I have diesels only, no steam. I will stick with the diesels, but would like to have some small steam someday. Probably like a camelback, shay, or heisler. Something smaller and a little different.
Diesels - 10 Steam - 6
Steam -- A lot
Diesel -- [Almost] too many. I'm selecting which ones are going to get thinned out of the herd and I've restricted my purchases to only those with scale wheels.
May seem weird, but I prefer the boxy shapes and liveries of diesel locomotives, even though I am old enough to faintly recall as a child the sight, sounds and odors of steam locomotives. Maybe a frightening encounter with a steam locomotive as an infant lurks in the shadows of my mind.
What, me worry?
I remember the sights and sounds of steam from my childhood, so I'll always have a few steamers. No diesels, but strangely enough a couple of electrics and an eye for more.
Live steam indoors? Not so much.
Live diesel indoors? Never!
Live electrics? Why not? Just think, any model electric locomotive is more faithful to its prototype than any steamer or diesel..... 
I saw mainly electrics as a kid so I have 5 of them, including two versions of the South Shore Little Joe, which I remember lumbering along the line near where I grew up. Trouble is, models of electrics have less operating features, and to me seem less realistic, than either diesel or steamer models.
The rest of what I have is evenly divided between steam and diesel. Nothing really modern of either type - all from the heyday of long distance passenger and freight engines.
Is there a prize for the correct answer?
the only diesel I have is the 225 that was my Uncle Jim's. No electrics, but I'd like to get a Postwar GG1.
Attachments
Images (1)
rtr12 posted:I have diesels only, no steam.
Not specific to the person I’m quoting, but I’m hearing it a lot in the hobby now where people model diesel eras and not only have no steam, but no desire for any at all.
I guess it goes with how few people remember steam on mainlines anymore. I was born long after the last Class I dropped their fires on daily steam but I’ve always been big on old technology (I love prop driven planes, vehicles without fuel injection and/or cranks in the front end to start them up), so steam was a given for me.
As I’ve often posted, I model a narrow gauge RR that never had diesels until the late 60s (oddly, almost exactly a year before I was born). I have a roster of 80% steam. 4 steam locomotives (all On30 4-6-0s) and 1 diesel, which will be an Army –marked unit used only for hazardous load cars, if at all…
overlandflyer posted:Tom Densel posted:Since I model the Penn Central there are no steam locomotives. ...
...
I'm holding out for the Lionel brass/die-cast hybrid version.
Tom
P51,
Actually I am old enough to remember steam, it was still operating when I was a kid. I really just happen to like the diesels and especially the modern ones we have today. I have gone to see some steamers that passed through here on a couple of different occasions and I will admit they are quite impressive!
I thought a lot about what I wanted on my layout when I got back in the hobby in 2011 just before I retired at the end of the year. My choice for diesels only was based on several factors, we have lived by the BNSF tracks since about 1972 and all we see are diesels, the new steamers are 3 to 4 times more expensive than new diesels, I would be locked into O-72 minimum curves (probably larger), and I honestly do prefer diesels over steam so that is what I chose to go with.
As I said earlier, I do want to add a steamer or two, but I prefer the smaller and more unique ones like the shay, camelback or heisler or something like those. Smaller and with unique drive trains. I also like some of the narrow gauge steamers as well. There are also a couple of larger steamers I like, the UP Challenger in greyhound colors and maybe the UP 4-12-2 also in greyhound colors. The Challenger being my favorite. However I doubt I will ever purchase one of those due to cost and size.
The funny thing, for me, about all this is when I started thinking about getting back in the hobby (after being away for 40-50 years or so) I was looking at steamers and conventional block control. Then I discovered command control which was all totally new to me from my past experience, and oh my, what changes they had made while I was gone. I seriously got to thinking about what I really wanted to have on a layout and ended up with MTH's DCS system, then Legacy and all diesels. Command control is what really pushed me over the hump and actually got me back into the hobby. I also like electronics and those two things really make it all the more interesting for me.
The number of others going in the direction of diesels only is also kind of interesting to me. Getting back into the hobby and then later finding the OGR forums, at first it seemed like I might be the only one going that route. Now there seem to be several others with the same diesel only layouts as I chose to go with. I also think that is a sign of the younger folks in the hobby and diesels are mostly all they have ever seen, but I still think there will be a desire for steamers for a long time to come.
My train experiences came in the 60's & 70's so I am a diesel fan of the declining anthracite haulers. I somehow acquired a 4-8-4 steamer but it will be for peak season helper service only !
Good evening, steam only.
There are some rumors around the engine house about these new fangled diesel maybe showing up in the future.
But it's a distant future !!!!
There are very good rumors that a new Pennsy M1B and Pennsy K4 from some company called MTH is heading to this part to the railroad some time this year !!!!!!!
Both. I still love my steam the most!
diesel only.....steamers need b-i-g radius curves and my layout does not have them......yet
Electric......
The Free State Junction Railway ( modeled in the transition era ) operates steam, diesel, and electric locomotives. Variety is the spice of life on this railroad
Hey guys thanks all the replys.
MarkStrittmatter posted:Good evening, steam only.
There are some rumors around the engine house about these new fangled diesel maybe showing up in the future.
But it's a distant future !!!!
There are very good rumors that a new Pennsy M1B and Pennsy K4 from some company called MTH is heading to this part to the railroad some time this year !!!!!!!
I have 4 of their mohawks steam locomotives.Very strong locomotives been known to pull a long freight.While it takes 2 or 3 of the new diesel to pull such a train.The president of the railroad says we are just gonna take our time.And see how other railroads use them and like them.Not gonna blow good money out the window.
Tom Densel posted:overlandflyer posted:Tom Densel posted:Since I model the Penn Central there are no steam locomotives. ...
I'm holding out for the Lionel brass/die-cast hybrid version.
Tom
Hey is that a marx steam locomotive?Looks like one my friend.Some of those have smoke as a headlight.
I have more diesel's engines then steam. I have 3 steam engines only .
Mr Union Pacific posted:I run both on my layout. I would run more steam, but steam locomotives tend to be more expensive that diesel locomotives.
That is so true even when I was in ho.The steam locomotives where priced higher.And its the same in o gauge never understood that.
Jim Berger posted:Electric......
There is another option besides diesel and steam. I don't have as many electrics as I do Steam and diesel but I do like my electric fleet and my GG1s are my favorites.
If it looks good, it runs for me.
I prefer steam but have a soft spot for the CPR's E8A units too. And only my E8 units, in A-A config., both units powered, have the oomph to pull my most impressive train, consisting of 11 GGD HW cars. True to the "HW" designation, that train is seriously heavy! Getting it around curves and up 2% grades, requires more power than any of my steamers can muster.
But I like my Legacy F3 A-A pair as well. Other diesels? I have a couple but am not especially fond of them. Steam is what I love the best. Yes, I saw, and rode them into my early adulthood. It's one of the ironies of life that, back in the day, when steamers were the norm, all I wanted to see were the new diesels!
I run Steam 65-35 and Western roads,SP,UP,ATSF,GN,WP,CB&Q and D&RGW.
Mikey
seaboardm2 posted:overlandflyer posted:
Hey is that a marx steam locomotive?Looks like one my friend.Some of those have smoke as a headlight.
yes, the Marx #1666 was basically the plastic version of the diecast Marx #666. still a great locomotive with typically* double reduction gearing which will not have the large gear problem of older Marx motors vs guard rails. some #1666 models featured cylinder steam.
* be aware that almost all Marx motors are interchangeable.
cheers...gary
seaboardm2 posted:Mr Union Pacific posted:I run both on my layout. I would run more steam, but steam locomotives tend to be more expensive that diesel locomotives.
That is so true even when I was in ho.The steam locomotives where priced higher.And its the same in o gauge never understood that.
Yep. had the same problem when I was in HO.
But my O-gauge steam has run from $8 for a single loco to $75 for a complete box set. Most around $20. But I buy used locos. And mostly Marx! lol
While i'm old enough to and have ridden behind steam (on the NYC from Fonda, NY to New York City - actually to Croton Harmon), my own roster consists of:
9 diesels, 5 electrics, 2 steam, and 1 trolley.
I am more a diesels guy, mainly because I love having the interesting paint schemes on my Layout. Steam generally doesn't have that aspect. However, I do love the moving parts and the smoke of a steam engine, so I have a bunch of them. I mostly go for the ones that are restored, so I am kinda keeping it modern. As far as electrics go, I absolutely love them! I have installed a catenary system, and I am attempting to gather as many electrics as I possibly can. So far I have a vision GG1, the Acela, An AEM-7, a Conrail E44, and a set of SEPTA MU's.
Layout is based as the year 1954, with mostly (5) first generation diesels (L&N and NC&StL) and two steamers (both L&N).
Yes.
I model the summer of 1953 so the same as Terry. I've got Erie Built FMs, Trainmasters, Baldwins, Alco and GM diesels. Steam is last of the Mikados, Hudson, Berkshires, Pacific and 0-6-0 switchers. Also most all of the Electrics Milwaukee ran. Don
Attachments
Images (1)
That is beautiful Don
Here's three of my steamers. Most but not all are K-line. Don
Attachments
Images (1)
trumptrain posted:The Free State Junction Railway ( modeled in the transition era ) operates steam, diesel, and electric locomotives. Variety is the spice of life on this railroad
Photo of some FSJR power.
Attachments
Images (10)
scale rail posted:Here's three of my steamers. Most but not all are K-line. Don
who made the Erie built Fm?
seaboardm2 posted:Mr Union Pacific posted:I run both on my layout. I would run more steam, but steam locomotives tend to be more expensive that diesel locomotives.
That is so true even when I was in ho.The steam locomotives where priced higher.And its the same in o gauge never understood that.
the closer you get to prototype accuracy the more unique a steam locomotive will get. even when modeling a specific class, individual locomotives will still have some differences.
compare this to any diesel. once the shell is made, it is typical for a manufacturer to use the same mold over an over again for different roadnames and even for different eras within the same road. dozens of different models can be produced from the same mold with the only change in production being modified paint masks.
With my 2 new acquisitions this week I now have 4 diesels and 3 steamers. I need a 2nd job so I can buy some more quickly since my wishlist just exploded after the last 2 days LOL.
My interest lies in the transition era -- 1935-1955. So I have both steam and first-generation diesel.
