I have received several emails asking where I got the prototype information for the Erie & Southern Railroad, because they can’t find other info on it.
The answer to that is simple: you won’t find any, because it never existed. None of the roads mentioned on the E&S History page were real.
Apparently I’ve done my job well. I thought I would take this opportunity to discuss proto-freelance, and how I came up with the concept for the Erie & Southern Railroad.
Rivet Counters and Freelancers
Model railroading is different things to different people. Like most other hobbies, it has different “branches”. Some modelers, called “rivet counters” are obsessed with the scale aspect of modeling. They want to model all aspects of the real thing, such as prototypical operating procedures and details like having the correct road numbers on motive power and rolling stock.
Modeling a prototype requires doing a lot of homework. Especially for someone new to the hobby, this can be a daunting task. For me personally, I enjoy the historical and operations aspects, but do not enjoy the idea of scaling down the actual trackage of a real railroad to fit into my basement.
On the flip side of the coin, freelance modelers often make up their own road names and even locations and towns. They can dare to dream a little more and ask, “what if”? What if Jay Gould had purchased the Nickel Plate Road? What if Railroad A and Railroad B had merged back in the 1960′s? There is unlimited freedom that comes with making things up as you go along.
Freelancers are not necessarily tied down to running era-appropriate rosters either. In my own mind, there is almost too much freedom with freelancing. To me, towns named “Whiskey Gulch” sound unrealistic, and while a masterpiece of model railroading, “Gorre & Daphetid” is very whimsical. The great John Allen himself often later expressed that he regretted the name.
Proto-Freelance: A Compromise
Why not take the best of both worlds? Proto-Freelance is the realistic operation of a fictitious railroad. You’re not tied down to matching rolling stock rosters or modeling a specific sub. Instead, you ask “what if” by placing a railroad in a real setting and operating it as prototypical as possible. The important thing to remember is, there are no rules. This is still a hobby and the model railroad community are not nitpickers.
Proto-freelance means that you get to decide what was prototypical for your railroad. You can pick your own:
- Road numbering system
- Engine roster
- Train consists
- Style of passenger depots
- A variety of other things!
The reality is, most model railroaders are proto-freelancers. There are very few (if any) exact scale replicas out there, and most of us take certain liberties on our layouts in the interest of saving space.
Besides the Gorre & Daphetid, another fine example of the proto-freelance concept was Tony Koester’s Allegheny Midland. With combined influences from the Nickel Plate Road and the C&O, Tony’s Midland Road was built to be the Nickel Plate’s extension into West Virginia coal territory. Here we see a combination of “what if” mixed with a prototype and a lot of imagination.
The Allegheny Midland Historical Society
W. Allen McClelland was perhaps the first to introduce proto-freelancing with his Virginian & Ohio. Built in the early 1960′s, the V&O is a world class piece of model railroading history.
Creating the Erie & Southern
Unlike a lot of modelers, I’m not drawn to any particular prototype. Just like the there are those who favor Ford, Chevy, or Mopar, certain railroads have an almost cult-like following. The one prototype I am drawn to, the Nickel Plate Road, isn’t as readily available in N scale as other more popular roads…and I’m not one to follow a crowd.
My own opinion is that certain railroads have been over-popularized, such as Union Pacific and PRR. Being a fan of steam and early diesel, it made sense for me to model the 1950′s transition era. When considering all my options, in the end, the idea of creating my own railroad appealed to me the most.
A lot of research went into creating the Erie & Southern Railroad. Its history and system map were carefully put together considering competing roads in the area and their time lines. With early roots established in Ohio’s southeastern coal region, the north-south Canton & Ohio River shortline would’ve been of little value to the robber barons who were mostly looking for an east-west connection.
When the dots are connected, and the Erie & Southern emerges, a powerful and independent Class I railroad is born. With multiple ports on Lake Erie and the Ohio River, the Erie & Southern can remain profitable by moving its own coal across Ohio and interchanging with several larger railroads. I also designed the E&S to be part of the Alphabet Route.
In addition, the decision to locate the E&S headquarters and main yard in Norwalk was a strategic move. The city was originally slated to receive a major NKP facility, but the NKP pulled out at the last minute. It’s not too far-fetched to speculate that the powers that be in Norwalk would have welcomed the E&S with open arms.
Creating your own proto-freelance road
First and most importantly, you must consider the era and region you want to model. Remember, proto-freelance is about being as realistic as possible with your creation. The 1950′s transition era offers near endless possibilities, so you might want to begin your research there.
Consider the many “what-if” scenarios, including mergers and buyouts, in addition to starting from scratch. It can be easier to get your feet wet if you have something to go on as opposed to just conjuring up a whole new railroad out of thin air.
Ask yourself “why does this railroad need to exist?” Are you providing a faster route? Maybe you just want a shortline that switches out a few industries? Railroading is a fierce business, and very competitive. Having a good (and realistic) story will go a long way towards helping you with your project.
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What a great little article, thanks for posting this!