07-18-2010, 10:42 AM
All this talk of stickers, tabs, pins...etc, are great ideas, but what if you tried it like the real railroads do? 
What if you just used the car numbers that are on the cars themselves? 
The railroads forward, place, pull, spot, hump, and I/C cars according to car numbers, not what stickers, tape, pins...etc are on the car. The manufacturers go through the trouble of putting a car number on each car for a reason - to identify that car. I know they can be cumbersome to see - if in N or Z scale, but it's a great way to "really learn" about your own rolling stock.
Yes Steve, but what if I have 2 cars with the same number? Ahhh, yes, this happens all the time in the model world because manufacturers simply made cars in bulk - all with the same number. Well, you can also do like the real railroads do and take that car "to the shop" to be re-numbered. It happens in the real world after these "mega-mergers". Real railroads often end up with cars with same numbers - sometimes not even the same kind of car. So, now what? They have to go to the shop for a new number. This also enhances your "other" skills as a modeler too.
As mentioned above, why place a sticker or tab on a great looking boxcar? It does ruin the overall effect of the scene. Real railroads have people on the ground (conductors trainmen etc) that "move" freight cars according to their number. To have a "realistic" model railroad, you have to be "those" people and do the same thing.
I know, it may get confusing to try to remember which cars go where and what numbers apply to what car. But folks, that's what a train list is for.
A trainlist in 1 hand and your throttle in the other. Running a model train gets more involved if you add this "conductor's element" to your trip. As I have stated in previous threads, If you want to add realism to your railroad, there is no limit as to how much you can add. Yes, it's nice to pick up the throttle and "let 'er go". But what now? After you made the 1st loop, what's next? :?: 
Try using the actual car numbers and a switchlist. Sure, it's tough at first to learn how to do it. But, that's how the railroads do it. It's how the real railroads "move cars". To me, it's much easier that putting tape, stickers. pins, buttons, clothespins, fishing lures, colored cotton balls...whatever, on top of nicely painted rolling stock.
In the end....just have fun.
What if you just used the car numbers that are on the cars themselves? The railroads forward, place, pull, spot, hump, and I/C cars according to car numbers, not what stickers, tape, pins...etc are on the car. The manufacturers go through the trouble of putting a car number on each car for a reason - to identify that car. I know they can be cumbersome to see - if in N or Z scale, but it's a great way to "really learn" about your own rolling stock.
Yes Steve, but what if I have 2 cars with the same number? Ahhh, yes, this happens all the time in the model world because manufacturers simply made cars in bulk - all with the same number. Well, you can also do like the real railroads do and take that car "to the shop" to be re-numbered. It happens in the real world after these "mega-mergers". Real railroads often end up with cars with same numbers - sometimes not even the same kind of car. So, now what? They have to go to the shop for a new number. This also enhances your "other" skills as a modeler too.
As mentioned above, why place a sticker or tab on a great looking boxcar? It does ruin the overall effect of the scene. Real railroads have people on the ground (conductors trainmen etc) that "move" freight cars according to their number. To have a "realistic" model railroad, you have to be "those" people and do the same thing.
I know, it may get confusing to try to remember which cars go where and what numbers apply to what car. But folks, that's what a train list is for.
A trainlist in 1 hand and your throttle in the other. Running a model train gets more involved if you add this "conductor's element" to your trip. As I have stated in previous threads, If you want to add realism to your railroad, there is no limit as to how much you can add. Yes, it's nice to pick up the throttle and "let 'er go". But what now? After you made the 1st loop, what's next? :?: Try using the actual car numbers and a switchlist. Sure, it's tough at first to learn how to do it. But, that's how the railroads do it. It's how the real railroads "move cars". To me, it's much easier that putting tape, stickers. pins, buttons, clothespins, fishing lures, colored cotton balls...whatever, on top of nicely painted rolling stock.
In the end....just have fun.
Doing my best to stay on track and to live each day to it's fullest, trying not to upset people along the way. I have no enemies.....just friends who don't understand my point of view.
Steve
Let's go Devils!
Steve
Let's go Devils!