US Prototype

I hope this is the right place to post this. I'm a Brit living in Sweden and planning to make the move from UK prototype to US. However I don't have much knowledge of US prototype and operations. Are there any good books and web sites I can use to get up to speed before I make any decisions over what I'll build (possibly Pennsy)?

Thanks
Ian

 

Welcome to Trainboard, and I'm sure you'll get some answers.

Here's my take:
That's a tough question . US railroading is such a huge subject I'm not sure if there are any single books that cover it (I'm excluding the Dorling Kindersley type of books as they are so shallow and patchy (and often plain wrong) that they probably won't help you much).

This is a bit outfield, but I'd suggest starting with one of the 'Planning for realistic operation' books. That will give you a good grounding in how US roads operate(d), which is pretty much standard throughout. From there you will probably get an idea of the industries that might interest you - lumber products, unit coal, passenger, etc. - which in turn will possibly push you towards a particular part of the US and thence to a particular road. Or you can just freelance.
Having read the planning book you could also make a start on a layout, which at this stage could be fairly generic. Only the scenery and locos really define the location - scenery can be left till quite late, and locos can be bought/sold/redecorated at will.

 

My 2 cents in the bin:
Kalmbach have some cheap "generic" little books that can help to better focus on specific arguments: Industries , Freight cars, Passenger service, Steam service shops, model a city-scape... and so on.
Then I think you need to select the "background" you like from the op point of view: logging mountains - peaceful country - busy city - mines in the desert , commutes ... and the related "landscape" .
If you chose a specific prototype (a state, a RR ) for your subject, sure you will find tons of pictures and info just "googling" around, not counting that historical societies and books are countless.
But also if you freelance you're surprised of how many ideas you find in the net... and here: just ask!
Welcome to Trainboard!
cheers
Enzo Fortuna
Modeling the "Valley before Silicon" in Italy
Home of Enzo Fortuna personal Site - Welcome!

oPS!
just noted your preferece... the PRR:
a starter links page : http://prr.railfan.net/PRRLinks.html
download the free PRR modeler magazine:
http://www.prrths.com/Keystone%20Modeler/Keystone_Modeler.htm
link to Kalmbach books I've mentioned:
Kalmbach Publishing: Model Railroading: Books: Modeling Reference
A nice place to find books:
Welcome to Railpub.com

 

Hello and welcome, Ian. I'll throw in another link - The Pennsylvania Railroad: Welcome to "Keystone Crossings"! - a webring dedicated to the PRR, but containing info for any rail modeler. You also may find some other US Rail modelers near you - keep your eyes open for train shows, and on this (and other) forum for members who list a location/hometown. Glad to have you with us ! Bob C.

 

I'd second the suggestion of Track Planning for Realistic Operation by John Armstrong. It probably could be called Track Planning for Realistic North American Prototype Operation since I know our practices are a little different than those in Europe.

After that, since you are leaning toward Pennsy I would learn what you can about that particular road, especially the parts you are interested in modeling. A lot of the general stuff is pretty much the same throughout North America, but Pennsy has a lot of specifics that you can run away with if you'd like.

I think you'll find a lot to like with Pennsylvania Railroad.

Good luck!

Adam

 

Welcome at TrainBoard, Ian.

It's also a good idea to think about era and region. The east coast has much points for a model railroad, shorter lines, more green land. :angel:

Wolfgang

 

I think it also may depend on the era you are interested in as operations changed over time in US. Do check the info in the Fallen Flags area, and also in the Layout Construction forum.

 

Welcome aboard!

What about US railroads interests you?

Don Ball's The Pennsylvania Railroad 1940s-1950s is good for... well, I'll say showing what the PRR looked like overall. I'd also suggest looking around sites like http://www.railpictures.net
If you're not set on PRR, the old photograph collections might just convince you.

 

Digger I was faced with similar challenges and while I have no doubt the suggested books are great [unfortunately I have none of them :tb-sad:] I agree with Triplex in that you can learn a great deal from photo web sites such as
http://www.railpictures.net/
Railroad Picture Archives.NET
http://photos.nerail.org/
to name a few.
Plenty of excellent railimages here too, of course!

Mike

 

Typical that I post a question and then vanish for a few days. Sorry, pressure of work. Thanks for all the answers.

Why US? Well, why not. It is just so variable and I feel like a challenge. As for the PRR, I really just got hooked on the colour (color - sorry ) scheme. I guess I'm looking at 40's-50's so I can run late steam and early diesels. And of course I have to fit it into the my basement hobby room (about 15' by 12'). I need to do a lot more reading. Again, thanks for all the tips.

Ian

 

What scale?

 

....Typical that I post a question and then vanish for a few days.
Sorry, pressure of work.....

Sorry, I can't resist: .... TOO LATE!
:cup::zip::rotfl::bear-wink:

 

A good question. I'd like to go HO but space availability might make N a better option. I'll actually make a final scale decision when I know for sure what I want to build.

Thanks again

 

15' x 12' is a reasonable space (by European standards anyway). Unless you want long trains or a massive track plan I think you'll be able to work HO into that. Down at 10' x 10' things get a bit more interesting

 

I was wondering because the availability of PRR equipment, specifically steam, is much better in HO.