Prototypes Someone Else Should Model

[CRL]

Well, depends what you want to model, but some stretches are pretty boring to model even from a JFRT perspective. I used to think I wanted to model Sherman Hill ala early 80s. Actually when it comes to running trains, a pretty dull time period to do it in model form on that stretch of UP.

This is true. Just because a particular stretch of railroad is famous or a popular rail fan spot doesn’t make it a good candidate to base a layout on.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is true. Just because a particular stretch of railroad is famous or a popular rail fan spot doesn’t make it a good candidate to base a layout on.

Case in point: Horseshoe Curve.
I've never met a modeler who's gone there who at least didn't give it a passing thought.
But not only is it incredibly difficult and expensive to do, it's also just not that interesting from an operations standpoint. There's almost no online business, the big challenge isn't just "making the grade" but doing so efficiently. Well honed efficiency doesn't make for fun model train operations.
If you're looking at it from a purely railfan layout perspective though, well, it's still all HUGE and expensive. MG Tower, for example, has 12 turnouts that barely ever get used. That's more than many entire layouts. Oh, and they're all dispatcher powered and signaled. Sure, you could just straight line the whole thing, but if you do that, will it really look like MG?

It's why everyone ends up modeling the Buffalo Line. It's got all the Pennsy Flavor with a fraction of the calories.

[OldEastRR]

Amazing how much railroading is packed into Vancover. Where else is there a suspension bridge for rail service?

Plus a nice big double oval of track that goes round and round and round ...

[Dave V]

It's why everyone ends up modeling the Buffalo Line. It's got all the Pennsy Flavor with a fraction of the calories.

So much truth!  I kept gravitating toward it when I was still doing Pennsy in N scale for that very reason.

[parkrrrr]

West of Stevens Pass from roughly Sultan to the Cascades Tunnel on the GN mainline, in modern times (i.e. post-1929)

So many bridges, as both the highway and the railroad cross the river and each other multiple times. Big switchback at Index. Cute little wye at the yard in Skykomish. The tunnel itself, though unfortunately not the cool eastern end unless you have a lot of layout space.

Not sure about operating interest, though. Lots of orange, with an occasional Empire Builder, and all with limited throughput due to the ventilation requirements in the tunnel.

[brokemoto]

Case in point: Horseshoe Curve.  I've never met a modeler who's gone there who at least didn't give it a passing thought.

It has been a while, but you have met me.  While I was never averse to having a Penn presence on my pike, never would I consider doing an exclusively Penn layout.

not only is it incredibly difficult and expensive to do, it's also just not that interesting from an operations standpoint.

(emphasis added)


This goes far to describe why I do not enjoy some people's modelling.  On the various model railroad forums to which I have subscribed, over the years, there have been some modellers whose modelling was excellent, top drawer, prize worthy.  Despite that, I never did enjoy their modelling.  When I look for a common thread, I find that these people do mostly "straight line" (or curves) modelling.  There is no operation or evidence thereof. I expect that most of them are  "runners".  I understand that point of view, but I find the operations more enjoyable.  I do have a "runner" part on my pike, but even that has online businesses and the trains that "run" on the "runner" roundy-round must pull into the junction to pick up and leave cars.  This applies to both freight and passenger trains.  The other "roundy-round" has numerous on-line businesses and focuses more on operation.  The businesses get and put out cars on different schedules which makes the consists of the local freights vary by day.

This is probably why I prefer road and yard switchers to the larger diesels (although I do admit to a weakness for Sharks).  Similarly, give me ten wheelers, moguls and consolidateds over northerns, Santa Fes and articulateds.  If only some one would manufacture a reliable US prototype tank locomotive.

The only real operations that you might get at  Horeshoe Curve would be switching out and in helpers.  I do not know if the Penn used its 4-8-2s as helpers there, but, the centipedes and late phase F-3s that it used as "snappers" are actually available in N.  As you point out oh-so-correctly, it would be expensive to model as you would need quite the tract of real estate.  Those BLI centipedes are nice, but they need at least a twenty four inch radius curve even to approach looking somewhat decent.  I suppose that you could get away with sharper curves if you modelled eras before the late 1940s or after the mid-1960s.  If you modelled anything between the late 1940s to mid-1960s, a Horseshoe Curve pike would not be a Horseshoe Curve pike without centipedes.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The only real operations that you might get at  Horeshoe Curve would be switching out and in helpers.  I do not know if the Penn used its 4-8-2s as helpers there, but, the centipedes and late phase F-3s that it used as "snappers" are actually available in N.  As you point out oh-so-correctly, it would be expensive to model as you would need quite the tract of real estate.  Those BLI centipedes are nice, but they need at least a twenty four inch radius curve even to approach looking somewhat decent.  I suppose that you could get away with sharper curves if you modelled eras before the late 1940s or after the mid-1960s.  If you modelled anything between the late 1940s to mid-1960s, a Horseshoe Curve pike would not be a Horseshoe Curve pike without centipedes.

Not only that, but the addition or removal of the snappers was either in Altoona, which is HUGE.

[sd45elect2000]

This is a good topic. I have been doing some serious thinking about this. My job has taken be across the country so I have been exposed to many different railroads. I have chosen the Milwaukee road for a variety of reasons. I don't know if would rethink this choice. But....

 I think that someone needs to model the L&NE. The diesel fleet wasn't very big and the steam fleet wasn't huge either. The large bridges through the water gap were spectacular and if you like big railyards you can certainly include Maybrook.

Another would be the South Shore electric. I was there in the mid 80s and they had a lot of freight traffic in addition to a full passenger schedule. Including the many connecting railroads would be a challenge. Street running would be a modeling highlight.

Last I think the Bangor and Aroostook in the 1950s would be a blast. The BAR was a classy little railroad. 

There are a few others like the CE&I in southern Illinois and the MP around the Mississippi but these are my top ones.

Randy

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I think that someone needs to model the L&NE. The diesel fleet wasn't very big and the steam fleet wasn't huge either. The large bridges through the water gap were spectacular and if you like big railyards you can certainly include Maybrook.

Randy

If you ever need to scratch your L&NE itch... or maybe make it worse, I cannot recommend these enough:
https://www.johnpmedia.com/dvds?tag=Lehigh+and+New+England+Railroad

[Rossford Yard]

I may have missed it in my quick glossing over of this thread, but I believe terminal lines - KCT, IHB, Toledo Terminal, etc. are great candidates. I agree you need switching and a variety of road names, and these give you that.  I have done pretty generic versions of KCT and IHB. 

My IHB layout (the IHB of Texas, profiled in the Layout Engineering section years ago) did a pretty good representation of Blue Island junction, and I also think certain junctions, rather than stretches of mainline could be great modeling topics.  Besides Blue Island, I know local modelers here in DFW who would love to model Saginaw, TX, another narrow angle junction that could be accurately represented.  Tower 55 in Ft. Worth has been done somewhere (I think up in OK) but at 90 degrees, would require quite a bit of room to do justice. 

The big KCT junctions on either west or east end of the KCT would also be mammoth, by the time you figured out how to loop tracks to staging yards to supply the necessary traffic.  Even then, it would be a "railfan" layout, where seeing train after train go by the tower would be the prime attraction.

[dem34]

I don't think I've seen anybody model the interior of an Airship hangar. You could probably put a whole working switching layout in one of those buildings.

[Missaberoad]

Central of New Jersey?

[dem34]

Correct, this is Hanger 1 at Lakehurst Nav air.

I went to Vocational School in that area and was always fascinated by all the abandoned rails going into the Hanger there. Of course the giant "REMEMBER OPSEC"signs disuaded teenage me from getting off the bus and taking pictures.

[Dave V]

I think that someone needs to model the L&NE. The diesel fleet wasn't very big and the steam fleet wasn't huge either. The large bridges through the water gap were spectacular and if you like big railyards you can certainly include Maybrook.

Randy

The LNE was made to be modeled!  A wonderfully classy paint scheme on a 100% Alco diesel fleet.  And in the steam days, they bought a few PRR L1s 2-8-2s, Belpaire firebox and all!  You could totally use the GHQ kit on the Kato Mike in N scale for that.  The big bridge at Lehigh Gap is begging to be modeled.  Plus it had both an understandable and manageable operating scheme and reasonable traffic levels.  And lastly, all that interchange traffic with the Anthracite roads.

Man, maybe I should model the LNE...

[wm3798]

For me, I'd like to see a really well rendered sleepy rural line.  Location and era is almost immaterial, as I would be just as enchanted watching a modern MP15 switching a remote quarry in Idaho as I would a well worn Penn Central GP9 creeping down a weedy strip of rust on the Eastern Shore, or a high stepping 4-4-0 plying the curves and trestles of the Ma & Pa.

As an operations nerd, I would want that branch to connect to a main line somewhere (so the Stewartstown's Mighty Mo can pick up a centerbeam full of lumber from Ed's Northern Central, f'rinstance) and at least a minor yard (Harrington, DE?) where cars can be shuffled to assemble that local.

But for the most part, a long, simple run around a room on a shelf  with a hand ful of grain elevators, warehouses, or whatever era-appropriate industries there might be, for the crew to amble out to, swap loads for empties, then amble back.  (There should, of course, be a hidden connection that allows one to sip a martini and JFRT(singular)M.

In addition to those noted above, I would include the following candidates, and I'm sure I'm overlooking many.

WM State Line branch, Cumberland to Bedford (steam era)
Bachmann Valley Ry (northern Carroll County, 19th century era)
South Branch Valley (B&O transition era, or modern shortline era)
B&O Winchester Branch, east end Brunswick to Charles Town (any period 1930s to 1990)

Any of a million short lines in Pennsylvania, Ohio, or West Virginia.  Although, I'd prefer something with more to ship than coal...  It's nice to fluff out a long train, and perhaps add an extra to go along with your sleepy local, but given the region, it may be unavoidable.

I also like odd operating challenges like a switchback grade, an at-grade crossing of a much bigger railroad, and an industrial area that offers a bit of a switching puzzle.  A ramp to a barge would not be out of the question to facilitate a little staging.

This has been a fun read.  I think my next layout may be coming into focus.  I better start selling off some of this old stuff while there's still enough geezers like me to appreciate it!
Lee