Killing a Railway

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


Stadawim

Stadawim

New Member
Any of you let things like 'era' and such get you to stop using a particular rail line/corporation? I am literally on the verge of selling all of my CSX rolling stock, as well as the accompanying loco and caboose. This is because i like the Seaboard & Chessie Systems better and have more of them. I am having trouble convincing myself to keep the relatively boring-looking successor company when i have the better two predecessors. At least in my eyes. Is that all it takes? Why did i get them in the first place? Actually, i can answer that - i grew up right next to tracks in SC in the late 80s and caught both the Seaboards and CSXs going by a lot. Can't really explain why i like the looks of Seaboards better. I just do. I suppose i can do whatever the hell i want. But i can also use this as an excuse to thin my herd a little. Save room for more important lines.;)

Any thoughts/ideas/comments? Really i just want to see if any one else has gone through something like this.
 
I think there are a lot of us that are guilty of what you're describing. I know I am.

I have since purged what doesn't fit my modeling interests. I still do have a few things that I fondly remember from my younger years.

Guess the bottom line is, what do you want to do? Thats the beauty of this hobby. There is no right or wrong here.



I
 
Mostly staying to a time and a place has kept me from buying a lot of equipment. But, after nearly 40 years, there is still too much. Like somehow there are 9 Northern Pacific F7s. I don't even model the Northern Pacific. They sure are pretty though.
 


Stadawim said:
Any thoughts/ideas/comments? Really i just want to see if any one else has gone through something like this.
Click to expand...
My advice to new folks is to do exactly what you are suggesting. Choose a road, choose an era, choose a geographic location and use those things as "an excuse" to not purchase all kinds of other equipment "just because I like it". It will save a bunch of money, bunches of time (not trying to figure out how to justify these non-conforming things), and most importantly will provide a much more enjoyable modeling experience. Focus and get the "one" thing right and looking good.

I of course did not take this advice because no one ever gave it to me. I have literal piles of equipment for Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Rio Grande, Burlington, Georgia Shortlines, and of course Santa Fe from all eras, which will never look right being on the same layout together. I even have cross scales. Even after I realized this I have gotten better but still have a hard time NOT purchasing that special something, especially if it is a "good deal". .... I mean I just got that T&P 2-10-4. How does that fit anything..... groan. Don't do it!

I need to purge by swapping a cool NP 4-8-4 for a cool AT&SF 4-8-4 etc.
 
1684006832258.png

I just realized I don't have any Seaboard locomotives!
 
Bruette said:
Back to the topic, you are not alone.

Do whatever you like. It's all good if you are enjoying your trains.
Click to expand...
Yes. The "my railroad, my rules" philosophy. If you like and enjoy it sound like you're doing something right!

I model the more recent and "boring" CSX :). I've tried to stay to a general time frame which is why I've avoided the Boxcar Logo. Lots of stuff I could have bought but for that self imposed "rule". I'm sure if one more knowledgeable than I saw my collection it would be obvious I've made some mistakes.... but I like and enjoy it. That's what matters.
 


My other half is a Pokémon collector, he actually has tried to get ever class number he can get his hands on. We may concentrate on specific areas, but if we see it and like it, he is likely to justify buying lol. does not stop haveing favourites either. He has even bought the same model and then re numbered them.
I honestly cannot offer sensible advice as we honestly do not follow it.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_9455.jpeg
    IMG_9455.jpeg
    442.9 KB · Views: 200
  • IMG_9143.jpeg
    IMG_9143.jpeg
    560.8 KB · Views: 199
  • IMG_9142.jpeg
    IMG_9142.jpeg
    450.6 KB · Views: 200
I'm afraid I am one of those who doesn't get carried away with reality in this hobby. I run what I want and how I want to run it and my justification is I model the Transition Era. As for Road Names - well, I have everything from CP, CN, CSX, BNSF, NS, and a few I can't even remember.

My point is while some people enjoy everything being as it is in the real world - I use this hobby to "Leave" the real world and have some relaxation and enjoyment. Conforming to reality seems to distract from that end goal. I have enough to worry about in my "REAL world than to worry if a particular road name ran a particular engine or if a particular engine pulled a particular type of rolling stock etc etc etc. in my "Hobby World and Fantacy World" :)
 
I
wombat457 said:
I'm afraid I am one of those who doesn't get carried away with reality in this hobby. I run what I want and how I want to run it and my justification is I model the Transition Era. As for Road Names - well, I have everything from CP, CN, CSX, BNSF, NS, and a few I can't even remember.

My point is while some people enjoy everything being as it is in the real world - I use this hobby to "Leave" the real world and have some relaxation and enjoyment. Conforming to reality seems to distract from that end goal. I have enough to worry about in my "REAL world than to worry if a particular road name ran a particular engine or if a particular engine pulled a particular type of rolling stock etc etc etc. in my "Hobby World and Fantacy World" :)
Click to expand...
I agree, if you want to run nothing but pro-typical, with a particular era or RR, knock yourself out, it's that's what you enjoy, I'm 100% behind you as I do, to a degree anyway, the same.
In HO, anything goes for me.
 
Oh my! 'A can of worms thread'. :)

Before my grandchildren 'joined in' I ran U.K. diesels in a timeframe of around late 1960s to 1980.
Then the grandchildren wanted to run trains. To make it easy for them I bought a few 0.4.0 locomotives cheap plus four wheeled wagons.
They enjoyed it. I bought 'Thomas' and 'Percy' from the Thomas the Tank range.
Not long after, they wanted to run only diesels? The 0.4.0 items were put to one side.

Two things happened at the same time. I began reading about the railways around Leeds during WW1 and I joined the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Society.
What fun it would be to run trains in a timeframe of 1914 -1919. Not the horrors of warfare; just the moving and transport of goods and troop trains. Although the idea was good, the expense of locomotives etc. was not justifiable.

Then the idea of running the 0.4.0 locomotives instead took hold. Purchase of three 0.6.0 tank engines was also made. Railway trains in wartime took hold.

Where are we now? Four of my grandchildren run only the diesels. My youngest grandson loves to run the 0.4.0s & 0.6.0 rolling stock. Myself. I run what I feel like. Sometimes seriously; in either timeframe. Other times anything goes. Who cares? The train room is 'another world'.

Oh! I also have five large LMS locomotives. The real ones were built in the 1930s?

To be honest I have far too many locomotives; close on 100. Realistically I should reduce the number, but they are all favourites. Therefore they all wait there turn to 'run the rails'.

David
 


Well I struggled with this for a while them I saw on a club layout a set of PRR. Broadway Limited painted and NYC Empire builder painted Acelas.
Then a SD 80 Mac in PRR colors.
Now the Pennsy never died on my railroad and steam rains suppreme on it.

Plus I'll be painting and lettering new modern equipment in PRR EL and N&W.


The glory of a modern box car lettered in Merchandise Service livery.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top