Choosing a Year

Now that I'm starting a new layout, it's time to consider whether to stick with modeling 1939, or to try another era. It's not an easy choice for me, because I really like the look and feel of 1939, and my structures, vehicles and, of course, rolling stock are faithful to that year. Modeling Texas instead of Idaho will mean some changes, anyway: altering my 0-6-0 switcher (my only loco...so far) to represent an oil-burner rather than a coal-fired loco, new industries, different scenery, etc. Nothing drastic, really, if I stick with the same year.

But there's another consideration that has only recently come to mind. I'd like to have a second locomotive, another switcher, since I plan to model a terminal railroad in a small Texas port. Right now, there doesn't seem to be an S scale steam switcher that is both available and (for me) affordable. My 0-6-0 is a Rex kit purchased about 18 years ago from Sandusky. I've been very happy with it, but I'm mindful that it's no longer brand new and (I hope) I have at least another 20 years of active model railroading ahead.

While mulling this over, I ran across S Helper Service's NW-2 diesel on their excellent website. It's affordable, looks good, and, as it happens, is a loco first built in 1939! I first read about the NW-2 in the book "Vintage Diesels" and liked its appearance. It was a very successful locomotive, sold in droves to mainline railroads. So while it is unlikely a small terminal line on a tight budget would be able to buy an NW-2 in 1939, it is reasonable to assume it would acquire one within a few years, by the second half of the 1940's.

So I'm moving ahead in time a little, from September 1939 to April 1947, which happens to be the month and year I was born. Since 1947 didn't look much different than 1939, I can use my rolling stock, structures and vehicles with little modification...maybe a few signs will have to be changed, along with the feature film advertised on my movie theater marquee. In 1947 steam locos still outnumbered diesels six-to-one, and the 0-6-0 would have another half-dozen years or so of life remaining, so it can run alongside the NW-2.

I'm happy with my decision, and I just ordered the NW-2 today.