Does anyone actually operate passenger trains switching out a diner or rpo? My clockers on the PRR are all run through so I decided to use drawbars instead of Kadees on the cars. One end of the drawbar is fastened to a car with 2/56 screw. The other end just has the screw with the head cut off. The exception is the first car with one Kadee so i can switch engines.
That was my aim on Layout #3, but that layout only got 70% completed. Now, at about the 85% mark on #4, I have the same function built into my yard.
So, yewbetcha! But, not using different coupling techniques. I still rely on the varieties that come with the cars if they are worthy and reliable, or the Kadee replacements.
I went with Kadee Scale Shelf Couplers on all of my passenger cars, for me they work as good as a drawbar but can be uncoupled if needed. Mel Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
My layout never got to the point of doing operations, and it still might not, but I did equip my passenger cars with Kadees, even the rear end of the observation car, so I could reverse it if needed. I sometimes run express reefers at the front end of these trains, so I built a Railway Express depot near the station to make that an option as well.
The layout had a reverse loop go g n each direction so turning the whole train was not a problem. The stations are through runs, not dead ends, so that's more practical in my case.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Yes, I absolutely operate passenger trains and switch out things along the way following prototype practices (for the New Haven, in my case).
For example, one of the NH's overnight sleeper jobs was the Owl. The westbound train would leave Boston on it's way to NYC (and GCT). It would stop at Providence and pick up a sleeper. The eastbound train would drop one off.The NH also had a thriving passenger business on the Hartford line, and just about every Boston to New York City passenger train would pick up or drop off cars at New Haven, Conn.
Also, the NH would maximize the use of food service cars by running some of them only part way from Boston. They would drop off a grill car from Boston at New London, Conn., then put it on the next train going back to Boston for the next meal time. That way one car would get double use.And then there's all the head-end business. All kinds of baggage and express cars could be added or dropped off along the way. Remember that most newspapers and magazines were delivered by rail back then, so every major town along the line would be served.
On my old layout, I would run a dozen different passenger trains during an ops session. Each train would have to re-use some cars from previous trains plus ones from the coach yard. They would have to be put in a certain order, and the number, type and order of the cars would vary by the day of the week. And each train had assigned passenger power.
I did a lot of passenger switching on my old layout.
On my club's layout, I designed and we built a passenger terminal that has a coach yard, commissary yard (for diners), a Pullman track for sleepers (mandated by the Pullman Co.), plus an inbound and outbound mail & express tracks. When you operate as the Station Master, you have to pull all the correct cars from their various tracks, put them in the proper order, and attach the road power.
I thought of doing that for mine, until I realized that it complicates things for storage and transportation. My Aerotrain gives me a bit of a headache for that - otherwise, it runs great!
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Simon
You could include mail or express boxcars at the end or front of the consist behind the engine that could be dropped off during a stop at a station. That way do don't have to break up the passenger cars and can even require having a swich engine to pull or add the cars at the station.
I use express,mail or RPO cars on most of my passenger trains to make the runs take long.
Scott Sonntag
Good thread! Please forgive this "sidebar" question.
Hi Mel,
I've been considering coverting my passenger car fleet (Walthers, Rapido, Rivarossi) to Kadee Shelf couplers as I'd like to avoid "headaches" in passenger car operations.
From what I've "visually gleaned" on other forums shelf couplers, on 80-85ft length HO passenger cars, tend to be more reliable as far as remaining coupled on uneven track, grades, 24" radius curves and backup moves.
Has this been your experience, so far? Also, are you using the "Whisker" version?
RR_Mel I went with Kadee Scale Shelf Couplers on all of my passenger cars, for me they work as good as a drawbar but can be uncoupled if needed. Mel Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
AntonioFP45 Good thread! Please forgive this "sidebar" question. Hi Mel, I've been considering coverting my passenger car fleet (Walthers, Rapido, Rivarossi) to Kadee Shelf couplers as I'd like to avoid "headaches" in passenger car operations. From what I've "visually gleaned" on other forums shelf couplers, on 80-85ft length HO passenger cars, tend to be more reliable as far as remaining coupled on uneven track, grades, 24" radius curves and backup moves. Has this been your experience, so far? Also, are you using the "Whisker" version?
Yes I use the Kadee #119 Scale Couplers with whisker centering. The regular shelf couplers look way out of scale for HO, the SEs look great to me.All my passenger cars are 72’ Athearn or Mel kitbashed to 72’. My layout is small so longer cars look out of place on my layout.My track work is pretty good but stopping and starting on my 3% grades caused unwanted uncouplings with standard couplers, the shelf couplers stopped the unwanted uncouplings.The SE couplers work with any Kadee coupler very good. Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Yes, I did a lot of passenger car switching on my old layout, but only at the Fornost terminal, sow while the traion was broken up and re-assembled for departure, it always went out with the same consist that came in. But that train (according to the timetable) went all the way to Gondor, where as I had modeled only as far as Bree. But such additions and set outs were scheduled for the non-modeled area.
The "King's Express" departed Fornost behind a pair of Alcos but once they arrived at Hollin they had to drop the diesels and run under the wire through Moria, and then remained under the wire all of the way to Gondor.
It is easy to do things like that for the parts of the line that you have not modeled.
As for couplers, all of my subway cars on my new layout are attached with drawbars. The couplers left them too far apart. Bringing the closer broke off all of the between-car pantographs... Oh well, I still needed the drawbars. These subway trains are in six car sets, connected with drawbars, and have two pairs of wire running the lenght of the train. You cannot beat 48 wheel pick-up, and the second pair was for lighting, but I never made a lighting system that I was happy with.
ROAR-
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I do passenger car switching at Union Station.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
I switch out the RPO, baggage, diner, and observation car, all done in the downtown passenger station or in the coach yard.
Rich
Alton Junction