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Prototype modelling or fun with trains?

Do I have to model after a real railway?

Many beginners can be overwhelmed by the number of articles pushing highly detailed models of real locomotives, rolling stock, or buildings. You see a lot of articles on these subjects because the authors are modellers who enjoy this level of detailing, and they wish to share their ideas. The magazines can only print what is submitted to them. This aspect of the hobby appeals to a growing number of modellers; it is not however the only approach to the hobby.

It is not possible to totally reproduce a replica of the real railroads, if for no other reason than lack of space. We can go to the trouble of researching a given town on any given day and try to recreate a model of that time and place. Even there we have to compress what we build. If we were to reproduce, in exact HO scale,1/87 the division point of Madawaska, Ontario in 1915, our railway yard alone would take up an area 2 ˝ ft by 23 ft ( 3/4 m x 7.5 m). This would not include the town, the engine servicing facilities, the station, or the mainline at either end of the yard.

It is possible to compress the model, decreasing distances between detailed sites, including all major industries, servicing facilities, stations etc, and still give a good representation of the location we wish to portray. This is what many Prototype Modellers will do as a compromise.

Even this can involve more research than the beginner wishes to do. What the average modeller should know is how railways function, and why a railway was built where it is or was. Once you know these items it is up to your imagination to build your railway empire.

Your railway does not have to be based on a ‘real railway company’ like CN or CP. It can be based on one of the thousands of branchline railways gobbled up by the big companies. For example the Irondale Bancroft and Ottawa Railway merged with The Prince Edward County Railway to become The Central Ontario Railway. This in turn was taken over by The Canadian Northern Railway which ended up as part of CN. All the tracks on the original I B&O are long gone.

Suppose we wished to make a model based on this railway.

We could assume that the railway is still running today under its original name hauling tourists and their luggage to resorts along the line.

Or we could assume that this line grew to be the biggest railway in Ontario. The company charter allowed it to build from Barrie to Ottawa ,with a branch from Bancroft to Sault St Marie. In reality they only got from Kinmount to Bancroft.

There were even railroads that were chartered but never built , for instance the Haliburton Whitney and Mattawa. They had to survey the line three times, each time because Algonquin Provincial Park was enlarged and they could not build within 5 miles of its boundary.

You can even create your own railway name to reflect more of your interests. The Robert Valley Railway, or The Mackintosh Creek Tramway, or The Outback Mining and Lumber Company.

The hobby of model railroading should not tie you down. Remember that most important question What if ....? Let your imagination run wild, after all it is your hobby and you are doing it to have fun (I hope).

A vast selection of books relative to different railways and types of railways, as well as how to model them, are available at Credit Valley.