The 1970's is calling me!!!

For my HO layout I favor early 1970's joint SP-BN operation like we see in parts of Oregon. You could still see some SP&S, GN, NP and CB&Q power on the then-new BN, plus the new BN paint scheme. And there was still an occasional "black widow" unit on the SP. It was great to have a real-life prototype situation with the variety of loco color schemes.

 

I also got to see the last of Rock Island operations in Kansas City in early 1980. Rock Island had a variety of interesting paint schemes on their locos. And there in the 1970's mid-west you can logically add various other road names if you want some additional variety with a prototype excuse.

 

On my 3-rail O-gauge I've gone with more of a toy-train atmosphere, lots of semi-scale "Lionel Lines" items. 

 

I'm set up  for, 1900-1920  and  1920-1940 I would rather not be lost in the 50's

Thank you!

I am building my layout so that i can change eras between steam and transition by swapping automobiles. I have three basic sets of cars - 30's through WWII, late 40's through early 50's, and mid 50's through mid 60's. The basic architecture of buildings really didn't change much in that 30-year time frame, so swapping out cars is enough to set the scene. I also have some European cars if I want to change the scene to fit my ETS tinplate and MTH Euro equipment (Orient Express and Swiss Crocodile). Sorry I can't provide any photos - I'm not far enough along yet to have any scenery or very much in the way of buildings. I have little personal interest in the 70's, although I do have some Milwaukee Road locomotives and rolling stock from that period. I was in Africa and Latin America for most of that time frame, so I have no personal connection to 70's railroading (except for the African Garratts and the Copper Canyon scenic train in Mexico). 

 

I think you could set up your layout so that a change of autos, plus a few billboards and signs, would set a backdrop for any time frame from late steam through the 70's. You can evoke a certain era without necessarily having to have every detail perfect. The first impression is what counts.

I have not changed the time as much as cheated more:  I still think of my layout as 1955-ish.  But I have many more-recent automobiles ('67 Mustang, '61 Chevy, '59 Buick Electra, '62 Cobra, etc., '67 Ford GT-40) and a few locos (DD35) that don't quite fit that timeframe.

Good luck finding scenic figures with dumb-looking hair and clothing. I lived through it, and am trying to forget it.

My New England-based layout-in-progress toggles between the late '50s, when I can run my lightning-striped Railking RS3, and the early '70s. I really like the mix of first- and second-generation power, and the continued presence of 40-foot freight cars in all the traditional road names, plus new schemes like CP Rail. Plus no one in New England had yet heard of Guilford Transportation Industries.

Thanks guys......

I think I may loosen up my time frame some. I know guys from my HO scale days that model a year, month, day and time!!! I may not need to pin down a time that much. Anything 70's ish will be made to be removed easy if I want to take photos of steam or have a 40's session! I'm not selling off the steam....but maybe moving my collecting to more 70's themed equipment!

I always liked all of the Spirit of '76 and Bicentennial paint schemes from the '70's.

 

If I were doing a '70's layout I would be sure to include a lot of red, white & blue painted equipment.

In terms of the train equipment on the layout, era does not matter to me. Most visitors to the layout would not have a clue to the era anyway. For vehicles, I personally like the 50s that in my opinion had the most innovative design in the history of the auto industry.

 

So to mix and match trains and era, not issue for me.

My new layout is the same as the last one. Summer 1952. Don

Andy, took this in Oakland when she stopped by. Don

Yep, that's where I'm setting mine - mid 1970's.  And I'll be able to sneak in a little steam with fantrip engines and a tourist line. 

 

Way cool. I hope the Espee folks don't take offense, but I prefer the Freedom train paint job to the Daylight colors. 

The last few engines I've gotten area brace of PC F3's, Chessie GP38 and D&H PA's and Sharks so yeah the 70's are in my mind.

Got my Rock Island E-8 pair today. SUPER nice units. Seller says they are custom painted and if they are a great job....no decal halo or silvering. Nice paint...clean lines. Does any one know if Weaver did these units in Rock Island paint???

Just more reason to 'Love the 70's!'........

 

Stilla little dusty....but on the way to the bench now for a cleaning and check-up.....

 

I don't take offense, but I strongly disagree!

I was a kid in the 1970s in monroe nc.I can tell you what I saw .SEABOARD COAST LINE rr gp 9 and 7s some times there would be 6 or 7 locomotives pulling a train.Heck they still had the old 40 ft boxcars for maintance.And the names I saw such as the MKT,SF,L&N,MP UP,GN,NYC,DT&I,CG,ACL,SOU,CN,WP,SP,IC,FRISCO,COTTONBELT,SAL.I even saw some gon that was wood with steel bracing.A few years later bigger locomotives started showing up.The sd45 and the ges pulling long trains.You could still the gp9s on long trains.But seeing 7 of them pulling a long train was over.You would see 3 or 4 pulling a good size train.I look back at that now and wish I had a camera.The pictures I could have takin.That a nice ri locomotive you have there.I have a cousin ho has a ho and racetrack that cross over each other.He still has it he let me take a look at it.Looked as if he resently got it not a speck of dirt on it.GE locomotive rockisland harp looking lettering with red back ground.

I lived in Charlotte NC all during the 1970's. I loved the SRR tuxedo locomotives. They were still running some F units at times. And yes....I too would see a wooden car now and then. Tons of 40 ft box cars in many then current and fallen flag railroads. It is a cool time period.  It had MUCH more variety and mixture of era's than we see today. 

 

I'd railfan in Monroe and Hamlet often.....Neat area too...

I more or less am in the same camp as Southwest Hiawatha. I model the Milwaukee Road mid 50's to early 60's. I grew up in this time period and as PassengerTrainCollector said, that period had some of the neatest automobiles. It also allows me to used 1st generation diesels that IMHO had a little more going for them in looks.

And thus why this hobby is so cool.....50 guys and 50 different POV......some folks like different eras, some have layouts with no scenery others highly detailed scenery, Others prefer passenger trains....others have none! I have no issue with 50's era.....and I'm not bailing on it.....I just may make my layout able to flop era to era.

Yep They must have doped the water supply..lol..

Gawky and / or simply focused goofiness comes to mind as a fashion statement. 

 

I have steam from the 1920's thru the super steam era and I like the modern era from the 1990's on. 

 

I run all steam for awhile then run all modern diesel. My scenery can be used for both so it's no big deal for me. 

 

Plus I have freight cars for each era, sometimes I leave the cars as is if I don't feel like changing them.