Short passenger trains worth modelling

[k-59]

It was hardly the most direct route though, David.

 

Best, Pete.

Even so, I don't think the more direct NYC-D&H train was much longer by that time.

[dave1905]

 

Now this may not be an easy train to model as it requires 3 AC44Ws but it is certainly short - there is only one covered hopper! And you might say it is a switching movement but it sure looks like a train to me! Oh and it's street running too.

That was an easy one to decide. Its not a train. No marker.  

[dave1905]

Pretty much any class one will have locals with only one or two cars. Someplace I have slide I took in 1979 of the Fredonia Local (Durand, KS to Fredonia, KS on the MP) which was a ratty MP GP7, one boxcar and a caboose.

 

Look at the Reading Push-Pulls which ran with about 5 cars and an FP7 on either end (the cars had an MU connection in a pipe that was trainlined across the roofs of the cars). In later years when the FP7's were being re-worked, the train ran with a FP7 on one end and a GP30 on the other. They don't need turning facilities and ran several times a day in commuter service.

 

One other consideration is that train sizes change and just because a train is small one place, doesn't mean its small everywhere. We saw a train go by with 3 big engines and 4 cars. Digging into it it turns out the train had about 90 cars out of origin and set out all but 4 about 10 miles prior to where we were, then ran to its destination about 5 miles past us with only 4 cars.

[switcher 1]

Maybe I am missing the point somewhere, but surely the easiest train to model is an RDC. ( )

[highpeak]

The pattern alluded to by Dave H is relatively common where local business at the origin/destination has dried up but online traffic remains decent. In Maine, in the late 70s/early 80s the Grand Trunk train from Portland to Montreal would usually depart Portland with up to half a dozen engines but very little in the way of freight cars, there being very little local traffic any more. Portland was listed as an interchange point with the Maine Central, but in practice the interchange took place at Yarmouth or Danville junctions as working traffic along Commercial Street was a headache.

It probably came as a sweet relief to the GT when somebody set fire to the trestle over Back Cove in 1984 and operations moved to East Deering where there was some traffic to be had. What little local traffic remained in Portland was serviced by Maine Central via interchange at Yarmouth Jct.

[clark33]

Another short one. NP 210 local in 1950s.

 

 

[Oldddudders]

Maybe I am missing the point somewhere, but surely the easiest train to model is an RDC. ( )

But these might be more fun

 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3387506

 

and Bachmann do a fair representation in HO, maybe N.

[trisonic]

More fun?

 

This is being restored at Ringoes, NJ:

 

 

 

Best, Pete.

 

 

[switcher 1]

I've gone for RDC's, as I think Doodlebug gas electrics need to be turned.

(That & the fact that a couple came up for sale, which I promptly bought.)

[Alcanman]

But these might be more fun

 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3387506

 

and Bachmann do a fair representation in HO, maybe N.

That reminds me I have the Rock Island version Bachmann HO model. It still looks good even though it must be about 20 years old.

 

 

Mal

[Feather River Bill]

When the Western Pacific were waiting for their California Zephyr sets to arrive in 1949, they ran a service between Oakland and Salt Lake City called the Royal Gorge. It was a single F-3 (painted in CZ colors), a salvaged 4-8-2 tender (for extra fuel and water through the desert), and a couple heavyweight coaches. Once the WP took delivery of their Zepher sets, they continued the Royal Gorge until 1950 when they took delivery of two Budd RDCs. After that, if either one of the RDCs were down for maintenance, the WP would fire up the F-3, tender, and whatever equipment they could find to continue service.

[switcher 1]

 

 

until 1950 when they took delivery of two Budd RDCs

Very useful info, I had just found out that they used a RDC, but didn't know they had two, were they both RDC1's?

[Feather River Bill]

Very useful info, I had just found out that they used a RDC, but didn't know they had two, were they both RDC1's?

WP bought RDC-2s, numbered 375 and 376. They were nicknamed the Zephyrettes and ran until 1960. Both were sold to the Northern Pacific and became #B-31 and B-32 in May 1962. They eventually became BN property when in 1972 they were sold to Amtrak. One was written off in a grade crossing accident, the other I'm not aware of its location.

[switcher 1]

But these might be more fun

 

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3387506

 

and Bachmann do a fair representation in HO, maybe N.

I am now in the process of obtaining 2x (secondhand) Doodlebugs as they do appeal to me, my question now is, "How were they operated on the prototype?", any info greatfully received.

(Perhaps I could create a 'micro' to run them on.)

[shortliner]

AFAIK they ran with a second coach fairly often - but I think they may have needed a wye to turn them as they only drove from one end - may make it tight on a micro

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doodlebug_(rail_car) and lots of pictures on Google images

[CourthsVeil]

I have a Doodlebug, a nice runner. As Shortliner says, a bit long on my 4sqft micros (as well as on turntables ).

 

Bachmann Spectrum (just satisfied etc. …) make an additional coach - see there.

 

  Armin

 

 

 

 

edit: link updated

[chilgarth]

I am now in the process of obtaining 2x (secondhand) Doodlebugs as they do appeal to me, my question now is, "How were they operated on the prototype?", any info greatfully received.

(Perhaps I could create a 'micro' to run them on.)

See if you can find a copy of the following article "MR rides a doodlebug" by Paul Larson and Gordon Odegard, Model Railroader, 1959. I don't recall the month of publication, but if you contact Kalmbach they do photocopy articles from out-of-print MR's. A secondary reference is "Railroads you can model" edited by Mike Schafer, copyright 1976 by Kalmbach Publishing Co. (Long out of print) that updates the 1959 article as "GM&O doodlebug line.". The Bachmann doodlebug is a close fit to the GM&O prototype in the article. ... Coh

[dana]

Nmra in thier mag had an article on such a doublended doodle bug to bash

 

 

HOn30 version on shapeways  but cant seam to post linksto said site

[DavidB-AU]

A test train that would be easy to model.

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=477894

 

Cheers

David

[DavidB-AU]

Amusingly described as a "short commuter train".

 

http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=8596535

 

Cheers

David

[Glorious NSE]

Maybe I am missing the point somewhere, but surely the easiest train to model is an RDC. ( )

 

Depends, if you look at Amtrak's RDC fleet for instance you'll find they were gangwayed, and if you try to simply add the gangway to the RTR models available you will find that it covers up the headlight - the headlights on the real ones were mounted in a box on the roof, which of course isn't there...that quickly turns into quite a challenging bit of plastic-bashing!

 

I reckon the easiest would be something like an early 00s LA Metrolink, which might be as easy to model as opening some Athearn boxes, provided you didn't want to model too specific a loco!

[Supaned]

The Pennsylvania RR operated the Pemberton branch in New Jersey with a Baldwin S12 diesel and a single push-pull car converted from a P70 car. Looking at the photo in the link below , the main modifications involved a pair of headlights on the roof , a window in the gangway (presumably with a control stand inside), and some hazard stripes.

 

http://www.prslhs.com/Passenger_Car_Photos/PRSL_P70_1046.jpg

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=617869

 

I do like the run down appearance in the second picture as well.

 

Also , the Central of New Jersey operated some short push pull trains again with in-house converted cab cars that survived into NJDOT days (and some are now preserved). Another short train with a GP9 and two cars:

 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=193475

[alfsboy]

Another short one. NP 210 local in 1950s.

i have one third of that train .A brass caboose unpainted that  I bought for a short line rainy day .i keep getting the urge to paint it in NP colours.

[Jagboi]

CP's track evaluation train is short. There are 2 versions, one with a heavyweight car ( originally a "Cape" series observation car from 1929) and the other uses stainless cars. Locomotives can be just about anything CP has from rebuilt GP9's to SD40-2 and AC's

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=473525&nseq=10

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=459908&nseq=15

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=293789&nseq=51

[k-59]

For another short commuter train:

 

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=459724&nseq=25

 

The MILW way more than the other Chicago commuter railroads liked to right size their trains.