How do you pick a railroad to model?

Hello Model Railroaders!
Tonight, on the Second Section Podcast Mike and I want to talk about how do you decide what railroad to model?
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[@jeffhacker3323]

That B unit with the cab added! I love really old engines that are still running today and updated.

[@rathbaster]

I would really like to see a show on the Penn Central 👍

[@CashSly]

Great show! I understand Mikes dilemma. I was in Chicago in the late 60’s and early 70’s, so I saw allot of CNW, MR, RI, IC,ECT, then moved to Paducah KY, and saw allot of IC, L&N, NC&STL, ECT. So I model Chicago through to Fulton, this way I can have a huge variety of roads. It’s very proto made up. Lol, but I love it. Thanks for all you two do.

[@RonStanek]

Good show Mike & Andy. Thank you.

[@NarbonneGauchoBoingo]

lol Mike, just seeing this, I have a whole stack of 110 pics i took of the Santa Fe and SP in southern Calif., when I was a teen in the 80's. Now I'm back to modeling it in HO, I think we choose the railroad to model by the trains we watched as kids.

[@geronimoabn]

Is something you consider to be a hobby supposed to cause so much anguish? Listening to poor Mike tell his story makes me glad I don't know much about railroads. I'm a modeler much more so than I am a rail fan. I can sleep at night without worrying about trying to get it 100% correct. Love the podcast guys! Thanks for sharing with us.

[@railwayjade]

I think there are different levels. I am South African and most people in my country obviously want to model our local railways. It has been previously represented by manufacturers such as Lima (now owned by Hornby) and LifeLike. This went from just painting European/US models in our livery to a few that were closer to the Prototype. Although these were more "look alikes", people scooped it up. I should also point out that we have Cape STandard Gauge (3'6") so running on HO scale track is also incorrect. We have a few modern manufacturers that make kits in brass/white metal and recently 3D printing and who also produce bogies/chassis for 12mm/HOn3 which is closer to our gauge. Because it is specialist and not mass produced, they fetch a pretty price. All that to say, yeah, we see how far we want to take it. I must say that in this day and age, it is easy for someone like me to model US/European railways as the internet is a great resource. These models are also cheaper because they are mass produced.

[@grantv2313]

I have my own struggles. I love several different railroads but then you also have to consider what era you want to model which restricts you further. It’s tough. For me it just comes down to what is the most interesting to you and whats your favorite paint scheme . I stay firm to prototypical situations, models etc but there are rivet counters out there that will throw away a scratch built part fifty times to get it just right for a model. I’m not to that level but I’m probably far beyond what many modelers stick to. So yeah theres different levels in this hobby.

[@thecnwmondovilinepaulscota7304]

Great show, guys!

[@railroad1970]

I see that someone already suggested this, but I have a module that I run with the local HO modular group. It’s an auto delivery facility. Doesn’t fit with my home layout, but let me build that. I have added industries to my layouts it that the are never had… i like grain cars. So I’ve got a grain terminal. But I don’t have room to model all the line… it’s inspired by the prototype.

[@RichsModelingTrains]

One day Ill catch you guys live. For me right now Im building modules to get a layout. One piece at a time. So I can fix what I dont like instead of ripping a large layout apart.

[@railroad1970]

A friend of mine has one of those bay window MILW cabooses… in 1:1 scale

[@jeffhacker3323]

Vote for Seaview Railways as the highlighted short-line sometime when you get to Rhode Island. They have an SW7 with Flexicoil trucks, a GP-10, and an 80 ton center-cab along with interesting passenger tie-in occasionally.

[@wapatocreekrail]

The Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad (@mtrainierrail) operates on ex-Milwaukee trackage, in Washington, as well as parts of the connecting Rainier Rail shortline in the same area. The MRSR just restarted their passenger trains, always with steam power, if Mike would want to actually ride the Pacific Extention.

[@RonStanek]

Some TR5's with dynamic brakes, on this FB post in comments.