What is your fav. era of trains?
Mine is 1865-1900 and 1925-1950.
Penn Central 1968-1970
I have to go with the mid '40s to the '50s. Some of the best steam engines that the world had ever seen were in service, along with some gorgeous and unique first generation diesels. Not to mention that there was a rotary dial phone in every house[:)](hoping that Rod M. reads this thread[:)][:)]).
1941 to 1958
1970’s to current. Loved that issue of 'Trains" called “That 1970’s Issue.” Great play on words and a great issue to boot!!!
When the railroads were going into bankruptcy in the mid-1970’s, seemed that the rules got broken. All kinds of weird roadname combos could be seen. Penn Central stuff was all over the northeast, regardless of track. The Reading, D&H, and N&W were all frequent visitors at the LV’s Sayre, Pa. yards.
So from what I saw, a lash up with anything from PC, EL, CNJ, RDG, N&W, LV and even Corrail is utterly prototypical. As are many other combos of lashups, such as NH, PRR, NYC and PC. Or Chessie with EL. Or Chessie with CNJ. Or CNJ units in B&O paint. And a PC train with a NYC caboose is absolutely real. As is a LV train with a RDG caboose… I know, I saw them.
The real railroads may have hated the 1970’s, but they are a railroad modelers dream for almost anything goes.
From about 1890 to 1940. There were some beautiful examples of steam locomotive engineering in those decades. They were also good decades for toy trains! [;)]
Gotta be the 60s & 70s Steve
1960,s.When i was a fireman on british rail and had the oppurtunity to fire the gresley pacifics ,and his frieght loco,s.Haa the good old days.
1400 (mining trains) to 1979 (long story why 79).
1930’s to early 1950’s. when steam transitioned to deisel.
30’s - 40’s Santa Fe Steam
I like the 40’s and 50’s, years in which steam was still around, but on its way out and streamline diesels were just coming into prominence. Some the most efficient steam locomotives ever produced were made during this era, while some of the most beautiful passenger trains to ever exist graced our American rails during this time.
Virtually all of these fascinating trains were being reproduced in the toy train market during this same era. Even today, some of the best selling toy trains produced by manufacturers such as Lionel , MTH, K Line, and Williams are recreations of trains made popular in the 40’s and 50’s. Colorful F-3’s, PA’s, FA’s, E-7’s, E-9’s,GGI’s, FM Trainmasters, Geeps, EP-5’s, N&W J’s, Pennsy Turbines, Berkshires, Northerns, and Niagras are still top sellers in today’s toy train market.
My favorite era is the 1950’s and early 60’s. Steam was still present and passenger service was still dominate. This was Era III in European Railroading. The post war years.
My favorite era for modelling is the Golden Age of Sream. On The Mountain Route it is always January 21, 1943. Odd-d
I like 1964 thru 1994. There were lots of great diesel engines that came out during this time.
The Age of the Dominance of USRA designs and their derivatives: '20s and '30s.
Mine was the steam to diesel transition era, from the mid 1940s through the 1950s. The biggest steam power was running as were all of the great first generation diesels from Alco, EMD, Baldwin and Lima.
I really like the Art Deco Streamliner era of the 30’s and 40’s. Some really beautiful trains were designed in that time period the Dreyfuss Hudsons of the 20th Century limited and Empire State Express, Raymond Lowey’s GG-1 and T-1. Some other favorites of that era are the Otto Kuhler designed Hiawatha and the Lehigh Valley’s John Wilkes. There is certainly no shortage of these trains produced in O scale.
This is my first post. I‘ve been looking in on this forum for a while and decided it was about time to post.
Bill
I’ll put in another vote for the 1880s-1890s. That is the era I actually model, to the extent I can with the limited motive power and rolling stock available. But thanks to MTH, things are getting better…
My favorite would be the 1930’s to the 1960’s. For the 30’s and 40’s, see lfdrr65’s post above. Then, after WWII, there were all of the great postwar streamliners. Steam, first generation diesel and the finest passenger trains the world has ever seen! What’s there not to love?