Hi all. First let me thank you all for participating in these forums. I'm learning a lot. I'm new to model railroading - played with a small train set as a kid, but that was the extent of it. I grew up next to the C&NW along the 3-track main that runs through the Western Chicago suburbs, so when I wanted to enjoy railroading I'd just walk through the backyard. Today I live in Southwest Michigan. One of my property lines is defined by the abandoned Michigan Central RR Air Line. Here's my conundrum: What should I base my first layout on? Do I go with my childhood memories and build a portion on the C&NW? Should I go back in history and recreate the MCRR Air Line? Or, the thought I have been playing with lately, what about creating a modern or steam/diesel transitionMCRR? I know you can't answer my questions. I'm just hoping to get some insight from those of you with experience, so when I make my decision I'm not so far in the dark. Layout Basics: Scale - HO Time Period - Leaning Modern but not absolute Space - Basement is some 30'x50' unfinished, will be starting in a 14'x17' area (got to ease my wife into this). Prototype accuracy - Not required Track - Plan on hand laying my track. Built a tie laying jig yesterday and layed my first 3' test section last night and this morning - I couldn't be more pleased! Operational Favorites: Yard, mainline passing I appreciate any and all comments. Thanks, Mike
Mike, I have only a few suggestions at this point, since your question is so open-ended. 1) Get Linn Westcott's book _101 Track Plans_ and keep going through it until the covers get all dog-eared. Do the same with John Armstrong's _Track Planning for Realistic Operations_. Both are usually available at hobby stores (LHS and online) that deal in trains. 2) Make a small layout, even if it's just two or three switches and some sectional track, and get a feel for whether you like switching or mainline operations or servicing or both or what. Then you can go nuts handlaying. If you want to handlay right out of the gate, I suggest finding a yard or short section of track either in prototype or in a layout book that you like, modify it to suit your tastes, and model that. Handlaying is something I have not yet tried but I think I may yet do it. Everyone I know who handlays finds it very rewarding. 3) Do a little research on prototypes that interest you. It seems you are already doing this. This is how I had my epiphany - I was wanting to do the Astoria Branch currently operated by Portland and Western, but didn't like how it petered out just east of Astoria. I found a book on the SP&S that showed a small yard, and engine facility, and lots of spurs in the mid-20th Century, so I decided to just do that and pretend that the line heading down the coast to Seaside had never been torn up in the first place. I found that the only way to stick with it was ramble around a little until I found my passion. I am basically modeling a "what if" scenario based on current and past prototype information for my modeling area. You seem to be in the same spot I was in a couple years ago. 4) Most of all, don't do anything merely to impress other people. It's your hobby. I get people sneering at some of my ideas now and then, and I just remind myself that such people are usually empty, unhappy people. I have posted preliminary track plans here and gotten some great feedback. I find the feedback is best if I tell people what interests me the most. Good luck, and welcome to TrainBoard!!!:thumbs_up::thumbs_up::thumbs_up:
One of the great challenges of model railroading, and I think you've hit on just about all the possibilities! So the way I see it, your options are: 1. CNW, mid-70's. (aka your "childhood") 2. CNW, mid-90's. This would be "modern" CNW, immediately prior to merger. 3. CNW Lines as UP, mid-2000's. Truly modern. 4. MCRR Air Line, circa early 1900's. My knowledge of the MCRR Air Line started about 5 minutes ago, but from Google this was the only time this railroad actually existed 5. MCRR Air Line, circa 1950's. "What If/protolanced" version of the MCRR Air Line with the vast amounts of transition-era models at your disposal. 6. MCRR Air Line, circa 2000's. "What If/protolanced" modern version of teh MCRR Air Line. That about got it? I think most model railraoders have gone through this. The alure of an abandoned ROW to "make it your own" is very strong. I recall a short line that once existed in a town my dad worked often had me pondering the what-if's. And of course, the childhood memories are probably the strongest draw of any. I basically model the railroad of my childhood but in more recent times since it eventually merged with another favorite of mine, giving me the best of both worlds. It seems like you're not hell-bent on super accuracy or modeling a specific area spike by spike so that's good. Space is not a problem, and while I'm not sure exactly where you live it seems any of the areas you are discussing are generally flat. So, what I would do is just build a U-shaped layout, CNW-inspired double-track all the way with 28" min. radius loops on each end of the U, a three or four track staging yard traversing the U on the outside, and make the inside what suits you, probably a small yard on one side and maybe an industrial area on the other. Make it all flat for now, but you can build framed benchwork underneath for future expansion if you want to adjust grades, build rivers, etc. Handlay your track and get it all running smooth. Run that layout with whatever rolling stock you acquire, and see what speaks to you. If you are enjoying the CNW stuff, expand on that. If the transition era stuff is more enjoyeable, start looking at the Air Line. Build a few 50's era structures which could still work for more modern times. Point is, there's no need to make a hard decision now. Just have fun with it.
Your choice of prototype might also depend on what you enjoy most about the hobby. Is it operations or modeling? If you enjoy modeling, the you might go with the MCRR option since you won't find as much (any?) ready-to-roll stuff for that. If you like operations or building structures or scenery more, then you might go with CNW since there are quite a few CNW ready-to-roll models out there.
Thanks for your input. Joseph hit the nail on the head for me. It's the modeling that appeals to me most, but in the case of the MCRR I worry about too much modeling. (Funny! I worry about too much modeling and I'm down in my basement teaching myself to hand-lay a turnout.) At the same time, if I carried the MC beyond the time of its demise, the RR could become whatever I envisioned it to be...right down to the logo on today's locos. With the rail bed running along my property I am intrigued. Just had a brilliant idea! I have plenty of space. Why not start with a historic mid 30’s MCRR? After all, my hand laid track isn’t quite modern – yet. This layout could be relatively small, but still plenty of work to hone my skills. From there I could move on and extend the layout into its own future. Run through a transitional 50’s period and eventually come up to a present day operation. Another plus is the MCRR ran to Chicago. There’s no reason why I can’t run into the CNW along the way. I think I am going to start with the Niles, MI freight yard c. 1935. I do have some information and pictures to get me started. Thanks again, Mike President and CEO MCRR
