Trains.com

Motive Power timeline

1514 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: West Coast
  • 4,122 posts
Posted by espeefoamer on Saturday, August 20, 2005 4:12 PM
K4 1914. GG1 1934. GS4 1941. FT 1939. PA 1947. GP7 1949. SD45 1966.
SD40-2 1972.
Ride Amtrak. Cats Rule, Dogs Drool.
  • Member since
    July 2005
  • From: In the New York Soviet Socialist Republic!
  • 1,391 posts
Posted by PBenham on Friday, August 19, 2005 8:11 PM
Motive power wants to know about PRR's K4s Time line. Easy- Altoona/Juniata shops built the prototype,1737 in 1914. By the time they were prepared to go ahead with fleet production, WWI was in full force, and PRR had to devote shop floor space to L1s Mikados, only one of their better designs, and A fine Locomotive for their time. When the USRA was abolished, PRR got serious about K4s production,building 'em well into the 20's. They were almost all hand fired as built, with only the last order,having stokers. Does that help? I'm glad to oblige, PBenham ( Sometime before the end of this century they might get Altoona's K4s running,but,don't hold your breath.$ is very hard to come by, oh,well...)
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Culpeper, Va
  • 8,204 posts
Posted by IRONROOSTER on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 2:59 PM
I have never seen a timeline for all specific locomotives. Most likely you'll have to go after each railroad separately. Even then, the railroad may have sold the locomotives to other lines who ran them for years.

Some railroad histories, especially for smaller roads like the Ma&Pa have the info in the back. Other roads like the PRR have books written on just their motive power, sometimes just one locomotive type or even class within type.

This site http://www.spikesys.com/Trains/wyte_sys.html has some info on when the first of a wheel type was made. Kalmbach's books "Model Railroader Cyclopedia, Volume 1: Steam" and "Model Railroader Cyclopedia, Volume 2: Diesel Locomotives" should help also.

For the time frame 1945-1955 there were probably locomotives of all wheel arrangements running somewhere in the U.S. except for maybe a 2-4-0 and a 4-2-0 which never were popular anyway.

Enjoy
Paul
If you're having fun, you're doing it the right way.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 1:04 PM
Wide range is why am looking at that time frame[:)]. I am "building" a Trainz layout. I was thinking about setting it around that time frame. Maybe 1945-55 would be better. Is that the more specific you were looking for? I was thinking someone must have built a time line of steam locomotives and another for diesels. If not I may have to do the research my self.

Thanks for the reply
  • Member since
    March 2016
  • From: Burbank IL (near Clearing)
  • 13,540 posts
Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 12:56 PM
Welcome to the forums. I'd love to help answer your question but it helps if you get a bit more specific. A 1940-1960 timeframe covers pretty much the last of steam and most first-generation diesels. Any domestic GE diesels except for industrials would not fit in this scenario and any EMD's with 645 engines would also be out.
The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Motive Power timeline
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, August 17, 2005 10:40 AM
Does anyone know of a detailed timeline for when motive power models were introduced? When were PRR K4s first introduced and the last use, when were GP9s introduced etc. I am trying to nail down what would be protype for a given time frame (1940-1960) Thanks for any help.

SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter