I've been looking at layouts and locomotives to decide on what scene and what I would like to run on it but having a bit of a problem. I'm finding it hard apart from the little shunters to know what I could run on my layout to keep the look of it right.

For example I really would like a Class 37 ( Like the way it looks ) but I dont know what it would be doing in a shunters yard. Is there any resource out there to give and idea what locomotives did what? Or is it a case of my layout my rules?

Thanks for reading, Chris

Well, definitely yes to the last question.

I'd imagine the 37 would be there to haul away the shunted wagons. Pretty versatile beast, the 37.

Dunno if there are any specific resources like the ones you mention; personally I'd start off with the Wikipedia page for the class in question and go from there.

Try this site, just click on a loco number:

http://www.c37lg.co.uk/history.aspx

Roger

Thank you, Exactly the response I was looking for. Just seem drawn to buying one and wanted to make sure it wouldn't stand out as being wrong. Aprreciate the response

I think you either need to decide what scene you want to model and then find appropriate locos, or do it the other way round - pick a loco you fancy and then ask about its uses.

It doesn't really matter which way round you go provided you are happy and interested!

There's a wealth of knowledge on here and I'm sure someone will point you in the right direction.

For example, a 37 would mainly only be used to shunt if the shunting yard couldn't justify its own dedicated shunter.  That isn't absolute, but it is a useful indicator.

Cheers, Mike

When all said and done there is Rule No1,..... it's your layout it's your rules!!   

Most of us apply this rule at some stage in our modelling lives even if we have a favorite era. I personally like 37s through to early livery HSTs. That doesn't stop me liking and running a Class 220 or an occasional kettle at times.

It's possible that with a few changes of movable scenery such as cars and trucks you can change your era and therefore which loco and stock you would like to play with run at any given time.

Thank you guy's thinking your right, Run whatever I like it's my layout a the end of the day and worst case senario I'll call it a preservation layout so I can run anything. Going to go read up on what liveries I can go for

Alot more to this than I realised, Not just put a train on a track and run it, Really enjoying reading about the different classes of train's when they were decommissioned etc.. Could be in this for the long haul lol

I'd work on the supposition a class 37 brought the train in for the shunter to then sort the wagons.
The class 37 could then disappear off scene light engine, or take another train out that the shunter had made up.

Sounds like a good reason for why the Class 37 is there, Been looking on eHattons and all 37's seem to be pre order only guessing maybe a new production or mould of them as there are some for sale on eBay. I'll be doing a review when I get one see what I'm like at that too

I would go with Rule 1 all the way. My layout is VERY loosely based on the stream/diesel transition era, but I would very happy run modern image locos and stock on it if I wanted too without any worries at all.

Don't get too tied down in the accuracy I say, it's all about having fun and enjoying what you are doing, unless accuracy is what you find fun :-)

If it's in period then you're always allowed to make it a one-off or occasional visitor. I'm even interested in the SECR Birdcage set of coaches despite them never making it into 'my' region of the SR. I'll justify their occasional appearances by making out that they've been 'borrowed' temporarily due to a carriage shortage (perhaps during the holiday season). They will just be too good not to buy!

There's been a few wagon's and coaches I would like but going to base mine on era 8 according to Hattons which to me means anything before goes really, Like Gala event at the scene means anything goes

The other thing in favour of the 37s is that they appeared pretty much anywhere so doesn't really matter where your layout is based.

I'm so looking forward to receiving the baseboard to start my layout and just to run my first Class 37, Only issue I have is I think I need to buy a rolling road to run the locomotive in properly

I just use a short oval of Kato Unitrack to run my engines in. The basic starter pack comes with a controller for about the same price as the controller itself too (I use  the Kato controllers for my layout)