Antics Model Railway Era System ()

The era system groups models by the time period of the livery carried. As trains have a design life of 30-40 years often several liveries are available for a model.
The era number is intended as a guide for modellers who want to assemble a representative collection from a particular time period, or make up a train of vehicles to match a new locomotive.

Collecting the operating model trains is a fun and enjoyable hobby, so do not feel that you must be bound by any restriction which you wish to ignore.
The era information is merely a guide to allow you to assemble models from the same time period, to form trains which are likely to have been seen together and find coaches and wagons to match your locomotives. If you own or wish to buy a model because you like it, even if it doesn't match with your other models, then you are doing the same as every other model enthusiast does, forming a collection which to you contains attractive and interesting models.

Always remember, it's your railway and you run it the way you like!

Using the Era System
The era numbering system indicates the timespan during which the prototype for the model existed and carried the livery reproduced. The dates must not be taken as fixed changeover points, although liveries, logos, crests and lettering officially change on a particular date this is a date for the official instruction only. Onces the new instructions are released newly built trains will be painted in the new scheme, but with thousands of locomotives, coaches and wagons already in service in the older livery change is a slow but relentless process. The livery change process can take 3-5 years to implement on passenger trains, much longer on freight locomotives and ordinary goods wagons could easily be sent for scrap having never received a full repaint since building. The changeover is of course progressive, at the beginning of a new era the majority of trains will be painted in the previous livery. Within a few years trains in the old livery would be considered unusual, but not entirely extinct. It has taken around 15 years for some freight diesel locomotives to lose the last BR Railfrieght livery, but the EWS maroon & gold has tbeen the most common scheme for the last 10.

The 'rule of thumb' for creating a realistic impression of your chosen era is to select the majority of models from the chosen era. Then add a few models from the preceding era to provide interest and variety.
If you wish to purchase a train to match your newest locomotive again models from the same era as the locomotive should be selected.
While models from much earlier or subsequent eras would not fit into the scene don't be disuaded from buying a model you like. Few railway modellers and enthusiasts can avoid buying attractive models and happily ignore era considerations to enjoy running their favourite models. Of course if you really want to mix eras and have a display of models in your favourite liveries take a look at todays' heritage railways and simply tell everyone you model a preserved railway!