Commuter railroading

[CNW-400]

I've always enjoyed watching & modeling commuter trains, only I could only do it in N before because that was the only scale offering the push-pull bi-levels run here in the Chicago area. I'm not a good kitbasher, and I'm no good at scratchbuilding.

I remember back in the mid-80's Bachmann/Spectum came out with a F40PH painted for the RTA (predecessor to Metra) and later Life-Like brought out their F40PH in Metra colors. These Locomotives were only used with pushpull bi-levels, but neither offered the cars to go with them. What was the point there? Years later Three Brothers came out with the bi-levels in kits, but by then you couldn't get the locos!

Mark

[AltonFan]

QUOTE: do you know if they had some kind of platform or station at their workshops for these special worker trains?

I've seen photographs of small platforms in or near rail yards. I vaguely recall seeing a photo of a small platform bearing the sign "Shops" that was located near a railroad shop complex.

So there probably is a prototype for a platform for railroad employees located in or near railroad facilities.

[CNW-400]

On the Chicago Metra commuter lines there are actual stations just for the employees by yards etc., it's not for the general publics use. The employee lets the conductor know he wants to get off there, otherwise the train goes right by. Employees wanting to get on from the employee only stations need to flag down the train, although it's possible they radio the train ahead of time.

Mark

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DocDan



Dougal -

Where are you getting your GP40FH-2s? Do you have asource or are you kitbashing also?

I'm doing mine from the RMC article as well!

[Anonymous]

I've never been accused of being 100% sane, or very smart. Yup! Over the past four years I've actually built a freelanced DCC computer-controlled HO-commuter layout in my basement. Most of the time I feel like a strange little hermit who enjoys writing odd things on cave walls. It was only after I was way too far into the project to turn back that I realized you don't actually BUILD a commuter layout; you simply TALK about building a commuter layout. Silly me. But I'm having fun with it just the same.

John Wolfskill
The Metro-Valley Lines
http://www.trainweb.org/metrovalleyline/index.html

[AntonioFP45]

Rambo1

Go to www.asmodels.com

They have resin kits of Commuter passenger cars and locomotives. I believe that they make the locomotive that you are looking for.

Peace! [:)][8D]

[Anonymous]

not only do i like commuter rail, i LOVE them[:X]. infact, i ride one every day to and from school (the Shore Line East - a three car push-me/pull me). living outside new york, there is a great rail transit system and i am familiar with Metro-North and a bit of NEC Amtrak. unfortunately my layout wont realy allow a commuter line, but i do have through passenger trains. are you going electric (3-rail vs panto), diesel, or diesel railcar? [8D]

[lupo]

another question about US commuter railroads:
does these railroads share their tracks with freight-trains or do they use their own network ?

[Anonymous]

I think they have to share the mainline with freights (and everything else). I have another question - this one about CNW/Metra equipment. Did Metra F40PHs ever run with CNW liveried bilevel stock? I can't find anything suitable (and affordable) in CNW livery to power my train, but my LHS has Metra F40PHs for around £40 - about half the price of the other option (Proto 2000 E8 for around £80 or so). Any advice would be much appreciated, as the train is currently powered by an Erie-Built in CNW livery (looks good, but Erie-Builts had no head-end power!)

[Supermicha]

I also model, or better collect, commuter and passenger models. my collection consists mostly of amtrak and njt models. i have several custom painted njt models, like the white 4323 (E8), a normal E8 (#4326), an ALP-44, a PCC Trolley and a flexible bus. i hope to have some day one of every engine used by njt, the biggest problem will be the ALP-46, i think i can use a Roco class 101 german electric.

I finished soon an Amtrak downeaster cabbaggage, it was really fun to build it.

Micha