Real or model?...

... Yes!

Keep in mind that there are some that don't consider these rinky dink narrow gauge trains as "real".

Never fully understood that.

Narrow gauge forever!

That looks real

That appears real to my eye....if it's a model my hat is off to the modeler.

The only trains I like

are those that have steel flanged wheels on steel rails. Or very interesting wooden logging rails....

Real

The track looks too realistic to not be real - prototypically small spike heads, realistic looking points, gravel in the flangeways that looks like it’s been there for a while, leaf shaped leaves on the weeds, moire pattern on the spark arrestor indicates it’s prototypical fine and regular mesh.

Bill - those wooden logging rails are the first really convincing reason I’ve heard to try dead rail 

REAL

Real for me, but I admit with photoshop.....everything is possible.

When I closely look at the lamp of the steam loco,it seems to me real with the reflector and the lamp Inside....but

Either...

...it's very large scale (G+)... or real.

My reason: The spark arrestor on stack is very fine screen... too fine for what is available to model with.

Andre

Number Six

Yes, the shot of #6 is real and taken at the Hawaiian Railroad Historical Society shops in November of 2018. 

I’ve been hoping others would post photos of real or model locos or rolling stock for ideas and inspiration. The spike head size, grass, spark arrestor, and many other thing are where we can improve our models to emulate what we see. Ironically, I’ve never been particularly focused on these little details and like the 3’ rule or “good enough” but we can do little things that make our model go from good to great!

Rene Gourley recently posted some thoughts on his blog titled “What’s the big idea?”. It is worth a read. Model railroading in terms of accuracy or art. 

Real (or large scale

Real (or large scale photographed outside like Ken Patterson's excellent photographs), based on the reflection on the steam locomotive (boiler) of the environment/surroundings.

Real

For sure!

That is a good decieving photo Neil

Here is some I have stumbled across in the past

http://spcascades.railfan.net/photos/HARR/CRUZATTE8877east-2.jpg

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2675477

http://freight.railfan.ca/cgi-bin/image.pl?i=kyle1618&o=kyle

And an article on taking real photos to make them look like a model

https://lakeshorerailway.com/tilt-shift-train-photography/

One for you,

Good one

Things like brake hoses (and connected?) and open windows would really help bring our models to life. The blackened wheels and weathered bolsters seem easy to do and yet I seldom paint mine. That has got to change! < sounds of self flagellation> . 

Thanks Mike!

That was theirs,

This is mine.

POV

Mike:

The eye level point of view really adds a lot to you modeled scene. My layout was 54” - 66” and great for railfanning but a pita to wok on! Great shot!

The fall colors are a nice change to the always green around here. I reposted as the enlarged version really stands up to closer scrutiny.