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On fantasy and model railroading

I found the following in September 1963 MRR. Author is Charles Small, a pironeer in HO, On3, etc. IMO it's a summary comment on the recent foofaraw about Sellios and Furlow's layouts, especially the last couple of sentences.

"When you come right down to brass tacks, it's all fantasy anyhow. I defy anyone to reproduce a real railroad in anything less than full size. The function of the model equipment and scenery is to assist the process of imagination. The closer a model comes to reproducing a visual image of the real thing, and the closer operations approach the actual, the better is the imaginative stimulus. That is, of course, if you are really pretending to run a railroad. But I think some people regard a model railroad only as an entity in itself. From that standpoint you don't have to worry whether it follows a prototype or not."

Reply to
Wolf Kirchmeir
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Makes sense to me. For me running a model railroad like the real thing is what I like. I like operations, in particular, switching. I am happy working a yard making up trains.

Here are my modeling priorities:

  1. Operates like a real railroad. (doesn't have to be a prototype but has to operate like one). Both the trains and the trackplan have to be realistic.
  2. Equipment and scenery fits the theme of the railroad. (i.e. no shays pulling Amtrak coaches).
  3. Everything is painted and weathered realistically.

When I was younger I really enjoyed Malcom Furlows work. The anything goes style of modeling is just not for me anymore. I like working within the constraints of having to make a railroad that looks and operates like the real thing. It's just a personal preference but I want to model a railroad not create a fantasyland where anything goes. I couldn't do that even if I wanted to build a garden railroad. Watching trains run in a circle for hours would drive me nuts. It would have to do something and go somewhere. Like haul cut logs on flatcars to a mill or something. To each his own. It's a great hobby no matter how you approach it.

CBix-it

Reply to
Charles Bix

Let's hear it for Brio style Time Savers in pre-school - of course, the treachers would have to be, er, uh, trained.

Reply to
E Litella

John Allen had a dinosaur in one of the pictures of his layout.

Reply to
Aredeer

The late Lon Tacey had a nuclear power plant with a unicorn looking at it from a bluff behind it. Gene ABV61-1043.001.HCB

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"Skinny Dipping and Other Stories" On the web at
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or
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and look for "Into Joy From Sadness" soon.

Reply to
STEAM GENE

Three Mule Island?

Reply to
Corelane

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