Any easy to read charts out there?

[Anonymous]

As much as I hate to admit that you guys have got me started studying train history, I have. Problem is, it's taking too long! I wish I had access to either the Cliff Notes or a cheat sheet. What I would love to see is:

1. A chart showing when the different diesels went into operation and if they're now basically retired, what was there primary year range of service.

2. A "family tree" of when who aquired or merged with who.

I'm not to the point of taking my consists too seriously yet, but it would be nice to be able to put those two lists side by side and see if what you are running actually ran.

For example: If I'm learning correctly, it's perfectly logical to run Rio Grande, Cotton Belt and Southern Pacific together because they're all related. I don't think it would be correct to run a Rio Grande F-7 with those cars listed because I don't think they were related when F-7s were in their prime.....but I don't know!

Just wondering if somebody already has this type of info listed somewhere in easy to read chart style format?

 

 

 

 

[chuck]

http://www.spikesys.com/Trains/fmly_tre.html

roster info tends to be by class/road name rather than by engine type:

http://www.ole.net/~rcraig/MPR.html

http://membrane.com/~elmer/rail/

[dbaker48]

Chuck - Wow what great information, extremely interesting!!  Thanks so much for sharing!!

Adynspop - Great question, I have been curious about that for a long time, thanks for asking.
 Oh, by the way I had the picture of the Cotton Belt on last Sundays photo post.  It is a K-Line engine, with TMCC, the horn sounds a little strange, kind of a wavering sound.  But I'm pleased with it.  I actually bought two, I needed something that was rugged, inexpensive that my son and I could transport to a train club weekly.  It has served us well,  I think the cost was $200, if you want I supply you with source information.

[lionelsoni]

Pop, this Kalmbach book, which seems to be out of print, might interest you: http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=666217771&searchurl=bx%3Don%26sts%3Dt%26ds%3D30%26bi%3D0%26pn%3Dkalmbach%26y%3D13%26kn%3Dhistory%2Bamerican%26x%3D59%26sortby%3D2

[cnw1995]

Funny, I just noticed a string of SSW hoppers on the Blommer Chocolate Company siding on the way into work this morning. I remember forgetting the Cotton Belt was part of SP now part of UP. Don't see too many of that ilk here - more MoPac (saw a striking white and black hopper in the North Ave yard too - with a huge eagle)

[Roger Bielen]

A number of years back either Trains, or Classic Trains, ran a series of family trees including the logos.  Regretably, I think I passed those issues on to a youngster with an interest in trains to encourage him.  It would be great if the article can be rerun, or at least if someone can find the archive reference here on the forum.