New for the C and P

[rrinker]

 Back about 25 or so years ago when I was planning on doing a proto-freelance railroad, I wrote up a complete corporate history up to a natural disaster (flooding from a hurricane) forcing them to totally shut down in the mid 50's since by then they were already hanging on by a shoestring. I came across the file not too long ago and realized just how full of holes it was, but it was a decent start. I've since switched to modeling a specific prototype and the proto-lance idea never got further than the story, a mapping out of the 'prototype' route, and a small shelf layout that depicted nothing specific.

                                  --Randy

[SeeYou190]

The Jet Clipper

I'm very picky when it comes to the nitty-gritty I tend to be my own worst critic, and one thing I keep thinking about is, "Can my own railroad run on exsisting tracks?

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That is pretty much the opposite of my approach!

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All I care about is if the railroad looks good to me. I am very picky about some things, and don't even bother with some others.

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When I was in High School, the SGRR ran from Virginia to Missouri, but that "history" was discarded long ago.

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Have fun.

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-Kevin

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[The Jet Clipper]

SeeYou190

Holy Cats!

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I have been "modelling" the STRATTON & GILLETTE for about 35 years, and I have never put that much detail into anything about it.

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This is pretty much all I ever say about SGRR history:

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" The SGRR is a class 1 railroad that operates in the United States."

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That is all the more thought it has received in decades. I am impressed with what you came up with.

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-Kevin

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I'm very picky when it comes to the nitty-gritty 

I tend to be my own worst critic, and one thing I keep thinking about is, "Can my own railroad run on exsisting tracks?" And while that has still remained true when it comes to the main routes in California, I decided that I want my own mainline to Oklahoma City, and then to Chicago (paralleling the Texas Chief). Hell, maybe I can have my own line from Los Angeles to San Diego, maybe with a triple track line all the way south, seeing as that is where the main narrative of the California and Pacific is focused.

[SeeYou190]

Holy Cats!

.

I have been "modelling" the STRATTON & GILLETTE for about 35 years, and I have never put that much detail into anything about it.

.

This is pretty much all I ever say about SGRR history:

.

" The SGRR is a class 1 railroad that operates in the United States."

.

That is all the more thought it has received in decades. I am impressed with what you came up with.

.

-Kevin

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[The Jet Clipper]

So, my very first post was based on the story of my railroad, the California and Pacific. Since then, it has changed slightly.

Here it is:

• The California and Pacific was formed in 1946
• After taking delivery of the delivery of an A-B-A set of the brand new F2 from EMD, the C&P began operations on the Surf Line, hauling the extra San Diegan for Santa Fe
• In 1948, the C&P  started receiving the newly announced F3 and F7 sets for revenue freight service and as stand-bys for the San Diegan, as well as start construction of a new main line to Oklahoma City via San Diego and Dallas. Tracks that parallel the Santa Fe “Texas Chief” line to Chicago are also laid down.
• In 1950, the C&P made a 30 year contract with the Southern Pacific to haul the heavy freights and Daylights though Tehachapi Pass. Soon this applies to the LA-SF corridor
• Later in 1950, C&P receives the first full train set, consisting of various Pullmans based on floor plans on the Santa Fe, which will be put to service on the Sponhaltz Limited, the signature train that runs from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City (with a Chicago section) via LA-SD-and Dallas. A load of coaches and diners also leads to the formation of the “Pacific Coaster”, which runs from San Francisco to San Diego via the route of the Daylight and San Diegan
• In 1950, Spare 5-1-3 sleeper and coach-bar “Nova Domes,” former Strata-Domes from a Chesapeake and Ohio order are added to the Sponhaltz, with extras added to a pool for service on the Pacific Coaster and San Diegan
•  In 1955, more coaches and dining service cars are added to the roster, permitting the Gutierrez Express, the all coach counter part to the Sponhaltz
• In 1959, the Gutierrez and Sponhaltz are combined on the time tables, allowing for an ease of traffic on the main line
• In 1960, NYC, PRR, NP, and SF drop their Transcon Sleeper service, leading to a surplus of sleepers on the C&P. Trains become longer. All F units are fitted with Gyralights (with a Pyle “big hole” on the rear) and MU capabilities to lash up with other locomotives. The F2 set is pulled out of service.
• Due to the loss of service of the transcon sleepers, C&P searches for an Eastern ally for service to Washington DC. Fortunately, the Chesapeake and Ohio reached out to the cry for service, and a new partnership emerges.
• From 1968, the “George Sponhaltz” emerges. With service from San Diego to Washington DC via the routes of the Sponhaltz Limited and George Washington, the railroads created the longest route in America for passenger service
• In 1971, All passenger service on the C&P route halts, bringing an end to an era. All cars are given to Amtrak.
• In 1974, 6 SD40T-2 locomotives are delivered to the C&P. One is in the “Black Widow” scheme, and another is in the “Bloody Nose” scheme
• In 1976, K5LA’s are installed on all locomotives
• In 1978, the contract with the Santa Fe runs dry, causing all service with the railroad to halt
• In 1980, the same happens with the Southern Pacific, and with only the Oklahoma City and Chicago of their own, the railroad halts all major operations on September 29th, 34 years after the formation of the railroad. A small branch line between Oceanside and San Diego is bought for short freight service. 5 Tunnel Motors are given to SP. A majority of the employees is sent to Santa Fe, as well as a majority of the Oklahoma City corridor. Only 3 A-B F unit sets and Tunnel Motor 1111 (formerly Kraken, now named Kirin after one of two daughters of the founder of C&P) are in the fleet, as the rest of the once proud F unit fleet are sent to be scrapped.
• In 1996, the California and Pacific Railroad Historical Sector, an offshoot of the small railroad, bought the original F2 set from a scrap yard. After a successful restoration, the units are modified for HEP capabilities for excursions
• In 2002, an excursion following the original “Pacific Coaster” is organized. On September 29th, 54 years after the original railroad’s formation, the train runs down south to San Diego. “Kirin” is also paired up with an F3 B unit modded with a HEP generator named “Eliza” (for the other daughter) for excursions.
• Throughout the years, other F units and passenger cars are recovered from scrap yards are put on tourist service, with both C&P and other tourist railroads, one (F3A 713) of them winding up in Hawaii, bearing the original colors of the once mighty railroad. All others are presumed to be scrapped.

So, with the change in some of the story, some other things are going to be changed. For starters, I’m going to start with scenery modeling, so my trains aren’t going to be sitting on just track. Probably one section of the Surfline, and the other focused on the Oklahoma City Union Station (with an extended platform). I also said that a lot of the floor plans for the Pullmans and other cars are based on Santa Fe prototypes (with the exceptions of the Nova Domes). I plan on having some 12 DB and 4-4-2 sleepers, kitchen and full diners based on NYC prototypes, as well as some other smoothside sleepers and coaches based on other railroads. I also might want to look into more 10-6’s, 6-6-4’s, and other “cheaper” accommodations (seeing that most of the fleet is based on 4-4-2’s). This is to set up late 60’s modeling of the Sponhaltz/Gutierrez, Pacific Coaster, and the unmentioned “Solaris”, which is a mostly parlor train (how about that?). The tunnel motors are based on the SP locomotives with the light packages, so that’ll be fun to wire.

 

Well, what do you guys think?