I am still pretty much set on late BN (94-95) although I am slowly buying up some EL stuff but for me if a U25C came out I would switch to NP or early BN in a heartbeat. So what is the model that would cause you to switch if it was made avalible? KEvin
I model my youth , age 4-14 , aka the 1950's decade . No model can effect a change in my wanting to model the magical , generally carefree years of my life .
I'm designing my layout so that I can run mutiple eras (one era at a time, usually). Basically this will be post WWII to the early 90's, when graffiti became so explosively widespread. So there's not much that will move me from this. However, if someone made well detailed and reliable models of 1900-1920 steam (with the big oil or electric headlights and appropriate appliances) I might be temped to add old time to my mix. (The Athearn/MDC steamers don't do it for me. They're not well detailed, and the tender and engine are too far apart, let alone the ugly motor shaft going between them.) There's something about mainline use of 2-8-0's with short trains that appeals to me. Also, a Lines West K4 with headlight centered on the smokebox would be neat, but I could probably do that myself if someone made a plastic K4 in N scale, which is my biggest wish.
Dave, I agree. While I model the late 60s/early 70s, if someone made a really nice late 1800s Consolidation, Ten Wheeler or American, I'd have to add that to my collection. In HO, Walthers makes a sweet Russian Iron 4-4-0 with tons of gold pinstriping. I'm like you, I love watching old Consols pulling short trains of wooden cars. Add to that a nice American or Ten Wheeler pulling three older passenger cars and I'd be happy!
I have always been stuck in the early 1970s and probably always will. However, I have a small fleet of steam and rolling stock for when I want it to be 1955. A Class A 2-6-6-4 built in a similar manner to Athearn's Challenger would certainly enhance my 1955 fleet! Until then my 1955 fleet is complete. Mark
Hmmmm. Well, my era, just after the mid-1960's, allows me some latitude. I could stay in that same time period with a U25C. Don't think I'd be doing any drastic changing. An EMD SW-1 would be nice, as it spans from steam well into second generation diesels. Boxcab E50
Well if anyone did a really great job on the SP AC-9 Standard Cab, I would move more towards that era. I am mostly diesel because there is not what I call good steam around. The Kato Mike is fine, but the tenders are all wrong for me. ATSF and SP used oil out west, not coal. There are others like the 2-8-0, but they were not in use on the era and location I am trying to model. The GS-4 is OK too, but for all of the time and pr by Kato, it could have been a lot better. Quality Pacifics and Texas Types are missing for me, and if they were as available as Atlas GP-7 of GP-30/35's. then I would leave the diesel age completely. I have a few brass units, but that is to expensive and not all that reliable either.
CB&Q Steam For me, it would take a roster of "Q" Steam - hard to choose just choose one. I would definitely shift to the late 30s for an S-4 Hudson, O-5 Northern, O-1 Mikado, and an M-4 Texan. If I HAD to choose one, it would be the S-4 Hudson.
An 1880s ten wheeler. An 1880s eight wheeler would make me consider it, the ten wheeler would assure that there is no hesitation. Come out with both, and I am putting up for sale all kinds of transition era equipment in B&O, PRR, WM, P&LE and some other NYC, as their stuff did operate on the P&LE.
If we had more geared steam along the price point of the Atlas Shay in standard or narrow gauge I think I'd go "into the woods" and possibly never come back out, just working on logging roads. I would also like to see someone make a good 4-4-0. That locomotive basically built this country and it should be honored with a good model (or kit).
I wholeheartedly agree with that. A new model of an 1870-1880 American would be good choice. It is one of those models that will have appeal to many outside the model RR hobby as well. And it could be done in Xmas colors and such for better sales. I would like to see better pickup (including tender) and better details than what is currently available from B-mann. Also, how many of these little guys were rebuilt or modified for small roads (I don't know - it may have not been that many)? I would also like to see a 1900's ten wheeler. I would definitely roll back my era for one of those. Eric
Kevin,That devil is already made..Its the Walthers 0-8-0..I used one at the N Scale club and it was instant love..To complicate the matter the fool thing was lettered C&O!!! So,I been thinking about buying one and maybe 30 cars for home use-I can rotate "eras" just like I do operating my CSX,NS and my C&HV.
Kevin, this is a very interesting thread. A simple question, but so many answers! Well done! (btw, it may not take a model, but I have been bitten by the Japanese railroad bug. If only I had the room for two layouts...)
Modeling the SP & WP in the 50's it would be hard to say. I like passenger trains. So I don't think I would change eras. Even if someone came out with an Amtrak California I'd pick one up but not change eras. Regards,
I'd be more inclined to change areas modeled rather than eras. However, were I to change, it would be to the 1960s, and there are plenty of models out there for me to do that era. A slew of GP7s and Fs would work for me.
If somebody made the MLW M420W I would change from the present day modeling, to early 2000's, which is when Kelowna & Pacific railway ran upto 7 of them at a time on their trains. Those were the days! Now those are long gone, and I dont even know where they are. While that may not be a big era change, it would be for me, because it would also be a railway change too!
I guess that would narrow down the choices for a 4-8-4 quite a bit - I think the 1st 4-8-4 was built in 1927. Mark
Quite a few were built in 1929 and 30 (a little later then i thought) Including the CNW, RI and DLW which are my favorites.
