NKP or PRR, cant decide

[malletman]

I am preparing to start building my small layout, 4x8 with a 3x4 yard extension. After getting my hands on and purchasing a BLI Paragon diecast PRR K4, along with the lack of NKP style buildings on the market, modeling the PRR might be a bit better for my ablites. I love both railroads, lived in PA state for several years. I can always sell off my 5 NKP engines to pay for a couple more PRR ones. Probably a BLI I1sa Decapod and a BLI M1a Mountain, both with modern front ends. So far for NKP power I have a PFM S2 Berkshire, painted with working mars light, Bachmann Berkshire with Mars light, Proto 2000 Berkshire with Mars light but no sound or DCC, PFM USRA Light 2-8-2 thats redetailed for the NKP 587 circa 1954. I also have a complete Concor NKP passenger train that is still new in thier boxes unbuilt. I wish I had enough room to model a bit of both railroads but thats not going to happen. Talk about being torn in two different directions.

 

[Selector]

I have a very modest collection of engines totalling 18, and they are scattered between two modern Warbonnet SD75M's, and the rest are from TH&B, UP, NYC, PRR, N&W, C&O, and CPR. I have one UP caboose, no cars, no pax cars, and one each of a greyhound Challenger and a BLI TTT-6 Hybrid. NYC is a Trix Mike and a Niagara, with three Walthers heavyweights and a reefer. The one TH&B engine, in real life and on the layout, was a purchase of a NYC Hudson. No caboose, only two boxcars. CPR is one SW8 and one coal hopper. N&W is a FM H24-66 Trainmaster, a J and three smooth-sided pax cars, and a Y6b from PCM with a hodgepodge of N&W 70 ton hoppers mixed in with B&O ones. PRR is a small pax set (Spectrum four-pack) shared by a BLI K4s and one of their Duplexes. I have the BLI J1 2-10-4, still my favourite beast, and an FA2/B2 set. I have 8 BLI stock cars and one or two other makes lettered for the PRR. I only own the one C&O engine, and that is a Rivarossi H-8 2-6-6-6. No cars, no caboose...I just drool over this monster engine with the flying pumps. Only the Penny's mighty Q2 Duplex produced more hp at speed than the H-8.

You should run what makes your hobby moments pleasurable and exciting. Is this really an either/or situation for you? It certainly isn't for me. The only 'or' about it is that I can't place everything on my smallish layout and run trains well....something has to go in the display case. So, that's exactly what I do, and I can run any of my engines as the mood strikes me.

-Crandell

 

[nephthyr]

I agree with Crandell, do what makes you happy. I'd say run both. I model that Santa Fe in the mid 70's but that doesn't stop me from running my Accurail 70-ton 3 bay hoppers which would have been retired by then. Also a Santa Fe zebra stripe features on occasion as well as a heavyweight passenger train.

The thing is, do you want to faithfully replicate a portion of either of the prototypes (NKP or PRR)? If that is the case then you'd have to choose one, given the limited space you have.

 

[malletman]

Its more of the layout having the "flavor" of that particular railroad. For the PRR that means postion light signals and signal bridges and proper looking towers, both doable in HO scale fairly easily. NKP your really on your own for towers or other rail side buildings, but one can concentrate on the motive power. I thought about doing PRR as the main railroad and interchange with the NKP, or the other way around. Not going to be an easy choice and not one I will make quickly. Mikie

 

[DaWolf85]

Its more of the layout having the "flavor" of that particular railroad. For the PRR that means postion light signals and signal bridges and proper looking towers, both doable in HO scale fairly easily. NKP your really on your own for towers or other rail side buildings, but one can concentrate on the motive power. I thought about doing PRR as the main railroad and interchange with the NKP, or the other way around. Not going to be an easy choice and not one I will make quickly. Mikie

Too bad you only have 4x8, otherwise you could have them interchange via a car ferry operation...
One of them could have trackage rights over the other one, which is another option.

 

[malletman]

I decided to go with the NKP for the primary focus, with an interchange/trackage rights for the PRR. I picked up a Trix UP diecast Alco PA that I am having repainted into NKP Bluebird paint scheme to match my Athearn one. We are going to try and do an around the room layout, crossing in front of the china cabinet and closet door with a narrow section thats removable. We met at my house last Thursday and did some brain storming and rough sketches, I think we can make it work. Layout will be chest high, a little over 5 foot above the floor to make for easy duck under when coming into the room and to allow my repair desk to go under one section. I will post some track plans when I get that drawn up. Mike

 

[DaWolf85]

I decided to go with the NKP for the primary focus, with an interchange/trackage rights for the PRR. I picked up a Trix UP diecast Alco PA that I am having repainted into NKP Bluebird paint scheme to match my Athearn one. We are going to try and do an around the room layout, crossing in front of the china cabinet and closet door with a narrow section thats removable. We met at my house last Thursday and did some brain storming and rough sketches, I think we can make it work. Layout will be chest high, a little over 5 foot above the floor to make for easy duck under when coming into the room and to allow my repair desk to go under one section. I will post some track plans when I get that drawn up. Mike

Looking forward to seeing those track plans.

 

[malletman]

It will probably be a duel line layout, with PRR on one main and NKP on the other. To love of all things PRR, Belpair fireboxes, high headlights and position light signals

 

[iomalley]

Model Buffalo NY, their yards neighboured each other IIRC.

 

[malletman]

The bulk of the mainline will be PRR with Position lights, but the NKP will have trackage rights over the line. I have a Bowser M1a kit on the way and will be buying a couple others including a T1 kit. I just cant get used to the fragile feeling of these new plastic masterpieces from China. I prefer my engines to be metal when possible, espicaly steam engines. Traction tires are evil and steam that isnt diecast about always need them if you want them to pull anything. While the details on the Bowsers isnt as good, well it can be depending how much time I want to take installing all the details. I am no hurry since the layout is only in the planning stages before my friend builds the acutal benchwork. So I have plenty of time to detail the engines I am going to build. Cheers Mike