Who has locos, stock, etc that just "dosent belong"?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello all. Another one of those pseudo-survey threads i like so much. How many of you have equipment that blatantly dosent match your layout or era? I have a feeling most of us do, but if you do, what is it, why did you buy it, and do you often run it?

Myself, its the pair of HO scale NS 9-40CWs in the display case on a bookcase, and the NS SD80MAC and a few 60’ autoparts cars in N. Just like the NS and the neat clean look of the large boxcars and hoppers that roll through town here. Always thought that our local would make a fun model to build and superdetail in HO (which i just may do now that it seems high hood SD40s have appeared!)

The HO ones have never been run, the N ones have been run around on the plywood test track i have, and they will probably find their way on the layout if it ever gets built…Of course i am trying to model the B&O, in 1948…so big GEs and 60’ boxcars dont really fit my era, but hey, Dash 9s are just too neat to not have a couple!

What about yall?

2

All my equipment belongs, except for 3 cars. A CSX hopper, a Southern hopper, and a BN boxcar. (all have build dates past 1981*)

*I changed the time from Mid-70s to 1970-1981 to fit my 12 hoppers.

3

My new layout is going to be early fifties. Let me take this in that directions. I will be doing many railroads but cannot fit everybody. Its CSS&SB, CNS&M, N&W, NKP, VGN, NYC, BRC, theres a few others thrown in.

Its mostly eastern-midwestern roads.

Well, I own a bowser Big Boy, 2 Challengers, they don’t fit, but they may run as guest locos from time to time, I bought a DM&IR 2-8-8-4, as a kid I listened to this record of its sounds and whistle, its just awesome, its a gotta have it loco, but doesnt fit into my scheme. Another guest loco.

I have some modern equipment post steam also and debating keeping/selling or make a separate modern layout exclusive for it to run, just enough layout for its fun, 85 foot boxcars, needs broaaad curves…I own the Athearn DD-40, beeeeeg engine for a diesel. Wont sell it, not made anymore by Athearn far as I know.

and to tidy it up, I bought some N scale, way off base, but I fixed up some used goodies cheapo buy, might sell it or give away, but the original owners gave up on it, and I was able to fix apparently DEAD locos, they run JUST FINE now!!!

Most of the rest of equipment I am aquiring fit into the scheme, but you know something something comes and its a YOU GOTTA HAVE IT thing…

8-D

4

I couldn’t decide on a year so I will (eventually) have enough locos to do 1957 and 1967. Only 10 years difference but there was a signifigant difference with ATSF motive power. Plus they were still running the mineral brown cabooses so those can stay the same and most of the rolling stock can stay for both. I will probably alternate years during op sessions. Other than mine, my son has a train made up of auto-parts boxcars and centerflow hoppers that is way too new. Those will need to come off the layout for the ops sessions.

5

I model 1939-52. I’ve got several Rio Grande automobile cars that have a post 1952 builder’s date, but if you won’t tell anyone, neither will I, LOL!

I’ve got steam locos that don’t ‘really’ belong on my California-based layout, but since it’s largely WWII, I can always use the excuse that they’re ‘borrowed’ or ‘on lease’–which certainly explains away my H-8 Allegheney.

BTW, Dinwitty–those beautiful Missabe 2-8-8-4 babies were leased to Rio Grande, Northern Pacific, Great Northern and Western Pacific during the winter months of WWII when the Lakes were down. So if you’re modeling any of those roads, you’re home free.

Or, you can do like I did. I just sent my railroad owner to Baldwin and had them build copies, LOL! Explains the three I’ve got as far as I’m concerned.

Tom [:P]

6

If I model an era where my 8-40s/44-9s/SD80s/SD90s fit then my SD7s/SD9s/SD35s/SD40s/U30Cs don’t; on the other hand if I model an era where my SD7s/SD9s/SD35s/SD40s/U30Cs fit then my 8-40s/44-9s/SD80s/SD90s don’t. And if I were to model the transition era - mid-1950s - or the mid-1960s then most of my fleet would have to be consigned to the dustbin - figuratively only of course!

Why do I get a feeling that there is some sort of a fire sale somewhere in my future!

RETAININGLY/RESTRAININGLY yours

R. T. POTEET

7

I range from UP in the west-mid-west to C&O, N&W, NYC, PRR, TH&B, and I have rolling stock from CP, PGE, UP, NYC, PRR, N&W, GN, BN, SF, and NP, including cabeese from four of them.

Like all good theoreticians, I lean toward the eclectic approach. [:D] A little o’ this, a little o’ that.

8

Haha try large scale, we got 5 or 6 scales all using the same gauge track, outdoors its alot easier to run different scale trains without much ado, but on indoor layouts it gets real funky looking.

I model 1/22.5 mining narrow gauge set in roughly 1938 on an indoor layout with sharp 4’ diameter curves, but I have a complete train set that is completely whacky on my indoor layout. A set of 1/32 scale Superliner cars pulled by a 1/32 F-40PH that looks really odd on the indoor layout, like a great big Lionel set, but it makes it all the way around! Its not intended for the indoor layout, I bought it for running on my planned outdoor layout where the curves will be a more normal 8’ diameter. I also have an FA-1 for pulling the same set.

I try to keep everything looking right scale wise, but I’ve seen guys mix 1/22, 1/20, 1/29 and 1/32 all on the same consist, it dont look that good[;)]

9

Ah don’t worry Poteet, a freelanced shortline could easily use those older engines of yours in a modern era!

As for me, I’ve got engines that technically don’t belong, so I fudged the history of the Canadian Pacific a little:

I’ve got a beautiful CP FM Trainmaster (ten points to anyone who knows what the engine number is just off that) in the Maroon, Gray and Gold scheme that pulls the business train and sometimes goes out on freights. I just say that the CP kept that engine as a heritage one, instead of their F-Units.

Also, I’ve got a pair of CP GP35s in the Early Multimark. Now CP retired their GP35s in the late 90s and I model late fall, 2008, I just say that they weren’t retired until later, and are on their last days in service. As for having the old Multimark, well there are still some (rare) units that have not been repainted yet on the CP.

As for cars, everything I have is easily explained except for a few old rebuilt CP 40’ boxcars. Again CP got rid of those in the 90s but there are also some tighter clearance places where they would work well on my layout designs so I said that some were kept in service longer to work the areas that still had lightweight rail branches (much the reason they were kept to the 90s, I just extended it a bit).

Cheers!

~METRO

10

Guilty as charged.[:I]

11

Considering the broad Era (1970-ish to present), and the EXTREME freelance system my wife and I use, all of our Conrail, Chessie, Norfolk Southern, SEPTA and Amtrak fleet feel right at home. (I like modern-ish Conrail/NS/Amtrak, Wifey likes Chessie kitten and SEPTA commuters-what makes Wifey happy[bow], makes everybody happy.[:D])

The only real “odd ball” is my Pennsy K-4 and Streamlined cars…but that gets explained away as the Excursion/Tourist train.

Older era steam models are not my fortay, but that K-4 with sound was a must have And I wouldn’t mind having a 3 truck shay, but I just can’t see that pulling my Triple Crown Roadrailers or double stack well cars. I’ll have to get the Mrs. to approve an expansion.[:-^]

12

The only thing that I can really come up with is my ball signal:

Most common on the B&M in New Hampshire & Vermont, the New York Central really didn’t have them, except at Danville, IL. However, I just think they are cool so I put one on my layout.

Tom

13

It doesn’t bother me! I run what I run. If you want to be prototypical, have at it. I do not worry about it myself. I was running a CZ passenger set behind a DMIR Yellowstone until some one asked how long a CZ was with PS’s on it. It’s about 8 feet long. This hobby is fun until someone convinces you otherwise! Until then have fun.

Bob

14

My Japanese rolling stock all belongs on my layout - or will, when I get it closer to finished.

OTOH, I have a small collection of U.S. prototype (4 assorted 4-8-4s, a GG-1 and some club and freelance railroad freight stock) which resides in a display case. They could run, but they don’t run.

I also have a bunch of unbuilt kits and some RTR U.S. prototype equipment which is slated to be kitbash fodder - including a trio of consolidations. (They don’t resemble JNR 9600 class locos now, but they will when I put them into service.)

If it doesn’t belong, it doesn’t run (except on Halloween, when anything can happen.)

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

15

Decided to concentrate on any and all things steam era. Sold all but a few early diesels over the past few years and re-invested the proceeds in steam. So, can anyone explain to me why I recently bought a SD90/43MAC? [D)] -Rob

16

Guilty… My layout is modelled after the south western part of the US, but I own and run a Nickel Plate Road Berkshire as well as a Norfolk & Western J class both of which only ran in the eastern part of the country.

Tracklayer

17

I have four modern day Swedish iron hauler locos. Try to explain those on a 50’s layout somewhere south of Chicago!

Otherwise, I do not care to much. If I want the Daylight to run from California to Chicago then it can.

Magnus

18

The older locos could belong to a branch line, or could be demoted to switching duty. (BNSF still has SD7/s, The SD40s and U30Cs are still in use by most RRs. IDK much about the SD35 though.)

19

Yup. I model Santa Fe circa 1969, but I have a few locos that just don’t match.

  1. Kodachrome U33C.

  2. Yellow Warbonnet SD45-2.

  3. Yellow Warbonnet SD40

  4. " " SD45

  5. Georgetown Railroad (GRR) Ex-Milwaukee GP20 (GP9u)

I also have a few freight cars that don’t match, like an enclosed autorack and some more modern cars.

But I DO run all of these…I break them out when our modular club sets up and I want to run something different.

20

I model the PRR in July, 1956. However, my father gave me a PRR N5 cabin car painted in the post-1960 PK (plain keystone, sans-serif reporting marks) scheme. It looks great, and it’s a gift, so I keep it. In fact, it has inspired me to expand my era to include the 60s someday. But for now it’s a rolling anachronism. I just wouldn’t put it behind steam (the last steamer on the PRR died in November 1957 But behind a pair of Geeps it looks fine.