Just a thought for showing time

zackesch Feb 4, 2014

  1. zackesch

    zackesch TrainBoard Member

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    One of my goals does not consintrate around a set time, but the history, present and future of CN. The town will be fictionous but my thought would be as the layout progresses through its course, the era will change as it goes on to show the history and how the railroad useage, shipping methods etc have changed. It would start from the 20's ish on forward. What are your thoughts/opponions.
     
  2. scottmitchell74

    scottmitchell74 TrainBoard Member

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    I think it's a fine idea!

    My layout has a split theme. On one half I'm modeling a 1980's rural trailer park and on the other a late 50's Downtown ballpark scene. SO, when my 1950's locos are on the move they look like a railfan excursion to the trailer park and when my more modern ones are rolling they look like the "future" to the bewildered fans in the ballpark. It's all fun!
     
  3. Southern Oregonian

    Southern Oregonian TrainBoard Member

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    I'm in the same boat. I'm starting Just before WWII and ending with Amtrak as it is today. My 2 RRs disappeared into BN and UP so they both stopped existing in 1971 and 1994 respectively. :crying:
     
  4. zackesch

    zackesch TrainBoard Member

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    Lately ive been on 1920s and 30s wood side freight kick. I have a good amount of modern freight, but I would like to run some steam stuff on the club layout. Theres too much to try and restrain to a time period. Kudos to those who can. All i care about is that its CN
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 4, 2014
  5. Southern Oregonian

    Southern Oregonian TrainBoard Member

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    I started with steam and I don't think I can give it up. I've walked away from 2 clubs that were "diesel only" and one that was no brass. Up side for me is that I can run both diesel and steam on the same train and have it be correct. Thanks to SP&S being a little weird, I can have my Challenger lead a FA or two on a freight train and have it be correct because they did it and I can even prove it. Down side for me is I have a lot of FMC boxcars and very few pre 1972 freight cars. I'm getting to the point that I'm over looking things like mergers.
     
  6. zackesch

    zackesch TrainBoard Member

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    No brass?!? What kind of rule is that? Some of our club members have beautiful brass equipment such as a full brass zepher model that he got back in the 70's and another member who has brass passenger cars that he picked up for a song and dance.
     
  7. Steve S

    Steve S TrainBoard Member

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    Maybe they mean no bare brass.

    Steve S
     
  8. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    I don't want to sidetrack this thread....but are you serious?? A model train club that was "diesel only"??? Holy Criminy.....personally I only have a couple steamers compared to about 80 diesels, but still...this is model RAILROADING.

    sorry for the rant...:frustrated:
     
  9. Southern Oregonian

    Southern Oregonian TrainBoard Member

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    Nope, no brass locomotives at all. Cars were okay so long as they were approved, but that was years ago. Now I'd like a place to at least run my challenger. If it is anything like the northern I have (same manufacturer) it should have some unrealistic pulling power too.
     
  10. Southern Oregonian

    Southern Oregonian TrainBoard Member

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    I'm think I'm in the same boat as zachesch when it comes to rosters. He is starting at the 20's and I'm at the 40's and we're both going forward from there. What that means for both of us is 'why yes, I have steam power' but it also means we have diesels too and trying to come up with a layout that makes any sense is hard. But at the same time it'd be pretty cool to have my Cascades Talgo commuter (F59PHI for power, or a AMD 103/P42) operating at the same time as my GN Empire Builder (pulled by SP&S's E7 or the 700). Apparently most of my figures will look like they're from the 1980's or later since I don't think Preiser or Woodland Scenics have retooled since then.

    I am a little upset however over my porter situation. I don't know if its because of political correctness or what, but I can't for the life of me find good quality African American porters. I'm still waiting on BLI for the rest of my prewar Daylight cars, but I have all the Walthers EB cars and both had black porters. I've met a few of the old timers and I've even had one assigned to my sleeper and they've all been great people to talk to, not to mention the service was excellent. I just find it really sad they aren't represented in scale since for me anyways, when I think of 1940's and 1950's rail passenger service I always think about what I was told the service was like and well, they provided a lot of it.

    Well that's my rant too I guess.
     
  11. zackesch

    zackesch TrainBoard Member

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    Southern, I just may have come up with a new, possibly better angle. I don't know what your operating style is, but within the past 80 years or so, what changes the least? Heavily urbanized, downtown industrial districts. Yes, there are changes, but the majority of the buildings are relatively the same. I am using milwaukee, wisconsin as an example for the simple fact that this is my home turf. Many of the building here are original cream city brick, the old pabst brewery is still standing sadly neglected but still up. Allen Bradley is still a major building down here, and a large amount have made the transition from factory to apartments. This general idea can be taken and detailed in such a way that there are hints of the past and the present without being right up in your face. Obviously the vechiels will be a mix, but advertising not so much. There are still a number of old adds on the side of brick buildings.


    When done in this manor, We also bring out the “what if; what if manufacturing was brought back like the good 'ol days?” When done right, in the same space in time, you can show how a factory was serviced as how it could be in modern days. The building wont change but style of freight cars will. Heck, look at companies like Bucyrus before they were bought out by Caterpillar, or Joy Global “P&H”, they made big mining equipment back then and its still massive today. There are tons of operating possibilities with a factory like that. What if Harley was rail served?


    Without rambling on anymore, I beleave big brick and mortar factories in the heart of a city will be a good option for a era neutral environment.
     
  12. Flashwave

    Flashwave TrainBoard Member

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    I realixe this is not quite your point, but your example is exactly why I sleect the protoyes I do. In the right setting, SP&S 700 can and does run with a tangent of GN and Daylight cars in tow alongside Amtrak thanks to her current owners. I see and live the modern era, but I can't shake the transition era equipment, so I go after Private Varnish, Museums, and the like. A nice-2-8-2, 4-8-4 or 2-8-4 with a P42 booster as needed works for me. For now, anyway
     
  13. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    It is of course historical fact that porters were black, hard to imagine them not being available but then again nothing surprises me anymore. At any rate, they were and are proud professionals and should be represented.
    Your solution may come down to using a paint brush.
     
  14. Southern Oregonian

    Southern Oregonian TrainBoard Member

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    I haven't really thought about how far I want to take my layout as of yet. I know at "some" point the Portland Union Station will be added but I'm also short on space right now. I have three Walthers Rail shop kits of various functions I haven't built yet (waiting on other items to come in first) along with the rest of my orders so I can get an idea of how much space my logging scene will take up. Brick and Mortar buildings are in truth rare around the Pacific Northwest. I'm not saying we don't have any because we have a lot of them, but most of your 1930's and so on structures were wood, which would still be something to see. Even our first 3 State Capital Buildings were wood. Coincidently they all burned down. The current one is Marble and steel. Being from Oregon I can say that Portland is unique in it's old buildings and bridges. I'm not skilled enough to build the Steel Bridge, but I'd love to have one in HO.

    I'm thinking that I'll go with intermittent companies with brachlines and a small town or too, possibly with the edge of a big city. Having rode our Cascades a lot thats really all it is between Eugene and Salem, and not a lot has changed other then company closures. My biggest problem is probably going to be who makes a kit close enough to what I need.

    Even still, I'd love to see what you come up with. I'm still in the planning phase so to speak.

    OH! almost forgot, CN/SOO Line even ran through Washington to Portland at one point. They created a subsidiary called I think Spokane International. I found that out last night but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of info.

    I've got the 4449 and the confused UP heritage unit too.;)

    Yeah, my GN cars are postwar but my daylight cars might be prewar but even still.

    Best Amtrak employee I've ever ran across was our sleeper's porter on the EB going to North Dakota a few years ago.
     
  15. JNXT 7707

    JNXT 7707 TrainBoard Member

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    Same here. We rode the EB from Portland to Chicago last May - our sleeper's porter was incredible.
     

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