Hey John, I grew up in Fremont, and when I was a teen, me and my delinquent buddies used to hop trains from the GM plant in Fremont, and ride to the Ford plant in Milpitas. We would skulk aroung there until a train was heading back to Fremont, and hop a ride home. It was always easy because there were great bushes to hide in and trains always move real slow at both of those yards. While I would not think of suggesting anyone do this nowadays, it was the norm 30 years ago.
I model Conrail's Southern Tier Line in the mid '90's, freelanced on the section between Binghamton and New Jersey, this means I can also run Susquehanna, NS, CP, Soo and CSX as well as a few lease units. I also run an Amtrak on a ficticious route from New York to Buffalo via Binghamton (no Amtrak on the Tier!). I also intend to include a ficticious short line operated by a couple of GP18's and a GP7, name as yet undecided. ConrailPete
I don't model any railroad or location, altho I might slightly favour the SP in that I have 2 SP SD-7's and A-B-A units in SP F-7's I run all types of engines for little steam to big steam and diesels. I like them all.
I freelance a railroad in Central Illinois during the early to mid, maybe even late 1980's. I love the Chicago Northwestern and reflect that love in my paint scheme, which is a reverse of the colors in their scheme. Why? Because I like that area, flatish, farmland, small towns, and some local railroad traffic. Jeff Augsburg & Concord R.R. (a fictional shortline in Central Illinois) http://www.pegnsean.net/~revnjeff
Jeff, any chance of you posting a photo of one of your units in the reverse scheme? Sounds very interesting! Thanks, Bill
I model the Canadian National. I'm from Quebec City so CN trains are common here and I like the way CN paint looks. My era is 1990 to 2003, which is pretty flexible, I don't want to restrict myself too much. My layout will be a 16"X60" switching layout built around a paper mill, with a 36" long retractable yard. Construction has yet to begin, I'm waiting on my next pay check to get turnouts, lol. The layout will also have a grain elevator since I love them and my favorite cars are cylindrical 4-bays. My rolling stock is about halfway aquired, I need boxcars and tank cars, and am soon getting woodchip gons. [ 07. July 2003, 03:56: Message edited by: MagicMan_841 ]
Robert, things were so much different then. I now know how all the guys who talked about steam when I was a kid feel! John
Mathiew, I too like the look of Canadian paint schemes, and will definitely be having some on my new layout! My first trip across the pond was to Toronto, before heading (by train) into Michigan, so my first sight of north american trains was CN, CP, VIA, GO, etc. So my liking of these is natural, I suppose
I'm planning to model the current D&H under CP, specifically the joint trackage with GRS between Mechanicville, NY and Crescent, NY. My time period will probably stop by the end of the year, since CP but a bid out for the D&H. So my time period would be 2000-2003. This allows a HUGE variety of trains and motive power. CP units include SD40-2s, SD40-2Fs, the occasional AC4400 or SD90/43MAC, GP38-2s (ex-D&H and D&H), GP40-2s (ex B&M, non-dynamic), and GP9us. Also seen are SOO SD40-2s and SD60/Ms (SOO is owned by CP). NS High-adhesion units are plentiful on intermodal and coals trains (SD60/M/Is, C40-8/Ws, C40-9/Ws, SD70/Ms, the occasional SD80MAC). CSX coal and rare phosphate trains come around (AC4400s, AC6000s, C40-8/Ws, C44-9Ws, FURX SD40-2s, SD60/M/Is). GRS trains have an insane mix of power - GP40s (high and low nose), GP40-2LWs (ex-CN), GP35s (high and low nose), SD26s, SD39s, SD45s (high nose), and a lone GP38. Add to this the occasional odd SP or UP unit that runs through (a GP60, a T-motor, and the last SP Dash 9 have all been seen) you have an incredible variey. I have also been closely following the operations since the beginning of 2002, and there is a lot of daytime action. 10 miles of joint trackage with one passing siding adds up to a lot of operational potential. Why this time and location? I've spent many hours fanning it, got to ride their annual "Toys for Tots" train as the official photographer in December 2001, and got my first cab ride on the line. Nevermind that it just screams to be modeled with all the variety that can be attained.
My layout is freelance so I can have it all. Mountains, tunnels, farms, lakes, rivers, industry, business, and residential. Time period is early to mid 50’s with lots of steam and some dismals. I also love the 1940 to early 1950 cars and trucks. Trains are Santa Fee and Southern Pacific both freight and passenger. I also have two BN locomotives that don’t fit my time line or roads but make my wife happy, as she loves the color green. And when she is happy I am happy.
well i model the mopac because i as a child my grandparents lived next to the illinois sub in findlay, il. and i loved the old jenks blue and the eagles. however i model both the 70's to the merger and now i am starting to do things as if the mopac took the up instead of the other way, i now have mopac 70 macs and such floating around.
I model the PA Southern Division of the NYC. Why mainly because I drive the PA Turnpike daily which followed/was the old road bed that was never completed. Plus it was going to interchange with my second favorite road the Reading.
For me it's 1980's Mopac, pre and post merger (so I can have a few canaries on the roster): http://www.geocities.com/t_mcclenahan/Models/index.html Of course a few Frisco units for pooled unit train power in the area adds a bit of color. Tim
I model the former BN line west from to Chicago to Galesburg (centred on Montgomery) in the second half of the 1990s - this allows me to run BN and SF and SP/UP + Metra. Why? it seemed like a good idea at the time!! (and I've been able to collect quite a lot of material for that area). I've also joined those who have more than a passing interest in the Montana Rail Link (which I'm researching and collecting stock for now -- a future project a couple of years down the line!!) David
Great roster Tim! Never seen so many MoPac units David, good to see you have succumbed to the charms of the MRL
Thanks Alan! There are a few details I need to add, especially to MP3107 and 6044 which were added just last week. It sure is motivating to get positive feedback from the experts! Next up...a Mopac shorty bay window caboose. Tim
I look forward to seeing the caboose, Tim You are building a good accurate collection of locomotives, as you are prepared to change them around to get the correct features for each unit. Good mix of various parts to get your chosen locomotive. Keep up the good work, and show us the results
I as many others free lance with a realistic twist I like to call it.... I like modeling the early 1990's late 1980's with a bit of modern power and scenery mixed in... I guess the reason for likeng this era for me is it's the one I grew up in.. HIts close to home I guess.. The railway (answered out of order i know) modeled is the St. Lucas Northern which has a cirucular main line and two industrial branch lines for wich I haven't found names for just yet. SD40---- P.S. ---- making progress every day on the St. Lucas Northern..... let you know when the trains start rolling [ 07. July 2003, 23:00: Message edited by: sd40 ]
