Time Periods

CNWman

CNW Fan
I now have 2 engines,CNW RS-32 #4242 and CNW F3 # 4056. My dad suggested that we try to model a time period because he thought they really looked cool, and I did agree with him, modeled time periods are increadably impresive. However, I was planning on having a modern fictional idea (CNW never got bought out, Riverside RR is a shortline w/ leased CNW loco's, present day theming, make up more stuff to run any loco I want). I've read about some layouts that are fictional that were based off real historic events, and so that idea apeals to me, too. So in summary, What kind of layout should I go for: Period or modern fictional?
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
The fundamental rule of the hobby is to enjoy yourself so I say create the layout you want. Just out of curiosity what sort of rolling stock do you run with your locos...more modern freight cars or cars similar in period to your engines? If you have lots of contemporary cars than it seems easy to go with your plan and create the fictional scheme you want. If you have older cars than I guess it would be easier to model that particular time period. Remember too that you can always change your focus later if you wish!
Have fun!
Ralph
 

CNWman

CNW Fan
Hmmm, rolling stock, let's see...
*digs through boxes*
O.K. here we go:
(4) 50' high roof boxcars in popcicle scheme (no blt. dates, all came in special 4-pack, although box says 1972)
(2) PCD High side 4427 gallon grain hoppers, one CNW, one TDLX leasing to a grain company (within 1969)
(1) 10K Gal. Type 21 Riveted Tank car, S.U.N.X. oils (represents model of 1920-30's)
(1) Center Cupola Steel Caboose, CNW (blt. date was 1920-somethin I think)
(1) Um, I froget what this covered hopper is called, so here's a link to where I bought it :rolleyes: :sign1: Discount Rails - Model Trains and Railroad Supplies
(it's supposed to be dark green, but otherwise the same model)

That's pretty much it, the boxcars are pushing the early 1970's though :sign1:
 

Triplex

Active Member
The cylindrical covered hopper is from the early 70s or later.

So, the majority of your cars are newer than the engines, but the tank and caboose are quite old. Remember, non-rebuilt freight cars more than 40 years old are prohibited from interchange service, as are rebuilt cars over 50 years old.
 

CNWman

CNW Fan
Remember, non-rebuilt freight cars more than 40 years old are prohibited from interchange service, as are rebuilt cars over 50 years old.

Ok, so my Caboose and tank car can't be interchanged, but can they still be run on regular service on one single line? (I was thinking of expanding and including a porton the Great Lakes, so the tanker would hold fuel oil for the ships).
 

CNWman

CNW Fan
Ok, now it's REALLY being pushed!

Guess what? I just learned that the CNW bought the Conrail RS-32's that would become #'s 4240 -4249 in the year 1979! Go figure!:rolleyes:
 

Triplex

Active Member
Cabooses aren't usually interchanged anyway, and I've heard of cabooses over 70 years old being used. I can't say how long these cabooses in question lasted.

SUNX is a private owner, not a railroad. Thus, the tank car would never be running on its own tracks. Is it possible for a private owner to operate cars over 40 or 50 years old?
 

Russ Bellinis

Active Member
Cabooses aren't usually interchanged anyway, and I've heard of cabooses over 70 years old being used. I can't say how long these cabooses in question lasted.

SUNX is a private owner, not a railroad. Thus, the tank car would never be running on its own tracks. Is it possible for a private owner to operate cars over 40 or 50 years old?

No, the rules apply to anyone operating in interchange service where the cars go from one railroad to another. Private owner cars and lease cars are usd entirely in interchange service.

There are 3 possibilities that I can think of.

#1. If you are not attached to the SUNX paint scheme, repaint the tank car in the CNW's mow scheme. Virtually all of the railroads made up their mow fleet from older cars no longer legal for interchange service.

#2. It is your railroad, do what you want the only rule is to have fun. The only problem with this solution is if you realize that what you are doing isn't prototypical and become your own "Prototype Police". You don't need to worry about what anybody else says. It is your railroad, but if it starts bothering you because it doesn't look right to you, you would need to change it.

#3. This one is my favorite, but it requires storage space and can be more expensive since you will want to buy everything instead of only those products that fit your railroad and era. Make only your scenery permanent. All buildings, and details are removeable. Now, you can model whatever era you wish by just putting on the period correct rolling stock, buildings, automobiles, and details. You could model the 1930's &1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's etc. just by changing details. I lump the 1940's with other eras because with WW2 most equipment, automobiles and details up to 1947 would be 1930's era. Most of the 1947 model cars were new production from 1942 dies. The new body styles didn't come out until 1948-1949. Even though it is my favorite, it is not the method I use because I don't have the storage space for all of the stuff that fits other eras that I'm not running right now and I don't have the money to buy everything that comes on the market. My hobby dollars go a lot farther when I can look at a really neat new locomotive and say, "No thanks; it doesn't fit my modeling era."

I just thought of a 4th possibility. The CNW tended to run equipment for a long time, and the Alco rs32 wasn't bought until 1979 so under your scheme of things with CNW never sold and continuing on as an independent railroad, the rs32 could still be in use today. The f3 would probably not continue in use because the railroads discovered that road switchers were much more practical for everyday use than the "covered wagons", but it could be restored to use for a business train for the CNW. Since AMTRAK, many of the railroads have restored F &/or E units to go with restored passenger equipment to use as a business train. For instance BNSF & UP both will run their business trains with a guest list by invitation only to any super bowl city that is on their operating territory on the weekend of the super bowl. BNSF runs an annual employee appreciation special with the business train giving rides all over their territory for employees and their families. If you decide that cabooses were never eliminated on your version of the CNW, then the cabooss you have could continue in service indefinately. That just leaves the tank cars to deal with.
 

Drew1125

Active Member
By having an RS32, & an F3, you're running 1st & 2nd generation diesels...if you were going for "prototypically correct" Class 1 operations, this would set your era sometime in the early 60's to mid-70's
But a shortline...Aaahhh...that's a different matter!
You can still find many 2nd geneation, & even a few 1st generation diesels earning their keep in shortline service in N. America!
So by making your fictional pike a shortline serving a Class-1, you could set your era anywhere from 1960 to the present!

But if you're not worried about "prototype police", then like somebody said, "It's your RR, you can do what you want!"
 

CNWman

CNW Fan
By having an RS32, & an F3, you're running 1st & 2nd generation diesels...if you were going for "prototypically correct" Class 1 operations, this would set your era sometime in the early 60's to mid-70's
But a shortline...Aaahhh...that's a different matter!
You can still find many 2nd geneation, & even a few 1st generation diesels earning their keep in shortline service in N. America!
So by making your fictional pike a shortline serving a Class-1, you could set your era anywhere from 1960 to the present!

But if you're not worried about "prototype police", then like somebody said, "It's your RR, you can do what you want!"

My original idea for my layout's 'story' was that the CNW expanded into Ohio sometime in the 70's to 80's. Now, because of this, the "Riverside Railroad", a subsidary of the CNW, served the "Prarie Star Milling Co." Through this, the shortline was able to buy the F3 and the RS-32 from the CNW when the Riverside Railroad was short on power in the early 90's ( I have no idea when the 4242 and 4056 were scraped). The Riverside went indipendent when the UP bought the CNW, but was either purswaded of threatened by the CNWHS (what really hapened is still under debate:mrgreen:, and no harm meant to the CNWHS) to keep the loco's in their CNW outfit. Today, the Riverside Railroad still serves it's main purpose, but somehow got a NYC "Early Bird" reefer in some interchange. In recent press releases, the Riverside Railroad plans on getting a steam engine for passenger service.
 
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