Well, so far we have covered size and control of you layouts. Now, what prototype to you base it on and what era?
Mine is based on the Maine Central with industries being paper, pulpwood, potatoes,milk, etc. I have a stable of steam for when I run the late 40's early 50's and diesels for the 60's through 80's era.
My garden layout, named the "Saskatchewan Railway and Mining Company" after a railway established by an act of Parliament in 1888 but never built, is freelanced in the transition era.
My H0 layout, the "Lorraine Valley and James River Railway" named after my wife and I is set in 1961 and is a "might have been" north/south bridging road linking the CNR and CPR along the Alberta/British Columbia border. Features CNR, CPR and LV&JRR power and rolling stock.
I am also working on a third layout as I find time. That is the "Rock Ridge Railway," an 0N30 set in about 1900. Location? Somewhere in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
Three different approaches to model railroading and I love them all.
Jim
Lamoille Valley, ever changing present.
Its a fictitious branch line of a real railroad that quit operations in 1994/1995, however I model it as if it was still in operation, and right now its June 23 2009 on the model railroad. The 4 industries are- Veryfine Apple Juice, Lamoille Lumber, St Johnsbury Trucking, and Ciment Quebec. Very Finge, and Ciment Quebec are both real customers on Pan Am, and the other two are entirely fictitious. The branch serves the town of Innsmouth which is a town in an H.P. Lovecraft novel.
Our small layout has 4 different themes, mostly present era.
1. A point to point between Craig and Phippsburg transfer station. This consists of two AC4400s pulling 8 coal hoppers. The prototype consists of six ACs pulling 100+ coal cars. During harvest, there are grain hoppers seen at the Craig yard.
2. Excursion trains with Roundhouse vintage 2-8-0 and 2-6-0 pulling sets of 34' Overtons in "Bumble Bee" colors, and J&S open excursion cars. A spur from the main loop leads to the ranch portion.
3. A reproduction of the "Yampa Valley Mail" that ran from Denver to Craig in the 60s. Only two cars required, a 61' RPO and 60' 10 window Harriman coach.
4. Main line between Denver and Grand Junction, using locos we have seen, including GP35, GP40, AC4400 and SD70.
Freight cars are those we see on the main line, plus fallen flag cars as collectibles. Scenery will be mostly a reproduction of our ranch, the only industries are grain elevators, cement plant and bulk oil storage for the Craig yard. The old depot has been idle since 1985, but we have a small depot for the ranch passengers.
With this variety of activity, our layout will never be boring. My wife does all the switching and set-outs, I just watch them run. :D
It looks like there are no dull days in railroad ville. ;D
If I were perfectly honest with myself, I'd have to call my layout freelance. However, I do model some of what I see. Haven't named it yet either... am open to suggestions.
Modern Era is the main portion of my layout. Every day I sit within 20 yards of a double-track line that is part of the Corridor passing from Maine to Florida. So I see a lot of CSX/NS/NYC, etc. Especially enjoy watching the Tropicana Fruit Trains pass by (haven't tried to model it yet). I also see lots of Amtrak.
I am modeling an "Old Towne" district, along the lines of Fredericksburg, Alexandria, Oklahoma City, or any other City that has a refurbished tourist trap area. I enjoy the look of renovated old buildings, which works well with the model structures available these days.
My Union Station is based loosely on DC's Union Station... and I mean loosely. The prototype is around 24 tracks wide with pantographs running everywhere. Mine is 8 tracks wide, and I seriously doubt I will ever hang all that wire. However, the trains do park underneath the station, and I'm building a shopping/observation area between the station and the tracks.
On the same layout I also model the transition era (40s-50s), because I love steam and the early diesels... especially B&O, they were beautiful. So I'm attempting something that looks like switchbacks running around the low WV/PA mountains, hence small engines, small coal cars and big trees. Those trains are headed to Ohio to deliver coal to Lake Erie for processing and shipping.
So call me a little schizophrenic, but I like it.
Regards,
Jonathan
The Atlantic Central is a double track east-west section of a large Class I system set in the Mid Atlantic. The modeled portion represents several areas "roughly" between Baltimore and Cincinnati through Maryland, Virginia, West Virgina and Ohio.
The era is fall of 1953. There are interchanges with the B&O, C&O and Western Maryland that are modeled. There is also a short section of Western Maryland trackage modeled and the C&O has some trackage rights on parts of the Atlantic Central.
There is a mix of steam and diesel and the Atlantic Central is a leader in this new thing called "piggyback".
Passenger service is alive and well and the ACR runs a bus company to enhance its passenger connections in a complete "system" approach.
Passenger steam locos are all oil fired in compliance with Baltimore's smoke ordinance.
Sheldon
Mine is based on the Canadian Pacific Railways kicking horse pass sub all the way to the rogers pass sub. On the rogers pass part I have included a prototypical 2.1 % grade so I can replicate the rogers pusher operations. On the khp side I have both spiral tunnels, then other than that it's just a bunch of mountain scenery with no particular prototype. As for my trains, I'm not too picky as to what era too follow but I do have only modern rolling stock but as for locomotives it's mostly modern diesel power from SD 40s to SD 70s and 80s and AC4400s all in CPR color. However if I feel I really love the look of a certain ore modern loco, then I usually go for it like my proto SD7 and a roundhouse 4-8-0 that pulls a small specialty train.
Aside from lack of space, the reason I don't have a permanent layout is because I could never settle on a protoype or era. :( I just like the locomotives and rolling stock of too many widely separated eras: the eight-wheelers and open-platform passenger equipment of the 1860s-1870s, the early 20th century (when "big power" was an Atlantic :D ), and yet I have a soft spot for F-unit diesels. What's a fella to do? ???
Since I'm disinclined to move to a large home, I do my best to make a virtue of my situation. Thank God for EZ-Track, which makes a fine base for running trains on a track that isn't fastened down permanently. Ordinarily I change out the "scenery" a couple of times a year, so I can enjoy running all my trains without the anachronism of ladies in hoopskirts and gentlemen in stovepipe hats waiting for a 1950s streamlined passenger train. :D
However, this year so far, I've been so busy downsizing my collection of rolling stock that I haven't had time--or energy when I've had the time :-\ --to put up different scenery since I took down the Christmas scenery. Right now the track circles the table, passing through two Woodland Scenics tunnels, with no structures on the "layout" at all. :-\
I do, however, refer to this rotating set-up generally as the Juniata & Southern, as a way to incorporate my own initials in the road name as well as salute my native Pennsylvania.
If I did have more space, what I would probably do is have several small layouts instead of just one moderate-to-large-sized layout, so I could accommodate all my interests without being anachronistic.
Freelance, The "Lakewood & Winterton R.R." scenery looks like the late 1800's early 1900's and some of my rolling stock fits and others are way off course to the time. So it's freelance for me.
The Saint Louis and Santa Fe is modeled on a " what if the Santa Fe had built South as well as West from Chicago". I use all Santa Fe prototype, and run from South Yard (which is south of Downtown Saint Louis) to Springfield, Illinois. My apologies to all of the Alton,GM&N, M&O, and GM&O modelers.
I use three time periods and rotate the rolling stock to shelves according to the time period (although I know that the extra handling is very hard on some of the cars fine details,) no matter how careful I am.
Time period number 1: 1950 to 1968
Time period number 2: 1968 to 1974
Time period number 3: 1974 to 1995
I also have several industries where the main yard for loading/ unloading lumber and the small town for doing the same is on the same aisle so that the operator of the small town can unload at the lumber industry, walk to the main yard on the same isle with the load and physically load a different flat car with more lumber destined for the small town lumber yard. Interesting idea, isn't it?
Great Union Pass. That is what I named her. I follow the UP, and GN during the pre-transition period. (The merger was never changed back to two railroads, on the GUPRR). I do have a few pieces of modern equipment, including a few engines. These have been given as presents, and My Rails have accepted them!!
Mine is set at about 1955 with the narrow gauge being all steam (except the gas-electric) and the standard gauge mixing steam and diesel. The S.G. is the Western Maryland, and I've stretched the time a bit since WM steam quit in the summer of 1954. Motive power currently consists of a pair of Alco F-A's and and an RS-3 from Weaver in Fireball, plus a pair of old Atlas F-7's in Speedlettering, plus a Sunset Russian Decapod. OTOH, my n.g. line connects at the other end with the EBT, which ran in steam until 1956 (and of course still steams today in tourist service). I've generally tried to keep the rolling stock suitable to the era as well, with lots of 50-ton 2-bay hoppers and 40-foot box cars. There is a big 100-ton grain hopper on the layout lettered for John Armstrong's Canadaigua Southern to commorate his contributions to the hobby.
Our railroad is loosely based on the Brookline and Pepperell Branch of the former Fitchburg Railroad in the early 1920's. This railroad has just been absorbed into the massive Boston and Maine Railroad. Plans are to have the tracks follow the original route taken thru the towns of Brookline and Hollis, NH continuing on to Pepperell and Groton, MA.
I have a reproduction of the Fresh Pond Ice Company along with the South Brookline Depot. I also have the Pepperell and Groton stations and freight houses.
I havent started building mine yet however heres the plan:
IT will be a layout using steam era trains and rolling stock, however road vehcials will be modern( was gonna use steam era but at the time no one was makin any and Busch had just came out with a Baltimore City emergancy vehial series)
Anyway it will be freelanced with areas based on real B&O Locations
there will be 4 Mainlines, Baltimore & Ohio, Maryland & Pennsyslvania, Baltimore Transit Company(street cars) and Baltimore Train Musuem
Ficitional/Private owner railroads: Pepsi Cola Company(to take cars to and from the B&O yard to the Pepsi Plant(2 locos, 4-6-0 and a 4-4-0)
Id have B&O and C&O power on the mainline.
B&O branch in central W.Va. in the early 50's.
Rusty
Freelanced Great Eastern Railway.
Strictly set in 1958 when it comes to anything placed on GER. I try hard to only have steam typically seen in Southern Quebec around that time but need to make some small compromises given what steam is available commercially. Main exception are the three Spectrum 2-10-0s which have been modified so they (hopefully) look less 'Russian' and more Canadian.
I use kitbashed and modified steam using the CPR's practice as a guide, generally this involves moving bells and shortening tenders to try and achieve a famiily look I also base my diesels on CPR practice but do not replace things such as step wells etc..
As I'm strict with my time period and what was typically seen in the area I model, you'll see no articulated steam, no 2-8-4s and no "odd ball" diesel manufacturers like CLC etc..
GER replaces most of the CPR and some CNR in southern Quebec and parts of southeastern Ontario and the Maritimes.
freelanced alleghany railway, set around 1980.
the alleghany railway is a small class 1 railroad similar to the clinchfield or western maryland hauling vast amounts of coal, with a substantial amount of overhead freight as well. with limited space, i have chosen to model several branchlines in the cumberland, md area. but eventually when space permits i'd like to model a section of the mainline.
In another post I mentioned that I model the Rock Island as it ran through Little Rock in the early 1950s. I use a DL109 [P1K]for passenger service which is replaced at times with an E-8 [P-2K] (both in Rocket livery) or a Budd RDC-3 [P1K]. The consist is comprised of a RPO car with 3 to 4 cars. On freights I run a F-3 [Athearn] in the black and red livery or two RS-3s [Atlas] and a 4-8-2 [Spectrum]with any where from 10 to 15 cars of various types.
I also operate a fictitious railroad circa 1920s, named the Arkansas Central. It is comprised of 4-6-0s or 2-8-0s [Spectrums] pulling 3 to 4 Palace passenger cars or 3 to 4 heavy weights.. Freights consist of 2-8-0s [Spectrum] pulling mostly 36' box cars and wooden cabooses. I also have a street car system running in a rounded off rectangle through my town. For the early era I run a Riverossi (I think) street car and for the later era I run with a Peter Witt (Spectrum)
i model railroad in the state new jersey such as nj transit, erie, nyow, nysw, lackawanna, and cnj. I have no particcular era.
The Newburgh, Dutchess & Connecticut RR is based on a real line of the same name. I have chosen the fall of 1889 as my time period to allow an increased amount of movement in farm produce, milk and coal. The real N.D.& C. operated for twenty-five years before being absorbed into the Central New England shortly after the beginning of the 20th century. Sadly the C.N.E. was wholly owned by the New Haven which saw fit to tear up most of the tracks in 1938.
The N.D.& C. served as a connector line between Dutchess Junction (Beacon, NY) and Connecticut. Prior to the building of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge, all east-west trains had to cross the Hudson River in New York City or Albany. The N.D.& C. ran a car ferry from Newburgh, NY to Dutchess Junction which drastically reduced the time and mileage freight had to travel to go into New England. At Dutchess Junction, cars could be transferred to the New York Central or continue to New England over the N.D.& C. tracks. In addition to a large yard in Dutchess Junction, another yard (and enginehouse) was located in Hopewell Junction, NY.
After the opening of the Poughkeepsie Railroad Bridge, and the building of numerous highways in the area, the revenues of the line fell and it was finally torn up. Currently only the tracks from Beacon, NY to Brewster, NY (via Hopewell Junction) are in place and are owned by Metro North...which does not operate trains over them. Plans are to restore the Hopewell Junction depot to house a small museum - although little progress has been done in this regard.
Anyone interested in this wonderful line should obtain a copy of Bernard L. Rudberg's excellent book Twenty-five Years on the N.D.& C. - available from Purple Mountain Press. This book details the N.D.& C. as well as the lines that preceded and followed it.
Ray
The Virginia Tidewater and Piedmont is a fictitious railroad running from Gloucester Point, Virginia to St. Louis, Mo. The modeled portion is the Valley sub of the Alleghany Division, running from Gordonsville, Va to Sugar Grove, WV. These two, which are east and west staging, are real towns, as was Basic City, Va, now a part of Waynesboro. The rest of the towns are named for my children and grandchildren except for Leesboro, which is a fictitious city from my novels The C&O has trackage rights from Noah Junction to Sugar Grove. Since diesel facilities are sparse in September/October 1957, the C&O is forced to bring steam out of reserve when using the VT&P shortcut.
BTW GG, are you a devotee of Cthuluthu (sp)?
Gene
Nay, although I do enjoy a good science fiction novel.
Quote from: rogertra on June 23, 2009, 07:40:46 PM
Freelanced Great Eastern Railway.
Strictly set in 1958 when it comes to anything placed on GER. I try hard to only have steam typically seen in Southern Quebec around that time but need to make some small compromises given what steam is available commercially. Main exception are the three Spectrum 2-10-0s which have been modified so they (hopefully) look less 'Russian' and more Canadian.
I use kitbashed and modified steam using the CPR's practice as a guide, generally this involves moving bells and shortening tenders to try and achieve a famiily look I also base my diesels on CPR practice but do not replace things such as step wells etc..
As I'm strict with my time period and what was typically seen in the area I model, you'll see no articulated steam, no 2-8-4s and no "odd ball" diesel manufacturers like CLC etc..
GER replaces most of the CPR and some CNR in southern Quebec and parts of southeastern Ontario and the Maritimes.
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_149/h_04429.gif
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_152/h_04621.gif
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_152/f_06520.gif
CPR decopod engines were quite a bit bigger than the Spectrum 2-10-2
Quote from: Pacific Northern on June 27, 2009, 12:16:11 AM
Quote from: rogertra on June 23, 2009, 07:40:46 PM
Freelanced Great Eastern Railway.
Strictly set in 1958 when it comes to anything placed on GER. I try hard to only have steam typically seen in Southern Quebec around that time but need to make some small compromises given what steam is available commercially. Main exception are the three Spectrum 2-10-0s which have been modified so they (hopefully) look less 'Russian' and more Canadian.
I use kitbashed and modified steam using the CPR's practice as a guide, generally this involves moving bells and shortening tenders to try and achieve a famiily look I also base my diesels on CPR practice but do not replace things such as step wells etc..
As I'm strict with my time period and what was typically seen in the area I model, you'll see no articulated steam, no 2-8-4s and no "odd ball" diesel manufacturers like CLC etc..
GER replaces most of the CPR and some CNR in southern Quebec and parts of southeastern Ontario and the Maritimes.
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_149/h_04429.gif
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_152/h_04621.gif
http://www.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/cgi-bin/www2i/.visual/img_med/dir_152/f_06520.gif
CPR decopod engines were quite a bit bigger than the Spectrum 2-10-2
Yes, the CPR 2-100-s were large engines.
However, on the GER the story is that the GER's 2-10-0s were specially built light axle loading locomotives for use on a lightly laid branch that services a paper mill. Using a 2-10-0s provides more power than that provided by 4-6-0s in a locomotive that has a lighter axle loading than a 2-8-0.
Roger,
Just visited the GER Photoalbum. Your backdrops and weathering are awesome! Great job! Would love to see that in person some day.
Jonathan
Prototype: Clinchfield RR and C&O RY
Location: Elkhorn City, KY to Pikeville,KY
Major industry : Coal
Minor industries: mine supplies, farm supplies, feed. misc.LCL shipments
ERA 1972 to 1982
Tom
Number 1 of 3 4x8 sections will be a livestock loading and trading goods stop in Northern Oklahoma on the hypothetical Cherokee Nation Rail - reporting mark CNL. (based on the true establishment of Hulah, OK as a railhead)
CNL serves all Northeastern Oklahoma and Southeastern-most Kansas and will connect with the MKT and Santa Fe lines that extend to points North, South, East and West.
The CNL serves you in comfortable passenger travel and prompt reliable goods transportation throughout the NE Oklahoma area. Our fastest steam movers ensure on-time delivery and pickup of your relatives as well as your goods and grain headed for the Port of Catoosa.
Life in Oklahoma in the 1920's has turned the corner in moving into the Modern age. Timely schedules of travel and transport await you aboard any CNL line. We look forward to serving you.
CEO and Treasurer,
"Okie" Rick
Considering my love of the Newyorkcentral, I model the system in up state new york in fall, during the era when the niagara's were the kings of the rails. I currently am short on motive power due to most of my items being so out dated and destroyed from six year old me. But I currently have an old 2-6-2 praire, and a bachmann niagara, gorgeous engine! My railroad is still in the planning stages, but I hope to make it one to show off the steamers, and use the landscape of my area to my advantage, its an L shaped layout, should be a fun project.
Me,
I just Freelance, as-a-matter-of-fact my layout has very little to do with the FEC, Its not even based in Florida, instead Aspen Colorado (please no comments on my layout), hence the need to base the name on the D&RGW, Denver, Vail, and Aspen Western. Basically a modern American Tourist Railroad in Aspen, well it does have a bit to do with the FEC my Pacific is FEC, along with the J-class water car, but most of my equipment is Union Pacific, a Light Mountain, and Three Walthers Passenger cars. I also have some other eqipment (Athearn, IHC, and Atlas). But I think that a Tourist railroad gives me some freedom to have whatever roadname on my equipment I want.
Hey Rick - How did you get your wife to allow you to hold the title 'Treasurer'?
Ray
Quote from: CNE Runner on July 05, 2009, 11:35:09 AM
Hey Rick - How did you get your wife to allow you to hold the title 'Treasurer'?
Ray
No problem Ray, I've never been married. I figure it's all part of God's great plan that I stay unmarried. Although the conversation & comfort & complexities and ...(insert your thoughts here)... that comes with a woman is sorely missed at times.
Rick
I run the ME&O from 1920 to 1980 depending on what engines and rolling stock I have attached
Those not running are in my staging area --a small cabinet that rolls under my layout
I run 2 ovals and match both consists to the same time frame
Rick,
"Best Friend" comes to mind. My wife and I have worked side by side for 20 years on the ranch, she can outwork many men of today.
People ask if we get tired of being together so much.... No, just tired of people asking such a stupid question. Life is good!
Bob, I'm happy for you both.
I reckon each of us is wealthy beyond measure in our own particular way. I pity the poor fool who thinks he isn't. Lord knows I'm not talking trains here either.
Rick
Quote from: OkieRick on July 07, 2009, 10:33:08 PM
I reckon each of us is wealthy beyond measure in our own particular way. I pity the poor fool who thinks he isn't. Lord knows I'm not talking trains here either.
Rick
Well said my brother, well said.As Tiny Tim said,'God bless us everyone"
Tom