My freelance road is set in 1963 for operating sessions, which to me is "early diesel" and that's how I answered. My N Scale accumulation, however, even for my shortline, ranges from steamers to SD60s. Outside of my shortline, anything goes, including a couple of NS Heritage Units.
I model a local railway that was dieselized by the CPR in 1961 so I stick to the 40s through to '61... it's an electric interurban so there's gonna be a lot of scratchbuilding so that's part of the reason I chose this... and a lot of trackage is still in use by CP and there's a lot of historical information available too.
Rio Grande, 1960's to 80's. Have plenty of GP30/35/40/40-2 And a small, but decent fleet of T-Motors. Overall, I can probably cover transition to modern eras. Certain things might not be totally correct, but if I like it, I'll run it.
I model just shortly after the March 1970 BN merger. That way I can run BN, NP, GN, CB&Q, & SP&S. I have very little BN, and what BN I do have is very lightly weathered for the obvious reasons. Now when it comes to my logging RR, I model 1986. That was the biggest year that the Chehalis Western had. If I ever build a CW layout, I will plan it as though Weyco bought the BN Willapa Harbor branch to Raymond. I would also model the planed mill at DuPont so I could then haul finished lumber products with my CW Geeps. Ryan
I freelance model the from 1925-1940 or so. However there are Milwaukee Road trains that interrupts from time to time.. Eventually, keeping the same time frame, I will model the area I live. Where Milwaukee, the Louie, CNW, Iowa interurban and The Rock operated. Just not sure who all to include.. Sent from my Commando
The 1930's ~1955 in the Southern Rw, Asheville to Knoxville. Love steam large and small, this line runs 2-6-0s thru 2-8-8-2s and is just starting to receive FTs. There are enigmatic occasional appearances by a very lost Swiss Crocodile led excursion train, a pair of GG-1s with the Broadway Limited in tow, and a Clinchfield Challenger fall excursion special. More track needed urgently.
I try to focus on what ran through Sugar Land, Texas in 1951. However, I do let that slide a few years and add other cool trains that KATO keeps releasing. In Sugar Land in 1951, the IGN (MoPac) still ran 4-6-0s as well as Alco S2s. T&NO (SP) ran lots of steam as well as PAs on the Sunset. GC&SF (Santa Fe) ran a good mix of steam and diesel. Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
I can't vote, but I will reply. I model the 1880-1890's. So early steam and rickety old freight for me, no cars and trucks to worry about.
Anywhere from 1964 to 1980 on my fictional BN, In doing this I can still have some F units, Alco's, non amtrak passenger service, and... other stuff.
1971-1975 Western Pacific. WP ran two different paint schemes, post merger BN power off the highline, UP and DRGW occasional run through power. Modern enough to suit my tastes, but old enough to allow for cabooses and an "STB directed three times weekly" California Zephyr runs.
1980 to Present...just exactly the era I model for my freelance railrod...T.H.E.R.R.. It gives me a wide variety of diesels I can run...plus freight cars that where built in the 80s can still be found on the rails today
On my freelance home road it's roughly 2000 plus. Lots of second hand power and rebuilds with some new. At the club, generally SP/ATSF/BN and maybe WP late 70s to early BNSF. Which works out as the freelance road's second hand power is those road's regular power
"If It Looks Good, Run It!" - From the first page of the 'Grey and Grandure Rules of Operations.' "Eat Athern": Maybe Some Day:
I model modern era, as in the current time. I like the challenge of modeling what I see. When railroads change paint schemes and update equipment, I have to follow that. Now that UP 4014 is getting a makeover, I can run steam too! :teeth: If you model modern era (as in 2000 - today), then join our TB Group for Modern-Era Modelers: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/group.php?groupid=120
My era is 1947 to Dec. 31, 1956. My location is the 67 mile Union Pacific "helper district" between Ogden and Wahsatch Utah. Although my "era" is pretty broad (ten years), it's not so broad for my structures, which I attempt to make as close to 1952 as my research allows since the SP roundhouse was torn down in 1954 and I want to include the SP engine facilities as well as the UP facilities in Ogden on my 37' X 6' Ogden LDE. I get to model big steam (Big Boys, Challengers, FEF's, MacArthurs, Consolidations, TTT 2-10-2's, and USRA Light Mikes and maybe a couple of 9000 Class 4-12-2's) on the double-tracked Wasatch Grade between Ogden and Wahsatch, as well as diesel powered trains and switchers (NW-2's, Alco SW-2's, GP7's, GP9 A's & B's, F3's, F7's, Alco FA/FB's, Alco PA/PB's, E7's, E8's, E9's, Fairbanks Morse Erie-Builts), and of course Baby Turbines and Veranda Turbines. Because Ogden was a terminus of the SP, I also get to include both steam and diesels of the SP such as GS's, MT's, early AC's and Consolidations, and all those lovely SP diesels in Black Widow and Daylight colors. D&RGW also terminated in Ogden so I get to include some of their engines and trains too. I also get to model various City Streamliners as well as other less prestigious passenger and mail trains being pulled by both diesel and steam...over 40 passenger and mail trains arriving and departing daily from the Ogden Union Station in 1952 . So yup, the transition era is for me!
I model 1992-1994ish. With a few tweaks in history, like changing the retirement dates of locos, or rebuilds, such as I like SD45/F45s, however they were all off the roster by the mid 80s, but in my world, some/all were rebuilt to SD40-2 specs, much like SP's SD40M-2s. But also have a few other pieces that don't fit, such as all three BN Bicentennial units and AFT GS-4 and the American Freedom Train from Lowell Smith