11-19-2010, 03:44 AM
Russ, thank you for reminding me about the even older SW7.I had an eye on the SW1200 only. However, your "solution" to the problem of huge modern switchers on modern tiny layouts is also to search for an exception where old small switchers had been on service longer than usual.
Another bypass I like to use, not very prototype like in the LA area, are MP15DC from GATX etc (good running Atlas models available). You can always state the right engine is temporary out of service and a leasing engine has been brought in temporary. But is looks like leasing engines spotted in the LA area are GP38 and up.
But may be the best solution is not to follow the prototype and declare a small modern layout fictional and run engines that "might be" still running. And there are still lots of MP... etc. on the rails. If I would make no reference to the LA area, the PHL etc. for my new north yard but stay wit my heading of this thread "in the south" it would be much easier. Some where in the south switching high cube box cars with MP... and SW... makes much sense. The engines may be in the colors of UP and SP too. Because that are colors that fit "somewhere in the south".
I did try the first time to get closer to the prototype. But I am not so sure if that is really a good idea with so constrained space and still a need for a useful operation. May be it is better to do intentional a pure fictional layout but use google, streetview to get some aspects of the typical flair and feeling of a certain area and time. An other good reason for digging into the details of a prototype railroad is to learn how they operate. I did learn a lot from the "jobs" and "transfers" run at the LAJ. But again, it be a not so good idea to try to mimic that on a small layout but instead use it as some kind of background knowledge to be used when inventing our own fictional operation.
Another bypass I like to use, not very prototype like in the LA area, are MP15DC from GATX etc (good running Atlas models available). You can always state the right engine is temporary out of service and a leasing engine has been brought in temporary. But is looks like leasing engines spotted in the LA area are GP38 and up.
But may be the best solution is not to follow the prototype and declare a small modern layout fictional and run engines that "might be" still running. And there are still lots of MP... etc. on the rails. If I would make no reference to the LA area, the PHL etc. for my new north yard but stay wit my heading of this thread "in the south" it would be much easier. Some where in the south switching high cube box cars with MP... and SW... makes much sense. The engines may be in the colors of UP and SP too. Because that are colors that fit "somewhere in the south".
I did try the first time to get closer to the prototype. But I am not so sure if that is really a good idea with so constrained space and still a need for a useful operation. May be it is better to do intentional a pure fictional layout but use google, streetview to get some aspects of the typical flair and feeling of a certain area and time. An other good reason for digging into the details of a prototype railroad is to learn how they operate. I did learn a lot from the "jobs" and "transfers" run at the LAJ. But again, it be a not so good idea to try to mimic that on a small layout but instead use it as some kind of background knowledge to be used when inventing our own fictional operation.
Reinhard