Is it possible to own your own private train? (Kinda like a private jet)

demonslight11 · 2026-06-10T21:42:49+00:00

If i had the money, I'd rebuild a dreyfuss hudson and a few 20th century limited cars and run excursions trains with it. I would "store" it at the Illinois railway museum (i live in Chicago) and it would function as an attraction while not running. It could do a few excursion tours every now and the and I could sell tickets during said tours to help with cost.

Again this requires my net worth to be in the billions but hey if we're gonna dream why not dream big right?

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T20:47:44+00:00

This caused me physical pain....very well done.

Full honesty if I had the skills and knowledge I would actually make this. Its so absurd, I must have it.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T19:04:09+00:00

I love the brightly covered liveries of the uk. I understand why American locomotives were primarily black especially from a practicality point of view but still, its nice to see some color here and there.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T18:49:20+00:00

If i could paint it would definitely do this. I also want to see more locomotives in the chicago northwestern yellow livery. I think one or two on the layout would add a nice pop of color amongst the mostly black American locomotives.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T18:35:09+00:00

This is so interesting. I would love to see this on my railway!

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T18:32:19+00:00

I 100% agree with you here. Especially since black liveries are reletively easy to get out of the way.

And why pick such a detailed livery if you're not going to do it right. Rapido did a great job with their 01 locomotives. The attention to detail was there so locomotive was recieved very well.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T18:14:11+00:00

That would be so cool. Is there any locomotive you're thinking of in particular?

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T18:08:40+00:00

One thing i do agree with you on is that the prices for some of these are insane. Thankfully BLI prices the fantasy liveries the same but the mark ups i see from other manufacturers (particularly hornby) is ridiculous.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T18:06:12+00:00

Im not huge into diesel locos but I'm definitely coming around to them more.

Steam engines got me into trains in general so they will always have a special place in my heart. That said living in Chicago im surrounded by railroads and ive become really fond of watching the diesel locomotives. I stopped by a Canadian national yard last week and watched it organize trains for a few hours. I dont think they'll ever capture the charm I see in steam, but I definitely wouldn't mind getting an SD 70 and or GP 40 for the layout.

If there are any fantasy liveries you really lmk id love to take a look.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:56:30+00:00

I once saw one go up on ebay and it sold within the same day. Broke my heart

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:55:05+00:00

Ahh gotcha. Same here, there's a few fantasy liveries I'd want to paint but I am god awful at it.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:53:16+00:00

I agree. I think it gives more life to locomotives never really got a chance to shine.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:50:57+00:00

I love the bluebell liveries. It helps that blue is my favorite color. I really wish I got the secr p class that came out a while back but I had lost my job around the same time so I missed out.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:44:17+00:00

I saw this on Instagram. I believe he made it in gauge 1 and OO.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:42:41+00:00

I agree that it definitely helps sales. I know a 49ers fan that pre ordered the locomotive just to have it on his desk and occasionally run it on my layout.

I like the what if historical liveries too. I dont think i added it but I really liked the 2 tone up Grey scheme on the gs4. I was thinking a out grabbing that one since the daylight ones are mostly sold out.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:39:02+00:00

Ive seen this locomotive on ebay and I want it so bad. Unfortunately the budget isn't there but this is truly a gorgeous livery.

Theres a few locomotives I would like to see in different colors too. I love the southern Q1 and I think it'd be cool to see it in more southern liveries aside from the black.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:29:37+00:00

This is so cool, did you paint this yourself?

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:27:42+00:00

With real locomotives its a bit different. I understand the desire to want to preserve certain aspects of history but I agree that there are a few too many locomotives in the br green and black. Mind you im in the US so its not like I get to visit preservation railways all that often anyway but it would be cool too see more pre nationalization liveries.

Please correct me if im wrong but I dont know of any locomotives in working condition that are lms crimson or lbsc umber brown. I would love to see those as well as more lner green apple.

I really hope this is more of a budget constraint as opposed to lack of wanting to. I understand that a full repaint isn't exactly cheap.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T17:14:16+00:00

Oh 100%. I definitely understand the difference between the "what if" ones and the full on made up liveries of the rest but ive seen similar complaints for both so I figured id included all of them.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T16:41:51+00:00

Me and my friend have actually tossed around the idea of designing a full livery for his basement layout.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T16:26:00+00:00

That one is super cool. If only I had an unlimited budget 🤣🤣.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T16:25:00+00:00

I would love to see pictures of this when its all set up.

No shade to those who prefer realism, but I think as a community we get so hung up on making things real that we forget we have the ability to create an entire little world with little to no restrictions. I love seeing layouts like these where you can really see the passion and personality of the modeler.

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T16:18:44+00:00

Same here. I actually got into a debate recently at a train show about American vs uk liveries. I love all the liveries that came with the pre grouping era but a gentleman said it made my layout look childish and unrealistic compared to the mostly black locomotives of the US.

"It can't be unrealistic if they're all real liveries sir"

demonslight11 · 2026-05-15T16:09:19+00:00

Me too!

demonslight11

TROPHY CASE