When I first dabbled in model railroading between 1976 and 1981, I modeled ATSF in Oklahoma in the 60s exclusively with Athearn cars and Atlas and Athearn motive power. I moved to Iowa and was consumed by
my career for the next 26 years until I retired and looked around Iowa City for a railroad that I could model. I wanted a branch line that I could do field research on, and I narrowed it down to the CB&Q and the Washington-Burlington Subdivision in 1953, though
I’ve fudged the date to 1954 so I can have a pair of Phase I GP-9s.
If you’re into operation, the branch lines were still using TTTO in the early 1950s, which I find to be the most fascinating of all operating systems, and there was plenty of freight and passenger service
to model.
I agree with you on modern railroading being pretty generic, compared to the freight car variety in steam and transition era consists. I’m not crazy about pastel or bright colored freight cars or graffiti,
and I’m not into Chinese Red and certainly not BN green, so I’m permanently stuck in the early 1950s, which isn’t a bad place to be after all.
Nelson Moyer
From: CBQ@groups.io <CBQ@groups.io> On Behalf Of
popbumper1
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2024 1:01 PM
To: CBQ@groups.io; Don Winn <donswinn@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [CBQ] C&S Hoppers
Personally, doing Pre-BN roads/merger time, I'm all about the 60's and 70's. Opinions differ, but I think this was one of the most interesting times in railroading...so many first and second gen diesels, so many innovative freight cars
(think covered hoppers in particular, pressure flow, high side, low side, multiple ACF variants), so many boxcar styles with various doors, a plethora of paint schemes, etc. What's not to love in this period? It was the best mix of everything. I'd hate to
start in the hobby today, it's all bland, same-same motive power and graffiti covered, no-character consists, IMHO. I just don't understand why the 60's/70's period is ignored.