Traction modeling has always been a niche but was once a more common part of the hobby--if you read 1940s-60s issues of MR there are frequent articles and advertisements for streetcar and interurban equipment. I model Sacramento Northern, a mixture of diesel and electric, mostly freight but with occasional "fan trip" passenger runs. Interurbans were bigger than streetcars and ran longer runs (kind of like "light rail" in size and speed) and often functioned like small steam railroads.
Carnegie Falls I guess NPR is following this thread. I heard this story on the way home yesterday. http://www.npr.org/2016/02/23/467813006/revived-streetcars-may-be-on-track-for-disappointment
I guess NPR is following this thread. I heard this story on the way home yesterday.
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/23/467813006/revived-streetcars-may-be-on-track-for-disappointment
One of the strong points of the "light rail" system in Baltimore is that most of the line is on its own right of way, with limited sections actually in the street with the cars.
I have always thought that a street grid laid out with separate right of way for "trolleys" would work great. Cross street traffic signals could be coordinated with train movements, with only major streets crossing the right of way.
But I do think that trolleys that are fully "in the street" are not the best idea for modern cities - at least not in the USA where too many people MUST take their car into the city because no mass transit connects their suburban neighborhoods with the city.
Sheldon
I operate these Bachmann streetcars on my layout. I still do not have the overhead wires installed. The main reason for the long delay is I work on other parts of the layout when I have time for such stuff. Also, I'm concerned the wires with poles ould be in my way when I clean the rails.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Look at this!
Anyone for burned fingers, soldering all those wires?
Sir Madog The INEKON streetcars are most certainly 21st century state of the art, but also cheaper than those Siemens or Bombardier streetcars.
The INEKON streetcars are most certainly 21st century state of the art, but also cheaper than those Siemens or Bombardier streetcars.
Here is a link to their Streetcar division site,
http://www.brookvillecorp.com/streetcar-division.asp
James Sanchez
It IS a great model, Tom. There were times when leaving Shaker Square headed for Kingsbury Run that I thought we were doing a cool 60 MPH on that long grade
It's a bit of a pity the motor couldn't have been hidden a little better, or maybe the side window glass tinted just a bit. But the car runs just fine and the pickup is great. There's hardly any hesitation even on some unpowered frogs.
I have the OEM Tsunami in it. I see the newer ones have Loksound I wish they included a horn, though. I recall a fairly loud honker used on occasion for those stubborn motorists.
Take Care, Ed
Just found a video of an HO scale model of the INEKON Washington/DC streetcar!
The model is made by M & L Modely tramvaji and is available as either a kit or RTR, but not cheap! With a different paint job, it can easily be transformed into the Seattle or Portland version.
gmpullman So... when I found one of these Bowser PCC gems at a closeout price I just had to have one.
So... when I found one of these Bowser PCC gems at a closeout price I just had to have one.
Ed,
I picked up a non-sound version of one of these jewels (Shaker, of course) and installed a TCS Mx decoder into it. LOVE the brakelight feature!
Bowser did a really GREAT job with these PCCs. I may have to consider either adding a trolley to my next layout...or...making a separate trolley layout altogether.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
My own Moose Bay Transit Authority runs a pair of streetcars. This is an older Bowser model, all metal.
This one is from Bachmann. It's a Peter Witt model.
My inspiration was the streetcars of Boston. They also run underground, hence their inclusion in my subway system. I don't run them under wire, though.
The San Francisco system is a living museum. The streetcars (not to be confused with the cable cars) have been purchased from many other American cities which abandoned their own systems. The cars have been lovingly restored, and each conductor knows the history of the car he's on. The oak and mahogany panels and old-fashioned seats are a far cry from the steel and plastic of modern systems. It's a working streetcar line that commuters use every day, but at the same time it's part of history.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
In the Philadelphia area, they used machines like this:
http://pa-trolley.org/collection/philadelphia-suburban-transportation-company-snow-sweeper-4/
to clear the tracks.
Eric
Sir Madog I am surprised to see that US cities seem to favor INEKON streetcars. INEKON is the successor of CKD Tatra in Prague/Czech Republic. Tatra used to be the sole supplier of streetcars based on the PCC-design to all of the Eastern Block countries, including the Soviet Union. Those were simple, but rugged cars.
I am surprised to see that US cities seem to favor INEKON streetcars. INEKON is the successor of CKD Tatra in Prague/Czech Republic. Tatra used to be the sole supplier of streetcars based on the PCC-design to all of the Eastern Block countries, including the Soviet Union. Those were simple, but rugged cars.
I really like streetcars on layouts. One of the benefits is the tight turn radius you can take advantage of and fit them in tight places. I like my PCC Pittsburgh streetcar. With such a small layout, it helps add variety and interest.
mbinsewiI'm not against urban transit possibilities, but for cities in the northeren states, it will be interesting to see how these work in the winter, which I always thought was one of the reasons that street cars met their demise.
I lived in Kitchner-Waterloo in the late sixtes,early seventies.
The main street of the two cities had rubber tired, over head electric powered buses. This would seem to me to prevent iceing problems on the non-existent rails.
I don't know if this system is still in use.
Dave
Being a resident of SE WI. , that North Shore Lines sounds like an interesting project. I live a block away from this:
http://www.easttroyrr.org/
Some of their cars came from the North Shore.
They have a neat little layout in the main museum, and have a presence in Milwaukee's Train Fest. I use to get occasional rides from the engineer in the late 50's, when it was an everyday freight operation, doing interchange with the SOO.
I'm not against urban transit possibilities, but for cities in the northeren states, it will be interesting to see how these work in the winter, which I always thought was one of the reasons that street cars met their demise.
Mike.
My You Tube
I am not into streetcars myself, but I happen to live in the Washington DC suburbs and the street car is not dead:
http://www.dcstreetcar.com/
DC is launching a new street car on Feb 27 this year.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
dinwittyI'm building North Shore/ South Shore plus more and hope to share more here when it gets built more
big daydreamer Streetcar modelling is very niche, and when you consider that MR (for the most part) focuses on mainstream topics, it is no surprise that there are not that many articles about it.
Streetcar modelling is very niche, and when you consider that MR (for the most part) focuses on mainstream topics, it is no surprise that there are not that many articles about it.
Perhaps MR should have one "niche" article a month? It would make a change from another 4x8 track plan..although i'm very glad to see that they seem to be returning featuring more building plans (reading back through old issues it is rapidly becoming apparent to me I get more excited by the structures than the trains!).
Here in the UK a number of cities have added light rail / tram elements to their public transport networks (although many have suffered the same problems as Washington DC). In London where I live we have the Tube network which is reviled by most residents (who only see what is wrong with it) and loved by everyone else. The Tube suffers from being more than a hundred years old in parts and needs constant maintenance - even though it benefits from typical Victorian over-engineering.
One interesting factoid for all you Nerds out there - due to several of the original London Tube lines being built by American developers (who were, as a group, quite colourful), the Tube is the only rail system in the UK where they use American terminology - so "cars" rather than "carriages" and so on.
http://www.modelraillive.co.uk/layouts/abbey-road
I have ridden on light rail in Minneapolis many times when visiting, and enjoyed the experience.
Major metro areas across the US and Canada have implemented various light rail systems, which-in part- seem to replicate the old Budd RDC cars. It would be nice to see scale modelers who focus on contemporary modeling be able to incorporate light rail into their layouts. A small shelter, adjacent park and ride lots would be just enough to suggest (in scale) a larger system. Sounds like model railroading to me!
Cedarwoodron
I am really happy to see that a discussion of the topic has started!
On my own layout, I am not into modeling an urban transit system, but a Swiss narrow gauge line, just to be able to run my "Glacier Express". However, I find the idea of a present day urban streetcar layout intriguing. The interest was kindled when I accidentally ran into a view videos of the Seattle streetcar line. A quick search showed, that quite a number of US cities have invested into building up modern transit systems. I watched a video on the San Diego streetcars, which strongly remind me of the ones you see in Frankfurt/Germany.
In my country, streetcars have always played an important role, although a few systems closed down their lines in the 1960´s. The gas crisis in 1973 brought a change in attitude and since then, the good old streetcar has turned into a modern regional transit system in most cities. Today´s streetcars are a mix of subway (ususally, they run underground in downtown areas), traditional streetcars and rapid transit systems connecting towns and cities in a region. One of the world´s best (if not the best) systems is that of Karlsruhe.
My hometown, Hamburg, closed down its last streetcar line as late as 1978, but is contemplating to reinstate a few lines as an addition to the subway network.
Bubule's Turtlefield N scale model railroad (thread in the layouts forum) has some beautiful modeling of Denver's modern day RTD light rail. I ride the light rail everyday when working in the office. He's done an amazing job of capturing the look and feel of the system.
Heartland Division CB&Q Frank ... I reall riding Chicago's electric buses.
Frank ... I reall riding Chicago's electric buses.
They had those in Boston and Cambridge MA as well; then replaced tham for more 'modern' diesel busses.
They have one at Seashore Trolley Museumhttp://www.trolleymuseum.org/collection/browse.php?id=08361TMA
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
When I was a little shaver, I would ride the cars of the Shaker Rapid, part of the envisioned "planned community" of O.P. and M.J. Van Sweringen who became famous in the 1920s for buying up railroads for fun and profit.
Part of their remaining legacy lives today in Cleveland, Ohio's, Terminal Tower and RTA "Light Rail" system.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Sweringen_brothers
Here's little 53 in the company of her bigger brothers!
Sometimes when I have visitors, they can see a sixteen-car Twentieth Century Limited breeze by doin' 80 per, then this little guy will come puttering along, bell clanging, right behind! Makes for a lot of smiles
Unfortunately, my city area doesn't include enough room for a street car system but it's fun to watch this yellow "dinky" traverse the layout on the "high iron".
Have Fun! Ed
Sir Madog About 60 years after the rather inglorious demise of the streetcar in America´s cities, in which National City Lines, owned by GMC, Standard Oil and National Tyre played a doubtful role, is the streetcar gain conquering the city streets. I am surprised to see that neither the industry nor the hobby magazines have picked up the issue - yet! Modeling the modern streetcar systems of Seattle, Portland, San Diego - you name it - is actually quite easy, as there is plenty of stuff around to do that! Here are some pointers towards trains & track: 1. Streetcars There are a number of different types available in HO scale, which are quite similar to the INEKON (formerly Tatra) cars used in Seattle and Portland, or those Siemens DUEWAG cars of San Diego. Here are the resources: Halling (Austria) Hödl Linie 8 Roco 2. Track Lunatram Made by Tillig/Germany, sold in the US via Reynaulds and others. So, if you are space-starved and have an interest in present day streetcars, why not give it a go!
About 60 years after the rather inglorious demise of the streetcar in America´s cities, in which National City Lines, owned by GMC, Standard Oil and National Tyre played a doubtful role, is the streetcar gain conquering the city streets.
I am surprised to see that neither the industry nor the hobby magazines have picked up the issue - yet! Modeling the modern streetcar systems of Seattle, Portland, San Diego - you name it - is actually quite easy, as there is plenty of stuff around to do that!
Here are some pointers towards trains & track:
1. Streetcars
There are a number of different types available in HO scale, which are quite similar to the INEKON (formerly Tatra) cars used in Seattle and Portland, or those Siemens DUEWAG cars of San Diego.
Here are the resources:
Halling (Austria)
Hödl Linie 8
Roco
2. Track
Lunatram
Made by Tillig/Germany, sold in the US via Reynaulds and others.
So, if you are space-starved and have an interest in present day streetcars, why not give it a go!
Ulrich,
First off, from a modeling standpoint, I like street cars, and plan to include some sort of trolley loop in my layout as I rebuild it. I model 1954.....the last days of the original systems in most American cities. And I grew and still live near Baltimore, a city with a colorful street car history and great street car museum.
http://www.baltimorestreetcar.org/
And, Baltimore, like many American cities has re-discovered surface street rail transportation - way back in 1992..........
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_Light_Rail
But I would like to make few important points about street cars in the US.
With regard to the National City Lines scandle, there are reasons why they were not found guilty of being a transportation monopoly, and reasons why they were not heavily fined for the guilty charge of conspiring to monopolize sales of buses.
Simply put, buses were coming - with or without collusion from National City Lines, GMC and Firestone. Tracks in the streets were becoming a traffic problem, people were moving to the suburbs, ridership was down, buses were more flexible to meet changing rider needs, and the track infrastructure was aging and expensive to repair.
In Baltimore, part of the street car system were trackless trolleys before giving in to internal combustion engine buses - but it just did not work out - it only solved some of the problems of the street car.
Even today, Baltimore's light rail is a limited system with only a small portion of its trackage in the street. But most of the buses in Baltimore are now diesel electric hybrid.......
Fact is, most modern systems only have limited sections of their trackage in the streets...........
Cities need mass transit - no question - I have used the Washington DC METRO, it works great for a tour of downtown, or if you live and work in the city at an office job. But that does not relect the lives of most Americans - so I don't ever see mass transit being the transportation of choice for most Americans.
Most Americans live in the suburbs or rural suburbs, their daily activities are spread over large areas, often separated by lots of open space. I put 50 to 100 miles on my vehicle every day - on a slow day - there is not enough money in the world to build and maintain a public transportation system that could serve the needs of most of the US.
So, back to modeling - because the street car has not been a part of most Americans daily lives for more that 60 years, it is understandable that it is a niche aspect of the hobby. So those who would model present day mass transit of any kind is without question a small group - of course we do have the LION......
Me Too!! They were quieter! LOL
Take Care!
Frank
From Shapeways Z, N, HO, S, O
http://www.shapeways.com/search?q=streetcar&type=product
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.