-- Do you like traction railroads? If so, do you have a particular favorite? Or style? Is there a particular traction layout that you've seen that you especially like?
Dad ws always more into the things than , perhaps that's an age thing. That being said though, I did like the concepts of Interurbans, the whole self-contained engine and car.
-- Do you model a traction railroad? Or have you in the past? If so, what did you find enjoyable about it? What not so much?
No, I almost did. When Dad was still alive, our two layouts were to be connected by carfloat, and my end was going to be electrified, more becse I like the ALP44 engines and the HHPs though I couldn't justify them, and I was piqued by the Steeplecab assembluy/review in RMC a few years back. Alas, that never materialized, baybe later though.
-Morgan
I've never modelled an electric railway, and probably won't at home, I have other railroads I'm interested in that I would choose to model first. It would definately be a good idea for a nice modelable shortline though, especially with the tendency for short, compact track layouts, tight curves, plus the added interest of cool unique-looking small engines and all the overhead wiring (although a potential downside is the wires getting in the way while switching).
My club is modelling an area where on of the major industrial concerns operated their own electric railway, so our railroad will have several interchanges with the electric private railway, which will require full trolley-pole overhead wires and proper models of the steeplecab electrics. That will certainly add some interest, however so far only a couple of the interchanges are close to being built; one is half completed, the other should start soon, but neither is fully completed and there is no overhead yet.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
Yes. Favorites would be the Chicago & Milwaukee and the Sacramento Northern. Both were early and consistant users of the 40tonner. I have always known that they exist, but have never seen a traction layout.
Yes. Though right now it's operating on third rail, because of the club modular and no good way of transporting catenary between shows.
I like the fact that a.) it's different and b.) because you can mix steam in and no one blinks twice because it seems to be the rare rivit counter that can tell you what's wrong with the picture. In all my times in shows I've only once been pointed out what's wrong (besides lack of a paint job)
-- If you have modeled both a traction railroad and a regular railroad, how would you compare the two? What did you especially like about one versus the other? Which do (did) you enjoy modeling more?
I model steam and traction. Both share the mainline and the branchline. I like the traction motors for small jobs and the steam for the drag freights that pop up from time to time. I actually enjoy modeling them both, though I must admit the shops for the electrics are by far easier to build. I also like the unique structures that go with each. Transformer/substation cars for the electrics, the unique MOW cars for maintaining the overhead.
I would love to model the Sacramento Northern. From Oakland to the car ferry at Mallard it had overhead trolley wire:
The above photos come from this BayAreaRailfan site & this OB&E site.
There's a bunch of great resources at this Sacramento Northern Online site.
From Chico down to Sacramento it had third rail. William Burg models the Sacramento section in HO, focusing on the cannery industries in Sac.
I'd love to do the southern line in N. The Oakland - Sac route has everything for me: urban switching (Oakland), waterfront ops (Oakland & Mallard), carfloats (Mallard), trestles & tunnels (Oakland hills) all very doable on narrow shelves. I grew up in the area, so it's got that local history thing going for it, too.
M.C. Fujiwara
My YouTube Channel (How-to's, Layout progress videos)
Silicon Valley Free-moN
Curse you, Red Baron! Now I want a steeple-cab to switch the town of Mooseport in my car-float terminal scene! For now, I'll have to be happy with my trolleys, though.
By the broader definition of traction, allowing pretty much anything which draws electric power from an outside source, I've got a subway system running beneath my layout. While the stations are loosely modeled after the New York City system of the 1950s, which I rode as a much younger man, I've also added in streetcars, both above-ground and below, like the Boston system in my adopted home. Unlike either system, the trolleys share tracks with the heavy-rail trains. Here, a PCC car pulls into the "lower mezannie" platform that I built so both kinds of trains could be served at the same station.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
I do not model traction because I model early 1900's steam logging.
The best traction modelling I have seen was in San Diego first, at the General Dynamics Model RR Club and later at the San Diego Model RR Museum where the San Diego Model RR Club is currently constructing center city downtown San Diego in 1949 complete with its traction line.
I believe from the craftmanship I see on the SDMRRA traction line it is likely that it may the same person (or persons) who built the beautiful designed and working traction line at the old GD club.
Peter Smith, Memphis
Depending on your definition, either I do or I don't.
If you define, `Traction,' as a little side-of-the-road/in-the-street electric shortline, my Harukawa Electric Railway is one unit of my master plan that failed to make the final cut when I was deciding which strands of spaghetti would fit in my double garage bowl. Oh, well. Maybe if I had a barn, or a basketball court... (Prototype inspiration for the Harukawa Dentetsu is the Hakone Tozan Tetsudo.)
If you define, `Traction,' as anything with wire in the air and traction motors on the axles, there is (virtual) 1500VDC catenary over the JNR from Tomikawa to the port of Minamijima (actually staging in the netherworld.) A LOT of trains growl upgrade or whine downgrade while keeping the railheads bright on the double-tracked portion of my main line. Motors range from the about-to-be-retired ED14 Bo+Bo to a recently assigned EF62 class Co-Co high-traction refugee from the Usui grade. Also present, a collection of EMU cars that mix and match to run most of the passenger schedule under catenary. Of course, the JNR has more in common with the Pennsy than it does with the Springfield Terminal.
Do I like traction more or less than steam or diesel? That's like asking me which of my children I love most...
Chuck (Modeling Centtral Japan in September, 1964)
I like traction railroads now. I grew up near Mason City Iowa and regularly crossed the IATR. I haven't been modeling any traction but have been seriously thinking about buying at least one Model Railroad Warehouse's brass kits. MRRW does a kit for a B and one for a D in both HO and O if I remember right. And IATR has 3 B's and a C as I recall. MRRW designed the kit to use a Bachmann 44 tonner as a chassis. For the poster who asked I dont' think the do the kit in N, but you could ask.
If I remember right IATR is the last working traction freight rail line. There is a tourist rr in Wisc that does carry some freight with a electric. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
I have been thinking about a way to do a traction line on the Argentine branch of my Bolero, Lindy and Tango RR. It's in N scale and set in 1920, which adds two more layers of difficulty to the project.
I'm thinking that the Bachmann 44-ton industrial loco would make a good basis for a kitbashed traction motor. It's about the right size and shape and has DCC already built in. Has anybody here done this conversion? Can you recommend a prototype that would be most likely to fit that chassis and time period?
-- Tom
Not at present, but I'm always impressed when I see one that's well rendered.
Two of my favorite are the HO and O scale traction lines at the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
Hey, it's Philosophy Friday EVENING.
The nearest thing to traction I have modeled was a very small (27” x 34”) layout representing Berlin, Germany in 1971 with the elevated S-Bahn rapid transit line. I had a loop of track and a couple spurs for a switcher and a handful of German freight cars, plus a non-operating double track elevated line running diagonally across the layout. And the equipment I posed on it was not even electric rapid transit but a rather generic toy passenger set.
Riding the S-Bahn in Berlin in 1971 was my first experience of riding a “working” train as opposed to a tourist or amusement park train. The S-Bahn train crossed both over and under the Berlin Wall. Another European trip in 1972 gave me more exposure to rapid transit. I was traveling with a tour group and we used air, tour bus and cruise ship for all our scheduled transportation, but I jumped on the local rapid transit whenever I could. I made a slide show for the local railroad club of “everyday” local transit in what I perceived as exotic locales. My slide show, titled “James Bond’s Electric Trains” featured the rapid transit of
I am modeling Galveston, Texas in 1957. Galveston had trolleys and interubans in 1911 to1930-something. It now has a tourist “trolley,” a vehicle on rails with the body of an old-time trolley but it runs from an underfloor diesel engine. I don’t think anybody bhad those contraptions in 1957- but it would be tempting to squeeze in a roundy-round loop mostly for atmosphere. But a low priority…
jwhitten So These Are My Questions For Today: -- Do you like traction railroads? If so, do you have a particular favorite? Or style? Is there a particular traction layout that you've seen that you especially like? Not really. Did ride the trolley with overhead pole once at the Trolley Museum of Electric City Scranton next door to Steamtown. Interesting, but not quite my thing. My Other Half {MOH} on the other hand, loves such stuff, both having ridden them in Germany growing up there every other summer with German Grandmother, and here as novelties. -- Do you model a traction railroad? Or have you in the past? If so, what did you find enjoyable about it? What not so much? No, I have not. No I did not. I din't find it enjoyable, so I didn't. -- If you have modeled both a traction railroad and a regular railroad, how would you compare the two? What did you especially like about one versus the other? Which do (did) you enjoy modeling more? I can't really compare the two as I didn't model a traction with my regular. I will add an additional question {the reason I decided to answer with all my negative answers above}: WOULD YOU CONSIDER MODELING A TRACTION RAILROAD IN HTE FUTURE? Answer: Yes, I saw an article in either MR or MRC many many years ago....about the 70's I think John...about a lift out module in the center of a larger layout where the owner saw fit to install a trolley system inter-city on the {about} 4' x5' module. I thought it was a nice idea. SOmeday if I have the room, MAYBE I will do such a thing. MOH plans to include one on the Nsclae layout planned for when we have space to build it. As always, I'm looking forward to your thoughts and opinions! Photos always welcome! John
So These Are My Questions For Today:
Not really. Did ride the trolley with overhead pole once at the Trolley Museum of Electric City Scranton next door to Steamtown. Interesting, but not quite my thing. My Other Half {MOH} on the other hand, loves such stuff, both having ridden them in Germany growing up there every other summer with German Grandmother, and here as novelties.
No, I have not. No I did not. I din't find it enjoyable, so I didn't.
I can't really compare the two as I didn't model a traction with my regular.
I will add an additional question {the reason I decided to answer with all my negative answers above}:
WOULD YOU CONSIDER MODELING A TRACTION RAILROAD IN HTE FUTURE?
Answer: Yes, I saw an article in either MR or MRC many many years ago....about the 70's I think John...about a lift out module in the center of a larger layout where the owner saw fit to install a trolley system inter-city on the {about} 4' x5' module. I thought it was a nice idea. SOmeday if I have the room, MAYBE I will do such a thing. MOH plans to include one on the Nsclae layout planned for when we have space to build it.
As always, I'm looking forward to your thoughts and opinions!
Photos always welcome!
John
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Yes, I am a fan of the Iowa Traction. Unlike most traction railroads this one is still operating TODAY! The picture below is a nice night shot of one of the Baldwin electric locomotives. I always like the Southern California Traction Club, what is not to like about modular traction:
http://www.trainweb.org/socaltractionclub/
I don't have one currently but I am working on a few motors. A GE steeplecab and a Baldwin Electric, picture below. I do not have a layout currently but I want to model the Iowa Traction.
Like I said I am working on my models now, so I will let you know!
Chris
Warner Robins, GA
Check out my railroad at: Buffalo and Southwestern
Photos at:Flicker account
YouTube:StellarMRR YouTube account
"The Main A-Traction"
Whew! What a day. What started out as a simple task of shuffling around some network gear at work ended up being an all day odyssey with all hands on deck! Sorry for not getting this out sooner.
I was looking at an old Model Railroader a couple of weeks ago from the mid 1970's and it fell open to a really nice feature article about a small town up in New York State (I think it was, I don't have the issue in front of me) and their tiny, traction railroad. When I saw the article I immediately recognized it as having read it way back when I was a kid. I remember thinking it was pretty cool the way the little railroad weaved in and out of the town, along the streets-- occasionally down the middle-- and the biggest surprise came when I saw the locomotives, they weren't steam or diesels, they were traction engines-- electric locomotives drawing power from an overhead "trolley pole", but they definitely were not trolleys.
Over the years I've seen a number of articles in MR and other magazines, and of course various layouts that have featured traction railroads as either a subset of the overall layout and occasionally it was the main attraction. I have always thought it would be pretty neat to have enough room to incorporate a nice traction or perhaps an inter-urban line into a layout. They're not trolleys, far from it. These little railroads, despite their diminutive size, moved their fair share of people and freight in and out of the communities they served. Generally they moved full-sized rolling stock, boxcars, flatcars and such, to and from the small-town factories and warehouses and other local industries that made up a lot of small town rural communities and throughout America. Of course traction railroads of various types were also found in and around larger cities as well.
One element that might make a traction layout particularly appealing to someone is that they typically operate shorter-length locomotives (traction engines) and 40 or 50 foot cars, and prototypically have sharp curves, unusual trackage, and sometimes incorporate turnouts that are engineered a little differently than usual. And it's not at all unusual to see one of these railroads weaving and out and all over town to reach their customers. Many times a traction railroad will also run a modified trolley or interurban to haul local passengers and/or freight between small towns. Or else run mixed consists, hauling people and freight. The traction railroads generally found a niche market, mainly hauling for a few larger customers, and then interchanging somewhere with a larger railroad.
Seeing the article in MR the other day got me thinking about traction layouts in general and I got to wondering how many people here on the forums model traction of any type?