Advice for Modeler new to US trains

[Anonymous]

As an ex-pat Brit, more used to modeling the British Great Western Railway in the 19202-40s, I'd like to ask help in modeling US prototypes.
I reckon I've room for an N-scale freight line, which I'd like to set in the steam-diesel transition era (e.g. 1951). As I'm based in Louisiana, I thought a SP line might fit the bill.
However, I've no idea as to the range of switchers and freight locos that would be run by the SP at that time, and which are available in N-scale. Any advice as to relevant prototypes or reference books would be welcome!

Martin J Ball

[andrechapelon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Meiriongwril

As an ex-pat Brit, more used to modeling the British Great Western Railway in the 19202-40s, I'd like to ask help in modeling US prototypes.
I reckon I've room for an N-scale freight line, which I'd like to set in the steam-diesel transition era (e.g. 1951). As I'm based in Louisiana, I thought a SP line might fit the bill.
However, I've no idea as to the range of switchers and freight locos that would be run by the SP at that time, and which are available in N-scale. Any advice as to relevant prototypes or reference books would be welcome!

Martin J Ball

The only available non-brass steam loco that even comes close to an SP prototype is the Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0. This engine bears a resemblance to SP classes C-28 and C-29. However, those locos were used on SP's lines west of El Paso. Still, it would give you a start.

If you're willing to use stand-in steam locomotives, the Model Power USRA light 4-6-2 and 2-8-2 could be used as both are available with Vanderbilt type oil tender. Model power has also come out with a 2-6-0 and a 4-4-0 model that bear some resemblance to SP classes E-23 (4-4-0) and M-4 (2-6-0). SP's lines east of El Paso used generally lighter power and both the aforementioned classes lasted into the early 1950's.

As for diesel, you're in luck. EMD F-3, F-7, GP-9. SW-7/9/1200 are readily available in N scale as are Baldwin VO-1000 and S-12. The ALCO S-2 and S-4 switchers have also been done in N scale as have the RSD-4/5 road switcher. Both Con-Cor and Lifelike have done the ALCO PA passenger loco(and in the SP scheme).

You also might want to check out Russell Straw's model of early 1950's Sugarland, Texas done in N Scale. http://www.railimages.com/gallery/russellstraw?page=1 . Not all the pictures are SP, but a great many are and some illustrate N scale engines kitbashed to represent SP prototypes.

Like this Kato USRA Heavy 2-8-2 altered to resemble an SP Mk-5 2-8-2: http://www.railimages.com/gallery/russellstraw/abx

He also bashed a Kato 2-8-2 into an SP F-1 2-10-2. http://www.railimages.com/gallery/russellstraw/adk

OTOH, now that Con-Cor has done a USRA 2-10-2, it probably could be kitbashed into a reasonable model of an SP F-5 2-10-2.

Hope this helps.

Andre

[dehusman]

In the 1950's in southern Louisiana, the SP would be hauling lots of sugar products, boxcars of sugar, gons of sugar cane, bagasse (ground up sugar cane stems, used to make Masonite/hardboard). The oil and chemical business would be fairly big, tank cars of petroleum products. There would also be gons of pipe and drill stem. Lots of Cotton coming to New Orleans for export. They would also be handling lots of produce from California to the SE US and also out of Texas. Paper and pulpwood would be big commodities in more northern LA.

Dave H.

[jawnt]

If you haven't already found it, do a Google search on Peter J. McClosky's Southern Pacific for a wealth of info. Much of the SP east of El Paso, Texas was called Texas & New Orleans RR in the first half of the 20th century. Good luck!

John T.

[dehusman]

having gone out to dinner and looking at the condiment bottles i suddenly realized that if you are doing the SP in LA, then you can have salt mines and since your will be going right through the New Iberia area, a Tobasco bottling plant.

East of Lafayette the TP will have branches crossing the SP and west of Lafayette it will be the MP, specifically the Orange & Northwestern, New Iberia and Northern.

Dave H.

[ericsp]

Although I am an SP fan, the 1950s are a bit before my time of interest. However, you might look around at the Southern Pacific Historical & Technical Society's website (link at the bottom of my post) and maybe consider joining. Some of the other links may also be useful.

[emdgp92]

http://www.rr-fallenflags.org has quite a few Southern Pacific (and other railroad) photos. Most show the locomotive type, and the date when the photo was taken.