Kato East vs. West?

[Ian MacMillan]

So where exactly, or more likely "vaguely", does the East stop and the West begin? There must be quite a bit over overlap somewhere in the eastern Midwest like say Ohio. Then do you count FEC as an Eastern road? I'm sure it is but aren't there major roads that are more South that don't go up to the northeast? I'm obviously not well versed in my railroads so I am asking this question with genuine curiosity. I'm not referring to small regional railroads but rather the roads that model railroad companies release.

East/West line is the Mississippi...which is also the "gray area" overlap zone.

[wcfn100]

East/West line is the Mississippi...which is also the "gray area" overlap zone.

Ummm, no. I know you east coast guys don't exactly know where the Mississippi runs, but Wisconsin is not east.

Chicago is the basic divider.

Jason

[C855B]

Chicago is the basic divider.

I have a hard time visualizing the Granger roads as "West". Heck, I have a hard time visualizing the Mop and Frisco as western lines. I guess in my mind if they don't traverse the Rockies, they're not western.

That's evidently just me.

[Rossford Yard]

"My biggest complaint is that, often Kato expresses that those at its very top don't have the typical (to the extent that we and the rest of my modeling peer group are "typical") American model railroad mindset when it comes to model choice."

Missed this one in my first reading.  I have heard Mr. Kato has a real fondness for western roads, perhaps because that is the only area of the US he has visited extensively.  He (and they) have said they like "iconic" trains from the US (explaining the name passenger trains).  And hey, at the end of the day, its a small family run company, and I guess they can do what floats their boat.   As to general narrowing of road names, as I expressed before, I can understand companies getting conservative, and only putting out their best selling road names, especially when times are tough.  Its like football coaches always seem to get more conservative over time.

It does appear they are listening, in hearing from all of us that the SD40-2 needs some wider release AND in doing some non traditional road names.  Our only problem is that they cannot possibly release them all at once, so some are left out. Hopefully, they see the economy turning enough to feel more of us will go on loco buying sprees after years of tight purse strings.

To be honest, BTW, I think the midwest (IC, Frisco, etc.) roads are even more under represented than either East or West.  But, Kato took a liking to that region in this release.

[Ian MacMillan]

Ummm, no. I know you east coast guys don't exactly know where the Mississippi runs, but Wisconsin is not east.

Chicago is the basic divider.

Jason

I most certainly do! Seeing how I spent everyday of summer vacation in Tomah from 10yrs to 17yrs!

I would most definitely consider MILW to be 'East' more than west. But thats why I said its also the "gray area" as I know some who may consider it west.


Like what was stated...when I think west I think UP, SP, BN, Rio Grande.... ya know "Rockies roads"

[wcfn100]

I most certainly do! Seeing how I spent everyday of summer vacation in Tomah from 10yrs to 17yrs!

I would most definitely consider MILW to be 'East' more than west.

Really?



Jason

[Alaska Railroader]

OK, I was just trying to bring this back on topic, not start a fight. 

[Ian MacMillan]

Really?



Jason

Alright, alright! I'll give you that. I always forget to factor in Lines West.

Now what is this? 

OK, I was just trying to bring this back on topic, not start a fight. 

[C855B]

From a railfan's perspective, having 'fanned the Western Extension while it was alive, MILW was barely a Western road. If it wasn't saved by the million$ in subsidies to develop electrified lines to use the excess power from Grand Coulee, I think the Extension was basically a boondoggle from the start that would have vanished long before 1981.

IOW, I think in principle I agree with Ian, the Milwaukee was basically a Granger road. The Western Extension was another railroad entirely, and pretty much operated that way.

[C855B]

Now what is this? 

The Borg.

[wcfn100]

Yeah, just because they had some gotta be like everyone else Pacific Expansion doesn't make em west! You can't base a locale on where a large amount of trackage is! And CN CP have lines into the lower 48 but I don't consider them American roads!


OK I'll give you the West. Honestly I never even think about the Pacific Extension unless I'm drooling over electrics.

I was going to write that if Little Joes and Box Cabs were available in plastic in N scale, this wouldn't even be an argument.     

Perceptions can be weird.  Growing up in MN, I actually think of the MILW as being more western than the GN and NP even though that really makes no sense since only the MILW went east of St. Paul.  I think the reason is two-fold, first because of the Little Joes and Box Cabs are undoubtedly western, and second because of the bigger presence of the NP and GN in the Iron Range.

You do have to realize that coming from MN, I was raised not to include WI in any important decisions or discussion like this.   

Why can't people from Wisconsin make Kool-Aid? *

Jason







*(Because they can't figure out how to get 2 quarts of water into the little envelope)

[Ian MacMillan]

...Perceptions can be weird...

Most definitely, because I would consider GN and NP to be more west than MILW.

[mcjaco]

I haven't read this whole thing, and am prepared to agree that Kato has a western bias.

On the other hand, they might have a profit bias, too.  I was on EBay the other night, and noticed the eastern road Kato diesels selling at huge discounts, whereas the western roads not so much.  Ditto MBKlein, where there are CSX units on sale cheap.

So, maybe its not bias, but just building what sells for them in their business model (i.e., not willing to do minimum runs of 300 or so? - Not sure, just guessing)

Profit bias????  Isn't that what companies are supposed to do? 

 

[TiVoPrince]

West
at least in perception seems to be more focused on Rockies to the Pacific in the contiguious 48 and Canada.  Perhaps a better division is East, Mddle and West.  Atlanic Ocean to the edge of the Eastern Time Zone.  Middle being the Central Time Zone to the base of the Rocky Mountains. 

"West" then meets the perception of Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast.  Athough a NorthWest/SouhWest division may be useful since the climate and scenery is radically different although where to practically draw that line to generate any kind of consensus eludes me.  For that mater Middle and East could probably benefit from a Noth/South division and again that line needs o be drawn by someone much smarter than I.

Many railroads cross these arbitrary lines, but that is just another RailWire discussion...

[DKS]

Perhaps a better division is East, Mddle and West.

Got that covered.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwestern_United_States

Easterners and westerners can then squabble over who gets to claim the midwest.

For that mater Middle and East could probably benefit from a Noth/South division and again that line needs o be drawn by someone much smarter than I.

That would be the southeast and the southwest.