What era draws your attention the most?

What era catches your attention when other people model it?

  • early-mid 19th century

    Votes: 1 0.8%
  • late 19th century

    Votes: 9 7.2%
  • early 20th century...pre-USRA

    Votes: 6 4.8%
  • WW1-WW2

    Votes: 30 24.0%
  • transition Era

    Votes: 37 29.6%
  • later 20th century

    Votes: 16 12.8%
  • modern

    Votes: 26 20.8%

  • Total voters
    125
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nkp174

Active Member
I find that certain eras catch my attention more than others...several eras such as 1860s or 1900s really stand out on the rare occasion when I see one. It is worth noting that neither is an era that I'm interested in modeling...but I prefer to see it. How about everyone else?
 

Nothing

Longtime Member
i have a general intrest in most eras but i find i am always drawn back to WWII. i still learn new things about it, and everything in our modern world can be traced directly to WWII.
 
N

nachoman

1895-1910 for me. I think there were some profound things that happened during that time, not just with railroads. I look at it as a first "transition era" when we went from early railroads with 4-4-0s and wooden cars to larger engines with superheaters and trailing trucks, and steel cars.

Kevin
 
I like the transition era, especially the late 1950's, probably because that's the railroad era I grew up with and probably had the most exposure to. In second place, I guess I'd have to put the modern era. I kinda like those big diesels, too (although I can't tell one from another).
 

Jim Krause

Active Member
I like the early 1900's. Primarily because I'm into logging RR's and smaller steam. My dad was a streetcar motorman during that time period, which adds some interest.
 

railohio

Active Member
For sure it's the 1970s through 1980s. So many changes in the industry, and not a regular service mainline steamer in sight!
 

shaygetz

Active Member
For me it would be the late 60s, early to mid 70s. There was still enough first and second generation diesel power to keep things interesting. I still have memories of a B&O F or E unit hauling a short freight when I was 10-11 years old, that would put it at around '70-71 when that happened. You always had a conductor in a 'boose to wave at and still had cars with roof walks mixed in with Hi-Cubes and tri-level autoracks too.:thumb:
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
I voted for "transition era" as I'm definitely interested in the historical side of things and really like steam and early diesels. The 1930s & WW2 would be my next favorite time periods.

I also model a lot of British stuff, and the time periods are a little different there because steam ran later into the late-60s. So, regarding the British scene, my favorite periods would be late-50s to mid-60s (which is the British transition era), followed by the late-40s/early-50s and then the 1930s.

I think I could also get interested in the early-20th century railway scene, but it does seem to be a very different kettle of fish (locos being much simpler & smaller, etc.).

Rob
 

brakie

Active Member
I guess I am modern if modern means the late 70s/early 80s.I am a big fan of modern short lines as well..My N Scale Layout will be set in the early 90s to avoid ditch light hassles.
 

Triplex

Active Member
I can't say any modelling era consistently attracts my attention. I can say I have no interest in 19th century modelling, but I don't see that much of it.

In real-life railfan photography, it's always the 70s that grabs me. More generally, the 60s to the 80s - diesel era, but not modern. That's what I'd really want to model.

What always grabs me on modelling forums is foreign modelling on a mainly American forum. The most effective attraction for me is actually German transition era (50s-70s).

So I voted "later 20th century". A bit of a simplification.
 

e-paw

Member
I try to stay in a ten year period of 1943 to 1953 It gives me the ability to run steam during the traffic boom of WWII with early diesels, but still run my big FM train masters that would have bin brandy new in 53.
 

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conrailmike

Member
I'm kinda stuck between the 70's -80's and the modern era. 70's - 80's because the railroads were a lot more accessible then as far as railfanning goes. Modern era because who can resist those big diesels barreling down a main line with a line of doublestacks behind them.
 

nkp174

Active Member
I find it interesting that most people seem to focus so much on their own era. I'm surprised that no one is fascinated by the few civil war era layouts out there.

I guess, though, I have about as much interest in the popular 1970s as I have in cardboard boxes. Still, there are some mighty fine modelers out their working in that era...and I can appreciate their work.

I am really drawn to admire certain other time periods not only because of their rarity, but especially because of understanding how incredibly difficult it must be for those modeler...and to see how they approach it. I have no interest in modeling the 1920s...but Ben King's Timber City & Northwestern is incredible. I love seeing locomotives an freight cars which are either rare modelers or heavily modified.

I definitely feel that modeling in the present (modern in the poll) is a completely different game than everything else. Where I and a 70's modeler may even consult the same book (such as the Rio Grande Pictorial...1870-1970), the modern modeler needs cutting edge info...and will be studying a photo they took last week while I'm studying one of William Henry Jackson photos he took last week and 126 years ago.

Regardless, we're clearly hitting the mark for what the manufacturers enjoy producing.
 

e-paw

Member
I agree NKP174 the info you have is very important. In my case I was born in 74, Never saw the era I model. I have to rely on pics and literature from that time. It was what was going on in the 40's and 50's as well as the look of the equipment that lures me in. Still a great modeler can make all the difference and that is what I appreciate most.
 
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