As some of you may know i’m just getting into the hobby and i hope to become a full fledge model railroader as this hobby seems like one of the best to have.
so i’d like to know what railroads you model. right now living in Wisconsin i’m thinking about Burlington Northern, Wisconsin Centra, Milwaukee Road, or CSX. during school yesterday i saw a CSX go through so that’s why i’d like to model that one.
what do you model? sorry if this has been done before, i’m just a newb.
Norfolk & Western here…thinking about getting more into logging and SHAYs 
Santa Fe, all the way!
Sacramento Northern and Central California Traction, both of which were electric interurban lines that survived to become diesel freight lines in the modern era./
This is not an easy question for me to answer as I model several. This is becasue of my diverse interests and the fact that trains to me are like lays potoato chips. I cant stick to just one.
I am reposting directly the list of what I model from another post I made here on this forum. I would like to mention that so far the models are mainly in equipment only and my layout at present is the Lander yard and South Lander Industiral Branch on my Lander Northwestern Portion. I however Run the other roadnames on that layout as my mood fits.
Here is what I model.
THe Union Pacific Wyoming Division, 1950, HO Scale. Uncle Pete still had alot of neat looking steam locomotives. Including my favorites. 4 Challengers in the Grayhound Scheme (3977-3980). Alot of older wood sided equipment was in its last years of revenue service. as well as new still modern looking 40 and 50 foot cars such as the AAR Boxcars or the PS-1.
Mid 60s CNW Locomotives on a Modern Day representation of CNWs “Cowboy Line” to Lander Wyoming, HO Scale. I like the look of mid 60s CNW Power, I also wanted to model the line that once ran to the town I now live. However upon doing research on the appropriet line, Using the modern day industrial base that is now in the area, provides more justification for a rail line that the 5 dinky grain elevators, and seasonal stock movements that consisted of the traffic base in the mid 60s. I operate this segment as the short line “Lander Northwestern” with the brass deciding to have their locomotives painted for Mid 60s CNW.
1967-1970 Great Northern, HO Scale. Ok I am vain I admit it. The only reason I model this railroad during this period is becasue this was the era of my all time favorite diesle paint scheme. GN’s Big Sky Blue. I have not decided what portion of this railroad I will model yet. But for the time being I usually use my models for this railroad at train shows I attend. Also I must mention that all the other lines I model are at least an
For me it’s the Rock Island from 1970 to 1980. The last decade of the Rock’s operations was the most interesting. Especially, with it’s motley assortment of paint schemes and locomotive roster. I model the Rock between Liberal, KS to Dalhart, TX of the Rock’s Golden State Route. Nothing beats seeing a 100 car unit grain train creeping down the mainline!!! I also model a little of the Southern Pacific because the RI interchanged with them at Tucumcari, NM. So, I have a few SP tunnel motors for run-through power.
I’ve been in the hobby for over 40 years now and yes you tend to model what attracted you to trains in the first place. That being said I have found that what I want has changed with time, my knowledge, wants, and not least reality. I started with an AHM U25C and Y6b steam engine as my first HO trains both in PRR. I collected anything PRR and now own several cars that are at best extremely poor representations of PRR equipment. As my skills and tools increased so did my level of detail. Finally I drew a line in the sand and said to my self that anything that wasn’t at a certain level of accuracy was going to be labeled for the Alleghey Railroad that in my world had a very close relationship with the PRR and ran some of its trains over the PRR and vice versa. I became so enamored with the ARR I was developing I abandoned the PRR for awhile which allowed me to buy some engiens never owned by the PRR that the ARR bought when being scrapped by the railroads in question. I still have some ARR freight cars and passenger cars and they will still run on my latest version of the PRR but I am more than ever into fidelity of pRR equipment, location and operation at this point. Will I ever be able to win a car contest - yes if I am the only one entering. I have planned a one scale mile railroad of the PRR in Philadelphia with corridor traffic and locals. One turn on the whole thing (prototypical). Real time as the distance is easily modeled in a basement. Easily built - one straight line diagonally from corner to corner with hidden staging in the peak of the triangle it forms, no tight aisles, no duckunders, no multilevels to maintain, and lots of trains. I have finally found nirvanna after 40 years of having fun. The point - I had a lot of fun along the way. I learned and continue to learn a lot and apply most of it, I changed with time, I am better for it and so is what I will model. It ain’t permanent and change is the only constant so go with the flow. I doubt it but in five years I may deicde to model
I find it easiest to base my modeling off of my railfanning. Find rail yards, engine houses, major traffic rails and take lots of photos. You’ll get a lot of ideas this way. Make sure to photograph the local scenary as well if you are looking to acurrately model a specific rail line.
If you really don’t want to model a specific railway I suggest looking at magazines and videos and model the bits and pieces you are interested in. Best advice I ever got concerning model railroading was “It’s my railroad I can do what I want.” Have fun it with it and it will help youstay hooked.
I model the Waynesburg and Washington…as it might have existed in the '70s–with Penn Central rolling stock and a little Monongahela RR thrown in.
I’m going to model the Union Pacific in 1945. After that maybe the N&W!
i have two main lines for “east” and “west” coast.For Waterloo,Ia. i am modeling Illinois Central and IC GULF.For the “west” i am modeling SantaFe. I am sticking to the late 50’s/early 60’s and decided to keep away from the big unit/big fleet idea. Most of my engines ard Baldwin,Fairbanks-Morse Geep7’s and -9’s and a new gas/electric motorcar.I am in HO.All that gives me mountains,valleys/two ports and pleanty of bridges in an 11ftby 25ft area. As usual for a first big layout, I probably have way too much track and not much room for buildings.Mike Pendleton
I model the B & O , my favorite RR, in 1958. [:D] There’s a bit of WM equipment also.
Because I’ve never forgiven the C & O for the “Chessie System” control takeover [:(] of my favorite railroad, in 1963, there’s not even as much as one single C & O freight car on my railroad, although a lot of other NE roads are represented.
regards
Mike
i’m thinking about going with Canadian National, CSX, and Burlington Northern. i read Trains magazine and read that CN bought Wisconsin Central so i might do that.
I model “ESPEE’S” Donner Pass in 1952. Modeling the scenery is very easy.
SNOW…SNOW…SNOW!!!
C&NW (or The Cheap & Nothing Wasted as i like to call it) north out of Omaha to Sioux City (Nebraska side of the river) late 50’s thru the 1960’s. Not a true prototype, but i do try to keep a prototype “feel” to it.
BNSF in the Winslow area.
My Favorite Railroad is the Wabash. At this time, however, due to space constraints (the Wabash was Class 1), I am modeling the Day Lines: St. Louis & Belleville Electric and East St. Louis & Suburban. Take your time choosing your line. The consideration will pay off handsomely.
My main interest is all phases of Amtrak as they are easy to find and purchase. Then, I will repaint some of these in my own road colors,ECR, in which the idea is for these two to compete for business.I am modelling from 1980 to 2000 so I can keep it diverse with motive power.
As for freight, I am trying to focus on CSX, but find that BN is VERY complimentary to my own rail colors of green and red, therefor I use these locos as lease for the ECR. Again,competing rail lines.
ken_ecr
Like pablopicatso, I too say… Santa Fe, all the way!
I model using the Santa Fe line that follows Route 66 across Northern Arizona.
Norfolk & Western, 1950 to 1955, with some exceptions.