2000+ with some blasts from the past for National Train Day at Union Station. I will add a few elements form the 80's to OTC though.
the fictive Coyote Gulch Rail Road is pre 1920, and has a 4-4-0, 0-6-0, 2-6-0,2-8-0 and 4-6-2 in action.
1880 to Present. Athearn Mogul to Kato Shinkansen Bullet train and a few in between. In other words, whatever catches my eye. There are simply too many interesting locos/trains from vastly different eras to try and narrow it down to a 20-30 year span to me.
When I start actually operating, it'll be early 1970s Tidewater Southern/Western Pacific. When I just want to run trains, it's anywhere from 1965-1982 WP. I do have a UP/WP Heritage unit and Challenger 3985 so maybe a bit more modern. I love the WP and want to be able to run my Cali Zephyr, my FTs and my Inside Gateway trains!
- The Central Pennsylvania runs during the late 1950s. - Lots of GP7/9s, RS-3s, and an ocasional RS-11 and F-M H-16. - Rolling stock is mostly Eastern roads, 40' boxcars, and only a former troop car for passengers. - Under major reconstruction currently, but almost ready for operations again. - For more info see my Facebook page below. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Pennsylvania-Railroad/519927431428861
This is surprising. If you break the vote into 3 groups of pre transition (all early steam), transition, and post (all diesels), as of right now there is a 55% of the modelers modeling post transition. 10 or 15 years ago MR did a survey and it had something like 65% of modelers modeling transition. I guess as new modelers get into the hobby, more and more are modeling a more modern era. Rodney
I can pin point my time pretty well. The transition era, in 1957, as the Chevy dealership on my layout shows. Vehicles are one of the easiest ways to set an era. I grew up in this era and spent many hours riding the rails with relatives that worked on the Milwaukee Road and the Northern Pacific.
I find it a bit surprising myself, but it makes sense. Even "oldies" radio stations are playing stuff from the '80s and '90s. However, I don't know if 79 responses is enough to draw any conclusions from. Jim
This is due to the fact they do not know anything else. What they see, is that which they are most familiar. Familiarity is comfortable, an easy fit. Learning about the past takes a bit of work....
Steam ? Isnt that the stuff that comes out of your radiator overflow when your car overheats? OHHHHHHHHHH...I know...its the stuff that they use to make expresso...latte or frappe or some other silly coffee @ Starbucks !!!
Also caused pipes to bang as the radiators heated up in a fifth floor walk-up apartment. Hey, don't knock it. It was only $55/month 60 years ago.
We senior may be old enough to have stood at a crossing hearing the whistle and chuff as one of these steam giants passed. It made the hair stand up. I haven't felt that way lately. Make my era transitional. Harold
I'm not quite old enough to have actually seen steam in operation, but I do know that I would rather watch all of the moving parts of a steam engine along with the noise and excitement that comes along with it than a box on wheels growl as it goes by. Steam has and always will be a much better show.
lets see...I model a railroad that is now a fallen flag, all 6 of my locos have been retired and my cabeese are gone....yet according to this poll, I model the modern era (1984-86)
No that the stuff that comes out you're ears when those #@*&* diesels wont pull themselves up the hill...:teeth: ....Mike
I just don't agree. Don't get me wrong...I love anything to do with trains, and I'm very interested in steam, and have read tons about steam era equipment and operations. I have owned some n-scale steam locos, and likely will again. (I want to model Frisco 1522, probably a UP FEF for excursion trains, and FWWR's "Puffy".) But I just can't get overly super excited about something that in all honesty looks like a Rube Goldberg contraption. I know, them's fightin' words....
Doesn't U.P. Use 844 in emergency service to pull those broke down diesels in Wyoming?? I know of two instances!! Lol. Thats spit in your eye Dougie A. Lol Sent from my Commando