never seen one

I've heard of people talking/writing about this, but never seen it actually done.  I think it's a case of an idea that sounds good, but since it's hard enough to get a layout done right for one era, trying to get a second era represented becomes irrelevant.  I think doing it convincingly would be very hard, personally.

A few people have changed eras, but on a permanent basis, and those changes took a long time to complete.

Funny you should ask

As my Friend Dave Vollmer seems to have pulled it off.

Not that hard

I didn't change from the 20's to the 70's but I recently updated by railroad from the 50's, Atlantic Coast Line Purple and Silver, to the late 80's, CSX grey and CSX blue and yellow. Just took changing out the locomotives, removing older automobiles and replacing them with newer ones and going through my rolling stock fleet and removing anything that was built before 1950. Actually took my older automobiles and placed them at the newly constructed Waffle House restaurant as a classic car club meeting for breakfast.

Multi-era layouts

  I think if I wanted to model in multiple eras in the same space I'd build a double deck layout with identical scenes on each level depicting the changes to the scenes over the intervening time. Some of the old buildings could remain on the new scenes plus all the additional development that had occurred. It could be a very interesting study in how railroads and communities have changed over the years..DaveBranum

Depends on how picky you are

If you don't sweat the details, its not that hard.  If you pick a date range that had few "external" changes its not that hard.

Otherwise its pretty tough.  Road markings, road signs, advertising, company logos, building designs, building functions, signal arrangements can all change radically over a several decade period.  For example between 1920 and 1970 there would HUGE differences in roads.  In the 1920's only the major roads would be paved and many would be brick.  Signage would be minimal and road markings would be minimal.  In 1970 there would be standard road signs, asphalt or concrete paving, wider lanes, guardrails. curbing.  Buildings in the 1970's would have window air conditioners and TV antennas.  Buildings in the 1920's wouldn't have either (for that matter the 1990's, wouldn't have either also).  A 1920's city would have different streetlights, different traffic lights. 

A 1920's railroad would be more likely to have semaphore signals and a 1970's railroad would be more likely to have searchlight signals.  A 1920's era railroad would have crossing watchmen and manual gates, a 1970's railroad would have automatic crossing warnings.  A 1920's era railroad would have functional passenger depots and working steam servicing equipment (coal and water towers).  A 1970's era layout would have none of the steam servicing facilities and very few functioning depots.

The farther out in the country, the farther away from a city, the farther away from any major facilities the layout is set, the easier the transition will be.

I do this, sort of, on my Siskiyou Line

I model the 1980s on my HO Siskiyou Line and I do "multiple eras" of sorts.

For me, the layout is always in the 1980s and I march through the decade on my layout. Right now, it's May 1, 1983 on my layout. On January 1, 2020, I will go back to Jan 1, 1980 again.

Changes seen on the SP Siskiyou Line through the 1980s:

1. Early part of the decade had pool power from UP and BN, and some Evergreen freight cars still around.

2. By mid-decade, rebuilt GP40s and Tunnel Motors start to appear, and UP/BN pool power disappears.

3. By late 1986, first SPSF Kodachrome power appears.

4. By end of 1988, first black/orange D&RGW power appears.

Also through the decade on the layout:

1. Change out automobiles, putting more new 1980s-year-specific models (like a 1984 Olds Cutlass) on the layout

2. Change out billboards for the 1984 and 1988 elections, also apply other period billboards for things like movies (Star Wars, Ghostbusters, Back to the Future) or 1980s car models.

The changes to the layout proper are minimal. It's mostly locos, some rolling stock, some automobiles, and some date-specific clues like billboards.

The loco change adds a lot of interesting color the op sessions from the various eras.

Finally, the capper to each decade march is a 4449 excursion down the Siskiyou Line, since the prototype also did such an excursion late in the decade of the 1980s.

I guess you could always try

I guess you could always try a "Post Apocalyptic" layout where modern equipment that could be made to run is in use, alongside old relics that are being used as well. Run out of diesel fuel? Use steamers.

Just watch out for these guys....

One Layout, Two Eras

I'm just starting to work on a double deck layout that will feature the current era on the lower level and a 1960's logging layout on the upper deck, and yes, they'll be connected!

I'm proto-freelancing bigtime as I'm modeling BC Rail (North Vancouver to Squamish) on the lower level that I'm proposing did not get consumed by CN and is still a successful railroad today with modern six axle diesels. The Capilano Timber Company will reside on the upper level in the '60s, but in reality the logging railroad disappeared decades before then.

I hope to be able to justify delivering logs from the old logging railway to a modern  mill on the lower deck by using a couple of early 60s SW-1200 diesel switchers to move log cars back and forth between decks (these switchers are still in use today on Vancouver Island's Englwood Logging Railway).  I'll even have a few Shays on the upper deck that will stay there and never travel down to modern times.

Here's the link (you'll see I've already changed my mind about what years I'll be modeling) https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/one-layout-two-eras-12187976

Hope this gives you a few ideas.

Stan

How about....

Somewhat related

A friend and I had planned a multiple era interchange between layouts, before I pulled my layout down.  In theory, both of our layouts served Danville, VA, so we planned an interchange  which would translate appropriate cars and loads from my era (the 1940s) to his (the 2000s).  Lumber would be loaded in box cars on my layout; centerbeam flats on his.  Manufactured goods might be in box cars on my layout, intermodal containers on his; and so on.

So, while it's not a multiple era layout, it is at least a multiple era operation.  I wonder if anybody else has done anything similar.

Next stop: Willoughby

One of my favorite Twilight Zone's:

"Transition" to "Modern"

Years ago, one of the rags (Model Railroader if memory serves) included an article covering the construction of a module that could represent either a 1950's late Transition era or a more modern (1970's?) diesel era.  The main mechanism for pulling off the illusion was using a few 'era specific' structures that were mounted on baseboards and could be easily swapped in and out of the module; the rest being nondescript as to 'era'.  As I recall there were three structures: a drive-through restaurant; a filling station; and something larger (a warehouse perhaps?) which had both a 1950's version and a 1970's version built on similar bases.  There was a track side coaling station and water tower that were removed as well; and of course the vehicles and a billboard or two.

It was actually quite clever; perhaps another of you out there will recall the article and be able to call it up?  Cheers.  Dave O

Look at Model Railroading and RMJ for many articles on this idea

Bob Schleicher wrote many articles are using the same layout with multiple based structures to change eras and even railroads with many of his "project railroads" over the years.  He had one layout that was Colorado Midland in the 1890's, Bal't & Ohio in the 1920's and the UP in the 1950's.

Annual era change

Every year, Jack Ozanich shifts his era five years for the summer.

Most of the year, the AGE is operated in Winter 1959-60. When summer comes along and the number of people who can make it to an operating session drops, he switches over to a 1964 session. The 1959 session runs best with 10-12 people, while the 1964 session can be run with six.

The 1964 session differs from the 1959 session in that he uses a different timetable with fewer (and longer) scheduled freights, the last of the steam locomotives are retired, the passenger trains are combined with expedited freight, and some newer diesels with a simplified paint scheme are added to the roster. There is also a group of freight cars with newer paint schemes that gets added in.

On the layout itself, a couple of businesses no longer receive rail service, and a couple have building additions that drop into place.

Once colder weather returns, he shifts the session back to 1959. He can change it over in an afternoon or an evening.

I think that it's a great way to deal with the varying availability of crews throughout  the year.

I'm contemplating this.

I'm building a layout that exists about 1960-63 on the Reading. The town I'm modeling had a major trolley line through it, however, that was abandoned in 1951. The LVT interurban were beautiful luxury cars in it's heyday. The trolley line and the RR would be on two seperate levels and only come with into 2" elevation of each other where the trolley goes past the train station. Further they don't interchange traffic as they were fierce rivals. I've got the RR build first, then I can think about how to put in a traction line.

Doug Maddox

"can think about how to put in a traction line."

 Maybe just back date the Reading part of the layout to the late 40's so it and the trolley were both running at the same time?  or model the Reading in the 60-63 era and the trolley as a communter line? ....DaveB

My planned layout will take

My planned layout will take place in the Blue Ridge area during WW2. I have often thought that it's really be easy to throw a few modern things like scale porta-poties around and a parking lot of modern vehicles on the very same scenes and put out some scale banners for a "WW2 re-enactment weekend" to make it look like a EBT-style RR that was never abandoned being backdated to the 40s for modern spectators. I've seen that done more than once, as I'm also a WW2 re-enactor.

Either that, or the same thing with a modern movie crew and their support equipment, turning your entire layout into the largest movie set imaginable...

One model railroad club did that routinely

I believe it was the former mid west models club in Batavia Illinois. There layout depicted the mid west with narrow bench work. Members would sponsor an operating session and supply locomotives and rolling stock. Buildings would have signs changed, autos would be changed out etc. It would not be to hard provided your eras were not too far apart. For example stop signs were once yellow and not red. Different industries would be in action if the eras were too far apart your traffic base would be gone.

In my case My initial era will be 1959 with the last of steam still hanging around but as soon as the next batch of diesels arrive they will be gone. My second time period will be 1968 with Alco Centuries replacing the fire breathers. The second generation diesels will be in and autos will be changed but in the area I model the industrial base will be the same. For the second era I will need to acquire coil cars and covered hoppers in greater number.

As of this moment I am not purchasing anything that is not suitable for the 1959 era and won't be until my layout is built and I have everything for the earlier era. The second era will be only after the first one is complete, so as to not have a stale layout. I may never get to the second era, if so that's fine with me. If my steamers wear out I may have to advance a bit just as was done on the V&O

Rob

What Part of the Country?

Steam engines were basically gone in SoCal by the end of 1955.

One Problem

One problem might be if you have fairly detailed background scenery. For instance, I painted the Philly skyline for my layout and it reflects the circa 2000 skyline. To go back to the 50's for instance, I'd have to mask the modern buildings such as I and II Liberty Place, etc. To be current, I'll have to add the Comcast Building. Therefore, it would be best not to nitpick and just ignore the exact buildings. I am fortunate to have a freelanced layout and can take a few liberties. I do like the idea of operating multiple eras.

Is it cost effective?

I didn't read all the comments so forgive me if someone already mentioned this!  Keep in mind that by doing a multi-era layout you will need a lot more equipment which can be costly especially if you want the better equipment! For me I do not have the funds to buy good engines and rolling stock for a different era! Same for buildings and vehicles, etc. But if you have the funds go for it, it might be fun and add some diversity to you operations!

Steam engines were basically

Yeah, they were gone from almost all the mainlines by then. Think on all those short lines that had steam as the last holdouts (Zeil's 'Twilight of Steam Locomotives' is an excellent book on that), the last of those were gone by the early 60s and these were the lines that couldn't afford diesels.

I find that whole, 'transitional' phase timeline so many model railroaders live and died by in earlier times to be really odd. You really don't hear as much of that anymore, not like you used to (I guess back then it was people who remembered seeing steam vanish but liked running growlers as well?). Yes, you could have seen early Geeps and ALCOs running alongside steam, but not for very long at all.

It always seemed like a cop out to me, an excuse to just run anything you wanted to run. If that's the case, then do what a pal of mine did; he just has his layout taking place in an alternate dimension where steam never died, so having a C&O T-1 hauling stack trains and doing a running meet with an Amtrak train also pulled by steam is nothing odd at all (and in fact, the diesels were all scrapped years before), so he didn't have to justify anything and just did what he wanted. And frankly, it worked out well for him.

Three Ideas on multiple eras

Lots of great comments posted on this. And I have to agree with p51 that, in my case, it is partially "an excuse to just run anything you wanted to run". 

I have three ideas on multiple eras since I've had 20 years of planning for some of this. My current project is Fall 1959 Charleston & Western Carolina in N scale. That layout will be a shelf layout around 58" high. Not too much changing in eras desired here.

My first idea for changing eras is fairly straight forward (and mentioned in part in this thread). Under the C&WC layout will be my another shelf layout depicting an HO scale 1980s Conrail/Delmarva shortline era. This layout will shift years within the same decade as the train runs through it since not much changed there. The first section will be 1980-83, the majority will be 1984-1986, and the largest city Salisbury, MD will depict 1987-89.

The second idea would be rotating scenery. The Delmarva region didn't change too drastically, especially for a compressed layout where I could easily backdate to the 1970's or late Sixties by changing vehicles and equipment. Areas that increased in business and housing (or decreased in trackage and yards) would be build on a couple of rotisserie style sections that would contain different scenery on each side (possibly three sides). Track would line up on both sides of this section that would rotate towards the backdrop. The use of shelf layouts keeps costs down on materials.

The third would be to build multiple eras of the same location using shelf layouts of different scales (like N, HO, & S or the same scale) stacked over each other as I have done for my C&WC and Conrail. This could take many years, but allows one to keep operating the first pike while constructing newer layouts.

This is just crazy thinking let out of the box. Anyone care to run with some of these thoughts?

What about switching Scales

I'm building an On30 layout but the guys at the club all have HO. Thinking about being able to switch out scenes such as structures,figures,automobiles. That way I can have the HO guys over to run. Just a thought at this point.