Early Alco road switchers ran long end first??

[Anonymous]

Peter-

Great info! Thanks! Always love to see or hear about bizarre equipment. Others out there probably do, too. Is there a picture you can post , or maybe a link??? Looks like there's really no big difference between a KKB van and a segunda en el mixto, except the segunda didn't have partitions--the chickens, pigs and sheep just hung around with los pasajeros y el garrotero (brakemen to us, guard to you), ya know: Libertad, Equalidad, Fraternidad para todos los creaturas de Dios (en el coche segundo clase)-- Viva Mexico, Viva Queensland (????)!! Never to be seen again--they privatized FNM and the US partners saw to it they dumped what was left of the pax svc ASAP.

Those cattle trains must be a sight to see. SG or NG? How far are they allowed to run before they have to put the cattle off to rest? I assume the distance is reasonable, otherwise they couldn't compete with trucks.

And you're absolutely right about anything and everything on pax trains up here near the end. Some of it was intentional. Those flexi's were likely carrying bulk mail; ATSF did the same in the 60's, with a set of dedicated container flats (well before that was the "in" thing to do) carrying storage mail. Had some on the Grand Canyon and, if I recall right, SF Chief, back when I rode in 1967. ATSF still had a class operation at that time.

Kozzie--

RE: RS-1's, picked up a copy of April's Railmodel Journal last night and, lo and behold, here's an article by a guy talking about the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic (DSSA) up in the frozen north (MN, WI, MI upper peninsula) that says the locomotive of choice on their main pax run (2-car, so you can easily model it-he has a HW coach and HW comb baggage/RPO) from Superior WI through to the Soo Line (who ultimately bought them) was an RS-1.

FYI, with Gunn, ATK has dropped the MHCs but is still pulling some roadrailers on some trains. Don't get me wrong--he's doing about the best anyone can, but #58 going on the ground last nite isn't going to help a bit.

And, both of you, given your current spatial orientation, does being a "southerner who is just visiting" make Peter sort of like a #&%@!Yankee?????? (You don't have to answer that!)[(-D]

Kozzie--are the local QL HST clone services still in jeopardy, or did the politicians see the light?? Peter, that may apply to you too--were they trying to gut your services also??

It's a lot of fun conversing back & forth with you two blokes, hope we're not getting too far afield of the subject of the string.

[Kozzie]

hey drephpe! I've been busted! [:0] Pete was right - [:D]

- I guess my interest in mixed trains does come partly from Queensland Railways practices.

I remember my Father telling me about a mixed train that used make a run out to the far western districts of southern Queensland, finally ending the run at a far flung town called Dirranbandi. He reckoned that they used to call it the "Flying Flea" (ha ha ha [(-D][(-D] ) because it went reasonably fast, but was quite short....not a bad name...

Hey Peter!

There is another Queensland Railways brake van (caboose) that had the guards compartment at one end, and the rest was seating for passengers
(I guess a type of "combine"?) but I don't know what it was called.
Do you remember them? I think it was three letters, starting with BV...

drephpe, a "segunda en el mixto" sounds like a nightmare!

You also have busted me [:0]- another reason I would like to run a US mixed is all that switching! I quite like all that as a break from continuous running...

Before I forget - everyone have a great Easter long weekend! [:)]

Cheers

Dave
(Kozzie)

[M636C]

Dave,

Off the top of my head, the code of the vehicle you mention was CLV (for composite lavatory van), but I'll have to check that. If you are working in HO, Lima produced a South African equivalent that looked sufficiently close for many purposes.

drephpe

The bad news is that the Sydney -Murwillumbah XPT service (and all service on that line from the junction at Casino) will cease soon. There is talk of substituting underfloor-engined railcars on the Western XPT service to Dubbo.

But the rest of the NSW passenger services are set to remain as is for now. There is no sign of new equipment (none for ten years now!)

And yes, I would have been considered like a Yankee (from at least Massachusetts) in the Deep South, maybe Alabama!

Again, happy Easter to all on the forum!

Peter

[Anonymous]

And the same best wishes to all you gentlemen and ladies out there in forum land!

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Monon ran RS2's and C420's in passenger service on the Thoroughbred between Chicago and Louisville. By the time I began watching trains regularly, it was down to about 4 or 5 head-end and 1 coach. One of the head-end cars was a rebuilt troop sleeper (looked like a box car) and the coach was a rebuilt US Army ambulance car.

[Anonymous]

Ya know, by the time we get through, ol' Kozzie's going to have so much info on this he won't know what to model and his head will explode. This is all great regional data that should be interestng to lots of us. Kozzie and Peter are getting me, for one, very tuned in to what goes on down under. But all of it is fascinating. The new Monon stuff is great. Lets keep it rolling!

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by drephpe

Ya know, by the time we get through, ol' Kozzie's going to have so much info on this he won't know what to model and his head will explode. This is all great regional data that should be interestng to lots of us. Kozzie and Peter are getting me, for one, very tuned in to what goes on down under. But all of it is fascinating. The new Monon stuff is great. Lets keep it rolling!

[:)] Thanks drephpe! Hopefully, my head won't explode [:(] Yuk! I'm just stoked that I've started a thread that is of interest to others, not just myself.

I don't know a great deal about trains, (other than my personal experience as a commuter and train traveller etc) nothing like some of the crew in the Forum, but hopefully, I can start stuff, sometimes with a question, and just let others make contributions and see where it goes....so far I haven't attracted to much attention from the overly ciritical types...best thing is just ignore them anyway.

It introduces new ideas for running the layout...[:D]

Cheers

Dave (Kozzie)

[Anonymous]

Look's like ya know a lot more than yer lettin on. Great string.

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by drephpe

Look's like ya know a lot more than yer lettin on. Great string.

Thanks drephpe. [:)] I have picked a fair bit of info, but nothing like the operational experience of RR crew or ex-RR crew.
Also, not actually living in the US does slow me down a bit when it comes to following US RRs - that's where Trains Mag, Model Railroader and all you lot "up over' and "down under' folk like Peter (M636C) come ine [:)]

As you said before, keep it rolling! All good stuff! [:D]

Dave (Kozzie)

[M636C]

Without trying to labour the point, there are photos of RS-3s in secondary service in the last two issues of Classic Trains. The Winter 2003 issue shows some NYC trains, and the Spring 2004 issue includes some Milwaukee trains.

On page 49 of the Winter issue, a pair of NYC RS-3s are seen coupled short hoods together on a train with two baggage cars leading, typical of the trains being described.

Peter

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

Without trying to labour the point, there are photos of RS-3s in secondary service in the last two issues of Classic Trains. The Winter 2003 issue shows some NYC trains, and the Spring 2004 issue includes some Milwaukee trains.

On page 49 of the Winter issue, a pair of NYC RS-3s are seen coupled short hoods together on a train with two baggage cars leading, typical of the trains being described.

Peter

Thanks Pete - I've never really looked at the Classic Trains magazine very much, but it sounds like something to check out. I'm not sure if I can still get a Winter issue, but will give it a go - pester the local newsagents heh heh! [:)]

Kozzie

[Kozzie]

Well...I took up Peter' s suggestion and bought the Spring 2004 issue of Classic Trains (looks like the Winter 2003 issue has gone from the newsagents..[:(])

On page 76 of the Spring 04 issue there is a good shot of an RS3 of the Milwaukee Road pulling a combine and coach, resplendant in the Milwaukee livery. And it's running short end first...hmmm. the variations just keep on coming....[:)]

Peter, drephpe and anyone else...was there a way of knowing, just from general observation, if one of the Alco RS series switchers used for passenger service had a steam boiler under the short hood? [%-)]

Kozzie

[M636C]

Dave,

The standard boiler fitted RS-2 and RS-3 had an exhaust stack located next to the cab in a streamlined casing located between the hood top windows on the short hood end.

The photo on pages 8 and 9 of Classic Trains Spring 2004 shows the stack casing on New Haven 532 very clearly.

The Milwaukee RS-3 locomotive illustrated elsewhere does not show this stack.

Peter

[Kozzie]

QUOTE: Originally posted by M636C

Dave,

The standard boiler fitted RS-2 and RS-3 had an exhaust stack located next to the cab in a streamlined casing located between the hood top windows on the short hood end.

The photo on pages 8 and 9 of Classic Trains Spring 2004 shows the stack casing on New Haven 532 very clearly.

The Milwaukee RS-3 locomotive illustrated elsewhere does not show this stack.

Peter

Thanks Peter [;)] I've just checked those photos and I've worked out what you are referring to. I ahd looked at thos photos yesterday, but it sure helps when you know what you are looking at! ha ha[:D]

TRhis thread has been ery helpfull - I had no idea the Alco RS line switchers were used in such a variety of ways. [;)]

Dave
(Kozzie)

[M636C]

Dave,

I think in the same issue (Classic Trains Spring 2004) there is an overhead photo of Utah Railway RSD-5s (or maybe RSD-4s) which show no boiler stack but the dynamic brake vent near the front of the short hood. There were a couple of units that had both dynamic brakes and a boiler, and the hood was extended up to the top of the cab roof. Just another comment while we're on the subject!

Peter

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

LV 211 (ex-PRR) had a steam generator and dynamic brake as described by Peter and was known as a "hammerhead". C&NW also had an RSD4 or RSD5 (help me with specifics) with a similar appearance.

[Kozzie]

Hey Crew! [:D]

Looks like the Alco line switchers just keep on popping up! [:D][:D]

I've just bought the May issue of Trains Mag, and an article about the St Johnsbury & Lamoille County RR has some good shots of of RS2s and 3s doing freight work, switching and snowplow work as well.
Very interesting reading!

A big Thank You to Ben Bachman (article and photos) & the Trains Mag staff for such good articles! [:D][:D]

Kozzie[;)]

[M636C]

Just to complete the reference to locomotives with higher short hoods, C&NW 1688, an RSD-5, was another example of this type, with both a steam generator and dynamic brakes.

Peter