My basic target era is the mid-late 1930's, when the steam Hiawathas were the finest ride on the rails. By swapping out the engines, rolling stock, and the cars in the parking lots, I can fudge that to anywhere from mid 20s' to early 70's. Buildings and such don't change much in that time frame, so by changing a few movable items, I can change the time. My heart is in 1939, when the streamlined Hiawatha Baltics with ribside cars and the finned beavertail observation cars ruled the rails.
1949. There are some exceptions, like my PRR Y3 which was gone by 1948 in real life. However, the exceptions are very few.
KC,
Mine is the Tin Plate Toy Train Era, no certain date need apply.
PCRR/Dave
Pine Creek,
I did forget Tin Plate ..nice Crane at Work shot!
Tin has always been a Favorite of mine.
I forgot Whimsical too…
K.C.
I did forget Tin Plate ..nice Crane at Work shot!
Tin has always been a Favorite of mine.
I forgot Whimsical too…
K.C.
Generally the 1930's to 1970 or so. I really like the art deco look that was on the streamlined steamers, the first and second generation diesels and electrics like the GG1. But nothing stops me from buying later era diesels if I like them. The GE EVO being a great example.
I do draw the line with Amtrak and Conrail. They do not appear on my RR, having been the sad end result of a few great RR's.
Gerry
That’s an excellent example of a moment in time.
Thanks for posting Sirt…
K.C.
Thanks for posting Sirt…
K.C.
When I begin building early next year, when our new home is finished, I will
stick to a 1940-esque atmosphere (Andrews Sisters, Crosby, etc. background
music). I'll probably cheat a little and run rolling stock from the 1950's (so much
variety in colors and logos).
Although I wasn't born 'til 1951, I love American history and, for some reason, this
pre-WW II era appeals to me strongly. My family is all gone now, so maybe this will
make me think of them when they were young. Very comforting, in a way.
Hoppy
As far as the layout as a context for trains, I try to keep as broad a sample of buildings etc as generic as possible rather than a tight focus on say, a decade etc. That allows a broader variety of stuff running on the rails and the stuff on rails is focused on the transition era as again this allows for a greatest variety. I chose where I grew up as a model and not out of nostalgia bur rather the West side of Chicago had a mix of suburban and urban textures so to speak and better yet, aside from the huge variety of railroads , you also had the El..
That being said I often run the Marx Tales of Wells Fargo set up on the elevated when the mood strikes me, right past the dumbfounded commuters up on the platform. I suppose I don't take much of this context too seriously as well.
Pretty much the 1930-1960 era .... roughly ...
I try to recreate the feel of 1950's Hi-Rail using
Only small steam, electrics. A few Plymouths which are internal combustion and not true diesels.
Buildings are 1900-1950.
Layout is mainly industrial/yard.
Concept is to pretend that they are poorer short lines that could not yet transition to diesel. Everything is heavily weathered except the locos and rolling stock.
Well maintained because that is the only thing that keeps them in business.
Only small steam, electrics. A few Plymouths which are internal combustion and not true diesels.
Buildings are 1900-1950.
Layout is mainly industrial/yard.
Concept is to pretend that they are poorer short lines that could not yet transition to diesel. Everything is heavily weathered except the locos and rolling stock.
Well maintained because that is the only thing that keeps them in business.
