Time Era's and locations rarely used?

[John26]

Well I have a permanent Era(Now) and location(Old chartiers branch), but I want to hear other locations. Maybe something that isn't in America.

I like switching operations. I don't care if it's, loco, electric, or diesel.

I would just like to read some summaries of some of you modelers research, on Era's you have not done or have done.

Thank you.

 

[UP2CSX]

I've found that most modelers decide the era by their own memories or some connection to the past. Younger modelers almost always choose today because that's what they know. Older modelers like me, that were kids in the 50's tend to choose transition era, with some steam and more diesel because that's what we can reproduce from memory. Modelers born in the 30's tend to end up with steam for the same reason. Some people also have things like family connections with a certain railroad at a certain time. I have and grandmother who was a Pennsy rate clerk and an uncle who was fairly high up in the N&W organization. Since I have a lot of information from both of them, I might choose to model one of those roads during the 40's to the 60's.

I've found research really only helps with small details, like when did that railroad get that model of locomotive, or when was that line torn up. Rolling stock, towns, the countryside, and the general look tends to be what we remember. You can get some great information on branch lines, which included a lot of switching, in Orange County, CA at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Orange_County_Railroad_Branches/.

 

[V&AL]

then there's always the "what-ifs" What if XXX railroad did not get abandoned or bought out... although that leads into the free-lanced and proto-lanced sector...

my favorite what-if is "What If" electrification really caught hold back in the 70's?

 

[macjet]

I'm in the "what-if" crowd. My great-uncle spent 32 years with the Rock. I model late 80's to early 90's. That allows me to run RTR Rock Island equipment that would have still been used along side my custom painted modern day RI (Eric's paint scheme). And for things that I don't want to fully paint I just re-stencil under my fictional leasing company.