| In the model train hobby, a lot of what you'll do will flow | | | | items that don't fit, which will cost you both time and |
| from the theme that you've chosen for your model | | | | money. |
| railroad. From scenery to rolling stock, from track to | | | | Model Train Setting: |
| power supplis, everything will depend on your theme. | | | | After you've chosen an era, you can start looking at |
| When it comes right down to it, theme is all about | | | | the setting for your layout. With the Steam era, you |
| what you want to do. | | | | can choose from a wide range of setting including, for |
| Choosing a theme is all about: | | | | example, the Rockies with lots of mountains and trees. |
| - an era | | | | Or you could choose the Prairies with lots of |
| - a setting | | | | wide-open spaces broken up only by tiny farm towns. |
| - an operating style | | | | Or, there's the Midwest with its bigger cities and heavy |
| Model Train Eras: | | | | industry. Or you can choose the Coast with small |
| There are three main eras for model trains: steam, | | | | fishing towns and big ports. The settings are pretty |
| modern, and transition. | | | | limitless--and universal. Although the regions I've listed |
| 1. The Steam Era covers everything from the Wild | | | | are more suited to North American railroads, the same |
| West (1870s) up to World War II (1940s), but for most | | | | types of regions exist pretty much anywhere in the |
| people the steam era pretty much covers the 1930s | | | | world that rails have been laid. |
| to 1940s. The visual appeal and nostalgic elements of | | | | Now, while you may want to try something pretty |
| intricate models of steam engines pulling a train of rail | | | | unique for a layout, keep cost and availability in mind. |
| cars are tough to beat. | | | | Narrow gauge layouts, for example, while stunning to |
| 2. The Modern Era generally means today's trains, | | | | look at and operate, demand a lot of time, effort, and |
| although it could conceivably cover anything from the | | | | money to set up. More mainstream settings are |
| 1960s to today. The modern era can cover everything | | | | cheaper and easier to model for beginners. When |
| from ultramodern diesels pulling intermodal trains to | | | | you're starting out and learning the hobby, avoid |
| commuter trains and everything in between, but for | | | | spending too much money if you don't have to. |
| most people a modern era train layout will show | | | | Operating Style: |
| locomotives, rolling stock, buildings, and scenery that | | | | The most important factor in choosing your layout |
| you would expect to see on the rails today. | | | | theme is your operating style. |
| 3. The Transition Era is that peroid between the 1940s | | | | By operating style, I mean the aspects of the hobby |
| and 1950s when both steam and diesel locomotives | | | | that you really enjoy the most. If you really enjoy |
| travelled the rails as steam was being phased out and | | | | scenery construction, then your model railroad should |
| diesel was being phased in. The transition era is best | | | | give you lots of opportunities to show off your |
| for modelers who want to run both steam and diesel | | | | scenery. On the other hand, if you really enjoy coupling |
| engines on the same tracks true to prototype--in short, | | | | together trains and switching, then you should really |
| modelers who want the best of both worlds. | | | | look at a yard module, with lots of track, rolling stock, |
| While you're considering your choice of era, you may | | | | and switches. And if you enjoy operating your model |
| want to factor in the availability of material for the | | | | railroad the same way that a real railroad would |
| different eras at the hobby and online retailers. There | | | | operate, and playing with items like schedules and "fast |
| tends to be much more modern-day rolling stock and | | | | clocks," then you should look at putting in lots of model |
| model kits available to the consumer than steam-era, | | | | industries, sidings, and destinations for your trains. |
| and often at much lower prices as well. Even train | | | | Now, I have talked about cost in choosing an era and |
| sets, which can be a great source of lower-cost | | | | a setting for your layout, but I'm going to suggest that |
| locomotives and rolling stock are usually modern-era. | | | | you give cost less priority when it comes to operating |
| Even the second-hand market, such as ebay and flea | | | | style. Your operating style is the reason why you're in |
| markets, tends to have a lot more modern-era items | | | | the hobby. Plaster's cheaper than track, but scenery |
| available. | | | | heavy modeling may not have the same appeal to |
| You will also want to consider how much of a | | | | someone who is really interested in setting up and |
| model-railroad purist you want to be. Although many | | | | operating a railroad yard. And if you're not going to |
| model railroaders start out being happy to mix | | | | enjoy a particular operating style--then why do it? |
| elements of many different eras, such as blending | | | | Hobbies are supposed to be fun. Yes, watch your |
| steam-era locomotives with the diesels of today, many | | | | budget when you're starting out but at the same time |
| people in the hobby tend to become more purist as | | | | make sure that the reason that you got into model |
| they grow in skills and enthusiasm. Call it "prototype | | | | trains in the first place is also your guide for choosing |
| fever"--modelers who catch it end up becoming more | | | | the theme of your model train layout. |
| and more interested in modeling a particular era to the | | | | Now, once you've considered the era, setting, and |
| exclusion of others. They find that their 1930s-era | | | | operating style you want, you have pretty much |
| logging railroad just doesn't look right with a | | | | narrowed down the theme and you can move on to |
| 21st-century diesel locomotive running on its tracks. So, | | | | more detailed planning. Keep working on your theme |
| if you end up with a layout that isn't set in the era that | | | | and refining it until you have a good vision of what you |
| you want, then you'll have to pull out and replace the | | | | want your model railroad to be. |