Aren't the 1870's backwoods, podunk railroading???

[hminky]

Someone E-mailed me about the limited operations the 1870's would provide.

"Isn't it backwoods, podunk railroading, you know shortline stuff. Not real railroading"

The DL&W yard in Scranton, 1877 during the strike. Podunk, no.

Actually most large model railroad trackplans depict a physical plant more suited to the 1870's than the more modern era depicted. In the 1870's there were fast freights, express passenger, sleepers and large industries.

Model the 1870's at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/1879/why/

Thank you if you visit
Harold

 

[eightyeightfan1]

Also.In the 1870's there were no such thing as "long haul trucking". Everything that was manufactured, from toe nail clippers, to machinery, and even "buggies" and horse drawn carts, were shipped by rail.
Podunk...Nah........

 

[Ray Marinaccio]

I think the late 1800s and early 1900s is a great era to model.
I've been researching the railroads that ran in this part of Arizona in that era and would like to model them someday. There were standard gauge, 3 foot gauge and 20 inch gauge railroads running in this area at that time. I had never thought to model that era in 00, thanks for that advice Harold.

 

[Ralph]

I think that photo effectively answers the question! Neat stuff Harold!
Ralph

 

[jetrock]

Backwoods, podunk railroads like the Central Pacific/Union Pacific "transcontinental" line, completed in 1869? Small-town lines like the Baltimore & Ohio, already around for four decades as a railroad by the 1870s?

I'm not sure what that person was thinking.

 

[Zman]

I'm building a layout modeling a small New England town in the 1880's. I love everything about this time period - the architecture, the engines, the rolling stock.

 

[Russ Bellinis]

Was it in the 1890's that the knucle coupler was invented and required on rolling stock?

 

[jetrock]

I think it was already invented, it was not mandated for general use until around 1896 I think.