A few years ago or more there was an MRR article about a Minnesota shortline that was only a few miles in length. MRR published a switching track plan for this shortline. I remember that looked like a lot of fun and had a wide variety of rolling stock. Can anyone help me identify it and when it was published? I'm thinking the name was Minnesota transfer railway or something like that. Thanks for any help!
Found a layout called Progressive Rail based in Lakeville, MN but it was more than a few years ago... Seemed like there was a more recent article or is my mind failing me?
IDRick A few years ago or more there was an MRR article about a Minnesota shortline that was only a few miles in length. MRR published a switching track plan for this shortline. I remember that looked like a lot of fun and had a wide variety of rolling stock. Can anyone help me identify it and when it was published? I'm thinking the name was Minnesota transfer railway or something like that. Thanks for any help!
Stein designed a layout and posted it on this site several years ago:
http://www.macrodyn.com/ldsig/wiki/index.php?title=Minnesota_Transfer_Railway_-_HO_-_Stein_Rypern
Gary
There is an article on Minnesota's Otter Tail Valley RR in the January 2018 MR.
Subscribers may view the N scale track plan here:http://mrr.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database/2017/11/n-scale-otter-tail-valley-rr
More description might help others help you.
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Much farther back, there is Linda Sand's article on the Nicollet Avenue Spur in Minneapolis in Model Railroad Planning 1998. Neat prototype.
I was originally looking for the progressive rail but couldn't remember the name. Based on my memory, I was thinking it might be fun to further evaluate and perhaps adopt in a future plan. Looking closer at the progressive rail layout reveals a couple serious weaknesses. As presented, it is straight forward to switch all the trailing switches with the loco in the lead. However, assuming loco in the lead, there are no run around tracks which make it impossible to drop cars at a facing point switch. It could be done with a second loco at the back of the yard which would push cars into the facing point switches. Finally, it is impossible to switch Wasau and ISG resources unless one uses two locos alternating between push and pull. But maybe I'm missing something... The plan is shown here for subscribers: http://mrr.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database/2014/06/ho-scale-progressive-rail
IDRick I was originally looking for the progressive rail but couldn't remember the name. Based on my memory, I was thinking it might be fun to further evaluate and perhaps adopt in a future plan. Looking closer at the progressive rail layout reveals a couple serious weaknesses. As presented, it is straight forward to switch all the trailing switches with the loco in the lead. However, assuming loco in the lead, there are no run around tracks which make it impossible to drop cars at a facing point switch. It could be done with a second loco at the back of the yard which would push cars into the facing point switches. First, there are no run around tracks. Finally, it is impossible to switch Wasau and ISG resources unless one uses two locos alternating between push and pull. But maybe I'm missing something... The plan is shown here for subscribers: http://mrr.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database/2014/06/ho-scale-progressive-rail
I was originally looking for the progressive rail but couldn't remember the name. Based on my memory, I was thinking it might be fun to further evaluate and perhaps adopt in a future plan. Looking closer at the progressive rail layout reveals a couple serious weaknesses. As presented, it is straight forward to switch all the trailing switches with the loco in the lead. However, assuming loco in the lead, there are no run around tracks which make it impossible to drop cars at a facing point switch. It could be done with a second loco at the back of the yard which would push cars into the facing point switches. First, there are no run around tracks. Finally, it is impossible to switch Wasau and ISG resources unless one uses two locos alternating between push and pull. But maybe I'm missing something... The plan is shown here for subscribers: http://mrr.trains.com/how-to/track-plan-database/2014/06/ho-scale-progressive-rail
I believe Progressive Rail does, in fact, use a loco at each end of the train to switch the industries.
- Douglas
cuyama Much farther back, there is Linda Sand's article on the Nicollet Avenue Spur in Minneapolis in Model Railroad Planning 1998. Neat prototype.
5Minnesota Western RR; 4x8
MRR May 1989
I don't have this article so I don't know the details.
Doughless I believe Progressive Rail does, in fact, use a loco at each end of the train to switch the industries.
IDRick Doughless I believe Progressive Rail does, in fact, use a loco at each end of the train to switch the industries. :) Well that tells me I read the track work correctly! Switching with two locos would "get old quickly" in my book. Thanks, I probably should have gone back and reread the article first!
Yes, if designed with a prototype in mind, a model railroad should face many of the same operating challenges the real railroad faces, and offer the same solutions.
I like the two loco method. Very efficient, IMO. What I would find boring, if not outright frustrating, would be to do the same thing over and over. Runaround the train and switch facing point industries in one area, couple up and head down the layout about 10 feet, runaround again and switch those industries, then move another 10 feet, etc. Assuming a large layout.
Ideally, I'd have just one runaround on the layout, near one end of the line. Switch the trailing switches as I head towards the runaround, then runaround the train, then switch the formerly facing switches on the way back when they are trailing switches. Less back and forth movement and have a few more inches for scenery along the way. Or for some variety, design an industry where you have to shove a cut of cars a good way also.
Progressive Rail is an interesting railroad. Having grown up along the Minneapolis Northfield and Southern Ry, it's great to see some of the old MNS lines being operated by Progressive Rail using the old paint scheme (and even some of the old engines) of the MN&S. Their website has some neat information, including aerial views of their lines:
http://www.progressiverail.com/pgr.html
Note that the Airlake Industrial Park in Lakeville is part of what they call their "Jesse James Line" and the old MN&S High Line - referred to as the "Nicollet Avenue Spur" in Linda Sand's 1998 track plan - is called the "Dan Patch Line" by Progressive Rail. (The MN&S was originally built as the Minneapolis, St. Paul, Rochester and Dubuque Electric Traction Company, better known as the Dan Patch Electric Line, and is often credited as the first railroad to use diesels (then called "oil electrics") to haul freight trains.
Question. What was that first diesel frieght hauled. A little shortline, northampton and bath , outside Allentown(Billie Joel) Pa had started diesel use in 1932 with a westinghouse a centercab. Added a second in 1934 making it fully dieselized. I went looking for the history. And of course, now i cannt find it
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
IDRick Gary, thanks for posting Stein's layout, we've lost a good friend, modeler, and resource with his passing.
Yes we have. Very sad. I had hoped to meet him the next time he was in Minnesota.
I liked the layout he was building, based on Minneapolis's warehouse district. I think it's still available on the web.
There is also a (very) short line in Cloquet, MN. It provides rail service to Sappi Paper. The Cloquet Terminal Railroad. I believe it has about six miles of track and interchanges. They have a good shop there which aided the North Shore Scenic Railroad in getting steam engine #28 back into operarting condition. Don't have a track plan but google earth may help.
God's Best & Happy Rails to You!
Bing (RIPRR The Route of the Buzzards)
The future: Dead Rail Society