"On the top left side of the layout replacing the mill building. There will be 3-4 houses, so my question is. What actual year 1910-30s possibility newer style of houses do I get? And does Walthers houses fit this category or get something else entirely?"
The SEARS CRAFTSMAN HOME was the answer for thousands of American (and probably some Canadian) families. Just wire the funds to Chicago and you get a complete house in a box car(s) on your local team track next week. All the materials are cut to size and predrilled, you get the kegs of bolts and nails, cans of paint, the wallpaper, the stove of your choice, the windows and doors are preassembled, you even get (in some models) indoor plumbing! You just provide the labor!!! (You and your wife recruit your relatives and friends - the men form the labor gangs, the boys are the gofers, the ladies provide the meals and the girls babysit the little ones or assist mom with the cooking)
Brachmann Spectrum HO Scale Sears Early 20th Century Catalog House Kit 88001 for sale online | eBay
More period data - should give you some ideas
Sears Modern Homes - Wikipedia
Sears Kit Homes: How bungalows in a box changed housing - Curbed
ho model of sears craftsman house - Bing images
Sears Homes 1908-1914 (searsarchives.com)
7 Charming Sears Catalog Homes You Can Buy Today - The Close
Particularly if you live in the Midwest, Great Plains, Rocky Mountains or Far West, you may be living in one and not know it!
Back in the late 1940's, after the war, the Boston and Maine used Moguls to pull the commuter trains which were all open platform, wood, truss rod 60 footers. Sometimes when the Moguls were all busy we would see a small Pacific on the commuter trains.
Here we have a b-15 Mogul pulling a typical commuter train of the late 1940's.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Those are great selection to choose also. Would LaserArt Structures fit too because they look like it?
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
angelob6660....There will be 3-4 houses, so my question is. What actual year 1910-30s possibility newer style of houses do I get?...
City Classics
Wayne
angelob6660 On the top left side of the layout replacing the mill building. There will be 3-4 houses, so my question is. What actual year 1910-30s possibility newer style of houses do I get? And does Walthers houses fit this category or get something else entirely?
On the top left side of the layout replacing the mill building. There will be 3-4 houses, so my question is. What actual year 1910-30s possibility newer style of houses do I get? And does Walthers houses fit this category or get something else entirely?
angelob6660Kevin- I like the idea of brass locomotives, their not really in my price range.
You might be surprised. There are some really nice looking good runners that can be had for around $200.00 out there.
If you want a specific desirable model, the prices can skyrocket.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Oh, and it's worth adding that (if memory serves me correctly) some of those E-class Moguls lasted right up until the end of steam. They quickly got displaced by larger power and were shuffled off to light-rail branch lines where they ran forever. This 1940 roster shows plenty of Moguls and Ten Wheelers still on the books:
https://www.railarchive.net/nyccollection/nyc_roster_rrmag.pdf
Aaron
I can heartily endorse Bachmann's Sound Value 2-6-0 Mogul:
https://shop.bachmanntrains.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=258_966_1056_1057
I got one in NYC paint from TrainWorld for $99 (just looked and they still have them at the same price). Per one of the Stauffer/May books (which is back at the train club, alas) it's a reasonable stand-in for one of the E-class Moguls built by Schenectady (later Alco) just after the turn of the century.
It's a nicely detailed model with only a bit of a wobble, and the sound is great. It doesn't pull very much, but I use it for a tourist train (two underweight Bachmann excursion cars and a standard-weight gondola with plastic benches, all populated by HO scale people) and it'll happily run those (and maybe a couple cars more) up our 2.5% without breaking a sweat.
I think it's a great little locomotive, and for a hundred bucks??? You can't beat that deal. Get three, change the numbers, and boom, you're set.
For anyone wishing to convert Bachmann's HO scale 10-Wheeler into a more modern 10-Wheeler, as was shown in one of my earlier posts, Bowser has 11 of these...
...and two of these.
Despite the different names (the "Old Lady" was used on Varney's Consolidation, and the "Casey Jones" on Varney's 10 Wheeler), both castings were identical.
There's a sorta "how-to" on that conversion, which can be found HERE, with lots of photos, if anybody's interested.
My home layout is The Nittany Central, a mash up of the Bellefonte Central and East Broad Top, set in the mid-1950's. Diselization is just around the corner. BC bought a couple of surplus PRR H9s 2-8-0's to do everything. They hauled the mixed to State College, switched the yard and interchange with the lordly Pennsy and switched "The Gyp" (National Gypsum's huge plant).
https://jbritton.pennsyrr.com/index.php/tpm/535-bellefonte-central-railroad
https://jbritton.pennsyrr.com/index.php/tpm/2-uncategorised/538-on-location-coleville-bcrr
Bellefonte it self was quite an opeartion. In addotion to being the terminal of the BC, it was the west end of the Lewisburg & Tyrone (PRR)
https://www.west2k.com/pastations/centre.shtml
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewisburg_and_Tyrone_Railroad
Which actually terminated a mile or so west at Milesburg on the PRR Bald Eagle Branch (Tyrone to Lock Haven)
https://www.springcreekwatershedatlas.org/post/2020/07/25/railroads-of-the-spring-creek-watershed
The PRR operated the L&T primarily with Consolidations (H6, then H8-H9-H10) and even Atlantics (E2's) when the line still had a seperate passenger train instead of a mixed. The Bald Eagle Branch was a cutoff that hosted the big stuff - K2's, K4's, the H classes, L1's, I1's, even M1 4-8-2's. Altoona Shops would often send overhauled locos on a break in run up to Lock Haven and back, so you could get jusy about anything.
AND, in early days, it had the original Central Railroad of Pennsylvania - a New York Central cat's paw, not the Jersey Central's attempt to avoid taxes.
It even had its own car works!
Anyway, long story short, a typical loco for a small PRR branch or a short line interchanging with the PRR would be a H6sb
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr1850s.jpg
or F3 2-6-0 pre-WW2, then a H9 after
models are available
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/lambert-associates-ho-pennsylvania-rr-1568798030
http://www.modelrailroader.net/holoco_h9.php
https://mthtrains.com/80-3241-1
another loco, with a more generic, nonp-PRR look
https://mrr.trains.com/news-reviews/staff-reviews/2012/06/bachmann-ho-scale-2-6-0-mogul
Nice plan. The 60' cars would look better on that layout IMHO. If you go with 80', make sure that they clear those tunnel entries and other scenery items before gluing things down...
Simon
After thinking some more. There are a few details. On the left side was going to be a freight yard with 0-6-0 or 0-8-0 that matched the MILW beer line and the Rice Harbor train sheds with Steven Otte's scratch built water tower from a magazine years back.
I decided not to; to focus on one or two locomotives instead of 3 or 4.
The branch was a very busy place with a double track mainline, yard that might served another town or two before connecting back to the mainline. That was one reasons why the passenger train was 4 cars long. The other reason I wanted during wartime more people more revenue. During the war I can see a RPO/ Baggage with 2 coaches and post war a mix train instead of separate rail traffic.
Maybe I'll post a drawing of the track plan inspiring the one on top.
Kevin- I like the idea of brass locomotives, their not really in my price range.
PM and Wayne- the amount of passenger cars might be to much after the war. In '46 I'll go baggage car and coach or 60' combine.
More Information
I decided on this track plan (by one of the forum members) when searching a possible branch line. Left side of the mill building will be a row of houses 3-4. The river will be replaced with a road maybe a branch line bridge to the business I decided to keep. The engine house and tunnel will not around.
The passenger cars were probably to much but I thought of modeling the war traffic. The length of cars will 80' long. The only rail traffic will be warehouse and something on the other side.
I acquired roughly 18 cars mostly steel boxcars, sheathed single and double, tank car, 2 reefers, 1NW covered hopper, 1PRR hopper. Missing two cabooses a gondola and flatcar, plus coaches all of these are era accurate.
Amusing the rail traffic and the lifestyle for this town /branch line how long would it survive before being abandoned? Before the town uses the bus and semi trucks.
PM RailfanIt would be a heck of a branch line to support 3 coaches in one train. Especially if its a local. Though anything in the railroading world is possible.
Now that you mention it, I have to agree, as it would have to be a pretty well-populated branchline to merit three coaches.A mixed train would perhaps be more appropriate, and would allow a suitable service with the Bachmann Consolidation that's already in angelob6660's possession.While I do run passenger trains, I also use mixed trains, usually with a coach or combine on the rear of the train, also doing double-duty as the "caboose"...
On my layout, a locomotive might set out with only a single passenger car in-tow, but it could pick-up some freight cars along the way, usually spotting the coach or combine at the station, then servicing a couple of on-line shippers, putting their cars right behind the tender, then re-coupling to the passenger car, and heading on to the next town down the line.
snjroyKevin, these brass items are beautiful... I've also seen some Oriental Powerhouse Pacifics that look nice. Solid runners, although the tenders are probably worth changing
I own two USRA light pacifics. One is a Sunset model that can be had for around $200.00 if you look around.
I also own an Oriental Powerhouse model that will probably be used as a spare. It runs great. I bought it about 15 years ago, and for a while it was my most prized steam locomotive, before brass prices fell into my realm of attainability. It is a wonderful locomotive, and maybe will eventually get an Athearn Genesis USRA tender.
I also have three Oriental Powerhouse light mikados. These have been "replaced" by Sunset brass Heavy Mikados, but I will never get rid of them.
Kevin, these brass items are beautiful... I've also seen some Oriental Powerhouse Pacifics that look nice. Solid runners, although the tenders are probably worth changing, if they are similar to the ones they use for the Mikados. They are difficult to find on Ebay.
angelob6660I'm having a difficult time choosing steam locomotives for my fictional branch line after the war 1946.
I don't know if you are opposed to brass, or if you need locomotives to be DCC ready or not.
A 4-6-2 just looks right pulling a passenger train. Surely a NEW YORK CENTRAL K-5 would not look right on a secondary route immediately post-war, but something like this WESTERN MARYLAND K-2 could fill the need.
And my favorites, the USRA pacifics, are a design that dates back to the WW1 era. Maybe this is suitable for a branch line in 1946.
It would be a heck of a branch line to support 3 coaches in one train. Especially if its a local. Though anything in the railroading world is possible.
I havent seen anyone mention "mixed service". But thats a possibility, and would open up the option to use your existing 2-8-0 for this purpose.
It wasnt uncommon in this time frame to see older locomotives not capable of handling the mainline trains relegated to branch service. No matter what they were.
You can find a Pacific (primarily a passenger loco) hauling freight aswell as a Mikado (primarily a freight loco) hauling passengers. Berkshires are pocket race cars for railroads originally designed for fast, light to medium, mainline freight. Yet C&O and NKP both used them for branchline services near the end. Again, anything is possible in railroading.
More info on your operation is really needed here. What type of cars you running... 60' or 80'? Branchline restrictions? Though you are fictional in railroad, are you following any certain road (ie: the C&O purchase)? Etc etc.
For example, if your branchline is relatively small, no RPO needed. A "baggage/mail" car would suffice. Followed by a "baggage/coach" and a "coach" in that order. The b/m is for 2nd/3rd class baggage and all mail. The b/c car is for first class passengers and their luggage. The coach is for 2nd/3rd class passengers which youll have alot more of.
And a 2-8-0, 2-8-2, 4-6-0, 4-6-2, or even a beat up ole 2-6-0 could haul it, if the cars were as old as the loco. In '46, some still were!
Pass along more info on your branch. One thing you can count on is your loco will be expected to haul the "tonnage" over the line from a railroads point of view. They wont assign a loco smaller than the train (discounting doubleheading).
Good luck!
PMR
Both the CNR and CPR used Moguls and 10-Wheelers on branchlines, pretty well right up to the end of steam in 1959/60.Especially on the CNR, it was likewise for Consolidations, as they rostered more (852) of those than any other wheel arrangement, and they were used pretty-well everywhere, other than, perhaps, some areas in the Rockies.
Any of these three locomotive types would be suitable for branchline service, whether on passenger, freight, or mixed trains.
The N&W on their Abingdon Brianch used 4-8-0's and they ran mixed trains, nicely captured in photographs by O.Winston Link.
The C&O also used 4-6-0's for branchline service, one of which is preserved and was used for a time on the Toledo Lake Erie & Western in fan trip service.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
wjstixReally, many railroads bought early diesels specifically for branchline service because it was more economical than using steam...
Turntable elimination was valuable, but not as nearly valuable as the ability to get rid of the whole water and water-related maintenance thing, and conserve fuel by being able to start and stop the engine much more readily, or idle it far more cheaply, than typical steam engines -- particularly the older models that made their way to branches. Add the useful walkways, doors, and footboards of road-switchers, and the ability to run heavy service on even light trackage through the joys of MU, and the expense for the right kind of power could be justified nearly as easily as for switching power.
Now of course GM missed almost all of this with their BL ("Branch Line") diesels ... locomotives with limited view in the long-hood direction, no walkways or doors to where they should be, and a great emphasis on fairly ghastly and quickly-dated styling. (To Alco's credit, although they certainly designed 'competition' to those showboats, none of them to my knowledge saw domestic production -- the 'formula' in the RS1 then becoming more and more widespread and extending to the heaviest road power once that started to get into higher horsepower.) Dilworth figured out a much better solution with the GPs.
NVSRRDont forget very early diesels were relagated to light shortline service because the railroads did not trust the new tech to be reliable enough for mainline service
Really, many railroads bought early diesels specifically for branchline service because it was more economical than using steam - plus they could remove the turntable they often had at the end of the branch. (Yes, I know, 'the XYZ RR in southern North Dakota ran steam engines backwards on their branchlines' yada yada yada. MOST railroads avoided running steam engines with tenders backwards if at all possible.)
That's why GM came out with their BL ("Branch Line") diesels in the 1940s, to try to get in on the market for branchline diesels that were going other builders, like Alco and their RS-1.
Atlantics are not very popular among manufacturers indeed! I have an MDC that came in kit form. It's a solid performer... Mantua also produced some, but they are find to find. They look nice. MDC also made a (huge) Prairie - I have one that is on my to-do shelf. I suspect it was based on an SP prototype... It will probably pull a string of HWs no problem.
On the Santa Fe, a 4 car HW consist would probably be pulled by a 2-6-2 Prairie. If you want to be a bit more daring, try a 4-4-2 Atlantic (if the terrain is not too hilly). Unfortunately, I do not think any manufacturer produces a non-brass Atlantic.
JW
I can see a Pacific pulling four heavyweight passenger cars. The Bachmann Pacifics are nice... The Mantuas are a bit bulky looking, but they run OK and they can pull.
By 1946, many branch lines would no longer have separate freight and passenger trains. They would have mixed train service.
Jeff
The only books I have is MRR Freight car of the '40s and '50s and Classic Trains Trains of the 1940s and More Trains in the 1940s.
I also have the revised edition of Guide to North American steam locomotives by Trains.
Oh don't worry about the C&O tender it will be replaced with undecorated duplicate tender with the fictional name on it.
Well done Wayne that was very impressive work. The patience on two scratch built locomotives with a free time is outstanding.
I know my skills aren't up on the task of detailing and customizing locomotive.
First I need to paint and decal my single sheathed boxcar for GNRC (now GNOR renamed) this reporting mark lasted in the early 50s. Before being discontinued.