Check Out The COER

There was a prototype for what you're considering - the Crab Orchard & Egyptian Railroad in Marion, Illinois, operated freight service with steam power into the early 80s. They didn't handle auto racks, but they certainly hauled piggyback flats (they had their own flats and trailers too), along with covered hoppers of grain and hoppers of coal. Here's a little video I found that might give you some ideas:  

​I visited the line a couple of times when No. 17 was still in use and it was quite a sight to see it pulling TOFC flats (running tender first) to the MP/UP interchange in Marion. It's an interesting little short line.

Strasburg RR

Although known primarily as a tourist line, the Strasburg Railroad still hauls freight... behind steam!

 

George J

 "So what do you all think?

Unique is not always good :> ) To me the idea seems like something a new modeler might dream up then tear down after learning more about railroading. With all the tourist steamers around these days it doesn't seem like it would be too hard to build a realistic modern day layout that could run steam along with diesels. If steam is the main attraction there's lots of info on building a realistic layout that's a portrayal of the days when steam made economic sense and was state of the art. Steam in it's day was much more complex than the left over steamers pulling tourist trains today. What you see nowdays is like the lions in a zoo compared to the lions on the plains of Africa 100 years ago, not much in common other than the shell.....DaveB

It sounds fun

It sounds fun, and you say you love steam, so give it a try.  All of my favorite "famous" model railroads over the decades have included heavy splashes of whimsy and the occasional anachronism. 

George

What IF

What if there never was any oil, only coal? Would steam have advanced with modern technology? Science fiction at it's best in Model Railroading. Then there's always the "steam electric".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heilmann_locomotive#/media/File:Heilmann-2.jpg

Bernd

In regards to the first two

In regards to the first two comments that's sort of what I'm talkin about but on a bigger class 1 scale.

Dave, I guess you could be

Dave, I guess you could be right. I know enough to build a steam era layout or a modern layout. I'm trying to combine what I know with what I like. I'll keep thinking on it.

Steam

 The problem with a steam powered modern railroad is that many of the hallmarks that define modern railroading aren't feasible with steam locomotives from the mid 1900's.  Run through operation, long trains, DP, MU, etc.

P.S.  The largest "steam powered" railroad in N America is Amtrak's NEC.

Here's an example of "what could have been"

ACE 3000

A modern steam railroad is not as improbable as one might think....

http://locomotive.wikia.com/wiki/ACE_3000_Protoype_Steam_Locomotive

Also, the national railway of Zimbabwe was largely steam powered well into the 1990s.

George J

Also, the national railway of

Germany ran steam until 1977! 

Hey. the real class 1

Hey. the real class 1 railroads do it....

My Bethlehem-Ares RR didn't scrap all their steam, and still has a respectable number of steam locomotives in service. 

One of my personal modeling goals is to refit a Challenger (or even better... a Big Boy) as a streamlined freight hauler to pull those double stacks.

Modern tech in steam locomotives

Some of these issues were operational in steam engines. Run-through would be out, since Ian stated his railroad would be the sole class 1 still using steam.

Long trains were already hauled by steam engines, UP's Big Boys hauled 60 plus cars, so it would be reasonable that a two or three unit set (more on this later) would be reasonable substitute for 100 car trains.

As for MU, in 1904 British GWR devised a rod and lever system that allowed the operation of a steam locomotive from a control cab placed in a passenger car for push-pull operations. In 1906 other British railroads devised other methods with pneumatic or cable and pulley workings. Even if this technology never made to MU operations it is a true and tested tech that could be used, had anyone cared for it. Considering today's tech and it may not be hard to create a device that would operate a steam engine, using electric signals and solenoid valves, or in a less refined way, servomotors. The same concept may evolve to radio signals for DPUs. If these steam trains are oil-fired the operation would be quite similar to todays diesel. If coal was the fuel each engine might keep its fireman.

Not really, since the layout is not built as "steam only". As Ian stated, he would build a modern layout. The only accommodations to steam operations may be extra broad curves for big steam and the coaling facilities, water columns or towers and perhaps a roundhouse. If in the future he changes his mind to modern era railroading all he had to do in the layout is remove the coal and water towers and replace by diesel fueling stations. Even the roundhouse could be kept, since the RR would still need a maintenance shop. The broad curves will be a big bonus to any layout. 

The most unrealistic issue would be the complex maintenance required by steam power, but since it is a what if scenario rule #1 applies and all is fine.

Regards

Daniel did better than me!

At explaining the idea of modern steam! He said it'd be pretty easy to change to modern diesel which he's right it would. Also my layout will consist of small towns and a lot of just sceniced track, not a ton of buildings. With that said it wouldn't be to difficult to change to the transition era should I choose either! 

My railroad would also interchange with ns csx and stuff also.

it is a little bit fantasy. But hey! Modeler license and I can also change it to a real railroad if it dosent turn out very good. 

Many years ago someone did

Many years ago someone did something very similar. I can not remember his name but it was called his weird and wonderful railroad. His premise was based on the first oil embargo opec started to drive prices up in the 70s. Because of this shortage of oil the coal burning locomotives were rebuilt and steam once again ruled the rails. He had a large railroad in the days before dcc and the layout had a three track main line and continuous running. I saw this covered in one of the magazines either RMC or MR and thought it was a neat idea at the time. The owner of the layout seemed to really enjoy it as well, as he got to run what ever he desired.

One thing about doing something like this is if you ever get interested in a more serious modeling venue for eras and pick a location that you could change eras by changing some structures and your rolling stock and vehicles you might just be able to have your cake and eat it too.

Many years ago someone did

I'm sometimes dreaming about doing a steam only layout. This sounds like a good concept. I think you should be allowed to do anything if it's fun!

Your Railroad

Always remember, it's your railroad, and you can do whatever you want, I have been running HO steam since 1969, and I never worried about whether the buildings or automobiles or even the freight cars fit with the steam era. In China, they used steam on many parts of the railroad into the 1990s, a few of the Chinese steam locomotives ended up here in the U.S. and were used to pull both freight and passenger cars in New York state and Iowa, in modern times. Union Pacific (my employer) and Duluth Missabe & Iron Range, and Norfolk & Western were all reluctant to give up on steam and used them longer than most other railroads, 1958 on U.P. and 1962 on DM&IR, 1960 on N&W. So build and run what you like on your railroad and have fun with it.

" it's your railroad, and you

    That's something that hobbyist say a lot but the results can vary greatly. If one is creative and using it to advance the state of the art it's a great concept but if they are using it as an excuse to lower the bar on expectations then it's not so good.  I think those who take the time to learn how to be better at their activities ultimately enjoy them more. Some folks are naturals and can hit a ball fine but others benefit from some basic  instruction and end up better players.                                                                                                                                               A modern era steam powered layout would need to be more than the same old steamers pulling modern cars to be convincing. It would need an economic  scenario explaining why steam power makes sense, some engines designed to modern standards maybe steam turbines or other unknown types, scenery consistent with the scenario of steam power being preferred, etc.( and why wouldn't steam generated electricity and electric engines be preferable in that case?)   It could be fun but would be a lot of work to pull off. ....DaveB

I have also considered and

I have also considered and researched doing a full prototype railroad probably have something to do with steam era southern railway/ Norfolk and western/ Louisville Nashville (you get the idea) that area. Especially like around bristol TN. The problem is I have no relation with that era except the love of old vehicles (and ownership)  and the bid one, love of classic steam engines. Emphasis on the word "classic". That's what brought me to this idea. Yes I can model modern NS with excursion steam, but that doesn't focus on steam locomotives. 

What I might do is what some said and switch out vehicles and rolling stock to switch eras but that might not be that simple. 

I do really appreciate the feedback on this be please don't consider me a non serious modeler as I am very serious about it. I just trying to well... have my cake and eat it too.

Switching Eras

It's definitely possible to switch eras back and forth from steam to modern times, we do it on our club layout all the time. As far as buildings, a lot of old buildings built in the 1920's are still standing today, so only a few buildings would need to be swapped out, as far as vehicles, it might be "cruise night" so a lot of car club members have their classics out on the street with modern vehicles. The only limitation would be needing a complete set of steam era freight cars and another set of modern freight cars and locos. I understand about the classic cars and trucks, my hot rod truck is a 1959 Ford f-100 short bed with a Corvette 454 engine, and I have a 1931 Model "A" Ford that will be built as a Rat rod. I don't have any modern HO scale equipment, (except one gp38 with 5 cars that was a bargain), because I see modern trains and locomotives every day when at work as a U.P. engineer, which is more than enough exposure to the modern era. All modeler's are a welcome addition to this hobby, and there is no need to take it too seriously, just have fun! Jim

Jim, that's what I was

Jim, that's what I was planing on doing to switch eras but I wasn't sure how easy it'd be I still really really like the idea. I will probably start off steam era as that's all I own ha ha but I think I will still attempt best of both worlds! Also Jim those sound awsome! I have a 67 mustang coupe and a 1941 Chevy pickup.

on the other hand to everyone else this has become quite a discussion!  

I do like reading all the comments.

Ian, I was not suggesting

Ian, I was not suggesting earlier that you were not a serious modeler earlier and if it was interpreted that way I am sorry. My comment was directed at your choice of eras as being very broad. One of my club members includes models from 1920 onward as his era and that works for him. For me I am looking at the fall period of 1959 in a specific area and free lancing a might have been railroad and course of events. So I understand the joys of stepping away from reality a bit, much like what was done with the V&O.

The one thing that seems to make things hang together for me is the time line as it relates to things like structures, figure a lifespan of 100 years sometimes more. Rolling stock, 30 to 50 years, locomotives 20 to 50 years, automobiles and trucks generally 10 years. There are exceptions and some items become more rare as they age than others.

Rob you're fine I didn't mean

Rob you're fine I didn't mean to complain I just don't wanna come off like I'm not serious. 

You are right the  era was broad, that's what made me think of the modern steam as that would just be the current year. Nothing is ever set in stone so who knows what I'll end up with. At least I'm sure of  the location I want to model haha

Ian, the Strasburg Railroad

Ian, the Strasburg Railroad in Pa. has a model for you with period steam era structures and equipment for their museum operation and a little freight transload business to make additional money. They sometimes even use a steam locomotive to handle their freight runs and switching.

I model a museum railroad which also stores freight cars to make additional money although they usually use a diesel to handle the freight work.

I also like your Southern #630 model from TVM.

Barry