Scale Model Railroad Trains

Model of the Future

Scale model railroading and trains can give people a glimpse of the future. How would the future look on your railroad? William Gibson said that, “The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed.”

Would the future be the present slightly run down and warped by shrinking energy supplies and effects of global warming?  Cars and tractor trailer trucks would be abandoned or reused because they use far more energy than trains. Bridges might have less clearance between the top of water and the rail trestle due to rising waters.

Items may be more rusty and dusty because the economy continued to slump. Maintenance of equipment is deferred. Schedules might be reduced and slowed to handle smaller volume of business with greater energy efficiency.

Another future scenario that could be modeled is the clean-green rising economy with a combination of biology and technology bringing prosperity. Natural systems and human systems, such as railroads could work together to enhance each other. Human activity could work together with natural cycles and systems creating a healthy and prosperous future society.

Fuel for trains could be derived from plants. Trackside solar panels (like those used in Switzerland now) provide heat and electricity for trains and other processes.

Wind turbines and river turbines are shipped on special train cars across the nation to provide power. Solar panels cover the flat roofs of buildings, green roofs,  constructed wetlands, and greenhouses used to grow food, process waste, and create habitat for birds, bugs, and animals.

You could model parks and recreation with fishing, kayaking, sun bathers, runners, and swimming.

Businesses in the downtown reflect the new prosperity and shift in work and marketing.  Local eateries making meals with local food crops. Walk-to-work shared offices and business conference centers where people walk-to-work and telecommute daily. Skilled artisans make custom products from natural materials that are grow and harvested nearby. Local deliveries are made by bikes and pedal carts. Regional deliveries are made on the monorail. Long distance deliveries by train.

Zero energy homes and commercial buildings. Or buildings that produce MORE energy and food than they consume, process water and waste, and provide shelter are shipped on board the trains for the stable human population (like Sears homes were in the 1940’s).

Car free cities and various car free transport. Elevated, monorail human-powered train lines are used for mass transit and regional travel. A system of tubes would reduce wind resistance. Mag-lev monorail vehicles and sloping tubes would reduce friction and utilize gravity for power. Bikes and walking dominate below. Canals and rivers handle large goods. Cars are very few and aerodynamic and energy efficient (like the Aptera  ). Cars are used on a very limited basis for special purposes such as ambulances or transporting fire fighters. Although buildings and fire-fighting robots could be designed to fight fires. Personal transport pods are another approach entirely.

Sleek, modern trains fill the twin rails of the railroad (like the bullet train).

As long as you keep everything in a single scale, to match the people, buildings, and track, your future model railroad could be very realistic. It would create quite a “buzz” of excitement.

Have fun!

Trainguy

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