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Post by hudsonyard on May 23, 2023 19:44:42 GMT -8
Theres something to be said for modeling a small-mid sized, or as the CNJ called themselves "a big little railroad" an operation you can get your arms around. It would take most of a mid-large basement, and probably require multiple decks, but you could build the entire LHR switch for switch if you really wanted to.
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Post by lars on May 24, 2023 14:18:42 GMT -8
Whenever CSX came up in discussions back then, everyone talked about Sand Patch, the summit of the CSX route between Cumberland / DC / Baltimore and Pittsburgh and other points west. There were a bunch of videos (on VHS!) available back then about the route, including the Pentrex series "Into the Allegheny Range" that got me excited about modeling Sand Patch. A trip to Cumberland in September 2000 solidified my interest, and I envisioned a future layout stretching from Cumberland Yard up through the mountains to the summit at Sand Patch. While operating a friend's layout every few months when I was living out west, it slowly dawned on me that Sand Patch would be really boring from an operations standpoint. It's just double-tracked mainline traffic up and over the mountain. There weren't any examples of local trains working the area, an aspect of operations that I found really enjoying on my friend's layout. I decided I had to find a location in the CSX system, preferably on the East Coast, that would allow me to model interesting local traffic serving industries along the line. Agree on this. In my opinion, Sand Patch, particularly the east slope, is one of the most scenic main lines in the Northeast, and is much more scenic than the PRR crossing of the Alleghenies to the north. However, operationally, other than adding and removing helpers it would be a dud to operate. If you were in it for scenery and running trains around the room it would be great, but that’s about it. Of course it would allow you to recreate scenes like this One that is starting to interest me from B&O and early CSX is the Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh. If I chose to model a PA main line, that would be one of my front runners.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2023 20:47:31 GMT -8
When I've been at times a Canadian railroad fan, it was because I thought the Alco/MLW's were so interesting.
With more and more good video content now on YouTube, I was recently astounded at the dramatic scenery along the Thompson and Fraser rivers in Canada, particularly the one scene that reminds me of the Keddie Wye, where one railroad bridge is above another railroad bridge with the huge snowcapped peak in the background, and how the scenery surely does dwarf the trains. That was awe inspiring. Not saying I'll become a CN modeler, but it's easy to find something to appreciate about that Canadian scenery.
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Post by spsf on May 25, 2023 8:02:33 GMT -8
Liked both the SP and ATSF and couldn't decide between the two
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Post by loco8107 on May 25, 2023 9:13:50 GMT -8
Liked both the SP and ATSF and couldn't decide between the two That Kodachrome scheme was the best too! A shame the merger got denied.
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Post by sd80mac on May 25, 2023 9:44:58 GMT -8
Liked both the SP and ATSF and couldn't decide between the two Username checks out!
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espee
New Member
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Post by espee on Jul 8, 2023 9:53:26 GMT -8
I first decided that I wanted to model the southwest. Then it was basically a decision of what I liked better, F45's or tunnelmotors. Tunnelmotors won. Now I have around 250 SP/SSW Locomotives, and haven't regretted my choice.
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Post by simulatortrain on Jul 8, 2023 18:42:07 GMT -8
I've never had any interest in modeling things I've seen, for me modeling is a way to wrap my head around what used to be. I fell in love with the Western Maryland in general in the same period I was doing a lot of biking and camping along the Western Maryland Rail Trail, the former WM West Sub. So I intend to model that to fully understand what it was like, a couple decades before my time.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Jul 8, 2023 19:36:29 GMT -8
So one can model the "here and now". Right now, I'm a couple of miles east of the main line coming into Oakland, from Sacramento. I could model that.
Or.
I could model Maine two-foot steam.
An interesting research paper would be the how and why of how people choose how far their modeling interests radiate from the "here and now".
Ed
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Post by keystonefarm on Jul 8, 2023 19:52:29 GMT -8
I've been modeling the ex PRR Buffalo line on two different railroads since 1983. I grew up alongside the PRR's 4 track electrified mainline west of Philadelphia but ended up modeling the Buffalo line from a article in a Rails Northeast magazine a friend showed me. First one was in a 16 x 32 basement in a townhouse . Two decks with a helper grade between. Started off as late PRR 1962-68. Also did some early Conrail. Operated for about 9 years with a crew of 8-10 people. The second railroad is on the second floor of a purpose built barn 32 x 80. Multiple decks 5 in two places. A long mainline run 1400' from Enola and Harrisburg staging's to Buffalo. Three large yards Northumberland ,Williamsport and Mineral Springs in Buffalo. Separate dispatchers downstairs. Takes 30-34 people for a full crew. It's been multiple eras started at late PRR 62-68 then to late PRR/PC 66-76. then to early Conrail 1976-1982. Then back to PRR steam 56-57 then to late PRR again and now my own fictional railway the Northern Central Railway 1976-1982. The last is what could have happened to the buffalo line if it was purchased and operated by someone other than Conrail which does exist . Most of my era's last about 5-7 years. The layout locations do not change and have always been the Buffalo line. It's been operating since 1994 and I think the last era change has taken place as I am approaching the age of 75 and am feeling my years !! It's been a fun ride operating for the past 29 years. The era changes keep thing fresh instead of tearing things down and starting anew. And with 3120 sq. Ft. that's a lot of tearing down and rebuilding !!
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Post by Baikal on Jul 9, 2023 7:38:44 GMT -8
So one can model the "here and now". Right now, I'm a couple of miles east of the main line coming into Oakland, from Sacramento. I could model that. Or. I could model Maine two-foot steam. An interesting research paper would be the how and why of how people choose how far their modeling interests radiate from the "here and now". Ed
One could model the entire Sacramento Northern 40th & Shafter Yard, their Oakland terminus, in 4'x8'.
SN operations thru the Oakland Hills were facinating, including "timeouts" due to PG&E electric metering and the steep grades. Veric scenic, too.
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Post by lars on Jul 10, 2023 14:18:28 GMT -8
I've been modeling the ex PRR Buffalo line on two different railroads since 1983. I grew up alongside the PRR's 4 track electrified mainline west of Philadelphia but ended up modeling the Buffalo line from a article in a Rails Northeast magazine a friend showed me. First one was in a 16 x 32 basement in a townhouse . Two decks with a helper grade between. Started off as late PRR 1962-68. Also did some early Conrail. Operated for about 9 years with a crew of 8-10 people. The second railroad is on the second floor of a purpose built barn 32 x 80. Multiple decks 5 in two places. A long mainline run 1400' from Enola and Harrisburg staging's to Buffalo. Three large yards Northumberland ,Williamsport and Mineral Springs in Buffalo. Separate dispatchers downstairs. Takes 30-34 people for a full crew. It's been multiple eras started at late PRR 62-68 then to late PRR/PC 66-76. then to early Conrail 1976-1982. Then back to PRR steam 56-57 then to late PRR again and now my own fictional railway the Northern Central Railway 1976-1982. The last is what could have happened to the buffalo line if it was purchased and operated by someone other than Conrail which does exist . Most of my era's last about 5-7 years. The layout locations do not change and have always been the Buffalo line. It's been operating since 1994 and I think the last era change has taken place as I am approaching the age of 75 and am feeling my years !! It's been a fun ride operating for the past 29 years. The era changes keep thing fresh instead of tearing things down and starting anew. And with 3120 sq. Ft. that's a lot of tearing down and rebuilding !! When did you do the switch to the Northern Central? Things seemed to be heavy PC/Conrail at the RPM open house last year.
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Post by keystonefarm on Jul 10, 2023 16:11:44 GMT -8
The switch happened right after the open house at the RPM meet. Early CR so some PC,LV,RDG etc. Paintouts/ slapovers Some CR blue and a bunch OF NCRY and it's subsidiaries . Something I have been considering for many years . Figured at my age it was either time to do it of forget it. So I did it. It will be open this November for the normal open house tours and late April 2024 for the next RPM. --- Ken
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