Era to Model Questions...

[Anonymous]

Hey again, as im not to proficient in railroading, I have some questions as to the era's that locos ran in. Please forgive my naivity as I dont know names of loco's either.......

Q1: What years would be appropriate for Steam and Diesel? Of those years what loco's steam and diesel would you see running? (So i know what to look for)

Q2: What years would be appropriate for diesel to be running strong but companies maybe had 1 or 2 steam locos for oddjobs? (Or did this happen?)

Q3: When Did these Loco's Run?
-EMD F3, F7, F9, (what do the letters A & B after them on the internet trains website stand for)
-SD70, SD70m, SD75m (again what does the letter mean?)
-GP40, 50, etc.....
-i couldnt find it but the diesel locos where the engine is in front and the cab is in back, when did they run?

Thanks Alot, if i think of anything else ill let ya know. Have a Good Night

[Anonymous]

I'm not an expert, but here's some basic info:

Diesels started in the 40's, for the most part. Steam to Diesel transition era was the 50's.

for the "F" units you mention, the "A" means a unit with a cab, the "B" means a unit with no cab - just kind of looks like they took 2 back halves of an "A" unit and glued them together. It was a powered unit that was made to run always with a cab unit, to add more horsepower, without the expense of building in a cab.

That's all I've got. :)

Rob

[Anonymous]

also what about the B23, and B30-7

[Anonymous]

in models does the b unit add more power or not? which leads to another question i guess. If im running a train with 2 or more loco's does it double the pulling power or no?

[dave9999]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DoctorScrypt

in models does the b unit add more power or not? which leads to another question i guess. If im running a train with 2 or more loco's does it double the pulling power or no?

You can get B-units powered or unpowered(dummies). Yes the more locos
the more power. Dave

P.S. Some manufactures offer their locos powered and dummies.
Not just the B-units. This is an economical way to simulate a real consist,
as the dummies are cheaper than powered locos and are pulled like other
cars.

[Anonymous]

It depends if you are going to model a certain railroad and at what time in history. It also depends on what you like best. On my new layout, I have fantazised a whole new country and since I like steam, there will be no diesels on my tracks even although everything else maybe modern. Just model what is in your heart.

[nfmisso]

Doc;

Invest in one of Kalmbach's Spotter's Guides. They will answer your diesel questions.

The Union Pacific still has two steam locomotives running for excursions.

The steam to diesel transition period on railroads varied greatly. The UP had diesels in the late 1930s, and ran steam until 1960 in regular service. The N&W had no diesels until 1955, and it was all gone by mid 1960. Pick a railroad - and an area on that road, then we can get specific about your question, or pick the rr and what you want to run, and we can get specific about the years.

[dehusman]

Steam and diesel operated together from the 30's to the 60's, but the most common era modeled was from about 1945 to 1956.

A diesel road with steam reserve power would be 1950-1957.

The EMD F series started in early 40's with the FT and the F3 was post WWII, the F7 succeded that and the F9 was after that. By the early 50's the F unit was pretty much out of favor for new purchases.

the A means the unit has a cab for the engineer to operate from, the B means that there is no cab and the unit is just used for pulling power.

SD70's are the 1990's era. The "M" may mean a wide cabe, "MAC" means it has AC traction motors (as opposed to DC traction motors).

The engines with the cab on the end, I assume you are talking about switchers. They ran from the 1930's to today.

GE first designated its engines in the U (universal) series, then the horsepower then the axle arrangement , as in U30C, 3000 hp six axle engine. then in the early 80's changed its designations to have the wheel arrangement, horsepower and model, so a 4 axle 2300 horsepower Dash 7 model was the B23-7. They also had a -8 and -9 series. Not all models were built in each series.

I also would suggest buying the Deisel Spotter's Guide. There are two volumes, they split about the late 1970's.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

Doc:

Go to www.trains.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/002/045mdwjs.asp (hell of a URL isn't it?) that will give you an idea of when various wheel arrangements of steam locomotives were state of the art.

Diesels arent my thing but they began to come into service in the late 1930s and adoption was retarded by the state of the US economy and then the war emergency of WWII. These factors delayed their widespread usage until the decade of the 1950s. By the mid 1960s steam was almost entirely gone in US service, although steam is still the dominant motive power in India, South Africa and China.

If you want to be 'protoypical' with your mixed fleet usage the two decades from 1940 to 1960 is where you want to situate your railroad. On the other hand do what you want ...ITS YOUR RAILROAD.

Good Luck,

Randy

PS There is nothing anachronistic about having a large steam engine in service as a 'helper' for a long diesel powered freight drag to assist in climbing a steap grade.