Doodlebug question

[jecorbett]

I have seen pics of both model and prototype doodlebugs pulling a trailing coach and have read that sometimes they might also pull a boxcar or two. Realisitically, how big a consist could a doodlebug pull. Since these were designed to run on lightly traveled branchlines, I'm sure there wasn't much need for them to pull a train of any length but would it be prototypical for them to haul 4 or 5 freight cars and/or a coach or two.

[marknewton]

4 or 5 cars at a pinch, OR a coach or two would be prototypical.

[Anonymous]

The terain would have a great impact on the "spare" Horse Power to move both the doodlebug and added "trailers" be they freight or passenger. Whether the box cars were fully loaded or running LCL/mail bags etc..

Will

[markpierce]

Doodlebugs had little power to spare. They could just handle themselves on almost any kind of grade. So, I'd avoid pulling even a car or two on other than very "flat" territory. Perhaps the McKeen was the worst. Although streamlined (pointed at the front), they were so underpowered (even on gentle "valley" grades) and unreliable, the SP pulled them out of service quickly.

[AltonFan]

Most doodlebugs pulled lightweight trailers, designed for use with the doodlebug itself.

I've seen pictures of doodlebugs pulling one or two standard passenger cars, but never much more than that. FWIW, the CB&Q had a branch in the midwest that used a doodlebug as a switcher in the late 1960s - early 1970s. But again, the trains were not very long.

[TomDiehl]

The one on the East Broad Top has Brill-Westinghouse mechanics in a home built body. They have a coach that was assigned to it for times that they needed extra passenger capacity, and it was modified with roller bearings in the journals. There were reports of it switching a couple loaded hoppers, but due to its historic nature, it only hauls itself now.

[tomikawaTT]

One Santa Fe doodlebug was articulated and powered to haul a half-dozen cars in branchline mixed train service. MR published a prototype plan a good many years ago.

Chuck

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Depends on how far you wi***o stretch the doodlebug (motor car) label. ATSF M-190, the articulated mentioned above, did not carry passengers and could pull about 20-30 cars. RI had several motor cars (9006-9014?, a little help here) which did not carry passengers and could also handle about 20-30 cars. All were rated at 900 HP and were probably closer to locomotives than motor cars.

[doctorwayne]

Lots of good info already provided on the prototype. Heres a photo of a freelanced HO scale gas/electric. The body is a modified Rivarossi combine, with details from Cal-Scale, Details West, Detail Associates, and PSC, among others. The pilot is from a Bachmann Santa Fe Northern. The front truck, frame, fuel tank and drive train are from an Athearn F-7, and the whole shebang is powered by a Mashima can motor. Pickup is via all wheels.




I normally run this by itself or pulling a reefer or standard coach. However, it will easily outpull an unmodified Athearn Mike, and can handle 7 or 8 cars up an uncompensated 2.5% grade.

Wayne

[wjstix]

I believe the Chicago Great Western "Blue Bird" and "Red Bird" trains in the 1920's-30's were doodlebugs with 3-4 passenger cars all (doodlebug and car) painted alike.

Budd cars were very underpowered, the M-StL had an RDC with a Budd coach that they ran together until the RDC failed from the strain, they ended up pulling the stainless steel Budd car with an old doodlebug.

[David_Telesha]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wjstix

I believe the Chicago Great Western "Blue Bird" and "Red Bird" trains in the 1920's-30's were doodlebugs with 3-4 passenger cars all (doodlebug and car) painted alike.

Budd cars were very underpowered, the M-StL had an RDC with a Budd coach that they ran together until the RDC failed from the strain, they ended up pulling the stainless steel Budd car with an old doodlebug.

I wouldn't call RDC's under-powered... The New Haven started running RDC's with LW American Flyer car trailers (painted silver to match), but the only reason the practice ended was because Budd threatened to void the warranty.

[wjstix]

Similar story I guess, Budd told M-StL (several times) not to try to pull a car with their RDC.

[marknewton]

QUOTE: Originally posted by wjstix

Budd cars were very underpowered, the M-StL had an RDC with a Budd coach that they ran together until the RDC failed from the strain, they ended up pulling the stainless steel Budd car with an old doodlebug.

I wonder if this is the only instance of RDCs being replaced by a doodlebug? [:)]

The M&St.L put 11 gas-electrics into service in 1930-31, replacing all steam hauled passenger trains except #5 & #6, the "North Star Limited". Mechanical Superintendent Bill Landmesser was quoted as saying, "They'd pull everything we could hang on them". The road not only used them in passenger service, but for MoW trains, and hauling their business cars such as the heavyweight "Twin Cities". In winter one of the road's two heater cars was added to the consist to provide steam heat to the business cars.

After WW2 the road converted some of their troop sleepers and aluminium boxcars into trailers for the GEs and RDCs. There are published photos showing a GE hauling a Budd streamline coach, an aluminium boxcar trailer, and a clerestory-roof wooden baggage car - quite an interesting looking consist!

On occasions the GE's were used to haul stock cars loaded with hogs, or meat reefers from Albert Lea. GE-25 was converted to a weed sprayer, and hauled a tank car loaded with herbicide.

From 1949 to 1954, seven of the GEs were repowered with Caterpillar diesels rated at 400hp. As wjstix noted, after the failure of the Budd cars, four of the diesel powered cars were rebuilt to replace them. They had a small passenger compartment added, and were painted silver with red and white "scare stripes" - very jazzy!

Anyway, forgive me for rambling, but my intention was to illustrate the versatility of doodlebugs. I love 'em! [:)]

All the best,

Mark.

[Misteslaus]

The Santa Fe had quite a collection of the creatures - up to and including the M-190 which could be the king of the doodlebugs. It finished out revenue service driving folks from Clovis, NM to Carlsbad with just one observation car -- makes a really nice little train on my layout. Differing versions of doodlebugs could take differing numbers of cars -- out in the Texas high plains and the New Mexico LLano Estacado 5 or 6 box cars would not have been uncommon. Santa Fe's two Budd cars were not nearly as successful for them at least.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

The CGW "Blue Bird" ran between Minneapolis and Rochester and consisted of rebuilt McKeen cars. Many McKeen cars were rebuilt with diesel-electric drive replacing the straight mechanical drive with which the cars came.

ATSF M-190, with its articulated lay-out, could be considered a logical design predecessor to UP M-10000 and CB&Q 9900.

[IRONROOSTER]

Here's the Ma & Pa pulling a coach and and mail/baggage car.
Enjoy
Paul