Operations on the Southern Railway
Bob LawsonDescription
In this video, view the model railroad operations on Bob Lawson’s Southern model railroad with Allen Keller. Bob modeled the Southern railway in the steam to diesel transition period of the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Allen Keller asks why he chose this specific railroad and period to model. From a child, Bob wanted to work on a railroad, so he would frequently write to them. The Southern was the only one who would continually answer his childhood letters. As he was transitioning out of highschool, some of their officials contacted him since they knew he was interested in freight car design. They suggested he go to Georgia Tech, take mechanical engineering and come back to see them, which he did! He ended up working with them in freight car design.
Bob continued to learn and enjoy more and more about the Southern. This is eventually how his modeling shifted totally to focus on the Southern. He chose that time period because he always found it very interesting. When he worked on the railroad, he had only been interested in the older equipment and steam locomotives versus the newer diesels. The Southern through the 1940’s was heavily dieselized but because of WWII, there was still a lot of steam locomotives in operation. The late 40’s turned out to be perfect for Bob to model because they still had a great deal of steam locomotives and some diesels – an interesting mix. For tips on designing a model railroad control panel or more Allen Keller videos, visit the Model Railroad Academy archives.
You modeled the southern railway and the steam to diesel transition period of the late forties, early fifties. Why did you select that railroad and that particular time period, Bob? Well, Allen, I selected the southern railway because from a kid I wanted to work for a railroad and I sent letters to a number of railroads. Southern railway continually answered my kid letters and I drew the interest in them. Then as I was getting out of high school, they had some of their officials contact me and they knew I was interested in freight car design.
So they suggested I go to Georgia Tech. take mechanical engineering. and come back to see them, which I did. And I went to work with them and worked in freight car design, which as time went on I knew more and more about the southern railway and I enjoyed it very much. And therefore my modeling shifted totally to this other.
Why that time period though? Well, the time period I always felt was very interesting because while I was interested in freight car design and unique things Southern was doing, I'd never really had a real interest in the current day diesels. I liked the older equipment and I liked steam locomotives. I had always liked steam locomotives. So Southern railway through the 1940s heavily dieselized, but they still because of World War II had a great deal of their steam locomotives in operation.
So the late forties was kind of perfect. They still had a lot of steam locomotives. They had some diesels, it was a good mix. And I liked the early diesels.
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