i have the walthers HO scale 2006 book…and was thinking of getting a new locomotive my options are: conrail diesel,BNSF diesel,union pacific diesel,or CSX diesel. i need to know for my first layout! thanx in advance!
Well, I am a conrail guy, but if you want, you could do a conrail and CSX layout, using conrail shared assets and CSX locomotives, if you can’t make up your mind. What brand loco were you thinking of getting? Also for your layout, do you have any plans as to desired location, industries etc. because that will change what kind of diesel you get too.
A lot would depend on what area of the country and time frame you wish to model. Do a little research and see what fits best where and when you want to model.
RMax1
You could always get a Conrail diesel…and modify it to resemble one that CSX (or NS) owns and hasn’t repainted yet. That way, you’d get the best of both worlds 
What you are asking for is:‘What paint job should I buy’? (whatever turns you on).
What you should be asking yourself is “What type of engine should I buy”? "What ‘Scale’ will fit my room? and “How much can I AFFORD”?
Get the Spectrum 3 truck Shay. It’s in the book somewhere. Diesel sucks. LOL. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
I guess that means that steam blows! [:O]
I would get UP and BNSF, because it is what I am modeling. But you get what you are modeling.
Hey, go for the Shay or any steam engine. Any one can run a diesel. I know I have run the real ones. Steam engines have personality. Even the same class have differences. A diesel is just another truck on rails. Just kidding. TARP
Buy what appeals to you! I look at my purchases in the past two years and I really wonder where I am going with my layout. I LOVE certain engines in Santa Fe colors while in another road it doesn’t do it for me. I’ve bought NY Central Engines that I remember from my youth, and recently have made purchases to mimic what I’ve seen in my local area. 2 GP-40’s painted in Rochester and Southern colors, 2 dash8-40 CW’s in Conrail. I have one Sound equipt GP7 that is just a marvel of technology and it’s a Green Burlington Northern. I bought that one because it just looked right to me! I have a think for slow moving Switchers (4) too. I’ll buy some Proto 2000 Switchers at the Shows for 30-40 bucks and rewire and mount a decoder in them. After making some adjustments and setting up the decoders, there is not a one of them I don’t enjoy running. Then there are my two BRUTES! A matched set of early Proto 2000 E8 in NYC lightning stripes with the itty bitty doors that open. They are heavy massive beasts that I’ve not converted yet to DCC. Why? They run so nice on DC and I’m only a flip of a switch to go back to DC. I would hate to mess up one of these beasts, so I leave well enough alone. Go with what you like and want! Chris
well,i have a budget.[:(] it is only 40-45 dollars so i might save up for a steam locomotive. but me and my friend are making a club layout,satrting construction today!in his shed! well got to leave soon! bye!
You can get spectrum diesels for $50 plus shipping from mb klein (www.modeltrainstuff.com). The spectrum dash 8’s are great runners, and payed 45 for mine, and its the best loco I’ve ever bought.
By the more expensive one first. Then when you buy the second one (turst me, you will buy a second one) you can say :Gee, it didn’t cost nearly as much as the last one! [:D][:D]
Tom