NYC and Conrail together is almost realistic. PC was one of the roads that merged into CR, and you could find unrepainted units as late as 1981. I'm not sure about PRR and NYC units lasting into Conrail, though. As has been pointed out, NYC and ATSF together on a more-than-one-time basis does have a prototype. What's the scenery like? What other major roads do you have power from? Maybe your layout can in fact be rationalized... if that's what you care about.
The Grey and Grandure is a fictitious short-line sharing an interchange with the Great Northern. The Canadian Pacific has running rights over the main. The management long ago issued the edict: "We run what looks good" As such while it does have its own scheme, (as provided by "n scale lover"), GN, CP, and even a pair of Bangor and Aroostook geeps. UP is conspicuously absent.
I grew up in Vista, CA. so I saw the Santa Fe blue and yellow all the time through town. My Dad came out west from Ohio on the Superchief so there is a pretty solid connection to the Santa Fe. Yet as I've researched the area I live in (SoCal Riverside County) I realized that Santa Fe and SP were all over the place and since I like the SP paint schemes as well I'll run them as well. I think for now my little 7' by 2' Npire will just stay with the two road names (I have Norfolk Southern that I'll pull out once in a while - I do like their Black horse paint scheme but not nearly as much as the various SF and SP paint schemes)
I grew up near Chicago - CNW/Up and BN. I model mostly BN and BNSF with a little SF and run a little UP as well. Of course run through power can be a little of everything and this helps justify any purchases that don't meet the above. Of course I always revert back to it's my railroad when all else fails. Brian
Hey! Its *your* layout...put what you want on it and have fun! That said, I began by modeling a real RR (CBQ, because I loved the Zephyrs), but through fantasy areas...ones modeled on but not literally faithful to areas the CB&Q ran through when I was a wee cub in Illinois. I later added MoPac (long story short, Bachmann engine was sent for replacement, they said they didn't have the parts for it, replaced it but no longer had CBQ and gave me a choice of ATSF or MoPac..I took MoPac), and even later added PRR, after I got interested in them when I did a couple of consulting jobs in Penn. and visited Steamtown. In my world, those roads, as well as Lackawanna, all shared track! Ain't imagination great?
I model D&RGW, but am also a heavy BN nut. I have pooled power from WP, SSW, SP, and all 4 BN 1970 merger partners. Frisco may be added at a later date. I run what I like, and anything is possible with run-thru agreements, and power shortages. Rule #1: It's your layout, run what YOU like! If you model PRR, and like Warbonnets, go for it! Sure the Broadway Ltd would look funny with Warbonnet F's on the point, but hey, see rule number 1!
x600 - Both. That might look really nice. A Brunswick base unit with a Tuscan bonnet on any smooth front passenger type lcoo from early 50s through today including the bullet trains. Wish I had the time to do it.
I pick road names that fit my era of modelling and the region. If the rr was in the region, interchanged with my dominant road, shared or leased power with or had run through or trackage rrights than it is acceptable. But also I do occasionally buy some thing just because I like it even if it does not fit my preferences - afterall as some have said above it is your rr [ ]
Well at the moment my main interest is C&NW (no set time period), but run through trains from the following roads can be seen CP SP BNSF WC who was overtaken by CN so they now appear NS CSX and from the above 2, Conrail Utah RR Metrolink Caltrains Amtrak
