Scale Model Railroad Trains

How To - Use Genealogy and Historic Research to Add Spark to Your Model Railroad

The most believable and fun model railroads have a well-constructed story about the railroad, it’s purpose and the people who made it all possible. Genealogical and historic research can be used to add a spark of life and personalities to your model railroad.

Once you have identified an era, railroad, and place that you are modeling you can use the results of research to fill in the background and the story for your railroad. Railroads are more than equipment and scenery. They are the outcome of decisions and personalities of people.

Find out about the people who owned the railroad and what motivated them. Were they building an empire? Were they building the railroad business fast and cheap to bring in massive profits, or were they building a railroad with the finest equipment and practices know in their day? How did they react to competition? Did they crush it at all costs, or get taken over, or completely ignored?

Genealogical research tells a family story. Many of the railroads were family enterprises. Many families would have generation after generation working for the railroad in various roles. The homes in the town, local businesses and government, were tied together through their connection with this major employer. As you learn more about the families your story for your model railroad becomes more and more believable. Imagine having a father who helped build the railroad who has passed on and son who works as an engineer. The widow is running a boarding house to keep things together financially. They all can be reflected in your model railroad with a cemetery including a head stone memorial to the deceased husband, engineer son in the cab of an engine, and mom’s boarding house. Go a step beyond the ordinary. Consider putting reproductions of vintage photographs, maps, and objects near your model railroad (along with suitable labels). A visit to your model railroad could be a doorway back into time.

History and genealogy can be reflected in how the structures were built, how the tracks and trains were maintained. It also reflected on the traffic on the line. Was the railroad the bridge between two other railroads? Did it serve local interests and deliver goods only locally? You’ll put entirely different trains and structures on your model railroad for each purpose.

Were the people innovative? Did they experiment and try things first? Were they conservative and last to adopt certain practices and equipment?  Your railroad will reflect these approaches.

One of the railroads in our area had contests between the various stationmasters on the line for the best looking station. Historic photographs and old newspaper articles would chronicle which station won and which stationmaster did the best job. The winner of the contest regularly planted flowers near the station and kept it well painted and clean. Your model railroad can do the same (have its own little contest).

Have fun!

Trainguy

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