Virginian and Ohio models in N scale

[drgw0579]

I've always liked the Virginian and Ohio and my railroad might have interchanged with them.  I model 1967, so the Intermountain SD40-2 and the Fox Valley GEVO are too new for me.  So I contacted Intermountain to see if they might be thinking of doing the F7 in N scale.  The rep said he'd personally love to see that, but that for some reason they haven't been able to determine, there isn't the same level of interest in these railroads (and the AM) as there is in HO.

So I wonder if that means they haven't see a lot of reservations for the V&O SD40-2 and why that might be.  Is it because it is an HO model railroad ?  Or maybe some of us weren't born yet when the V&O was very popular in the press?

I kind of think a set of blue V&O F7's would be cool.   Maybe nobody else here does?

Bill Kepner

[Leggy]

From what I've found there's alot more freelancers in N scale community vs HO and it's probably the reason why other freelanced roads aren't as popular.

[mcjaco]

Isn't it just blue on the body with V&O spelled out?  Pretty easy custom job.  McClellan never went super detailed on stuff, so you don't have to worry about light clusters, and the like.

[C855B]

From what I've found there's alot more freelancers in N scale community vs HO and it's probably the reason why other freelanced roads aren't as popular.

Interesting statement. I've encountered exactly the opposite - freelanced or imagineered HO railroads seem to be everywhere, but I've seen freelanced N RRs mostly just here on TRW. I think it has everything to do with very few N scalers (other than here) who paint and letter, and the poor availability of undecorated models.

Other freelanced (HO) roads aren't as popular because they're not hobby icons as is the V&O. The V&O is significant enough generally to even have its own Wikipedia page. Not even the closely-associated Allegheny Midland can say that. (Not that I'm a fan of either... I'm not... but the model railroading public perception is strongest with these two.)

[Blazeman]

G&D. Sunset Lines. Crooked Mountain Line. But those would be of the previous generation. Then you go way back to Delta Lines.

[basementcalling]

I have a V&O and AM Gevo to add interest to eastern trains in my protolanced world, but I think that the railroads chosen are HO does impact sales in N scale. The HO demographic is likely to be more familiar with them than many N scalers.

I would love to see a Utah Belt N Scale offering from Fox, but never seen anything custom done in that road.

[sdodge]

These were done by LBF a few years ago...

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

I have two V&O and one AM car. I know it's somewhat in vogue to be "over" these pioneering layouts, but I still have a soft spot in my heart for them (hell, I think I learned how to read from MR in the mid 80s).

They're actually the focus of my "Lowering Fox Valley Boxcars" article:
http://conrail1285.com/lowering-fox-valley-models-50-foot-boxcars/

[davefoxx]

I agree that I have a soft spot in my heart for the V&O and the AM, too, Ed, because they were mountain railroading layouts set in Virginia (at least in part), and that stood out to this then-teenager in the 1980s.  I still like those layouts (and miss them).  I have one each of the V&O and AM boxcars, too.  But, they rarely come out to play, because I haven't lowered them yet.  Your modification improves the look of these cars immensely.   Thanks for reposting that link.  Maybe that's a project I can knock out in the near future

Thanks,
DFF

[Catt]

Being a multi scaler I can tell you that Free lance is popular in N and HO but I go one step further because my Z scale layouts are free lanced too.I would love to have some AM  and V&O in Z scale.

[reinhardtjh]

I have both numbers of the V&O and AM boxcars that FVM put out.  I thought hard about one of the V&O GEVOs but they were out when I was saving up for the NS Heritage locos and by the time I had what I wanted of those, the V&O were sold out everywhere.  I also thought hard about the RD-4 coal hoppers in V&O as well, but I just can't justify it (I think BLW still has some).  I am considering one of the V&O SD40-2's from IM but I will probably wait to see how well that model turns out as I have other priorities (M1a/b    ).

[Santa Fe Guy]

Way back in 1969/70's I was so impressed with the V&O that I built the track plan in N Scale in my then 18' x 22' garage. It was the model RR that most inspired me to get out of the MR style 4'x8' layouts (not that there is anything wrong with them). I have none of the V&O rolling stock but fond memories of that layout. It also introduced me into operations and friendships that continue today 45 years later.
Rod.

[Kentuckian]

I would be much more likely to buy a free-lanced car rather than a locomotive.

[jmlaboda]

Thought about the possibility of the V&O being a connection but they are too far north of Roanoke to be a good one... may yet pop for a few cars (V&O and AM) "just because..."

[sizemore]

Much like Ed, for me as a kid in the 80's all I remember was AM, and V&O stuff in Model Railroader. So there is a bit of a soft spot, it did a lot for the hobby for prototype operations (at least in my mind). After reading the V&O book a few years ago and learning about the tie in's with the WM and NW it only solidified it even more. In my little WM world it allows for the bending of history and have a few V&O/AM locos on point of a NW grain train in my era.



The S.

PS. I'd have to add Bill Darnaby's Maumee Route, the Reid Brothers Cumberland Valley System, Howard Zanes WM and George Sellios F&SM (the latter being very romanticized modeling).