I've got a 4 x 12 train table down in my basement that I built a few years back as a planned 4 x 8 which I expanded with lumber I had left over. Anyway, I haven't built my layout yet. For me cost and maintenence is a major thing, as well as the fact that I am a first time modeller even though I have been into trains my whole life. So I'm thinking HO scale is best for a beginner because there is the most available and I understand it is cheapest (b/c of the amount of material in S and larger and the more intensive manufacturing process in N and smaller). I'm also looking at the transition from 1st to 2nd gen diesels b/c I want different types plentiful diesels b/c diesel is cheaper and less maintenence than steam. Also I'm thinking about when they transferred from 40 to 50 foot boxcars b/c of the wide variety and I also think 40 will look better on my layout. I'm also thinking early Amtrak/Conrail in the early-mid 1970s because of the wide variety of equipment inherited from various railroad. So I've set myself circa 1976, I also think the time from the late 60s to late 70s was a cool time in history. This will also allow me to run some '76 bicentenial liveries. I also think PA and NY area b/c of the wide variety of traffic I can run. So my main worry is that 40' boxcars will be beyond this era and look unprototypical. About when did they transfer from 40 to 50 foot cars? I've heard around this era but I am not sure. I'm just making sure my era is lined up right!
Over a long time. 50' boxcars were being built in the late 40s, but 40' cars continued to be built into the 60s and were still common in service into the 80s at least (definitely into the 90s in Canada). Remember, in 1976, most boxcars will have no roofwalks - they were banned in '83. And remember, Conrail was only formed in '76, so you'll have very few Conrail-painted locomotives and cars. Many locomotives will be unpatched. Amtrak, whereas, was out of its "rainbow era".
