If you had an indefinate amount of money, money, and time, 1. how big would your dream railroad be? 2. what era would it be? 3. what railroad equipment would it be?
With an indefinite or unlimited supply of time and money, I'd probably want to buy a real railroad. But to keep this within a more realistic and manageable scope (and in G Scale since that's the forum we're in), I'd have to say that for #2 and #3 would be what I've got now - a freelanced late 1920's shortline running steam power. The size of my railroad would be the real challenge. Just running the perimeter of my property would let me have well over 1000' of mainline. I guess I'd like to have as much as I have space for without it looking like a bowl of spaghetti as is often the case with smaller scales.
1. Just as big as it is. A big win at the loto (I don't buy tickets anyway) would buy something else perhaps but it I will exchange this house/basement for something else when they carry me out in a box. 2. Same thing as now. Mid 70's on a Canadian prairie branch line. 3. As above but I might have a few extra engines waiting they're turn and I sure will have a bunch of those cylindrical hoppers if they ever show up. Maybe some more tools and a larger workshop. Over all - I'm happy with my existing empire. Dave at www.wvrr.ca
Well, I'm not in G now. But should that proposed situation ever arise.... I would be! I like my era, and that chosen RR equipment. But a site with much more room would be on the table. Boxcab E50
Right now my little empire is going to be 11'x16' when completed and set in the Rockies of Colorado in 1870 on the RGS.
AT&SF / BNSF Intermodal If I had the $$$$/Time/Place, I would create a very large Intermodal Yard to include R/C Container cranes, R/C Trucks/Ottawa's to move the containers around, and plenty of animation and sound. I would have a huge track system cutting thru diverse scenery that would make peoples jaws drop, literally! We are talking acreage, mass amounts of acreage would be needed for my "G"! Modern AT&SF/BNSF! 4-5 diesel locomotives pulling 80-100 well cars! We are talking huge!!!!!!!!!! Hobo Tim p.s. Since I neither have the $$$$$ or the Place, I'll just stick with my Time and my small amount of Z scale! :teeth:
That is an interesting proprosition, I would still have what I am building only faster, a building for trains. The Western Maryland Thomas Sub. with Alcos, F-7's, GP-9's and Consoladitions lots of them! The Connellsville Sub with Challengers. And I would get into G narow guage C&S or DRGW with several K-37 Mudhens and Mogals in a big way with about 600 feet of track and battery/radio control garden railway. That would take care of the model trains, And of corse I would buy a real railroad or at least part of it. I wonder how much CSX and UP are going for? "If you have to ask, You can't afford it."...lol... "Still Training After All These Years"
I am retired so time is not an issue. But, that money thing, it seems to pop up more often than I want it to. Right now I have an 80’ X 35’ layout with a 400’ mainline. With money I could buy power equipment like tractors, front-end loaders and trucks. Then I would at least triple the size of my railroad. (My current layout was built by hand with a shovel and wheelbarrow.) I currently model the 1940’s and would continue to do so. But, with “money” I would have every single 1:29 piece of rolling stock that was available that came anywhere near my modeling time frame.
I think that you have already gotten some of the best answers. but I would add one thing and that is the era from the mid 40s to early 60s and that way you could have some older neat steam and also some early diesel electrics
