How far can you stretch Rule 1?

[Les1952]

My layouts are Rule 1- I run what I want.  That means giving outings to the locos etc I couldn't bear to part with every time I've changed era or location.

If I'm exhibiting the layout it is another matter- I try to run a convincing set of trains for the location and period.  They will NOT be exactly right- too many gaps in the available locos and stock (even with kits). 

My LNER pacifics will run on my German light railway at home, and also at home Hawthorn Dene Washery is sometimes shunted by a New York Central EMD switcher. 

Oddly enough the only exhibition complaint about Furtwangen Ost's tramway wasn't that I was running some Tokyo trams in the Black Forest, but that I hadn't sprung the pantographs and used real wire.........

All the very best
Les
who HAD tried sprung pantographs and real wire, but wire strong enough to depress pantographs to pass under small archways looked more like an overhead of steel girder!

[MattJ]

Although I'm largely keeping to roughly mid 60s- last days of steam, I'm thinking of getting a blue "Arrows of Indecision" Class 33 for nostalgia, as it was the loco in the first train set I had, with three mk2 s - Lima HO scale (not OO!) (This one, set 5506P about half way down)

[ParkeNd]

Surely Rule 1 means only "that there are no rules". To ask how far Rule 1 can be taken is to say "yes, but there must be some rules because I cannot accept the meaning of Rule 1". This then becomes a Rule 2 like a vegetarian who eats fish and chicken.  A vegetarian eats no meat of any kind - a Rule 1 modeller runs ANYTHING he likes - not anything except ----------------

Stand back and everything is clear. Get in too close and the water gets muddy.

[Dorsetmike]

Surely Rule 1 means only "that there are no rules". To ask how far Rule 1 can be taken is to say "yes, but there must be some rules because I cannot accept the meaning of Rule 1". This then becomes a Rule 2 like a vegetarian who eats fish and chicken.  A vegetarian eats no meat of any kind - a Rule 1 modeller runs ANYTHING he likes - not anything except ----------------

Stand back and everything is clear. Get in too close and the water gets muddy.

OK so, rather than Rule 1, should we be thinking more on the lines (sorry) of our Modellers Licence? (to be displayed whilst non prototypical operations are in progress?)

[ParkeNd]

Surely Rule 1 means only "that there are no rules". To ask how far Rule 1 can be taken is to say "yes, but there must be some rules because I cannot accept the meaning of Rule 1". This then becomes a Rule 2 like a vegetarian who eats fish and chicken.  A vegetarian eats no meat of any kind - a Rule 1 modeller runs ANYTHING he likes - not anything except ----------------

Stand back and everything is clear. Get in too close and the water gets muddy.

OK so, rather than Rule 1, should we be thinking more on the lines (sorry) of our Modellers Licence? (to be displayed whilst non prototypical operations are in progress?)

Only if you need Rules Mike?

[Bealman]

Yeah.... I think that  "Modeller's Licence" and "Stretching Rule 1" can be read as one and the same.

I've said many times on this forum - it is a hobby.... we are just playin' trains. In the long run, the world isn't going to be any different tomorrow if I run a German ICE right next door to a Jinty-hauled freight on my layout tonight.

George

[Sprintex]

I've said many times on this forum - it is a hobby.... we are just playin' trains. In the long run, the world isn't going to be any different tomorrow if I run a German ICE right next door to a Jinty-hauled freight on my layout tonight.

Amen to that


Paul

[D1042 Western Princess]

I've said many times on this forum - it is a hobby.... we are just playin' trains. In the long run, the world isn't going to be any different tomorrow if I run a German ICE right next door to a Jinty-hauled freight on my layout tonight.

Amen to that


Paul

Paul, the same argument I use to justify a Class 14 in BR Green on a 1970 layout. In reality I believe some people DO take this hobby a little too seriously.

[ParkeNd]

I've said many times on this forum - it is a hobby.... we are just playin' trains. In the long run, the world isn't going to be any different tomorrow if I run a German ICE right next door to a Jinty-hauled freight on my layout tonight.

Amen to that


Paul

Paul, the same argument I use to justify a Class 14 in BR Green on a 1970 layout. In reality I believe some people DO take this hobby a little too seriously.

The fact that a Class 14 looks good in green is enough reason to run it. Nothing else matters if that is your philosophy.

Others are perfectly entitled to hamstring themselves with as many self imposed restrictions as they want - but best kept to themselves without trying to convert others against their wishes.

[Chris in Prague]

It all depends on how closely you want to model a particular geographical area in a particular period in time (some people do, some don't, and that's fine; it's THEIR layout). The area and the time set the limits of what can be realistically operated. If you're NOT modelling a particular geographical area in a particular period in time then there are, de facto, no limitations and you can run whatever you want and have whatever scenery you like. Personally, I want to model a particular geographical area (North Cornwall) in a particular period in time (1961-1968 approx.) as I find that more satisfying. It's also, IMHO, easier to model a specific geographical area and it's easier to know what to operate and how to operate it if you have a prototype(s) to follow and pictures for inspiration.

[scottmitchell74]

My plans have altered, for various reasons, but Rule One is going to save me in at least one way. I'm loath to give up my DP1 or either of my Union Mills locos so I plan on using them as "Excursion" locos on a future North American layout. Oh, they could be purchases made by a rich eccentric rail-fan, maybe a British Ex-Pat living in the US? He wants to give rail tours, even at a loss, just to show off the beauty of UK power. Whatever...I want to see the Prince of Wales in Red and the Deltic DP1 hauling things in the American Southwest.

[MalcolmInN]

purchases made by a rich eccentric rail-fan,  to show off the beauty of UK power.

speaking of rail-fans It was done with the Flying Scotsman over there (Alan Peggler (?spelling)), in fact the whole thing was so eccentric the poor old loco nearly didnt come back.
So I dont see why your Prince of Wales shouldnt do the same.

But if it is beauty you are after demonstrating I'm not sure about the Deltic :)Ducks&Runs

[Bob Tidbury]

On a serious night the only thing I try to do is run the right Loco with the right stock wether coaches or freight if I'm just in the shed to enjoy the railway I run what I want when I want, as said in another post some people take model railways to seriously . after all the whole hobby is a compromise,(ie) the people , the cars, lorries ,animals etc don't move the steam trains and the diesels are actualy electric, the doors on them don't open and so on.
My late friend Cyril and I went to Stoke Mandeville one year he wanted to see a certain layout shown in one of the magazines it was a huge layout right across the hall, he was very angry when he saw it in the flesh ,one train running about every 20 mins then the operators sat down reading the paper the rest of the time ok in reality it was running correctly but as he told the operators he paid good money to see it .His votefor best layout was a small German layout with trains running here there and everywhere. there's room in the hobby for so called rivet counters and for those that just want to run trains whatever they are in my opinion

Bob

[MikeDunn]

he was very angry when he saw it in the flesh ,one train running about every 20 mins then the operators sat down reading the paper the rest of the time ok in reality it was running correctly but as he told the operators he paid good money to see it

Exactly !!!  That kind of behaviour takes the p*** !!!  Still ... lucky they weren't modelling a strike day, at least they ran 3 an hour !!! 

[scotsoft]

My plans have altered, for various reasons, but Rule One is going to save me in at least one way. I'm loath to give up my DP1 or either of my Union Mills locos so I plan on using them as "Excursion" locos on a future North American layout. Oh, they could be purchases made by a rich eccentric rail-fan, maybe a British Ex-Pat living in the US? He wants to give rail tours, even at a loss, just to show off the beauty of UK power. Whatever...I want to see the Prince of Wales in Red and the Deltic DP1 hauling things in the American Southwest.

Who else will know about your guilty secret

As has been written, there is room for all types of modelers in this hobby, if I see a layout that is true to its era and the detailing is excellent then I admire the hard work that has gone into it.  If a layout has a mixed batch of locos and rolling stock, as long as the operator in enjoying him/ herself then that is the whole point of having a hobby - having fun and enjoying yourself 

cheers John