Modeling American-why?

I think the main reason most Americans model U.S. roads is because of where you grew up, in some respects, has a lot to do with it.

Someone that grew up on the Pennsy main may be fond to model that road in that era they grew up in.

For me, I grew up right near the Pennsy East-West (or rather Amtrak) main, but model N&W because of my outings with 611, 1218, 4501 etc...I'm very fond of the N&W.

Of course I'm very fond of Canadian steam from the old Steamtown from Bellows Falls, VT and from my many outings to Canada as a kid.

I really think a lot has to do with issues as these. I know plenty of people here that model an era they grew up in or like a lot, plus they may have grown up there.

I would really like to see some South American model layouts. Cuba, Brasil, Bolivia, Paraguay, etc...any links?

Jeff

 

I'm with Jeff, and would like to see layouts from countries that may have exotic "known" railroads, but their pikes and modelers are unknown and unseen to us!

I grew up watching the New York Central and didn't think much of other's railroads until I was older (but not really wiser ). LOL!

I was 43 before I got Europe and had a small taste of another country's trains.
I plan to journey farther when I can..........

 

I've just started a new thread here in the modelling forum for pics or links about people modelling non-domestic prototypes. I'll be putting some pics taken at shows on later...

Enjoy And don't forget to contribute!

[ 08 July 2002, 10:25: Message edited by: Martyn Read ]

 

One of the hobby shops that I frequent has more of the Kato Japanese/European stuff than Kato's American stuff. I asked the owner why that was so and he replied - "Because it sells!"
So, with that information in hand, I think that there is a lot of Euro/Japanese modeling going on here in the united states but not enough coverage. Do you hear us Model Railroader? Let's see some nice Euro/Japanese layouts!

Russ

 

Yep, they have a web site.

 

Hi Guys,
One reason many Britis in particular turned to modelling foreign railways was that for a long time the standard of models being produced by the big UK manufacturers Hornby OO and Farish N gauge for example were pure rubbish compared to foreign products. I know many modellers here who turned their backs on their native railways for this reason.However in the last few years British outline models have greatly improved. Indeed Hornby's latest efforts and the Bachman range are as good as and better anything being mass produced anywhere.
Another reason is that since the end of steam Britains railway system has been decimated and it's been a story of decline practically ever since. There was simply less and less to model . Many guys turned to overseas railways because they"still had trains!" and in many cases like China still had steam.
.Again however the last few years have seen a bit of growth in UK freight traffic etc., I myself have recently started collecting bang up to date modern image UK trains.
As for the Japanese , those guys are the masters of the art of railway modelling.The Japanese home model railway market is the biggest in the world per head of population. It's only now the rest of us are starting to catch up with their standards of quality.
Personally I love the American late steam/early diesel era but modern image America leaves me cold. However everybody to their own taste ,thats what it's all about.
Some of you American boys should dabble in other countries railways though.
Variety is the spice of life guys ! Try some!
DAVY

 

(1959-'64) As a real young kid.. from 5 to 9 years old, I used to travel with my father about 3 times or so a year from southcentral Virgina to White Sulpher Springs, WV. In doing so, we used to traverse up through Roanoke to Clifton Forge, and into White Sulpher. Along the way I saw many Virginian and NW trains going into Roanoke. However, it was the C&O that got me hooked. From Clifton Forge we paralled much C&O trackage. Along that busy rail route it was packed w/ those classic F7 lash ups... Geeps, Flashy E8's dragging those gorgeous blue and yellow Pullmans like they were nothing.

Used to watch strings of GP7's, 9's, AS 616's, and F7ABA's pulling stoked coal cars that went on forever. With each car, engine, RR Sign, whatever, that gorgeous C&O For Progress logo was emblazened in my brain.

At White Sulpher I used to spend half days or more at what was arguably then the most gorgeous, quaint train station anywhere... . The smell of those track ties, the engines grumbling by, hiss and popping as those passengers trains pulled in is something I will never forget.. ever. Staring down those tracks and watching those D type targets on those classic C&O signal bridges change colors like Christmas trees as trains were going by East.. West.. East West.. what seemed continuously sometimes.

In my late teens and early twenties, I spent many weekends in Charlottesville. On Saturday afternoons to kill time, I used to lie on the bank by the Charlottesville C&O yard near the turntable. I would watch all the 2nd generation diesels, the UBoats, the EMD's etc mingling w/ the first generation units that were still around. Watched these strange diesels from the B&O and Western Maryland invade the C&O yards in the infancy years of the Chessie System. Watched as the ground shook with w/ a mile long sting of cars trying get rolling .... saw the last of the E8's pulling some crazy mix of passenger cars as Amtrak was getting off the ground. Probably some consist mixes that will never, ever be seen again. People talk about the fallen flags... I watched several of them fall right there with my own eyes. Many of you no doubt have similar experiences.

A glorious time for sure that is priceless.

NOW!.. I forgot.. what was the question again? OH Yeah.. "Modeling American - Why? "



-Kitbash

[ 09. August 2002, 17:15: Message edited by: Kitbash ]

 

Hello guys. I have a twist to this topic. I'm an engineer for the New York Susquehanna & Western Railway in Northern New Jersey and I'm really bored at seeing two mile long freights, Dash-8"s ,stack trains etc. That is the reason why I dont model American railroads, I'm currently collecting equipment for a Cuban sugar cane railroad. Foreign railways like Cuba, Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, other South America countries and the Philippines sugar and lumber railroads are just so much neater!!

 

Hi Jorge, welcome to the TrainBoard ... !

I can understand why people, myself included, are fascinated with South and Central American railroads. Just look at the article on the Guatamalan railroad featured in last month's Trains Magazine. However, until about 1970, the US had many routes that were equally as serpentine and hazardous as the routes of today's third-world railroads.

I have a video of the Maine Central Mountain Division through Crawford Notch, New Hampshire that was shot in 1950. The video follows a 20 car freight train struggling upgrade through the Notch. This would not be all that unusual except that the 20-car train required a Mikado and a Consolidation on the point, and two Consolidations pushing! They had to overcome a ruling grade of about 2.8% for about 15 miles with many, many 15 degree curves. Sadly, most of these routes have been abandoned and torn up by today's major railroads that run 100+ car trains hauled by 6000HP giants that have no personality.

Progress is the enemy of nostalgia But then I don't think that I want to rely on a Model-T to carry me 2000 miles over the Interstate System in 4 days.

P.S. Now that you mention it .... I think a model of a sugar or pineapple plantation railroad would be neat in "G" or "O". I think it would impossible in "N" because properly modelled trackage and roadbed would be too rough for the trains to stay on.

[ 10. August 2002, 00:53: Message edited by: Hank Coolidge ]

 

Yes Hank, the only reason why I bought that issue of Trains, was because of that story! I just wish it was a longer article.

 

For me, I model American railroads for the follwing reasons:

1 - I model what I see.

2 - Foreign railroads look, well, toyish. I can't think of any American equipment that looks that way.

3 - Japanese railroads either look, er....rickety, or they are sleek bullet trains. I don't care to model bullet trains because they go too fast. ( I don't play with slot cars or RC cars or planes for the same reason: they don't scale well)

4 - American railroading emotes power: going over or through mountains, across deserts, over water. The rails go where they have to go to get the job done.

Now, these are MY opinions. But I certainly respect any modeler who has a great layout, or a great model. Skills transcend a person's country or tastes.

 

I model american cause my 2 favorite roads, CR and Chessie System are respectively American.

Although I have always had intrest in Canadian and Australian operations.

 

I too, had preferred mostly American models in the past. But since I visited Japan and Australia while in the Navy, I saw a great variety of interesting equipment.(freight of course)

I especially liked Japan's freight trains, although they are short and run at night (as if the Japanese people are ashamed of running them at all)

But since I've gotten back into building trains from LEGO®, I find the European stuff very interesting as well.

 

The NYS&W is on my top ten list, on the top!!!!!!!!

Love going to Little Ferry and railfanning, no matter what comes through!

What happened to those GP18's that used to sit there?

I "stumbled" upon the NYS&W up in Utica last year and was sorry I didn't have time to hang around! Also have watched thier smokey old Alcos in Binghamton many years ago!

Thanks for all the great responses you guys have posted!

I know I have reinforced one thing in my head:

Modeling any train from any country is a good thing!

 

Hello. Johnny Trains the GP-18's are still on the property. They are upstate on the Northern Division.

 

Well, I've sat on this one long enought. Time for me to give you my take on this.
The reason I'm into NARR's is simple, I live here. Now that being said, why does a resident of Lincoln, IL. (Alton/GM&O/IC/IT/ICG/CM&W/SSW/SP/UP territory) model the Santa Fe, a railroad the is 100+ miles away? Simple: When I'd go to visit my Grandparents in Peru, IL., we'd pass under the Santa Fe main on old US51 on the way up. It only took one look at what I concider a REAL PASSENGER TRAIN to get me hooked. All that shinny stainless steel rolling along at over 100 MPH and Warbonnet Painted Locos, WHAT A SIGHT! The Euro trains have never effected me that way so why model them. I like all trains, but I model what I love. The Santa Fe, Burlington Northern, Gulf Mobel & Ohio, Rock Island and the Illinios Terminal are the roads I love. So, that's what I model. I hate the UP so I don't. Euro Rails, Ive never seen them in action so I've never been drawn to them. The Japan style stuff, too fast for my liking. 110 mph is fast enough!