It's a very interesting question, and one that I, as a Brit doing US steam, don't mind having a go at answering
First of all, I suppose it's clear that I like US routes and trains
However, maybe what you don't know is that I did the Consolidation after asking for ideas, and the suggestion (from JP) of doing a US loco was something that intrigued me because of it being something different. Until then, I'd never actually liked US locos much! I always thought British steam engines were the most lovely, elegant, most aesthetically pleasing steam engines of any country. I thought US steam locos looked too messy and vulgar, with all their private parts on public display, instead of being properly dressed. Now I realise it's just a matter of what you're used to. I fell in love with US steam locos (with all their bit and pieces sticking out everywhere), and it's actually opened my eyes to the beauty in such machines from all over the world. I was looking at a Chinese steam loco the other day and thinking to myself, now I see how it could be a beautiful model. A couple of years ago I would have turned my nose up at it.
I also like diesels, British and American. I like the older British diesels, probably because I grew up with 00 scale models of most of the early ones, on the model railway layout I shared with my dad. Incidentally, my dad never really liked US railroads, until he went to see my sister in California (not so far from Truckee) and visited the railroads, including an historic line with steam locos (I think it was called something like the Skunk train ... because of the smell?). He came back with lots of paraphernalia of US locos, including books and models, and he was hooked. I like US diesels for their sheer size. They're so much bigger than UK diesels and so much more brutish looking. By the way, not all UK diesels had a cab at both ends (take the old Class 20 for example).
As for routes, there is a huge variety in the UK. Being an island, there are a lot of coastal routes as well as inland routes. We also have wild landscapes, like the West Highland line, or the line all the way up to the North of Scotland. RSC are gradually getting there. The Woodhead route is a fine example of a line with a wonderful variety of scenery, from the grim city scene of Manchester and Sheffield, to the wild look going over (or through) the Pennine hills and past lakes. There's also another route, China Clay, that takes in a very small part of Cornwall, which is one of the prettiest counties in England, with lush greenery and beautiful buildings, as well as plenty of switching and freight operations. Still, there are many, many more parts of Britain with entirely different landscapes, that have yet to be tackled. I would love to see someone do the West Highland line. It would look far different from Western Lines of scotland (which is actually in the
South West of Scotland, below Glasgow and getting as far as Carlisle in England).
What we don't have in the UK is desert. That's why I like the US desert routes in particular. It's because for me, it's something unusual and exotic (there are cactii in Cornwall, but it's not the same
), and the only way (for now at least) that I can get to see those places. That's another point. Sadly, there are a lot of xenophobic people in every country, including in Britain. I see it all the time. People who post (not here, I'm talking about other forums and facebook) about trains as if the only ones worthy of consideration are those from their own country. To me, they just have their eyes (and minds) closed. They need to get out in the world and experience it. I love US routes that show me places I've never been to, so I can admire them as if I were on holiday, visiting somewhere new. I would recommend that Americans adopt the same frame of mind when running along a UK route. Look for the differences and enjoy them!
Cheers,
Mike