Why does diesel dominate on here ?

[Skids]

Well I am in my forties and I think Steam locos look beautiful. Modern stuff does not really do it for me.
But then I like planes but only really WW2.

Think I was born in the wrong era

But I have a soft spot for diesel shunters (as I remember from my childhood a little red shunter with a light on that I watched going round my dads track for hours - awesome)

Simon

[H]

If you insist on referring to Steam locos as Kettles, then I will respond with diseasels,

Mike, I noted that you'd already done that earlier on another thread on the forum. At least 'kettles' is a term of endearment. 

H.

[EtchedPixels]

But I have a soft spot for diesel shunters (as I remember from my childhood a little red shunter with a light on that I watched going round my dads track for hours - awesome)

Triang Hornby R253 dock shunter. Basically a work of fiction designed to fit an existing motor bogie they had. Some day I shall find a suitable N gauge motor bogie to 3D print a 2mm spoof of it.

Alan

[bridgiesimon]

For me personally, I do like kettles as well as diseasels and will be just as motivated to go and se a diesel railtour as one with steam on the front. As for my model making, my preference was always for the 1950s and 1960s but the much better running that I can get from deasel mechanisms have encouraged me away from the era and now am developing my stock for my exhibition layout for around 1970 and have a reasonably large collection of modern, post 2000, stock as well.

Simon

[E Pinniger]

I like both, and run both on my layout (though I prefer my diesels to be green rather than blue... Deltic prototype excepted!), though personally I find steam locomotives far more interesting and characterful, especially the everyday "workhorse" types like shunters, suburban tanks and 0-6-0 tender locos - partly because even in BR days there was such a huge variety of types around, some dating back to before WW1.
I suspect the greater reliability and smooth running of N gauge diesel/electric types compared to steam (large pickup area, all-wheel drive, no valve gear/rods/quartering to cause erratic running or pony trucks to derail on points) is a big factor in their being predominant at exhibitions. I know some of the newer steamers are as reliable as any diesel and that even old Farish models can run well under ideal conditions with clean, well laid track, but with a public exhibition it's arguably better to be safe than sorry and I know if I were ever to exhibit my layout I'd definitely run more diesel than steam.

Although I grew up in the BR blue/NSE/sectorisation era I've never had much interest in modelling anything beyond the end of steam, partly because I find the pre-rationalisation railways fascinating with all their infrastructure, goods facilities, sidings and obscure branches - not very efficient or economical by the 1960s but great fun to build and operate in model form. I actually find the pre-grouping and Big 4 eras more interesting than BR transitional (not having any memories of the latter myself) but chose to model BR on my N gauge layout due to the greater availability of locos + stock, including diesel types.

[Skids]

Triang Hornby R253 dock shunter. Basically a work of fiction designed to fit an existing motor bogie they had. Some day I shall find a suitable N gauge motor bogie to 3D print a 2mm spoof of it.

Alan
[/quote]

Alan you gem, it may have been a work of fiction, but this little boy loved it so much 

If you do a spoof Ill buy one just for having it

Simon

[d-a-n]

But I have a soft spot for diesel shunters (as I remember from my childhood a little red shunter with a light on that I watched going round my dads track for hours - awesome)

My Dad had exactly that one - he told me all about it after seeing my class 47 with lights and being amazed (he has been out of model railways for quite some years now!)
He described exactly the same pkay with it too, turn the lights off and watch this thing go round and round.

[Pete Mc]

Interesting thread this one is and some good points are made on both sides of the fence.Over the years,I'm 44 by the way,I have had one or two hobbies that have the same kinds of divides.

In the early 80's,like a lot of people,I got into home computers.I started off with a Sinclair ZX Spectrum then mved onto its competitor,the Commodore 64.In the home computer games market there was also this Spectrum v Commodore 64 situation where direct comparisons were made.This progressed onto the Atari ST v Amiga debate then came the games consoles,Sega Megadrive v Nintendo,Playstation v Sega Dreacast,Playstation 2 v Xbox and onto the PS3 v Xbox 360 v Nintendo Wii that still goes on today.

What is most at the helm of this is that like the many differing games platforms and games genres as well as music,everyones tastes are unique to others,some more unique than others in fact.I personally model BR Blue to sectrisation.I started exclusively modelling BR Blue but due to certain models looking good in later liveries,I decided to move it on a bit so there is more potential to buy more models.I even bought a Malcolm Rail class 66 at the weekend from TINGS along with a blue Warship and Regional Sprinter dmu.

There are factions that will say what do you model steam for or diesel for that matter.Its all to do with our uniquely different personalities.

There are a great many examples of this in other hobbies,such as classic cars or bikes.Its not just us,its everywhere,its also the reason why we have such a wide and varied choice in different classes of loco's,both steam and diesel/electrics.

Pete

[BernardTPM]

But I have a soft spot for diesel shunters (as I remember from my childhood a little red shunter with a light on that I watched going round my dads track for hours - awesome)

Triang Hornby R253 dock shunter. Basically a work of fiction designed to fit an existing motor bogie they had. Some day I shall find a suitable N gauge motor bogie to 3D print a 2mm spoof of it.

Alan

Alan you gem, it may have been a work of fiction, but this little boy loved it so much 
If you do a spoof Ill buy one just for having it
Simon

Not a complete work of fiction - the body is loosely based on the Bagnall design of the 1950s http://www.maciulaitis.com/nzrolling/ind_diesel/bagnall3144.jpg
Admittedly the chassis was almost nothing like the real thing!

[EtchedPixels]

Thats stretching "loosely" a bit. Thats beyond even Lima "loosely"

[PostModN66]

I don't think most N Gauge modellers mind people modelling the "other" type of motive power; It's just what the expectations are about shows that is maybe an issue.  Up until now, perhaps that the expectation is that shows are OO, UK steam outline, with D&E and foreign layouts and N gauge being novelty items. Those who like the minorities having had specialist shows to indulge their specialisms.

Maybe now we are reaching the tipping point where at least with regards to Steam and D&E that increasingly D&E will become the norm, and Steam will be catered for by specialist shows (like the DEMU show has been up to now for D&E)?

Personally I am quite happy to see some steam layouts at shows such as TINGS.  Although I don't relate to the historical era or the motive power on display, I can still recognise inspirational modelling when I see it regardless of era, geography or scale.

Cheers   Jon   

[Pengi]

. . . because if you want to model the current day EMUs running on UK tracks then you are stuffed :'( Only choices are the London Midland Desiro* and the 1:160 Kato Eurostar There are a much bigger selection of N EMUs from the continent and Japan.

Does this mean that our current members would ditch steam and diesels if such EMUs became available - probably not. Would new people be attracted to N gauge and our forum if such EMUs were available - then I think the answer is yes.

. . .  I preferred modern swish things and found electrics quiet, clean and fast by comparison.

H.

My thoughts exactly 

. . .  there are also multi coloured toothpaste tubes or caterpillars crawling around the tracks of Notwork Fail. [/img]

Yes - isn't that wonderful    The design of some of these trains is so beautiful. This is the reason that I re-kindled my interest in trains. Not sure you can equate swishing through the countryside at 125 mph plus with crawling though 



*and as there are over double the number of 450s on the 'big railway' than 350s so I was surprised that they brought out the 350.

[MikeDunn]

As someone born at the very tail-end of steam, I have really only one recollection of it, being held up by my Dad on a small bridge the far side of the town station when a steamer went under through the cutting presumably to the shed; I have an inkling this was one of the last trips ... (and sadly cannot verify it as my Dad is long-gone, and an uncle (who may have known, as he worked in the shed) died a few years ago).

So BR Blue diesels is what I grew up with, and the slam-door stock.  Can't stand 'em !!!  .  In N, all I have is steam, more specifically LNER Grouping (there may be an odd one or two in very early BR), and even more specifically my layout is going to be set in the mid-late 30s (but with enough leeway to allow post-War to 1950 for those exceptions).  In OO, the range is larger (modern diesels, non-LNER Grouping, BR steam) but LNER still plays a large role. 

Will I get EMUs if they become widely available ?  Maybe one, but probably not.  They do nothing for me; ditto diesels in the main (there are some notable design exceptions, such as the 43).  Despite really never knowing steam except on very rare tours (when BR had banned steam on the lines) and on heritage railways, they just have a hold on me that post-steam traction lacks ...

Mike

[Adam1701D]

. . . because if you want to model the current day EMUs running on UK tracks then you are stuffed  Only choices are the London Midland Desiro* and the 1:160 Kato Eurostar  There are a much bigger selection of N EMUs from the continent and Japan.

And now, of course, the N-Train Class 313 EMU kit. Not as up-to date as the Desiro, perhaps, but they are all still up and running around the south-east.

[EtchedPixels]

Plus the ModernImageModels Pendolino kit once it's finished - and the 323 kit, and if you can find it second hand Adam's 325.. (hint Adam  )

Hopefull if the 313 is a success some of the other standard and related shells will appear. 

Alan