Southern Pacific Switching Layout

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Okay, that makes sense

This is probably a stupid question :oops:, but how do I find out what I want to model?

1.)What do you think about when you think of railroads? What fills you with excitement to see? What exactly appeals to you? This is the first step.

For example I grew up with the Northeast Corridor, and though I model a time period before my time, the pace is very much the same.

2.)Look it up! You don't need to do scholarly research or read endless texts. Go on Youtube, look for pictures in books and magazines of the subject. Buy DVDs by Herron Rail, or Green Frog, or whoever makes media on your interests. It will help you narrow your interests to something Particularly Interesting about your interests

For example, I picked up the DVD "Pennsy's Racetrack: 1940-1980", which actually spanned from the 1920s to the late early 80s, giving me views of trains in a time long gone. I'd never seen Metroliner MUs moving at 160MPH, only photos of them. It showed views of less famous but equally exciting parts of PRR electrification.

The bottom line is, you probably won't come up with anything you're 100% satisified with immeadiately. It took me until just about a two or three years ago to finally decide on a time period that i could say with certainty. You'll pretty much only be able to determine this by building and playing with the trains, and reading about them. Follow your feelings on it, and the research it until you get what you want.