Riverboat-train interactions

[Anonymous]

Ok, since I'm in the 1870-1890 range, i figure a riverboat would be a nice touch to the river city I'm planning. Simple layout, Train comes to docks, passengers and cargo are transfered to the Riverboat for an excursions further up or down the mighty Miss.

Now you say, but the mighty miss was spanned several times by rail bridges and rail goes up and down the river. Yes, but it was still cheaper to send products from the northern Mississippi river to the ports in the south by boat than rail. so Many companies chose to ship to riverfront cities by rail, then ship the good down river by Riverboats.

So I figure I'd model a city that deals with the transfer of good between the Riverboats and the Railroads. In doing so Iw anted a Riverboat on the Layout to Show it's true nature, instead of just dropping cars off on a dock.

So far, i've discovered this: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/seagifts/kinofmisrivw.html
Now it's slightly off scale at 1:80, but I figure that'll make it seem just a tad bigger and probably won't affect the layout to much.

So, what does everyone think?

Jay.

[dehusman]

Look in the MR for articles on the Puye and Phui RR by Rev. Gerry McGee. He ed a 1906 version of what you are proposing.

Dave H.

[Jetrock]

Sacramento is also a river city--at the confluence of the American and Sacramento Rivers, there was a lot of waterborne traffic (and still is, at the Port of Sacramento slightly to the south and across the river from Sacramento proper--with rail connections via theYolo Short Line RR.)

Riverboats were a common sight in operation up until about World War II--there are still a couple, primarily as tourist trips, with one big boat (the Delta Queen--its sister ship, the Delta King, was moved to the Mississippi long ago and still carries passengers) permanently docked as a floating hotel and restaurant.

Southern Pacific had a line of riverboats, in addition to passenger rail service, from Sacramento to San Francisco, and there were several big sets of riverfront warehouses with docks on one side and railroad lines on the other.

I'm doing a somewhat riverfront-y scene--it will be pretty modest, since it's a shelf layout. The scene will show the railroad side of the riverside wharf. The backdrop will feature the warehouse itself with sidings for freight cars, and a gap in the warehouses will show a view of the river and a riverboat on the far bank (taken from a photo from the actual location being modeled!) to give a sense of place.

Being able to include a whole riverboat would be impressive indeed. You could include both passenger and freight transshipment (at separate terminals) if you were so inclined.

[Anonymous]

It's a hell of a model. It would look really good, it's a pity that it doesn't say (a) how big it is and (b) what period it is from. I don't think it would be quite right in the 1920s that I model.

good luck to you.

I originally had an idea for a layout where there was a river boat that could take rail cars directly on it but i think this is a more typical arrangement that would look really cool.

neil

[DSchmitt]

It would not be inappropiate to have both docks to transfer people and cargo between trains and riverboats and a car ferry operation for crossing the river.

[DSchmitt]

An additional thought

At Port Costa on the Sacramento River the Southern Pacific had a car ferry operation with two float bridges and there were also docks with grain warehouses served by ocean going ships.

[dehusman]

The MoP used a Russian Decapod to work the car ferry slip at Baton Rouge.

If you see a copy of Joe Colias' "Mopac Power" there is a chapter on the Mississippi River car ferries.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by neilmunck
[(a) how big it is and (b) what period it is from. I don't think it would be quite right in the 1920s that I model.

Length 27", Height 10", Scale 1:80

And riverboats like this would fit in a 1920's atmosphere as well.

Jay

[Jetrock]

Indeed, NTDN, riverboats were working the Missippi in the 1920's, and still do--so regardless of your era they wouldn't necessarily be out of place!

[Anonymous]

Many parts of this country is bounded by rivers before the rails came. When the two meet is a wonderful marriage. I remember that the B and O had a cross harbor (ok not a river) operation with Reefers of Bananas. Louisville Ky had several riverside docks for heavy industry as did Charleston WVa. I see nothing wrong with having riverboats for cargo and frieght at a railhead, as a model industry for traffic sources it is fantasic and a break from the usual diecast vehicles and paper houses.

I myself am looking for a frieghter and 1/80 may be a bit inclined to simply place one as a dock backdrop. Those things are HUGE.