Hi All
I have decided to open another discussion to ask advice about a project i would like to realise
I have 5 locomotives of the ATSF early diesel transitional era all of them are zebra stipes i would like to make a diorama or a small lay-out to have this locos prototopically at home i would like very much an advice on how to achieve this as it is my first American lay-out and i need all the guidance i can get
I was thinking of a service facility yard were to display locos that are coming in for a service/revision or a rest
what do you advice me to do ?
the following are the locomotives in my roster
RS-1 S-2 GP 7 FM 16-44 [2] all of them are in black with silver stripes of the ATSF
thanks for your guidance
I am leaning toward the Kansas City area. I have seen photos of the FM's working out of Argentine in the early 50's. I believe the GP-7's were often there. Can't say for sure about the Alco engines but the RS-1's were used a lot for passenger terminal duties. Did ATSF do their own switching at KC Union Station?
Charlie
hi Charlie
Argentine seems a good choise but i will probably need to do a somewhat small service facility ficticious location to accomodate the oddity of the the different locomotives and get some larger modeller licence
I was thinking of somenthing of a service small yard for locomotives or and cars with this ATSF diesels bringing in boxcars with spare parts and replacements items being unloded at the facility
Is this a feasible purpose at an american service yard [atsf] around the late 1950s ?
need your advice and guidance
thanks
Is your mind set on an engine servicing facility. Most, if not all, of your black/white zebra stripe locos were found in passenger stations and coach yards performing switching chores and passenger car movements.
You could set up a stub end passenger station and nearby coach yard like Dearborn in Chicago. Maybe add a passenger car wash facility. Those facilities often featured box cars as well for various purposes.
Just a thought.
Rich
Alton Junction
hi Rich
this is infact an excellent idea
what was the purpose of the boxcars in general ?
If Frank is listening in, maybe he can comment on this. Santa Fe had a passenger loco servicing area near the 21st Street interlocking in Chicago, but its freight operations were concentrated farther west. That was outside my own territory. Can anybody describe the facilities for Santa Fe freight locos in Chicago during the 1950's - 1960's? That might be a pretty good option, and a visiting RS-1 from the passenger service side probably wouldn't be out of place by much.
excellent idea
hi Frank
where are you ? can you help or comment on this suggestion ?
any other experienced member's suggestions?
ACY If Frank is listening in, maybe he can comment on this. Santa Fe had a passenger loco servicing area near the 21st Street interlocking in Chicago, but its freight operations were concentrated farther west. That was outside my own territory. Can anybody describe the facilities for Santa Fe freight locos in Chicago during the 1950's - 1960's? That might be a pretty good option, and a visiting RS-1 from the passenger service side probably wouldn't be out of place by much.
Its primary purpose was to serve as the eastern terminus of the AT&SF freight operations. Cattle were the principal commodity being shipped into Chicago and then transferred to the nearby Chicago Stock Yards.
Produce from the West Coast was also shipped east in refrigerated cars. Santa Fe switchers and yard locos would make the runs between Corwith and Dearborn Station.
A third purpose of freight was to haul supplies for passenger operations from the West Coast to facilities at Dearborn Station and its nearby coach yard and servicing facility at 1th Street.
Here I is,
The site that Rich is referring to, was Corwith Hump yard. The Hump started at 47th & Archer Ave right over the steel underpass that was there. It extended all the way to 39th and Pershing road. To the west towards the rear of the complex were the engine shops, fuel, engine repair very large complex. You could see most of the facility hump yard side from my parents house attic two story building. I lived there 10yrs. One and a half blocks from the hump yard. They used twin SD7 Zebra stripe engines for the hump and many of their freight trains. RS 1's, 2's and SD's were a versitle engine used for pass or freight. Used to be a real large carloading facility on the west side of that yard, starting at 47th st. Very well known name called Clipper Carloading. Drake ave. paralleled the Hump yard, I lived one half block east of Drake on St. Louis ave. starting 1956.
Around the 80's, not sure on date that whole facility was changed to an Intermodal yard, but all the service facilities are still there.
Take Care!
Frank
Frank, that is so cool Got any photos?
Rich,
Sad to say No. I have some of the house and a couple of cars I had then. I had a layout in that attic, don't even have any pic's of that, just memories. I was a teenager then, so I really wasn't thinking that much about trains.
By the way, You mentioned 39th & Kedzie, technically that's not true. From 43rd & Kedzie to 38th st & Kedzie was Crane Co. Foundry, the ones that make toilet bowls, bath tubs and plumbing. West of Kedzie about four blocks was A.T.S.F yard. Now A.T.S.F. owns all that land and the entrance to the Intermodal yard is at 41st & Kedzie. Used to pull loads out of there, when I was leased to Galaxy Transport, one of the trucks I used was the one in my Avatar.
Frank, it's hard to pinpoint the exact location.
As I look at my 1946 railroad map book, the lead track into Corwith off the AT&SF mainline was at 38th and Central Park. So, the yard beginning at 39th Street (Pershing Road) is about right. But I will grant you, Kedzie is 3200 West and Central Park is 3600 West. So, sue me.
LOL
Gotta' lotta' money?
Frank, have you seen this before?
http://www.craneco.com/Media/crane_150.pdf
Check out pages 34 and 35.
thanks very much for your excellent informations much appreciate
same goes for you
You guys on this forum are living encyclopedia
thanks to all
No I have never seen the PDF. But the building with the clock tower was facing Kedzie ave. That whole complex, had a concrete and vertical black iron bar fence all around it. It was gigantic and well kept. Many, many steel trucks were parked on 43rd st by the side entrance. From the fence to the street used to be all grass, until all trucks had to enter there, then it was gravel. Rather than tie up Kedzie ave. At the west end was the rail service, gondolas full of scrap iron and pig.
Thanks for the link.
Stefanuccio,
You are very welcome...My friend. Glad I could help.
Have A Good One!