I model in HO and don't follow N that close, but I believe that there are some quality GP7/9 models in N scale. I don't know if any are offered with the chopped nose seen on at least one of these locomotives. That Eastern Alabama paint scheme will be difficult to copy in HO or N and won't be something that would have been offered painted by the manufacturor. Good luck.
Of course, L&N did operate some nice 4-axle Alco locomotives for many years, so there is a nice excuse to run some of them.
Bill
Bill, thank you so much for the information you provided. That is a big help. I am new to researching prototype information. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Doug
I'm hoping that you have discovered the photographic roster at RR Picture Archives:
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=EARY
From American Short Line Railway Guide (4th edition) by Edward A. Lewis:
"The Wellington-Anniston line was built by the Anniston & Cincinnati Railroad, incorporated January 31, 1887. The Sylancauga-Talledega line was built by the narrow-gauge Anniston & Atlantic Railroad, established on May 24, 1883. Both railroads came under control of the Louisville & Nashville and on July 19, 1889 became part of L&N's Alabama Mineral Railroad. The lines were sold on November 26, 1990, to the Eastern Alabama Railway, a division of the Natchez Trace Railroad, which is a subsidiary of Kyle Railways."
That book (1991) lists the line as using four GP7s: #1510,EMD sn14573, blt 9/51; #1511 EMD sn17979, blt 4/53; #1550 GMD sn A417, blt 8/53; and #1551 GMD sn A414, blt. 5/53.
Richard Prince's Louisville & Nashville Steam Locomotives (1968) centers on main line routes and gives only limited mention of this line (page 21): "... The Alabama Mineral RR rebuilt this road to standard and operated three locomotives when acquired by the L&N. These engines were renumbered to L&N's 400 series." It appears that these were 4-4-0s.
Operations in the '70s and '80s would thus be with L&N power, as it wasn't spun off as a short line until late 1990. GP7s would clearly be the way to go. No photo of these locomotives is provided in Lewis' Shortline book.
Hey Railfans.
I am looking for information on the Eastern Alabama Railway. It is a shortline the operates from Sylacauga Alabama to Talledega, Alabama. It is owned by Genesee and Wyoming and interchanges with NS (south end) and CSX (north end). I found a website for the line and know it has been around a long time. I am interested in finding out more about their locomotive rosters. In particular, I am interest in the late 70s/early 80s era.
Thanks for any help you offer. BTW, I am modeling in n scale and if you can point me toward appropriate locos/rolling stock, that would be helpful as well.