What kind of layout do you have?

bremner May 25, 2013

?

what do you build?

  1. freelanced

    26 vote(s)
    29.2%
  2. proto-freelanced

    46 vote(s)
    51.7%
  3. prototypical

    17 vote(s)
    19.1%
  1. ken G Price

    ken G Price TrainBoard Member

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    Proto-Freelanced

    Proto-Freelanced, in that the railroads are real, but the location some where south east of San Angelo, Texas, does not exist in the real world,

    It is around 1995-1998 and a small area sub that is a bridge line between UP and the KCS/Texas Mexican railroad. Located in an area that in the real world has farming and oil so I just expanded on that. As UP at this time frame owns the MP, SP, C&NW, and UP, I am able to run engines in these colors as well as rolling stock.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Results, so far for this poll, are intriguing. For myself, I was thinking it would be fairly even between the three categories. I am surprised the proto-freelance is far ahead.
     
  3. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    It depends on how strictly you define terms I'm sure not everyone in this thread is using proto-freelance in the same way much less as it was originally coined. Not too many Utah belts or Alleghany midlands discussed here.
     
  4. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Not to say there's anything wrong with any model railroader's layout. Just pointing out the terms weren't defined.
     
  5. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes. I Know. That is why too many "surveys" and "polls" are almost useless- Except to someone trying to gain an expected outcome. I am considering this as it is, very informal.
     
  6. mikelhh

    mikelhh TrainBoard Member

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    Good points. I went 'proto/freelanced' because half of the layout echoes the actual track plan of BM's Calais Yard with, as far as possible, the same buildings, road overpass and backdrop. From there though it's pretty much anything I can fit while trying to keep things compatible with the yard and New England in general. So really I'm very loosely proto at best.

    Mike
     
  7. NYW&B

    NYW&B Guest

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    Strictly a freelance railroad, but in a very real location, circa the autumn of 1941.

    [​IMG]

    NYW&B
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 27, 2013
  8. Geep_fan

    Geep_fan TrainBoard Member

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    I proto-freelance. Yup I model the Santa Fe in the "70's" but I do swing that around a little bit. I have some engines in fictional santa fe paint, RS-3's, SD9's, and SDP35's. I don't model any specific place or area, just whatever looks good to me.
     
  9. FriscoCharlie

    FriscoCharlie Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yeah, so far my layout exists only in my dreams.
     
  10. JPIII

    JPIII TrainBoard Member

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    My RR is an amalgamation of old B&W photos. The proto logging RR are long gone from the area that I claim to model (circa 1920......+/- 20)......SW WA., NW OR. I try to remain true to the topography of the area but after that, it's "Katie bar the door" as to the features of actual logging RRs.....thus freelance is my choice. I think of it as a old growth forest with a RR running thru it.

    I figure it will keep me building till I take the dirt nap......hay, it's a plan.........
     
  11. JimJ

    JimJ Staff Member

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    Sounds like a great plan. I've always wanted to model a rickety old logging line. I even bought a Bachmann Spectrum Shay when they came out. Still sittin' on the shelf. Sigh. Maybe a little figure 8 layout someday.
     
  12. JPIII

    JPIII TrainBoard Member

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    From my view (in retrospect), yours is a better plan. This being my first attempt at MRRing, I fell into the "if a little is good, a lot is better" trap.
    Now I have about 150 sq ft of hills/scenery to do & and had no idea of the amount of work involved trying to reproduce all those features of those photos. In a year of work I have *almost* got all the track work done...AUGGH!

    IMO, keep it small. I suffer from myopia but my hind sight is 20/20.:wideeyes:
     
  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    This is a common problem. :( Don't be discouraged. Designing something modular in effect is a good plan. That way you can move forward, section by section. Perhaps with what you have existing, you can attack that scenery in a similar fashion, working on one area at a time rather than the whole layout.
     
  14. pburanick

    pburanick New Member

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    N scale rio grande & western freelance photo generated
     
  15. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I prefer the train equipment I operate on my layout to be as prototypical, or as close to such as is possible. The layout it self is a series of snapshots from various locations that I enjoyed rail fanning as a youngster. San Bernardino, Cajon Pass, Barstow, CA, Verde Valley, AZ and Colorado, mining districts. Does that qualify for Protolance?

    The layout is not modular but a stand alone sectional. In that should I need to move it, it can be taken apart, legs removed and shoved out the door... into a truck.

    For further visuals see: First, You Tube entry in my signature below. The first video/slideshow that pops up is of my layout just after the golden spike was driven in. There are others and feel free to take a look see. Bruce aka Arbomambo as well as others including Tom S. have made it possible for me to operate Santa Fe train equipment from the late 40's through the 50's.

    Now old John P. thinks I'm mentally challenged and that's why I built this confounded (cluster muck) ((what? I can't use the expletive, I'd prefer to use)) of a layout...COL! A folded over pretzled dog bone is the most apt description. I want to run trains in multiple operations with action going on in the yards and industries. Not at all interested in watching one train go roundy round with no purpose. Loads of fun. Now, if I could just get John P., up here in person to see the layout. He has me on ignore...I fear. LOL

    Tom S., showed up and left in such a hurry, the burn out marks are still on the driveway. LMAO

    On the other hand John A., has been very influential and helpful. You will find two videos he took and they along with favorites of mine can be found on my you tube.

    When, when, when, I finally get around to adding in the scenery the canyons will resemble I.e.., Cajon Pass and Verde Valley. Hopefully I can sneek in some look alike Mormon Rocks, areas that resemble the Summit, perhaps Barstow and Flagstaff. A nice collaborative mix. Grin!

    It is called the Williams and Ashfork Division of the Howland Pacific Railroad. That sounds oddly free-lanced. LOL

    The idea is to have fun and I do.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 27, 2013
  16. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    I just went back and checked the survey. So far, Proto-freelance or protolance is still in the lead.

    From the side door Pullman:
    I hate the editing features here on TB. Sheez. No wonder they wanted to shut it down.
     
  17. glakedylan

    glakedylan TrainBoard Member

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    I model the PRR in transition era (to be able to run both steam and early diesel). But there is probably not a location, even within that time period, where all the other roadnames I include would be sharing the same track. Plus, it is not always possible to build either a four track mainline or an electrified mainline. So, I lean to freelancing but love my PRR, Reading, Lehigh Valley, B&O, Erie, Erie Lackawanna, Denver & Rio Grande, Union Pacific, Sante Fe, New York Central, and Nickel Plate Road railroads. Sincerely, Gary L Lake Dillensnyder
     
  18. WPZephyrFan

    WPZephyrFan TrainBoard Member

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    I model the Western Pacific in N scale. I don't really care when, I just do. lol Anyway, I would guess I model from the 60s to the 80s, just before (or slightly after) the merger with the Union Pacific. I have WP FTs, GP7s, 35s, and 40s, in orange and silver, Perlman green and the "New Image", as well as a few pre merger GN and Q units.
    But, since I only have an HCD to build a layout in my apartment, my layout is a freelanced branch of the Tidewater Southern. I figured that I can operate all of my WP equipment on the layout when I just want to watch trains run, and when I actually want to operate, I can run 5-8 car trains behind my Tidewater Southern RS1. It's not finished yet, but I'm working on it!
     
  19. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    It's interesting, I don't think the 3 common terms we have are sufficient to cover the gamut of model railroading out there and I dare say the age of true freelance and true proto-freelance dominating are gone is fewer and fewer paint their own rolling stock. We could probably split prototype 3 ways.
    1: full proto place road time and ops
    2: semiproto subset of the above
    3: proto road. Freelance with prototype rolling stock. And even those 3 could be subdivided.
     
  20. jwaldo

    jwaldo TrainBoard Member

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    Presently that depends on what category "flat, blue, and folded up against the wall" fits into...
     

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