What's is your favorite roads.....and why? (steam or dieseled)

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi,

On an another well know forum I see a similar question and the answers were very interesting.

So open the debate on the MR forum.

Mine is the Nortfolk & Western and also all the road which have touch or run throught the Appalachian, because of the beautiful country and the massive coal train.

Also because many of these roads have used or developped specific steam power.

I like also the never straight track but all the curves,the snake trains running over big valley bridge or river bridge throught a magnificent nature which is like we found here in our Belgian Ardennes. The weather is nearly the same, not good not too bad.

I like the Ardennes because of many very personnal things and also because I am an hunter, so my approach to American trains had gone to a similar country in US.

It’s also because mining it’s so an hard work and so many people were involded in poor conditions, whith company which offer the minimum to their workers like us in Europe. Thanks, many have dissappear. But don’t forget them.

These roads offer good opportunity to model, lot of switching, big trains and many things aviable on the market.

Many inspirations could be find on existing layouts like the last V&O and other similar ones.

The gently hills could be modeled easily whith a neat work; not to much plaster.

You can use a lot of “vertical scenery” which don’t use to much space

Each big or small mine offer the challenge of a kitbash or scratchbuild project. The town are small and have each a small depot often different each time.

Marc

And You which road is your favorite?

Marc

2

Actually, there are two roads, which I favor. One is the “Malmbanan” from Kiruna in Sweden to Narvik in Norway, the other one is the Alaska RR. Both roads run in spectacular scenery, though each very much different in its kind.

My next layout will be based on the ARR and equipped with a set of Bowser´s F-7 A&B and, if I am lucky, a USA T/C S-160 2-8-0 based on the DJH kit.

3

Primarily: New York Central

Why?:

  • Subjectively - The steam engines. Sleek, powerful, and well-designed. The Hudsons, in particular - both the “regular” and Dreyfuss designs - are examples of technological beauty and iconic art, respectively.
  • Objectively - The NYC ran right through this area where I now live. I enjoy being able to visit the towns and stations that the NYC operated in and ran through.

Secondarily: Erie & Norfolk Southern

Why?

  • Subjectively - I like the color scheme and logo

  • Objectively - They ran a lot of freight and that is what I model
    Tom

4

My 1st choice is the Western portion of the GN from central Montana to Seattle,but mostly through Glacier park. 2nd the western Milwaukee rd, again thru the rockies from Harlotown MT over to say eastern Washington. Basically the electrified portion. I like to think of the power regeneration possibilities there.

I have ridden the GN through these parts and have driven,hiked and biked the Milwaukee parts through Idaho and Montana. BILL

PS Marc did you get my e-mail?

5

SP&S

Because:

They ran both GN and NP styled steam locos

They ran lots of Alcos–ESPECIALLY C636’s

They operated a dome equipped train–specifically, they hauled both GN and NP dome cars

And they are/were across the river from another of my favorite roads–the UP

Anyway, those are the main reasons I got sucked into modeling that railroad.

Ed

6

Primarily: Burlington Northern

  • most of the old SP&S, GN, CB&Q, NP, and SLSF diesels

  • was a local road (the BN trackage now blelongs to the Alabama and Gulf coast railway)

  • F45s and C636s?!?!

  • coal drags and hot shot intermodals

Secondary: Southern Pacific / Rio Grande

  • Grew up around it

  • unique deisels (SD45X, ML-4000)

  • Also cool steamers

They both have neat paint shcemes, ran long trains with lots of engines, covered a good sized area and had a variety of traffic.

7

For steam era is the PRR and the NKP. For diesel modeling, its the Burlington Northern pre 1992 when they still sported the Prime digital beacons and no ditch lights along with the local short line pre 1994 with thier two ex BN GP10’s of which I have the Prime beacon and one of the glass number boards off of it. I also love the F45’s of the BN, I have the Athearn version with sound. P.S. for the BN modelers, if you pick up one of the Prime digital beacons, must be the later version that is lower profile spun alum base, you can put 12vt sealed beam flood lamps in them and they will operate on 12vt instead of the RR 72-74vdc. The early version with the taller profile cast base needs 72-74vdc to operate. Cheers Mike

8

My two favorites are Santa Fe, then Monon.

When I was around 4 to 6 years old, my grandparents lived in Washington Ind over looking the B&O yard there. It was always a treat when a War Bonnet F unit pulled in to the yard. I was attracted to the bright colors as a child.

I knew nothing about Monon when I bought my first pair of BL-2’s. I got them of E-bay and seemed like a good deal, I was after there motors. Then I found out they where from Indiana area and seen some pictures of them in Carmel Ind, where I spent my teenage years. Plus I like there black and gold colors. I now have 4 BL-2’s, 4 F3’s and Heavy Mike in Monon colors.

Couple of BL-2’s in my yard.

Next would be UP, mainly because of the Big Boys, then Norfolk and Western, because of the Y-6b’s.

For awhile I was hot for steam, now so much now for some reason.

Cuda Ken

9

I’d have to say the B&O. They had a wide variety of diesel power, ran thru spectactular scenery (mountains, rivers valleys, heavy industry), and had a full range of freightcar types from coal hoppers to auto racks. The employees at the B&O Riverside Shops and various interlocking towers in Baltimore were always very accommodating and I made some lifelong friendships with a few of them. I also loved their color-position light signals, a “trademark” feature.

10

The Milwaukee Road from Harlowton Montana to Seattle. Big electric locos, mountain railroading, bridges, tunnels, and I grew up in those parts.

11

Definitely norfolk & western .I was born and raised in roanoke in the 40s and 50s . Couldn`t be anythng else . RON

12

My Favorites are Union Pacific and a strong interest in Southern Pacific as well. I’m mainly interested in Steam. Challengers, Big Boys Cab-Forwards(and the AC-9, the "Backwards Cab-Forwards). The UP also had Former C&O H-7 2-8-8-2 “Simple Simons” and N&W 2-8-8-2 Y-3’s that they bought during World War 2, and those wonderful 800 class 4-8-4 Northerns(FEF classes) what more could a Steam Lover ask for?

Gas Turbine Electrics? only UP had them, and a BUNCH of them.

BIG Diesels, the DDA40X, only UP had them, the DD35’s A&B, the U50’s, and in the stream-lined passenger locomotives, you can’t beat those “E” units.

For scenery, you pretty much had it all, Mountains, Deserts, Plains, River Gorges and Canyons, out of the way branch-lines to Heavy mainlines.

Passenger trains, Coal trains, Fast Reefer blocks,Livestock, Grain trains, Auto racks, Inter-modal, even mixed manifest[:D]

Doug

13

The Pennsy:

Tuscan Red (actually shade of brown) just takes you back to “warm & fuzzy” days of the 1950s when all was well with a world filled with values instead of “hooray for my side” manipulating shades of gray.

For the modeler, PRR also ran virtually every type of motive power you could think of – steam, diesel, and especially electric – while partnering/pioneering intermodal concepts like Trailer Train – for prototype inspiration.

There is just something special about watching a K4 Steamer or Tuscan E7/F7 on a 4-track mainline, and hearing those engines vibrate echos throughout the valley – You didn’t even need to see the Pennsylvania to know it was that time of day – something you could count on like clockwork.

14

Denver and Rio Grande Western during the steam era, with Southern Pacific coming in a very close second.

Big steam, big mountains, big trees, deep canyons. Rio Grande had the Rockies, SP had ‘The Hill’ (Sierra Nevada), straight and level track was either at a premium or non-existant. Double-headers and mid and end-train helpers galore. Handsome, distinctive steamers on both roads.

For a Big Steam Freak like me, what’s not to like?[:P]

Tom [:D]

15

Which continent? Country? Gauge?

Main - Nihon Kokutetsu in 1964, for a lot of very emotional and very personal reasons. It was a happy time in my life, and I enjoy remembering it.

Close second (tie) - Kiso Forest Railway and Kurobe Gorge Railway, both 762mm gauge, both operating small rolling stock in spectacular mountainous terrain, through tunnels, and across steel bridges that could support Big Boy without strain. The Kiso succumbed to self-loading trucks, but the Kurobe continues as half tourist line, half logistic support for the Kurobe Gorge hydroelectric development. I LOVE over-engineered narrow gauge operations.

Somewhat distant fourth - Hakone Tozan Tetsudo, operating (heavily modified) streetcars (1435mm gauge) up 8% grades, around 30 meter radius curves, through tunnels and over a couple of switchbacks in an area where the landscape stands on edge. I LOVE rail routes that would challenge mountain goats.

For other continents just put in the names of past and present rail lines that have similar characteristics - Alishan Forestry Railway, Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway, etc, etc…

Finally, back in the USA - Norfolk & Western just before the diesels first arrived. Single-minded efficiency expressed in steam and steel - some brutal (Y- and Z- class Mallets) and some exquisite (the magnificent A class, and the beautifully powerful Js.) What’s not to love?

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - including all the Japanese prototypes above)

16

of course I pick N&W. Why?

They built there own steam. It was some of the best steam ever built. It was most efficiently used.

The large articulated locomotives that were the majority of the locomotives made their fleet awe inspiring.

The special breed of folks who reside in the Appalachians, as well as the incredible terrain and spectacular scenery.

Finally, perhaps most importantly (maybe I exaggerate just a little): there is nothing more haunting and spectacular than a “Hooter” whistle echoing through the valleys and ridges of the mountains. And the “steamboat” whistle on the J’s and K’s had few peers among other roads.

If, by some extraordinary quirk you don’t know what I mean by “hooter” whistle, go to youtube and find one, or search “1218 steam” and listen.

17

I model the Western Pacific because it was a relatively small railroad and not that hard to aquire the different diesel locomotives. I have some of the steamers in both brass and plastic. I also model the Southern Pacific as a 2nd road as they had paired trackage in certain areas. My main time frame is the 1940’s to 1950’s. However I do have some of the GP-35’s, GP-40’s and later cabooses to round things out.

18

The Maryland and Pennsylvania RR. They were running old equipment into the early 50’s - 4-4-0, open platform coaches and truss rod boxcars with archbar trucks. You can have a mix of turn of the century and the transition era. They had some of the sharpest mainline curves with one at 20 degrees. Fits in with our sharp curves. Plus it’s an interesting shortline.

The Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington. The waterfront at Wiscasset along with the small 2 ft gauge engines and cars make this one of the most modelgenic railroads.

The PRR. The Belpaire fireboxes just appeal to me.

The B&O. I like the color scheme in the heavyweight era.

The Santa Fe. The warbonnet paint scheme.

The NYO&W and the Reading. The camelback locomotives.

Southern. The Southern Crescent.

African railways with Beyer-Garrett locomotives.

Actually, this list can go on forever since there isn’t a railroad I don’t like.

Enjoy

Paul

19

This is a multiple answer question for me.

First and foremost, the Wabash. Grew up, went to school, church and eventually 2 years of college along Wabash. Most of the first 20 years of my life were spent within a couple hundred feet of the tracks.

There is a tie for 2nd place between the B&O and the Santa Fe.

The B&O tracks crossed the Wabash tracks just a few blocks from home. Probably my favorite railroad structure was the B&O depot in Defiance Ohio circa the late 50s and early 60s. It greatly saddened me to see a while back that it had been torn down. even in the dilapidated state CSX had let it deteriorate into, seeing it always brought back fond memories.

I got hooked on the Santa Fe Warbonnets and sleek silver passenger trains when one of those trains was prominent in an old travelogue film strip I saw in probably the 1st or 2nd grade. I can still remember the one picture of a smiling happy family standing around their Ford station wagon waving to the folks in the “Pleasure Dome” as it went by.

Third would have to be the N&W. When I think steam locomotive, the picture in my mind is a J Class.

20

Southern Pacific is my favorite. Something about images of tunnel motors that look like they’ve never been washed is irresistible for me. Cotton Belt and the Rio Grande come in a close second.

Technically I model Union Pacific, as my chosen era is 2005 onward. '05 works great for me as there were still a few vestiges of Southern Pacific and Rio Grande locomotives that had evaded the paint shop, though their fate was looming. This allows me to run some favorite paint schemes (patched of course) and have a modern car fleet. Today there are still some elusive locomotives here and there that still bear SP or Rio Grande paint jobs, but they are nearly extinct.