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Ok Now I remember what prototype means. Where would I find info for a prototype layout. I am thinking steam engine in the old west like maybe Tombstone, Bisbee, or Phoenix. I am also giving thought to 1970's diesel in Southern California. As far as I could tell this would probably be the Southern Pacific Line. Actually now that I think of it maybe Arizona would be a good choice since it has desert,mountains, and forests. Does proper prototype mean I have to model actual routes or can I just layout my own route with era specific trains? Any input would be appreciated.
Hi Julio,
In attempting to model Prototype it's up to you to set the boundries you want to try and stay within. Many model certain locations very precisely or as close as they can but at one point or another even that has too come to an end either due to lack of space or attempting to fit other things in from other locations, even if on the same RR line and blending them together can get to be fairly challenging too.
Also, how precisely is your equipment going to follow the actual prototype from a certain location and what was run there but also how precisely are your cars, both freight and passenger going to fit era and route your modeling as well as how closely are you going to match actual numbers of box cars, refrigerator cars, stock cars as well as passenger cars to the prototype for a certain period?
Also, just how much research are you willing to do to ensure everything is exact?
While I feel I'm somewhat trying to model standard gauge railroading in Colorado I'm a far cry from considering myself a prototype modeler. In my case it's more of a hint of the equipment that possibly would have been run that somewhat fits my fictiscious, 'C&S West Short Line' and I'm not trying to attempt recreate any specific location.
So the short answer is it's totally up to you in relation to all aspects of what your trying to accomplish.
Most often scene compression as well as distance compression is required even working in HO or even N gauge as protypical distance isn't available. In most cases a hint of reality is enough, IMHO.
Depending on what part of SoCal. You would have the SP, UP, ATSF to name a few. I know the ATSF would run from LA eastward to San Bernardino and up over Cajon Pass and into Victorville and other points before going into AZ. And I don't remember which one would have ran in a east, se direction (looking at a map) into Yuma. Now its the UP but I don't quite know if the line was owned by UP or SP back in the day. Like David said, it depends on how in depth you are willing to go. There are guys who spend more time researching, taking photos and making their equipment look just like the real deal even down to the same weathering pattern as the real deal had than actually building a model railroad. And I have nothing against that and even envy those guys, but thats not for me as is prototypical modeling. I am freelancing a railroad and while yes it will interchange with a fallen flag railroad, I do not plan on putting that much into the fine details. So it all depends on you and how much involve you want your railroad to represent its real life counter part. As long as you have fun, thats all that counts. Good luck to ya.
I have bought a book on railroad history, "Santa Fe Railway ( MBI Railroad Color History). I know it has alot of superflous information but it has the basics that I need for the area and different eras. I am definatly not going to be precise. I think that would drive me crazy. At the very least I will have the right type of train for the era I want to model. If I go Arizona I can do mountains and forests and deserts plus mining industry in the 1800's and early 1900's. If i decide to go modern I can model a rail yard here in SoCal with some industries. I have already found layout plans for 2' by 4' and door size layouts that I can adapt to my needs. As always the more research the better. I already have my eye on a coffee table I can get for 20 bucks with enough surface area for a nice layout. Once again thank you very much for all the input, you guys have been quite helpful.
I consider my proposed layout "prototypical" simply because my engines are either in BN livery or one of the pre-merger railroad ones, it will have an alpine theme and other details such as vehicles & buildings will be based in the correct time period.
