N scale
Electric Interurban passenger operation - I have a GHB International brass Illinois Traction System Interurban Combine and some complete powered underframes for the GHB model (undebody detail, trucks and motor) so I can scratch build additional cars.
Electric Freight Locomotives - The Bachmann 44 Tonner and 70 Tonner could be used to power credible electric locomotives (scratch built bodies). It might be possible to make a SN Steeplecab. Overall length, truck centers and trucks are close. Would have to remove the circuit board and really butcher the frame. I think the gears sit low enough to fit under the hoods but haven't dissembled one to check yet.
Layout - Minimum mainline radius 12"+: Spurs 8"+, Wye 5"+ restricted to interurban cars only: Mainline Turnouts #6: SN Station and Wye turnouts #4.
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.
I've always had an interest in the SN. It's probably on my Top 25 RRs I Can't Model Because of Space/Time/-$$. Read whatever the standard book was for it circa 1970.
I've forgetten most of what I read. What's at the Conway Ranch? What would average train length be through here? Everything seemed short trains, straining juice jacks from what I recall of the book pics, not hugeish power like the Illinois Terminal had IIRC.
Might need an extra track or two at Woodland. Was it that sparse? I'm thinking probably so, but depending on your ops plan, might be a whole lot more flexible with at least one crossover midway down that long siding, maybe a storage/staging track or two by diving behind "Residential" could hide it to retain a prototype track sparsity while having a few more options if needed.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
The brass car I have is Illinois Traction System not Illinois Terminal. It is 53' +/- long and resembles SN #101 (most noticable difference is the round roof instead of clerestory) There is a photo of 101 with a trailer car on the Woodland Branch on page 246 of Demoro's Sacramento Northern book. I don't have plans for #101 but the cars for which I have plans are all about 53' long.
The photos of passenger trains on the Branch that I have seen are single car or single car and trailer. In addition to Demoro's book I have the all the Interurbans Specials on the SN as well as several other books with chapters on rhe SN.
Per USGS maps dated 1949/53 there was only one one siding between West Sacramento and Woodland (at Lovdal, a little north of where I-80 crosses over the SN and River Road). It was very short (less than 1000' total) and much lower. The SN is on an embankment and the siding has very steep grades on both ends. Unfortunately I don't have room to model it.
Don't know what was at Conway Ranch. The USGS map shows one spur and a couple unidintified outline rectangles along the tracks. Buildings are normally shown as filled rectangles on USGS maps.
I see freight trains as being 9 cars max (including caboose). Most shorter.
53' seems to be a common standard for interurban cars. The IT had a bunch. Note that the ITS was a predecessor to the IT. I have Dale Jenkins' recent IT book, but just skimmed through and can't say exactly what the difference was other than the coproration's name evolution in difficult times.
I was going to suggest turning the Conway Ranch into a bumpout, rather than an extension, might be more room for scenery, bldgs, etc
mlehmanI was going to suggest turning the Conway Ranch into a bumpout, rather than an extension, might be more room for scenery, bldgs, et
That would be nice, but I can't make the aisles any narrower. I need room to get around in a wheelchair,
I have made a revised plan that more accurately represents the arrangement and industries east of the SP. I have also made a revision to give myself more room to maneuver.I am thinking of removing the spuras at Peethill and Hebron.
Looks good. I like the theme and the fact you're not squeezing track into every bit of space.
Found in an article aboyt the dairy industry in Yolo County
"There were over 300 milking cows in the Morris herd by 1913 and the several Morris ranches usually totaled over 1000 acres between 1891 and 1941. Milking was on “Tule Ranch” (now Conaway Ranch) or near Knights Landing where family settled in the 1850s."
Based on this I would guess that the SN transpored raw milk to Woodland and maybe Sacramento - possibly in Interurban cars.
On a 1938 SN Timetable and on SN maps it is spelled Conaway. It is is spelled "Conway" on the 1953 USGA map. The ranch is now a nature preserve.