I am from Dayton Ohio and the PRR was the railroad everyone talked about. The NYC, B&O, C&O all ran in the area. But my grandpa only ever told me stories about the Pennsy
banjoflyer posted:And to piggy-back on Marty's reasoning here's a map of USA population density. The darker the red color the more people there are in that area. If I were selling model trains I too would cater more to those RR lines that were in the highest population densities[.]
The Santa Fe F series warbonnet is the top-selling locomotive of all time. Sometimes style wins out over substance (or population density).
What, me worry?
One of the other contributions of the PRR that lives on was being a major partner in the the creation of TTX on November 9, 1955. While after PRR, the innovation of pooling cars by TTX lead to the creation of subsidiary Railbox in 1974.
Hmm...l have never thought Pennsylvania locos attractive...quite the reverse. But my grandfather built L&N cabooses and my dad fired Southern steam, so l guess it is what you know. With the population center in Pennsylvania territory, those of us who prefer other roads scratchbuild, kitbash, or do without.
Given that MARX, Lionel, and American Flyer factories were all within the service areas of Pennsylvania Railroad as back in the first half of the 20th century was the bulk of America's population so I rather think that this rubbed off on the train model train makers of the era as this is what most people saw day to day along with NYC and has just coasted along into the 21st century. Other railroads got pretty good coverage as Santa Fe did as it not only was familiar to those of us in California but to kids living in the east as the adventure of the cowboy west. So those three names appear to be the most popular of that era. May have also had a lot to do with the placement of dollars to the model train makers as an advertising investment.
Bogie
