The problem is: I don't. I have trouble keeping up with three or four forums here at TB, nevermind all the others!
Well, I for one, though more knowleadgable than a (insert your largest known number here - gazillion, etc. here) people about my favorite three railroads - two gone 39 years just a week ago, and the third one merged and amended beyong recognition - don't know everything I want to know!
Question: What can the moderators do to make these forums better for both Railfans and Modelers alike?
TrainBoard Groups - Fallen Flags Brotherhood Don't forget to join the "Fallen Flags Brotherhood" TrainBoard Group!!!!!! :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool:
I count myself as a fan of many fallen flags, though I never got the chance to see any firsthand. I expect I'd be a more active railfan if I had. I find myself increasingly uninterested in the current scene. No, I'm not one of those people who says that every locomotive now looks the same. What is different now is you get almost the same variety on every road, mergers having eliminated much of the distinctiveness. Of the old companies that are still around, UP and CP are no longer much like the roads they were in the time period I care about them. Only CN still looks and feels like itself. Conrail and Santa Fe remained "right" to the end, Southern Pacific almost to the end. BN was more interesting in the first half of its existence. WC was the first modern regional I fell in love with. BC Rail was starting to look strange near the end, but still interesting. PRR is one of my favorites from long before my time, and again, not so interesting by its end. NdeM wasn't glamorous, but it's more interesting than the private roads of today - too Americanized. Even outside North America, I'm drawn to dead roads. The railways of divided Germany, for example. In Brazil, though I am interested in current roads (EFVM, MRS), FEPASA is lost. Speaking of which, it seems that throughout the Americas, the 90s saw the collapse of most remaining electrifications with freight service and/or old equipment.
*BUMP* Don't forget to join the "Fallen Flags Brotherhood" TrainBoard Group!!!!!! :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool: :tb-cool:
Hmm, tough question. My interest lies less in fallen flags and more in the flags that have dropped and been picked up, the Private Varnish and the shortlines that are living in the shells fo something that once was. I think I might count myself as a FallFlagger though, sicne I'm modelling PV for the eras and trains it contains and not just "OOH! Pretty car." Someday, I want to model the City of Madison Port Authority, which is not fallen flag. It is however, comprised of the first rail in Indiana, and a vestige of the Pennsy, which are fallen flags. I am also modelling fallen flag trains. I jsut liek some of the old Varnishes. I'm not so much drawn to the Pere Marquette, but the Passenger train is gonna get modeled someday. Same goes for the NYC Riley, which is why I've dropped in here on a few moments.
Southern Pacific, Milwaukee Road, SP&S, some GN, and I have also been looking at BCR (two tone green scheme), CB&Q, and CNW. Later edit: add NP, too. I am hopeless.
Milwaukee Road, Lines West. A proto-freelance branch line. Would also do their electrics if I had the budget, and someone released Boxcabs, but... Also a bit of NP, M&St.L, and, and.... If anyone ever does S&NCT power, I might.... Saw some custom painted F units I could not afford, last summer. Boxcab E50
Yes I am a Railfan, and modeler of the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad. Though better known as "The Ma & Pa" Railroad, also known as The Ma & Pa World Famous Railroad. I noticed though that the Maryland & Pennsylvania Railroad isn't listed in the Fallen Flags, and it should be. . . . . . :tb-wacky: Bob
Fan of the Mighty Fine Line,Missing and Still Lost,Frisco and any line with charm. I like hanging out with people who have memories of my favorites or are looking for information. Decided I wouldnt mind seeing the Rock in the 70's early 80's cause yeah it is my railroad and thats what I want
Grew up watching CNW blast thru town, and loved trains from day one! Ended up in NP land in MT and what a railroad that was! Heck, they were all a lot of fun to watch and still are!! Of course the only NP I see is museum pieces and the very rare car still in paint. It is amazing to me to watch these long coal drags crawl up Beaver Hill at about ten to fifteen mph at the top, even with all that horsepower AND a helper on the rear!!! Sure explains why the NP put the behemoth Yellowstone 2-8-8-4's pushing east out of Glendive or west out of Dickinson,ND!! ( Behind the remote unit.) Trains are fun even if the new mega companies are less personal to us 'foamers' as the rails in this area call us! So now I have to concoct a reason to get the two together in SE MT.........
I guess I am a railfan and modeler of a recent short line fallen flag but I am definitely a fan of many fallen flags.