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Steam or Diesel
Roger is hoping an experienced model railroader can provide some guidance and asks:
“Hello I would like to start a model train layout someday but I can’t decide what type of layout to do. Should I do an old steam engine theme or a new diesel type? I am from North Central Pennsylvania, a small town called Johnsonburg, which has a long history of railroading. What should I do to make the choice?”
Roger, perhaps start by reading the Model Train Help ebook, as it sounds like you would benefit hugely from the information. You could also start reading info on the internet, and in books, magazines to see what takes your interest. I’m sure others will want to comment. If you search this blog I think you will find feedback on similar questions. There is no right or wrong answer, however there are several factors to consider. Keep reading and researching.
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You don’t need to tie yourself to either era. If you want to maintain realism then model the transition era so you can run both steam and diesel, but nothing says you can’t make a modern layout and have a steam engine on it when you feel like it, maybe a special steam drawn passenger train for a big event in town.
Hi Roger, Thanks Dave! finally, I knew it, there are modelers out there like me. You can have both and as I said before I model each era and if it is not in the transition years (as mentioned in an earlier blog on this site) you can mingle them together because yes today there are still acvtive coal, wood steam loco’s out there in service, usually passenger and site seeing tours. Or in a separate part of you layout you could go with the Shay Loco, if you dare, in an old setting of logging or milling operation. Now if you are a perfectionest stick with one type but for me I love the entire industry from the beginning till now. Tony P
I agree with both Dave and Tony. You can model the transition era and run both steam and diesel.
On my layout I model the transition era, specifically 1958. I came up with a way to update my layout if I want to run modern diesels. I put my structures on a foundation (gatorboard) and can lift some of them out and replace them with modern buildings, like McDonalds, car lots, and such. It’s enough to make the scene plausible to be 2010. When I want to return to 1958, I just replace the structures with those of that era.
Tony,
I agree 100%, you don’t need to have complete realism to have fun, in fact sometimes it’s more fun to deviate, Sure there are people that won’t have anything on their layout if it’s out of their era and that’s fine if that’s what you do, I’m more of a run what I want kind of person, and that’s what I’ll be doing on my layout once it’s up and running. My blog is going to document that process.
Mostly you have to build what you like. When you think of railroads do you think of multi-unit diesels pulling long strings of coal hoppers? Do you think of steam locomotives pulling passenger trains? Do you think of sleek diesels pulling strings of Amtrak coaches?
Perhaps you would like the transition era where you can run a bit of both, or if you aren’t modeling a specific prototype you can avoid “period” type buildings and run what you want on any given day.
It’s your railroad, and the possibilities are endless.
If you are somewhat nostalgic, like I am, you probably have certain memories that stick out in regards to certain railroads. Whether it was a trip you took on a passenger train or just watching fast freights rumbling through town, you might want to recreate some of those memories on your layout. If you are old enough to recall the transition era, as I am, those experiences with steam and diesel locomotives can provide you with the most options. I am building my layout to be in the summer of 1956 for example. I will be running steam 0-6-0’s, 4-6-0’s and 4-6-2’s as well as diesel S-3’s and RDC-1’s on the Dominion Atlantic Railway which intersects with steam 4-8-4’s and 2-8-0’s as well as diesel FP-9’s, F-7’s, S-2’s, C-Liners and RDC-1’s of Canadian National Railways. Brian L.