Where is your model railroad based? Why did you select that location(s)? What type of commodities does it haul? What era does it operate in?
Hi there,
I presently operate a free lance railroad situated in the west. It is the Denver and northwestern and fictiously runs in a northwest/southeast direction with a branch to the northeast.
I chose this region for two reasons, its geography and the railroads that operate in that area, particularly the UP, GN, NP, and to a lesser extent the AT&SF, SP, D&RGW and WP.
Being a incurable model collector as well as modeller I change eras usually 3 times a year. My favorite is the transition period from '52-'58, then '69-'73 and finally, '88-'92.
Hope this information is of interest.
By the way, I live in Australia,
regards,
Howard
hello there, knowing little of american railroads, I bought my son a BN GP38. I already had an SP GP40. We looked on a map to see where the 2 could be seen together and Chicago stood out like a sore thumb. we are now building a chicago switching layout in the early 1990’s with a small transfer yard, so anything goes, traffic wise.
The US Northeast. I’ve been a fan of Canadian Pacific for most of my 35 years & modeling the CPR in this region allows me tons of possibilites for interchange traffic.
This is why I have locomotives from UP(leased power), C&NW (leased power), Conrail, Seaboard, NS, MEC, B&M as well from CPR,StL&H, D&H & SOO line.
Primarily CN branchlines in southern Ontario. Mostly 50’s era although I am starting to accumulate some rolling stock from 60’s and 70’s.
I find the numerous branchlines in the area interesting and have read several books on them. Travelling around the area I enjoy spotting remains of them such as abandonded rights of way, old staions, even a water tower from the steam area requisitioned for municipal use.
Charles
Hillsburgh On
An ex-CN shortline in Nova Scotia. I chose it mainly because it’s the railway I grew up with (and on), living within viewing or walking distance of it for 21 of my 33 years.
Northeast Penna, in the early 50’s, cuz thats where I grew up
pacific norhtwest because of the swell scenery and 1943 because I like steam, early diesels and because I just like that particular period.
I model Southern Minnesota so I have Union Pacific, Patched CNW, and some DM&E. I have an ethanol plant, flour mill, small intermodal yard, and misc. manufacturing. My layout is modeled to be about October 2000.
Southwestern US/Mexico Border,
Roughly southern Arizona into New Mexico.
Why? the colors of the rock, the rugged terrain, and the dusty towns.
The large scale track is down on my line, it is fictional narrow guage line, serving the two mining interests, one town and the only tequila factory north of the border. It is set 1950-60 during the last hey days of steam, although I reserve the right to run anything I want on it. I considered a logging layout but the thought of doing a 1000 trees really did that idea in…I prefer cactus.
I freelance a small freight/passenger line, The Washburn & Clinch Mountain Railroad. It was formed by buying up abandoned routes and short lines in financial trouble immediately after WW II. It serves the smaller towns of East Tennessee and connects with the Southern Railroad and the Louisville & Nashville in Knoxville. It runs only steam at the current time. BTW, the layout is currently under construction. There ie a link to some photos below
It’s interesting seeing people’s reasons for modeling a particular prototype and locale. In many cases it’s because they spent their childhood in the area. I find this really interesting and I think ‘You lucky dog!’ because I grew up in a suburb that was nowhere near a railway track. But for some reason I always liked trains so any contact with them was a real thrill.
The terminus of my model railroad will always be named ‘Southampton’ because when I was growing up my family camped near this small town on the shore of Lake Huron in southern Ontario. My dad and I would walk up the tracks into town and pass by the station. By this time (early 70’s) we didn’t have to worry much about trains, they were becoming a rarity. My father built a layout for me for Christmas of '75 and it had a station with a Southampton signboard. I still have this station and it will always be included in my layout even if CN never painted its stations buff.
The prototype station still exists as a restaurant and my wife and I have eaten there. Bon Apetit!!
Charles
Hillsburgh On
My early 1960’s Southern Pacific layout is modeled after the Southern California desert, with palm trees and cactus plants. Another section is of it is cityscape in the San Fernando Valley. Its hot and dry there all year long on the LA Subdivision.
City, northwest out of Chicago.
Doug, in Utah
Southeast - Western & Atlantic subdivision of CSX between Atlanta and Cartersville, Ga., to be precise.
Scenery is one reason - fall colors, reddish dirt, gray-ish mountains and lots of trees.
Traffic is another - every type of freight moves through this area either on CSX or NS.
Density is a third - very heavy traffic flows, with good local business to go with the overhead business.
The Vancouver and Fraser/Thompson Canyon areas in British Columbia because these areas are incredibly picturesque and a great back drop for heavy duty, long high rail trains. I model mostly CP with some CN, eventually hope to get the Rocky Mountaineer going, along with VIA.
western NY mainly because thats where the Erie ran and its my home area. Comodities very depending on coal, grain, lumber … still working on refining that aspect of the layout as I develop it more.
I located my WP 8th Sub in eastern California and western Nevada. I wanted to model the operations of the WP’s 3rd and 5th Subs, including places like Portola and Reno.
The primary operation is overhead traffic between California’s Central Valley and points East, including unit grain, auto parts and coal trains. California perishables move East in reefers. All of the mainline trains are based on actual WP trains of the late '70s - early '80s. Local traffic consists of regional commodities like forest products and cement, with the warehousing business around Reno also represented.
I have interests in geology and studying plant communities, so the modeled scenery attempts recreations of the Sierra Nevada and Great Basin landforms and plants from the region. I grew up in the Great Basin desert but have never seen it modeled convincingly and was motivated to give that a try.
Freelanced Mount Desert Island Railway & Navigation Co., on Mount Desert Island (now Acadia National Park) off the coast of Maine. I live in Ohio, have but a passing interest in modern or mainline railroading so my shortline is set in 1939. It’s standard gauge and I’m trying to convey the feeling of a tight–budgeted line with a rustic, small-time look. MDI has rough, rocky terrain, tall trees, and lots and lots and lots of water. I’m modeling the real towns as they might have looked with railroad influence. The fishing and boat building industry are predominant.
Solid CP Rail!
I’m following the Laggan Sub Division (Calgary, Alberta to Field B.C), as it runs throught the Kicking Horse Pass and the Spiral Tunnels. I live in Calgary and can drive to the tunnel area in about 2.5 hours (one way). I work very close to the Alyth Yard / Ogden shop area, and can walk over during my lunch hour to look at the “sea of red” motive power in the yards. It only made sense to model what I can look at when I need some info.