How do you decide?

Uintah Dave

New Member
Hi guys, I am in the process of buying a new house with a 750 square foot garage. I am planning on dedicating about half to a layout. What I was wondering is how do you decide on what to build, prototype or freelance, what era, location, etc. There are so many options. I know I want a western railroad and I was thinking about the Uintah (my favorite) in HOn3, but I also like modern diesels. Does anyone have any sugestions?

Thanks for the help
Dave
 

Nomad

Active Member
It's your railroad, run them both. I have steam and modern diesel on my ho layout. Wood billboard reefers and modern steel boxcars. If I like the loco or car, I will run it.:-D

Loren
 

Uintah Dave

New Member
Thats kinda what I was thinking. But then the problem of narrow/ standard gauge becomes a problem, Unless I did some kind of interchange to accomodate both.
 

Nomad

Active Member
That's an idea. I have seen layouts on the web where they do that, combine both into one layout. Maybe have a logging line coming down to a mill, and interchange there with standard guage. Or a mine. There's a lot of possibilities there.:-D

Loren
 

Gil Finn

Active Member
I cant answer that but I can offer this. When decide on a plan and begian to aquire track, structures and trains stay firm with the plan and if you wany to expand do so later.

You will other wise ove buy and try to build more than you have space for. I am dealing with that now.
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
Much of the logging and narrow gauge equipment is available (rightly or wrongly - you be the judge) is a standard HO version as well. So dual gauge track is not necessarily required, depending on how willing you are to "look the other way" so to speak.

Andrew
 

moderndaynomad

New Member
If you could get a couple of narrow-gauge Mallets, I'd say model the Uintah- I've been on the old grade in a 4x4, and it was a doozy. Besides, the DRGW/C&S lines have been modeled to death,and I haven't seen much on the Uintah.

As for diesels, you could fudge on the URy's end-of-service date a boot and, say, run Fs and Geeps on the Rio Grande through Mack, CO.
 

Uintah Dave

New Member
Well you guys pretty much confirmed what I was thinking. The Uintah did interchange with the standard gauge D&RGW at Mack, CO giving me that option. I also figured that I can set my layout in the 1930's or so but still run any era equipment just for fun.

Thanks
Dave
 

Dansco

Member
Absolute noob here, just starting my first "real" layout beyond the 4X8... with that disclamier....

I found that starting by finding a theme helped me to get focused fast. My "theme" is a "Port of Tillamook Bay railroad as I want it" This gave me some real place names and features to go for, but wide open enough that just about anything is posible. The POTB prototype wins any time I cant descide if I REALY want some neat thing... for example. I can have a "Y" or a turn table (or both) Im not "commited" to a truntable so I ask my self "Self, what would the prototype do?" There isnt a turn table on the POTB, but Iv seen the Y, so the Y wins. However, this is only for things that can go either way. In contrast, I am commited to a continuous loop, the Proto is Point to Point only, but I have a loop.

So a theme gives you a "foundation" build on..
Thats my $0.02, and worth every penny!
Dansco
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
I model 2 to 3 different prototypes on my layout. One is 1950/60s southwestern England, another 1950s northern England and another where I occasionally run Canadian and US trains. My layout is basically a British one so it works well for the first two -- but for the 3rd, I have to simply tolerate running North American trains through British settings.

It's a tough decision but I'd suggest choosing one that is flexible enough so it can be used for 1-2 regions or time periods. It's whatever interests you. For example, I've become quite interested in the Somerset & Dorset Line in SW England, partly because it was a very unusual line with many different types of locos running through it. This means that there's a wide variety of loco types that I can run on it! :-D

Rob
 

rogerw

Active Member
I agree with all of the above. I am going to run what ever appeals to me at the time. you can allways justify an old steamer or refurbished F unit on the rails . Ummm how am I going to explain a german DB loco and cars passing through a country side in the US.:):)
 

Bones

Member
It's always great to see another Uintah fan.
Dave, If you stick with about 1932-1936, the Uintah Rwy was in it's prime. You can run the widest variety of Uintah steam, and at that time, all track the Uintah ever owned had been laid.

I do have some points you should consider though.
Modelling in a narrow guage is a different world than standard guage. Rolling stock and locomotives are hard to find (or a little difficult depending on model and scale). You will have to fine-tune your collection to properly traverse your layout. Narrow guage equipment tends to be top heavy and prone to problems.

As for your layout: I highly encourage you to stick with a mainline to begin with, and add the Uintah narrow guage when you are more experienced. Model the D&RGW, then tie the Uintah in later.

I'm really careful about allowing people to start modelling in a narrow guage because I model N scale. Nn3 (narrow) is almost entirely a scratch-built only enterprise. Therein lies my statement about narrow guage being a different world. Regardless, I suggest you leave room in your plan for the Uintah Railway but start off with your mainline - class 1 road.
 

Uintah Dave

New Member
It's always great to see another Uintah fan.
Dave, If you stick with about 1932-1936, the Uintah Rwy was in it's prime. You can run the widest variety of Uintah steam, and at that time, all track the Uintah ever owned had been laid.

I do have some points you should consider though.
Modelling in a narrow guage is a different world than standard guage. Rolling stock and locomotives are hard to find (or a little difficult depending on model and scale). You will have to fine-tune your collection to properly traverse your layout. Narrow guage equipment tends to be top heavy and prone to problems.

As for your layout: I highly encourage you to stick with a mainline to begin with, and add the Uintah narrow guage when you are more experienced. Model the D&RGW, then tie the Uintah in later.
Bones you are right 1932-1936 was a great time for the Uintah. I have found most of the rolling stock in HOn3 readily available. But since this is my first major layout I have heard that narrow gauge stuff is finicky. I have been leaning towards the mainline idea and improving my skills then going on from there. Grand Junction and Ruby Canyon would be cool.
 
N

nachoman

i would love to model the Uintah. It is definitely doable in HOn3. The mallets were produced in brass (but are rare and can be pricey).

I am not a huge On30 advocate, but have you considered it? I think you could scratch/bash most of the equipment rather easily out of the bachmann stuff. You coud use a mantua HO 2-6-6-2 as a starting point for a Mallet. But the real advantage of On30 is that you can still collect regualr HO stuff, an run it on the same track if you get the itch.

Kevin
 
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