Modelgenic shortlines

[Packer]

I don't know if MRL really counts as a short line, but I've thought about modeling it or the SP in Texas.

I'm kicking around the idea of modeling one at the moment, the Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The WI&M used a bunch of BN equipment after the Milwuakkkee abandoned their west end. BN GP7/9s (20s and 18s may have also been used) and GP38/40(-2s maybe) were the power. Cars were usually centerbeams, thrall door boxes, grain boxes, grain hoppers, and woodchip hoppers. I think there may have been some log cars in the mix, but I haven't read the article in the RMC in a while.

Best part modeling a short line using modules might be feasable for a college kid living at home.

To be honest there are times when I envy peeps that model roads with lots of easy peasy equipment to get off the shelf (so to speak) in N scale but that's not what I want, and part of the fun for me is making the models I can' get but ...


When I daydream I sometimes think it'd be cool to:

*model WM Union Bridge up through the Catoctins into Hagerstown
*recreate the Weverton Branch of the B&O
*model Feather River Canyon
*BN Rockies helper district in the 70s
*some Anthracite road circa late 60s

Arrrgh, the list goes on and on - I find I like a lot of railroad environs. :

But I've been single minded about N&W for the most part - it's my first love (train wise).

Mark

*snip*
*model Feather River Canyon
*BN Rockies helper district in the 70s
*snip*

Make my choice of where on the BN to model even harder, why don't you . I was already having difficulty choosing between the funnel between sandpoint and spokane, somewhere in the midwest (like Rochelle and Chicago), the ex-slsf gulf coast portion, the parts in montana that became MRL, and the rockies. ???

The the west end of the funnel (spokane) to the rockies (say, denver), passing through the to-be-MRL parts might be too ambitous for HO, but N lacks any of the major power (although N has the earlier centerbeams, front range used to make them in HO) such as SD40-2s, SD40s, U30Cs, U33Cs, C30-7s, and (kinda-sorta) SD45s...

[sirenwerks]

The Washington, Idaho & Montana is a sweet shortline. Got sucked into the Milwaukee before it crashed. It's kinda similar to the Spokane International, which is another nice little shortline.

[cv_acr]

There's probably lots of little modern shortline terminal railroads and regionals that would apply, if you're the switching type as opposed to the "model railfan" set.

Guelph, ON, which was my home until 6 months ago, had two shortline/regional railroads that run through it.

The Guelph Junction Railway is owned by the city and operated under contract by the Ontario Southland Railway, a small privately owned railway operator and switching contractor. They have a small fleet of mostly small MLW road switchers (ex-CP RS23s and RS18us, plus a couple of ex-BC Rail M420Ws and a couple GP9s). They're paint scheme is a very attractive maroon & cream that was inspired by the TH&B colours. They have a small yard at an interchange with CP at one end and runs about 10-20 miles through the country into Guelph where it serves several varied industries and also interchanges with the Goderich-Exeter Railway (GEXR), a RailAmerica line that operates a former CN trackage. Some of the industrial trackage in Guelph is joint trackage operated by both railways. The GEXR, being a RailAmerica subsidiary has a pretty wide assortment of secondhand and leased power, which also gets changed and moved around between other RA roads every couple years.

[squirrelhunter]

I have always had a softy sport for some of the Milwaukee's grades that required helpers in Eastern Washington in the post electrified zone timeframe. Sparse scenery, just a few trains each way each day, 40 series EMD's and the main point would be to simply capture the helper ops.

There are two SP lines in TX that had light to moderate traffic, with through freights and some local switiching and runs of 120 miles or less that could be easily compressed into nice shelf layouts.

The first is the line from Houston to Hearne TX. in the 80's it had 1 Amtrak train, a Hearne Houston turn, a short Dalls Houston overnight TOFC train and a regular freight or two. The Houston end passed through a busy switiching district right before it hit the Sunset Route main through town. Hearne was a moderate sized yard that would make an easily modelable terminal.

The second is Flatonia- Victoria line, usually know as the Port Lavaca Branch. SP's traffic to the Rio Grande Valley (usu. 1 or 2 trains a day for Hearne or Houston) and Corpus Christi used this route, and Victoria had a small yard at which traffic for points north was blocked. The line included two branches- one to Coleto Creek for a big coal fired power plant that got coal trains several times a week and the line from Victoria to Port Lavaca itself, which had a local serve it a couple times a week. Victoria also had an interchange with the MP and an SP engine facility until shortly after the UP merger. If I can't get the real estate to make my Texas Mexican idea work, this is my fall back because it can easily be built in chunks.

I can think of a couple class one branch lines in Texas that could be easily modeled but I will probably gather those in a separate post. 

[JDouglasFisher]

Hey kids, been a while (moved, job, bills, etc. you know the routine)

I was waiting for a discussion on the "what to model" and the reasoning behind it.

just for discussion and analysis, I'll share what I was thinking, and conclusions.

1.) Erie Lackawanna 1964: (end of the Black and Yellow era) I'm still kicking this one around a bit, as being specific (say October, 1964) I can model the first orders of C425's, U25B's, and GP35's which came delivered in Gray/Maroon/Yellow but "Erie Lackawanna" was spelled out in maroon letters on Gray (versus a few months later in 1965 when they opted for yellow letters in the maroon band which became standard). Traffic still favored the former Erie side heavily (which for me is a downer) and the abandonments of 1966 had not manifested itself yet (which means the former Boonton Line still ran through Paterson, NJ..) I've back burnered the idea for the reasons that there aren't really any suitable caboose models in N scale (dunmore or keyser valley types) nor are there any models that I know of for Erie Stillwells or Boonton Line coaches.  >

2.) Lehigh and New England: Cool regional railroad which many remains can still be found after 50 years out of service (they quit in 1961) but sadly, most of their traffic was anthracite and cement. Not much in the way of manifest traffic or through traffic.  :-\

3.) Central Railroad of New Jersey, High Bridge Branch. In earlier years, the HBB was really a branch, connecting High Bridge, on the mainline, to other CNJ interests such as the W&N (which connected to the Susquehanna) as well as a couple other feeder lines with customers. After the CNJ quit Pennsylvania, they started joint trains to Scranton via the Erie Lackawanna. ES99/SE98 I'm kicking this one around still too because of the variety of equipment, but before I commit I need to locate some track maps of the line, especially around Dover/Rockaway. Equipment isn't hard to find for the most part, and that which isn't available, could be decaled with ease. 

4.) Raritan River Rail Road. Small 10 or so mile line in NJ which rostered 6 SW900's. Great railroad for switching enthusiasts, but only 1 locomotive choice, and railroad operates like a terminal. Interesting, but not convinced I'd be happy modeling it. Sadly, they lost their fight for independence from Conrail in 1980. :

5.) Maine Central. For a while I was really hyped on the MEC, after all it had a great color scheme for its locomotives, it served paper mills, New England is model genic itself. What crushed that hype though was once I got my hands on track charts and better understood how the railroad operated, it kinda got boring for me. In my opinion, its a railroad that serves a few pockets of "large industry" but otherwise barren in between those points. Also, train traffic was divided, eastbounds traveling one main line, while westbounds travel another. The Mountain Sub was a cool idea, but it too was patterned the same way, some pockets of interest spread over a long distance of "yawn" boredom. Don't know how those crews didn't fall asleep. Its been relegated to a "possibility" but not a priority. 

6.) Baltimore and Ohio pre-1957. Probably the closest I've been to being "sold" on an idea. I like the idea of 3 digit road diesels, with some steam still roaming, the Gray/Blue/Yellow is attractive, much of the equipment is available (though re-decalling would be required.) outside of the Baltimore area, things become interesting (besides, everybody models the east end, I'd be interested in west end, such as near St Louis, or perhaps outside Chicago). Would give that "mid west feel" while still being an eastern prototype. My only real gripe so far is that the B&O didn't roster any RS-2/3's. I probably can fudge that shortcoming however. Still researching... 

food for thought, a couple others, with no analysis yet.

Rock Island, Delaware and Hudson (pre-guilford, probably pre-Conrail), Boston and Maine, Western Pacific, Southern Railway, and as always, I'm open to suggestions. I will say this though, its not easy to find something that interests "you".


   

[Iain]

I myself have always had an interest in the Maine two-footers.  I've also always enjoyed many of the North Carolina shortlines.

Everyone here knows I like NS, but that was actually Class 1.

[jmlaboda]

"The D&S served a number of industries as well as providing bridge traffic between SOU and SAL,..."

Actually it was between the N&W, SAL's Durham line and the SAL main to the south, with coal being handled from the N&W in Durham and aggregate being hauled into Durham from the D&S's south end, which was a part of its regular shipments for years.  They had a fairly large contingent of open hoppers specifically for this sort of traffic.

Although the SAL used ALCO RSC2s and RSC3s on its Durham branch the SAL would keep a GP7 or GP9 in Durham itself for switching purposes.  These units, way too heavy for the branch, would be brought in and taken out by the D&S between Durham and Apex.

Just prior to the SCL-financed GP38-2s showed up the D&S was using a number of N&W GP9s and a couple of N&W RS11s as the Baldwins became less reliable.  The GP38-2s, in turn, provided for most of the BLWs to be retired.  When the line was absorbed by the SCL these units were relettered SCL while keeping the D&S paint, with this not changing (IIRC) until the Family Lines paint was applied.

Also, although never really used much on the line until around the time of the merger one SCL M5 cupola caboose was sublettered for the D&S in Family Lines French gray and ribbons (I last saw it in Richmond, Va. in the late-70s).

The line from Apex south was scrapped since there remained no traffic once the aggregate shipments stopped (the line was owned by a Durham construction company for a number of years after Duke Power divested itself of it) while the American Tobacco Co. branch lasted a few years more, before it, too, was abandoned... now nothing more than a hiking trail.

A lot has changed in Durham... I heard a while back that even the original NS line into Durham has also been scrapped, but there are some remnants of the old D&S, N&W and SAL trackage that still can be found, if you know where to look.  The N&W branch into Durham was cut back to Roxboro after the creation of NS Corp since the Durham segment was deemed excess given the SOU line through town, though there is still some trackage remaining in Durham as well... supposedly for some sort of trash train that purposed but started.  Going from five railroads to two and loosing the very important (to N.C. and Va.) tobacco traffic has changed railroading in town... but there is at least all the memories.

Want to take a peak at the D&S?  Check out Warren Calloway's D&S shots at RR Picture Archives...
http://wcalloway.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=DS

[Nato]

  I have always thought the"Fiddletown & Copperopolis" from Cartoomist Carl Fallberg,his Railroad Magazine cartoons and some new ones that were compiled into a book in 1985

[SkipGear]

For me, it is convinent that my choice of shortline runs on the tracks that I am modeling, only 50 years later. My layout will be 47-50 B&O Ohio Division (Cincy - Chilicothe) around my home town, Loveland Ohio. Currently, I&O uses the line between Cincinnati and Blanchester, then on to Washington Court House.

Industries include: Stone/Gravel Quarry, Grain (Lot's of Grain), Ethonal plant (Loaded Grain in, loaded tanks out), Truss fabrication facility (Centerbeams of lumber), Lowe's and Home Depot (More Centerbeams and boxcars), Candelite (boxcars of glassware from another industry on the line...), Anchor Hocking.

These and a few others are in and around Washington Courthouse. The loads too and from are switched in a small staging yard in Oakley, originating from Queensgate Yard (CSX main yard in Cincy).

The line travels through urban settings, along a river bank, up a creek valley, and across corn fields. Total line length is around 50-75 miles.

Power is a dog's breakfast so to say: Ex SP SD45, Ex CP SD40-2's, SD45T-2's, SD40T-2's, GP50's, and MP15, and a few other oddballs seen on the line. I can even get away with a CSX autorack train as they were rerouted on the line for a couple weeks last year.

I only wish I had the room to implement all of that. Fortunately I don't have to because a friend is in the process of doing it himself. We arrived at the same theme without knowing the other was pursuing it. His however is an entire basement layout build as a giant helix so to say. Cincinnati  is at about 2' off the floor, three laps around the basement and two penninsulas, the layout is 5' off the floor and has arrived in Chillicothe with very little compression of the towns and critical landmarks.

[Nato]

  Some how I double clicked before finishing my post. The"Fiddletown & Copperopois"from Cartoonist Carl Fallberg's book  would a great humorious shortline to model. The 1985 book Heimburger House Publishing Company 310 Lathrop Avenue River Forest,Illinois 60305I worth owning, Parts of the line from Fiddletown can be modeled as there is a detailed map in the center of the book that shows line changes,abandonments,proposed branche lines, and terrain ,mountains valleys,etc. is shown. Nate Goodman (Ntao).

[Ian MacMillan]

5.) Maine Central. For a while I was really hyped on the MEC, after all it had a great color scheme for its locomotives, it served paper mills, New England is model genic itself. What crushed that hype though was once I got my hands on track charts and better understood how the railroad operated, it kinda got boring for me. In my opinion, its a railroad that serves a few pockets of "large industry" but otherwise barren in between those points. Also, train traffic was divided, eastbounds traveling one main line, while westbounds travel another. The Mountain Sub was a cool idea, but it too was patterned the same way, some pockets of interest spread over a long distance of "yawn" boredom. Don't know how those crews didn't fall asleep. Its been relegated to a "possibility" but not a priority. 
   

This is the problem with NE roads in VT, NH, MA, and ME as most from 1960+ were really bridge routes. The pick up from the west and drop off in seaside cities, sending back empty cars to the west.

In order for the MEC and B&M to be operating more than that you really need to model the 40-50's where there was a lot of online traffic. Living and growing up in NH I am pretty much required to like the B&M or MEC. I am partial more to the MEC because of their later harvest gold and green paint colors and the Mountain Division is one of my favorite lines. Having taken my motorcar on almost the entire Mountain Division, it makes you want to model it more. The Mountain Division is also a prime example of the modeling time havign a very big difference on what is available for industries. In the 1950's the Mountain Division was a very busy line with 2 helper districts and lots of line side industry; While in the 1970's it was 2 trains a day (RY-1, YR-2) with no industries between Portland and really St. Johnsbury. Every once and a while Carroll Tank in Carroll NH would send something out, but that was generally a special High and Wide movement. There were several customers on the Mountain Div that wanted service, but in those times MEC was owned by US Filter who really was not interested in retaining business, let alone drum some up. On my layout, MEC as well as B&M were absorbed into CR, which would really would have drasticly changed railroading in Northern New England. Prime example of that is the money NS is dumping into PanAm on the West End of the B&M, which is now 40MPH track, up from 10-15!

[jsoflo]

I have always wanted to incorporate more Reading and Blue Mountain Northern into my layout. The RBMN has quite a few on-line industries it serves, such as a Yuengling brewery, Proctor and Gamble, and lots of coal. Most of its locos are SD40-2's and SD50's (which are available from Atlas and usually cheap as its not apparently a popular scheme) and for a challenge one could model their SD-38's. They have very little of their own rolling stock- mostly gondolas and coal hoppers, but most of their coal traffic seems to roll in NS topgons. It interchanges with CP and NS as well as a number of regional shortlines and has a great informative website and has been featured in a number of informative articles.

Because of the area I am modeling I am including some RBMN coal traffic, representing Port of Baltimore destined NS-hand off traffic, but I'd love to get a brewery module done if I had the space.

[SirTainly]

Another Canadian suggestion would be the BC Hydro/Southern Railway of BC lines in Vancouver, plenty of big industries with switching and some straight track running out of the city to the east. I toyed with doing this line as small layout in my apartment, but decided to do something based on the NAR.

[jmlaboda]

In talking about the D&S's GP38-2s being relettered to SCL Warren Calloway just happened to post a great pic...
http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2928367700106274994JsrKiS

[extra7000south]

Meridian & Bigbee Railroad based in Meridian, Mississippi is one of my favorites.
It's about 60 miles North of where I live.



Even though it is now part of the Genessee & Wyoming shortline chain http://www.gwrr.com/about_us it is still a quite active railroad.
You see all types of diesels from other G&W owned lines and lease engines which makes modeling possibilities endless.  





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Here's some history on the M&B;
http://hawkinsrails.net/shortlines/mb/mb.htm
http://www.msrailroads.com/M&BR.htm

And a couple of M&B articles that I wrote on another site;
http://www.scalerailsonline.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1708
http://www.scalerailsonline.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3743