This is what you should think about When Picking a Railroad Era to Model

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“The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked.
Don’t rejoice when your enemies fall;
don’t be happy when they stumble.
For the Lord will be displeased with you
and will turn his anger away from them.
Don’t fret because of evildoers;
don’t envy the wicked.”
Proverbs 24: 16-19 NLT

[@andrewpalm2103]

My layout is set in the early 60's because this is when I was in high school and did most of my exploration of the railroads of my home town. Steam was gone and the diesels were pretty much all first generation, F and E units, GPs, and even BL2s on two of the roads in my town. The freight cars were mostly a mix of pre- and post-WWII models and 40 or 50 feet long, with roofwalks. Also, plenty of industries were still served by the railroads. Lastly, this was just before the hard times and decay seen in the 70's had begun. Having said that, my choice of era could mostly be a result of imprinting on my youthful mind at the time.

[@rwissbaum9849]

Another factor to consider is the length of rolling stock and locomotives. From the 1950s through the 1990s, diesel locomotives grew from 4 axles to 6 axles, box cars grew from 40' long to 60 feet long, 80 foot well cars were introduced, and tank cars grew from 36 long to 60 feet long. All of this means that your layout will hold fewer cars and locomotives as you model more recent eras.

[@Quince828]

Along with that is that a smaller layout may have sharper curves so the longer modern cars will look silly or might not even be able to negotiate those curves. Also the more cars you can pull the more variety you get so your railway looks busier.

[@barbedwirerat661]

Yeah, I have a compact HO layout with 18 inch radius curves and short industry and yard tracks. This really limits me to 4 axle locomotives and shorter cars, but that still gives me plenty of satisfying options when modelling mid-century. The modern stuff is cool but too big for the layout.

[@DB-ek5kd]

Great info.

[@thoughtengine]

You want modern passenger, try Japanese N. Plenty of it. Be prepared for some catenaries to be needed though, as it is mostly overhead powered. Man shake chocolate.

[@katellareedycreekrailway9657]

The Japanese model railroaders I've watched on KZbin seldom bother with catenaries.

[@DB-ek5kd]

IRL Japan's train system is amazing. Quiet, clean, efficient, and they go EVERYWHERE!

[@TheTrainFreak]

I can say, picking an era does help save money in the long run, especially if you pick a specific year. You tend to spend less money on locomotives and rolling stock than you would if you didn't pick an era. I am finding out that detailing my layout tends to feel more expensive than the cost of the trains themselves. - Jason

[@jerrysgardentractorsengine2243]

Honestly, choosing an era was probably the easiest thing for my dad and I to decide on as we opted to model the entire time frame from when his father was working for the Grand Trunk Western: 1952-1995. Steam is still king and ditch lights haven’t been installed on everything yet

[@danbalmer1]

All good advice. My HO layout is NYC Steam to diesel and I have many options for locos, rolling stock, and passenger service, as that was all popular back them. My N layout I am designing will mostly be modern era to be a contrast to my HO, but will also run a few other trains like my Kato Super Chief, 20th Century Limited, and NW 400, so I am keeping this one more generic to change eras as I want to run different trains. Thanks for another great video.

[@katellareedycreekrailway9657]

Drinking unsweet iced tea from Sheetz. I have a friend who inherited some HO model train stuff including a Bachman DeWitte Clinton set. He was asking me for suggestions on what era and location to model. I suggested that he start off by modeling a small village in the Hudson River Valley in the 1830s when the New York Central was still the Mohawk and Hudson and run the DeWitte Clinton on it. Once he got that layout set to his satsifaction, he could do a thirty year time skip to the Civil War era. The village would grow to a little town with a few industries served by the railroad with "Old Timer" rolling stock. When he had that version of the layout complete, he could do another time skip to the 1890s and go total "Hello Dolly!" with a bigger late Victorian station for a bustling town with upper and middle class passengers using the railroad to commute to Manhattan. Then keep doing time skips to cover the transition era, Penn Central/Conrail, modern, etc. As the layout becomes more and more modern, "older" rolling stock can keep making appearances for railfan excursions from the "local rail museum", beloved older buildings can be "preserved", etc.

[@davidmccann9811]

I'm a Brit, but if I modelled a US railroad it would be late 1940s/early 1950s. Not only because of the nice mix of classic steam and diesel locos, but because I like the cars and street scenery from that era too.

[@dennismcweeny9677]

I find that it is much more difficult to model an era that I didn’t experience myself - not necessarily in terms of the locomotives and rolling stock, but getting structures, automobiles, and trackside details to look right. I am focusing on the modern era and can look forward to updating the equipment as time moves along on the prototype.

[@skerbs7755]

Another great video! Thank you! I am a mid century diesel fan. Love the Erie Lackawanna, Reading, and Conrail. I also like CNJ, but it's very hard to find HO scale models of them. On a side note, if anyone is in Berea, KY, this Saturday, L&N Day will be at the old L&N Depot starting at 9AM. They usually have some model train vendors behind the depot. It's pretty cool! Can't go this year, unfortunately. Take exit 76 off interstate 75. It's free to attend. Have a great day!

[@gamerfan8445]

The CNJ used to operate URSA heavy mikados. So, a Broadway or Rivarossi Mike can do a trick. Also the parts you need are available for a good price.

[@takethecurseOFFwashingmachine]

Nescafé Classico Instant for the win!

[@officervaca00123]

I do combination of Transition and modern Japanese passenger rail those are my two favorites! I don't have a permanent layout but its split between a Tokyo style skyline and 40s style country side for the American engines.

[@AMX86]

I chose m8d century diesel era as it was the time of my chdhood and when I rode the REAL engines with my great uncle. It was an amazing thing for a kid.

[@matthewpastrikos7383]

I would definitely pick the transition Era! Not only would you get large iconic steam locomotives like the N&W Class A, J, Y6B, Union Pacific Big Boy, Challenger, FEF series, Southern Pacific GS series, AC-9, AC-12, Milwaukee Road Class A, F7, S3, PRR K4, M1, I1sa, T1, G5, J1, C&O J3, K-4, H-8, L-1, B&O P-7, T3, EM-1, NKP 700 series, L-1 series, Santa Fe 3751, 2900, 3460, 5000, NYC Hudson, Mohawk, Niagaras, and Reading T1, but you would also get the EMC EA/EB, E1, E3, E4, AA, SC, SW/SW1, SW7/TR4, NC/NW, EMD GP7, GP9, E5, E6, E7, E8, E9, FT, F2, F3, F7, FP7, F9, FP9, NW1, SD40, SD40-2, GE 44-ton, 45 ton, and PRR GG1. So many different varieties of steam locomotives and diesels to choose during the transition era and i couldn't be more grateful in getting them.

[@LandNfan]

The choice of road and era was easy for me. My granddad worked for the L&N from 1908 to 1959, so transition era Louisville and Nashville was a foregone conclusion. Even though I live in southern Indiana now, I was born and raised in Nashville, so that takes care of location. My lottery-dream layout would be to recreate Rick Rideout’s (Rix Products). He models the entire Henderson subdivision of L& N from Evansville’s Howell yard to Nashville’s Radnor yard and virtually every city and town in between. My maybe achievable goal is the NC&StL Centerville branch, about 60 miles from Dickson, TN to Hoehnwald, TN. I’d accelerate the L&N / NC&StL merger a few years so my power and rolling stock would fit in.

[@lifeisagift.cherisheverymoment]

Not Model Railroad related: I saw North Carolina on your Coffee Cup. In 2000, at the age of fifty, I had the privilege to drive the Outer Banks of North Carolina and visit Kitty Hawk, a life-long dream of mine since early childhood. Beautiful goal realized, thank you North Carolina!

[@Z4Zander]

I picked a rail road,a time and a place.BN-BNSF,1995-2005 @ Fallbridge sub.Based it off the dvd"Columbia River Gorge" vol1 by Pentrex.Gave me a home for the Santa Fe and Burlington Northern rolling stock I already had and enabled me to blend in H1 & H2 BNSF stock as well.Thanks to Microscale I was able to patch locos as regd.Even today BNSF runs EMD's and GE's in all the multitude of schemes plus H3 through this sub.I don't run any H3 at all because,well,I had to draw the line somewhere.

[@gavinstricklin9512]

I don’t model after time period, I just get what looks cool to me

[@WWE_actionfigure-matches]

See, im saving up for a starter set and when I save for more locos I'm just going to get the models I like instead of it being like oh, I got a Era 3 steam in my starter set I'm going to get only Era 3. I just want what I think is cool

[@o484]

My layout is supposed to represent a modern shortline that also runs a large tourist railroad/museum. That way I can model basically whatever.

[@ModelRailwayFan38]

Lots of choice! Personally I like 20th century, transition and tourist lines!! The important thing to remember is you don’t need an era though, there is no right or wrong way to build a model railway!!

[@jamessneed8789]

White castle coffee.👍☕️

[@mitchmorrow1726]

Lol! I'm watching in the evening,so it's more like wine and trains! I'm having a California Cabernet! Your content is awesome!

[@ShipCreekRailway]

1940’s Australian steam right through to the mid 90’s diesel power on my layout. I have steam and diesel operations depending on my mood. Keep up the good work Jimmy 👍🇦🇺

[@personified5102]

I model what I like. I couldn't tell how many times I was told that, "that's not how you should model", from these prototypical modelers and was told that I am whats wrong with today's modeling community. Hell there was one time I went to a train show and was buying some different stuff. Like I had a couple of HO bli california zephyr passenger cars, some HO mth norfolk and western passenger cars, and a mix of freight cars. In total I was looking around $800 worth of merchandise I was buying from a seller. He told me that he will not sell to me just because I was buying different railroads and that I needed to choose one or not model at all. I just set the stuff down and walked away. There is problems with the community and it really is the diehard modelers who think everyone should only model prototypically and only model one railroad. The majority of people are kind, but there is a toxic bunch who think their way is superior and everybody else should follow them.

[@robertlucido3686]

I set my layout in the modern era. My railroad is a regional freight hauler that runs a tourist train program

[@Brayden4472]

I’m modeling a 1940’s-60’s railroad. All of my locos are in this era except for my BNSF gp-40. It’s Ho scale and it’s a classic 4x8

[@chadportenga7858]

Something else that factors into the mix is the non-railroad accessories you will need, such as automobiles & trucks. I had planned to model the 1990s - modern, but I can't find "everyday" vehicles, with a few exceptions such as a 1999-2002 Trans Am or some big trucks (U-Haul, semis, USPS, etc.). So, now I am re-thinking my layout choice and may sell off some engines to replace with older ones and model the 1960s-1970s. I don't want my trains running through ghost towns or classic car shows all the time!!!

[@CannibalChow]

I'm only just now starting a little mini N-Scale layout for a convention coming up since I'm co-hosting a panel, can't wait to show it off but today I'm having some Café Bustelo, love your channel!

[@discgolfillustrated2640]

I’m in the final stages of developing my layout backdrops… your video on the subject is being so very helpful. Thank you again for providing excellent information. 👍🏼

[@billschneck9107]

Great video! I do wish more small steam engines were available in N scale. I like the up in the mountains logging/mining railroads, so geared locomotives [I'm looking at you, Cass Scenic RR] are more my jam As usual, I've got a pot of folgers on!☕️

[@PetesPrettyGoodTrains]

Got the Cameron's Toasted Southern Pecan going this morning!

[@HVACSoldier]

Folger’s Coffee Shop. I model 1970’s to early 1980’s Milwaukee Road.

[@salvatorjo]

I had to give up a “Wild West” boom town n scale layout because it was too hard to find kits and accessories. Building a whole town from scratch was beyond my skill set. Some day I’ll do a smaller 1800s layout but not today.

[@bigizzysworld4253]

I have trains from all eras and run them all together

[@kenshores9900]

Very sad that so many rail roads have been consolidated. Some branch lines still exist but gone are the names (among them Santa Fe and PPR)

[@tommynorwood5184]

Hi Jimmy , I’m modeling the 80’s when Southern and Norfolk and Western were merging to foam Norfolk Southern. I was seeing it happening right in front of me back then. Both railroads were about 10 miles apart in my area. But I do love the SD40-2’ s and they were everywhere back then. Thanks for sharing. 😎😎 👍

[@Bradawick]

I do everything and you cant stop me.

[@NJEsperantist]

Mostly, I model 1950 to 1960, but that doesn't stop me from running trains more appropriate to the 1930's or my NJT push-pull consist. Turkey Hill Diet Iced Tea today.

[@jeanlaplante5972]

A cuppa of Maxwel House for me, cheers!

[@naeemahmed6494]

As ever a banger of a video Jimmy. You're awesome!!! Your content is amazing!

[@ethanandrews1230]

Eight o’clock coffee with sugar and creamer this morning. Video idea: the model railroading iceberg explained. Much like other “[thing] iceberg explained” videos on KZbin, you could talk in general about some more introductory topics in model railroading but get into more and more convoluted topics by the end of the video.

[@OldcampRanch]

Oh wow, cool! Thanks for sharing

[@ELWtrains]

I try to stick with modern diesel locomotives I do have a few steam, I prefer modern bc I like the details and you see more of them today on the rails,great video and advice Thanks for sharing 👍

[@user-gs6ck9vn5f]

Love your videos.

[@SouRwy4501Productions]

I personally model transition era, which, for my railroad, would’ve been around the late 1950s and early-to-mid 1960s.

[@beeble2003]

As you say at the end, people model whatever happens to interest them most. Consideration of freight vs passenger isn't really going to come into it -- people who are interested in today's railway (in the US) aren't going to be interested in running a lot of passenger trains, unless the big urban commuter networks are specifically part of their interest. And I really can't imagine people saying, "Well, I really like present-day railroads but I can't afford the models, so I'll do the 1960s instead." People just don't think like that -- if they want present-day but can't afford a bunch of stuff, they'll just do something smaller that needs fewer locomotives and cars.

[@trainman07011]

Or, don't choose at all. There is a lot of fun in running what you want to run without needing to explain so many things. After many years of trying to reproduce a timeframe, I find it best for me just to enjoy my favorites on a plausible background (some call this a layout) 😁 I have built two layouts with a minimum of interchangeable buildings. After all, they are just models. Enjoy the ones you love.

[@kenshores9900]

So true!

[@modelrailwaybackshop]

My era would be the height of Super Power Steam in 1930 to 1937. I model the Northern Pacific and have to get brass to represent the era I model.

[@VauxhallRailfan]

Here we go again.. UK era 7 (1971-1986 ) or era 8 (1982-1997).. Ive spent nights Thinking about tHis

[@fran_l]

Great video topic! I think the intro to the video sounds a bit slowed down compared to the rest of the video though

[@PetesPrettyGoodTrains]

So it wasn't just me thinking that

[@scottfw7169]

When I got started with model trains in the 1970s I really wanted to model the early railway era, 1830, 1840s, 1850s, but the problem was a profound lack of wheels with suitable spoke patterns; I could scratchbuild car bodies and locomotive bodies reasonably enough but casting and milling metal wheels was beyond me. So, I ended up with a hodgepodge of model train stuff which on one level I'm okay with and on another level deeply disappointed by.

[@BoxtankEngine]

I just put my layout sometime in 1880 to 1910

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

This morning I had work coffee. Just coffee they made at work for us. I had to use stevia since they didn’t have any more actual sugar (or honey, my preferred). One of the things I need to learn more about out is roof walks and when you stopped seeing them. I’ve got a Conrail loco that I’d like to do to run with a local railroad around the 80s-90s, but since I have a couple of boxcars with roof walks, I wonder how they’d fit in. I’m not against having little things like that though, since I’m going to model something that would have been Chessie/CSX during that time and I’m not bothering with numbering a loco that might have been plausible, just not painted.

[@thisoldgoat3927]

Roof walks began to be phased out in the mid-60s.

[@trainencounters586]

Sir, I think you missed a small point. If we start from modern day, the more you go back in time, arguably, the "cooler" it gets. Point being, the more supporting infrastructure one will find. More tracks, more supporting lineside structures, more signals, more industries, more railroads, and sometimes, more trains! Why is there empty space next to that right of way today? Because there was a second mainline, depot, or industry there. Historical research often leads one down this path.

[@professormetal4411]

One of these days I'd love to build a civil war era layout.

[@andrewellaway9086]

Hi Jimmy, great advice and information. Kenco really rich and semi skimmed milk. Cheers Andy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@OgaugeTrainsplusslotCars]

Iam starting a New era of Model Trains Plus Slot cars.Sagittarian A Star model Train era.

[@OwenConcorde]

I’m still drinking my Dunkin Doughnuts French vanilla coffee Jimmy. So what about modeling regions in America and Canada, even other places in the world?

[@theisraelilocomotive70414]

I personally don't really think picking an era is necessary. My collection spans from the start of steam in the US to the modern day class 1s from either coast and anywhere between and I'm happy with the fact I can go to any model layout and run something that will in keep with their era or something that may look totally unique by comparison. Elite Chocolit Powder with 2% Milk

[@OriginalBongoliath]

I chose the 19th Century up to Transition era. My main focus is steam but I do have a lot of diesel too. My plan is to make a 1950's themed layout because as you said, a lot is available, cheap, and it was the last Golden Age of Railroad Americana. I want to see switch towers, signal gantries over the track, and other trackside buildings that have largely disappeared. Want to see heavyweight and lightweight passenger cars moving side by side. I like the old reefers and boxcars with hundreds of different railroads on them, not the modern, boring conglomerates today. Modern diesels look all the same to me and boring. I want to model what I don't see anymore. If I wanted to see modern diesels I could just go outside to the railroad track.

[@michaelpfister1283]

Its interesting. My model is a freelance but its based on a modern category-3 local line that has formed to take over an abandoned spur from one of the main-lines. As such it uses older stock, especially power, generally from the mid-century era. EMD SD-9, GP38, and SW-1500, in Southern "tuxedo" schemes that were purchased from NS reserves (my head-canon) and my locos will be weathered and eventually painted with a patched-over logo for the Danbury & Logan. 🙂 The D&L use older facilities, some older freight-handling cars and locations, and old power ... so am I modelling mid-century or modern? lol Eye of the beholder! Oh, it also lets me use the MANY model kits for buildings going back into the late transition era right up to modern pretty much however I want. 🙂

[@Robertglardon-yg4ln]

Can you do a dcc conversion video on adding dcc to steam engines

[@Mike__B]

I must be weird, because I don't feel the need to model any particular era. I just want cool trains to go around my layout whether that's a 4-4-0 pulling wooden passenger cars through a modern city, or a Shinkansen zipping through an old west mining town.... ok that last part may be a tad weird, but replace Shinkansen with an SD40 or something.

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Wait until they build the Texas High Speed Rail. They're planning on using Shinkansen trains.

[@Mike__B]

@@DIYDigitalRailroad I'll wait until that gets started before I start holding my breath, as it is I'm out of breath waiting for CAHSR to get operating.

[@cowboy87smith3]

I am doing a 1926 New Mexico layout on a double wall mounted deck. Anyone help me with ideas the top is the main town along the rail line of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe with a depo, service, station, general store with law off on second floor, us post office, bank, Western Union office, drug store with docters office up stairs and a dry creek a desert 1926 version on the tv show little house on the Prairie and if room a church with a parsonage next door. Along the tracks is a lumber and hardware store, seed and feed, catalog weargouse and an ice house. Then issue I have is across from the train depot is a three story 3D resin printed hotel with a restaurant and former saloon from the 1900s what could I put in the saloon windows as drinking in public was not allowed until December of 1933. Then I have on the bottom a generic New Mexico City for my trains to switch with in mainly a railyard and idea that could add play to my town on top. Also interesting ideas to add to the desert landscape or 1926 setting in front of a background of the back alleyway of buildings behind the main railside US highway or to the railway station or railyard or the coner as the layout is L shaped.

[@Robertglardon-yg4ln]

Any suggestion where to get doc ready steam s and sound and steam ?

[@Dan0Myte490]

Is it just me or was Jimmy's voice lower during his intro before the graphic?

[@thomaslarsen5057]

Thanks for sharing. Are most locos diesel in the US? Here in europa they are replaced long time ago with electric mostly. But maybe you can run both on the layout. The diesel might run of the mainline or something. 🙂

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

Hello! Yes the vast majority of locomotives are diesel electric in the US meaning they have electric motors powered by diesel generators. There are electrified corridors like in the Northeast and a lot of light rail lines around the country.

[@JimmyProductions]

What happened at the start? 😂

[@DIYDigitalRailroad]

How in the world did that not show up on my checks? HAHA!

[@jeffreyhunt1727]

Is the intro to the video slowed down or did your voice suddenly drop in pitch? lol

[@melkitson]

Jimmy you missed out the rest of tbe world where electric took over from deisel. Even third world countries in Africa have gone electric. I know you are based in the USA but you have a world wide audience. Have a look at different Epochs for model trains.

[@jrisner1951]

Starbucks French Roast.

[@larryfromgasstation]

I drink blue line coffee house’s maple and bourbon coffee