtrak just startinig out was the same way with an even braoder selection. I don’t have to hunt for anything specific because it ALL ended up in the area/timeframe. Modelling early Conrail would be the same as running grab bag stuff from the train shows (no western roads though)
As for the younger crowd feeling like odd man out, don’t feel bad. It was that way for me too. Express your individuality, just expect to be ribbed for it!
I’m forty something. I model the modern era. D&RGW/UP, SF/BNSF 1989-Present.
I like the modern era because I want to model what I can go and see observe current trains. But I also like steam, so I model lots of passenger steam excursion trains.
To add to what I posted before. I model the Pennsy as stated above-reasonibly cheap and available. Plus I love the Pennsy steamers. If I had to start again, I would probably model the Norfolk Southern at the conrail split though…One of the Pennsylvania lines. Oh, I want to add to the whole “bullying by others” thing. Yes people will pick at you for model railroading saying it “is not cool,stupid,etc” but just remember this one thing- You have an amazing hobby that will open so many doors for you. You will learn history and how to research, you will learn about wiring (and how not to electricute yourself), you will learn how to build solid benchwork/tables. You will learn about about geography, and about how to organize. Best of all, you will be able to build something that you love, that is an actual object, and something that will last as long as you want it to, and something that YOU BUILT FROM SCRATCH! Embrace your hobby, and just remember, the bullies of today, usually end up working for their victims. Also, look at the list of some of the most famous celebrity model railroaders. Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen, Frank Sinatra, James May (Top Gear), Rodger Daltry, Tom Hanks, Walt Disney, Micheal Gross, possibly Micheal Jordan,Rod Stewart, Patrick Stewart, to name a few. You are in very good company.
Since I’m now over 50 – My name is Schultz! [;)]
I am past 40… but not yet 50! I model current day freight operations on the QGRY between Montreal and Quebec City. Modern day diesels and freight operations appeal to me as I can drive the prototype and see what I model!!!
Conrail around 1994,Big Blue was really rockin by then and was under no influence by CSX or NS.I am 48 yrs old just getting ready to start my new layout,should have drywall hung an finished in my own purpose built building within the next week or two.
Mike Lamar,PA