Reverse Running commentar
I
recall a story about
a group of kids
wanting to build a
club house: they started
with the walls, not the
foundation.
So what is the founda-
tion of a model railroad?
Some modelers don't
yet have space for any
layout, let alone their
dream layout. This is
where I believe a real
foundation can be laid:
research.
I began my layout research by asking:
What era of railroading do I like? What am I familiar with?
What area do I like? Eastern US, mountains, big cities, etc.?
What railroads do I like the best? If there is more than one road,
is there an area where they both operate?
What type of railroading do I like? Heavy mainline with unit
trains, industrial switching, or a backwoods branchline?
What type of model railroading do I like? Nut and bolts accurate,
completely freelance, or somewhere in-between?
After determining your likes, it’s time to begin the research. No
need to go overboard and spend the rest of your life doing research
Reverse Running: Stepping outside the box with a contrary view
by Don Hanley
Laying the foundation
MRH-Jan 2014
