Though I’m a big fan of most trains and eras in general, I find that I favor the 1950s more than any other because it was the transitional era from steam to diesel and I can run both.
trainluver1
I like modeling the mid-late 70s or as I call it the per diem era…I really liked all of those IPD short line boxcars…[:D] I suppose that is why I collect short line boxcars…[8D][:D]
I prefer the mid 20s, if for no other reason then being able to model those huge headlights and oversize steam cylinders so common to SP power during this period.
Steam would be nice, but I’ve picked 1982 as my year of choice because that was the year I rode the last passanger train here at the tender age of 7.
We had a narrow-guage line in Newfoundland, and it was just around that time that containerization was being implemented to try and save the railroad from drowning in red ink. CN had decided to cut it loose, and it cost a lot of money to transfer wide-guage cars to narrow-guage trucks.
Unfortunately, it didn’t help and the rails were torn up in 1989. The early 80’s are what I remember, so that’s what I’m trying to recapture.
I am in the late 50’s early 60’s era
I’m doing 1880’s right now, but my future layout will be 1890’s. I’ve just got the urge to modernize I guess.
I’m committed to finish my modern era layout, but to do it all over again would be the 1950’s to 1960’s.
I like the mid 1920’s. They are interesting to me because of the way things where done. Also it’s all steam baby!
"Didn’t someone else just run a poll like this? 1930’s -1960’s Where was that???
I model 1974. That was the year I got my first train set.
I enjoy the eras from 20’s steam to todays thunder but I found myself building my layout with a “current day theme”. Reason I ended up there is due to my kid. (he’s 5) We go train hunting (we call it that versus railfanning, he doesnt understand that one) quite often and it is fun for us to see stuff that I have on my lay out in the real world. Also, we have gone a couple of times to the train store and tried to find somehting we saw that day. I found if I kept it that way, we could enjoy both aspects more.[:)]
Of course, when everyone goes to bed, I sneak out and run the tracks willy-nily with my Cabfoward and reefers on a magical track burning run as it whizzes past the intermodal yard with a bunch of widecabs GP and SD’s hanging out jealous of the SP.[:D]
Best Regards
John K
I am currently modeling the 50’s, but I could easily do the 20’s or the 00’s. I just love it all.
Enjoy
Paul
I model from 1880 to current day.
My layout and most of my modeling is done this the late 50’s in mind. I have built models that do not ‘fit’ that era, but those models are ‘display’ models, not something that inhabits the layout.
Jim Bernier
i’m modelling somewhere in the 1900-1920 era , if i had to pin it down i’d have to go with 1911 , the Santa Fe , Prescott & Phoenix Railway was still pretty much independant of the ATSF although it was owned by them , consolidation od ATSF’s arizona lines happened in 1912 . also copper mines in the area were still the old shaft type rather than open pit . most of the US was installing electrical wiring and the demand for copper was high (it got even higher during WWI and a few people got extremely rich)
my main reason for liking that era is small locos , short cars and short trains , since i know i’m unlikely to ever have room for a huge layout with curves big enough for modern or even transition era equipment
I vote that we elect mac4884 our official trains.com poll and topic watcher to make sure no polls or topics are ever repeated because he seems to be more sensitive to it than others. But then, let’s also keep an eye on him so that he doesn’t repeat any polls or topics either…[B)]
trainluver1
Late 70’s / Early 80’s all the way up to present!
JP
I do very much appreciate the diversity here. If we all did my 50’s transition era, this would become a dull forum.
I was born in 52, and was blown away with steam in northern Ontario until my dad took a job as a superintendant at a mine in Peru, in 57. When we got up to Cerro de Pasco, at 14,400 feet in the Andes, I found that the company was running steam, mostly 2-8-0’s. On the other hand, when we left to go to Peru, Ontario Northland was already running diesels, I believe, so I get the best of both worlds. Sucks, don’t it?
All the above
Gordon