QUOTE Terry at LSWR has good prices, can seem a bit brusk but he enjoys being grumpy and is very reliable.
you'd be brusque if you had to deal with typically picky modellers....
the N scale/ HO scale thing is exactly the same argument as for British prototypes, or those from the continong.
as with ALL other prototypes, the scale is about 'horses for courses'...US prototypes aren't all massive main line systems......short lines (used to) abound, and can be quite modellable on a bit of conti shelving....in ANY scale.
I suggets a look/lurk on a specialised forum such as
http://www.zealot.com/index.php?page=the-gauge.com
from there, go to any number of specific prototype forums.....whether main line/big road stuff, shortline, logging, traction, steam diesel whatever.
The MAIN advantage of modelling US prototype operations is the WAY stock was acquired by the railroads.
Unlike with yUK railways, where locomotives, for example, were mostly designed 'in house'...(Gresley, Churchward, Bulleid, etc)..even if built by 'commercial' constructors......the US railroads actually 'went shopping' to major manufacturers..or got a sales pitch from them....thus, EMD ( a General Motors company) would design a diesel of a particular output, with particular tasking in mind.....then they'd go out to the individual railroads, demosnstrate and flog their products.
details differ, of course......as do liveries.....BUT..at the end of the day, for example, an EMD SD42 working the Southern Pacific would be much the same to look at as one working say, Burlington Northern....details apart.
Very very few locos were unique efforts, particular to a road.....and they also got sold on, so the SP loco might well end up working for another road.
In that respect, teh US has had a prototype train market much as the UK has now...but 60 years ago or more.
Another aspect...for economic commercial reasons, US operators dieselised way back before WW2 in a big way.
Thus...many diesel models available today (Athearn SW7, anyone?) (Pardon me if I'm behind the times...not familiar for some years)...can actually be time-scaled back to around WW2.....so if period modelling is one's barra, then one need not be at a disadvantage over smooth running locos......in fact, many models that look 'modern' may well in fact be museum pieces as prototypes!
Handy that?
Steam locos likewise......most built by roughly two major makers, Baldwin and American Loco..or Alco.....they used a catalogue system...flogging as needs be?
PLUS....due to government/commercial interference, there were a series of ''standard'' steam loco designs put out..(USRA?) and these were sold to individual roads as standard products....from )^) switchers(shunters) to massive mikes, consols, pacifics, etc.....again, standardisation makes it easy for the modeller.
as far as stock is concerned...I avoided passenger stuff...(Budd ruled?)....I used to think eras could be clearly defined by the presence of safety equipment...and type of materials used in construction.
wood, replaced by steel..ie up to end of WW2
removal of full height end ladders, and lower siting of brake wheels...around 1970??
end of caboose..19??
so, a 1980's setting would see mostly 50 foot freight cars, without roofwalks or end ladders, and lower brake wheels.
1960's woud see mostly 40 foot freight cars, but with ladders and brake wheels up top...
the BIGBIGBIG advantage with modelling US prototypes..especially in HO..is the NMRA wheel standards...and KADEE or equivalent couplers.....which look pretty much like the real thing..unlike UK's hook and bar stuff...imaging having an automatic 3 link coupler system for UK stock??
(N gauge also has the above, to be fair)
