% of Real v Fictional MRRs

MarkInLA May 25, 2013

  1. Dave Jones

    Dave Jones TrainBoard Supporter

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    Feel I may owe Yoho an answer. I model my 3 local roads; ACL, SAL, and SOU. If a mftr. produces an engine or cars for either of the 3 roads - I'm a customer! And yes I do have some (many?) "foobies." Does it bother me, not really. Model railroading at it's best, most accurate, built 100% from total (underline total) raw materials is at best a representation. In my case a representation of two periods of my life that were (to me) - terrific!

    I have for a long time called it proto-freelancing. Wasn't certain that was right, but ... Whatever road I'm running, the engines are going to be correct and era appropriate, with caboose (waaay too many "foobies" here). The cars will be traffic appropriate (I roster about 50 FGEX cars, so go figure). They will travel over scale size rail that I've done my sorry darndest to make a model of using my modified AAR Car Service Rules.

    But, I'm still trying to represent 88 miles of real railroad on a layout 12 ft. by 12 ft. With 8 - 10 car trains "representing" 80 to 100 on the real McCoy, maybe you'll understand that "but."
     
  2. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    See, that sounds an awful lot like pure prototype to me.
     
  3. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Prototype is everything on the layout to a precise era, date, time and place. Or so it was interpreted as such by most model railroad wig wags (tattle tales) through the late 40's and 50's. At least that's what I remember from that time period. Like YoHo, I took an avid interest in those early (before my time) model railroad periodicals and formed up my own ideas from them. On the flipside there are various levels of prototype and I would agree that what Dave Jones is doing sounds prototype to me. :cool:**

    Do understand that I'm not the judge and jury....just sharing my thoughts.
     
  4. YoHo

    YoHo TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here's my breakdown:

    Prototype: Models a location, railroad(s) and a time as purely as possible. as possible being operative and different for different people

    Proto-Freelance: Models a fictional road in real places with extensive backstory and realistic, plausible rules and reasoning.

    Freelance: No particular interest in where when or the rules. There may be structure to the railroad, but it is arbitrary

    Collector: This train is pretty I must possess it.

    Ornery Old Hand: Barstowrick. Probably knows what he's talking about darn it.
     
  5. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    LOL heehee hawhaw! Good one YoHo! Got me good. Thanks for the kind thought.
    I try to keep up but as John Paulson said, I suffer from being mentally challenged.
    Don't believe everything you hear. COL and said with a big toothy grin (that is what I have left).
    Disabled to a point due to a heart condition...would be accurate.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 1, 2013
  6. Dave Jones

    Dave Jones TrainBoard Supporter

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    Reckon I'll yield to those smarter (and probably prettier) than me - prototype it is!
     

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