What Era Do You Model?

[dualgauge]

I model around 64 - 65 still 1st generation and BLW and FM & LH around. Start of 2nd generation starting to take over. Cabooses on all trains and plenty and right before a lot of the large mergers.

[kelleywpns]

1956-1959

[Power Stroke]

Primarily '80s vintage B&M, MEC, Guilford. My layout is modeled in a generic New England fashion, so I can even run older iron, and just a change out vehicles so it looks appropriate.

[babbo_enzo]

Well, here in Italy is 1949-1953 on Espee rails in the peninsula (California). Spring season is the best period for me.

[Jack Doran]

I say toward the Modern era.  I like the newer locomotives out on the market, SD70ace and es44.

[nscaleSPF2]

1939 to 1956.  PRR, central part of the state.

Jim Hale

[conrail98]

Summer 1996 regardless of Ed's efforts to get me to do the 1980s,

Phil

[nh5regt]

Guilford Rail System 1984-1986. Plenty of color on the rails.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

"Modern" (Return to profitability) (2000 - present)

Ahem, Conrail was profitable in the mid 80s... just the time I model, actually.

(well, when I'm not being suckered in by Reading, PC and Conrail in the broke a$$ 70s).

[rsn48]

It looks like the transition era is slowly pulling ahead in popularity, what we expect; maybe the HO's here woke up and started voting.

N scale is the logical choice for contemporary modelling as the large equipment with multiple lash ups and long trains is more easily dealt with in restricted spaces. Two SD90's in HO eats up a lot of track, much less in N, a longer 12 foot train in N looks more realistic than a 12 foot train in HO with long equipment.  The negative for contemporary modellers in N is that manufactures copy HO and release much more transition era structures than modern buildings.

I think for the hobby to succeed there will ultimately be a shift to modern contemporary RRing.  Kids today who by the way ride many more passenger trains than kids did in the past, even though the rides may be shorter trips on trains such as Seattle's Sounder and Vancouver's West Coast Express, will be more interested in modelling what they see now rather than being obsessed with steam.  I'm not saying they won't like steam, it won't be in their consciousness; just like I had to teach my son how to use a rotary phone and I won't repeat what he said after he used one....lol..

I'm trying to slowly cobble together a contemporary city which sort of resembles structures in Seattle and Vancouver, two newer cities without many older structures you are likely to see in the East; doing this is not that easy.  I'm trying to get something roughly looking like Rod's Stewart's cities scene on a much smaller scale, and I have to tell you the pickings are thin for structures.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Summer 1996 regardless of Ed's efforts to get me to do the 1980s,

Phil

Lol. Eventually you'll come to your senses.

[Bruce Bird]

Western Maryland - 1972.

[GN Fan]

Great Northern in 1956 or 1957.

For the N Ttrak club I have a Montana Rail Link train in the early 1990s.

Tom

[Greyryder]

It looks like the transition era is slowly pulling ahead in popularity, what we expect; maybe the HO's here woke up and started voting.

Who let those out of their cages?

[u36b]

1978-1982

Once upon the time I did only SCL (however that  - stripping - I got only 3 units done so far) but whatsoever it includes now SP, RI, CR, KCS, IHB, ATSF, AA and CCT as well -the late 70's just rock 

Stephan

who just finished an IHB NW7, has to ad handrails to an ex RDG C630, and, oh, yes, is painting some 40' IM and MT cars for FCP -  with ACI, wheel-dots and lube-plates which made that time so facinating.