I am in the beginning stages of planning for my next layout. This time I'm going to freelance a shortline/branchline in the early transition era, and I need to know what kind of equipment to start looking for. I am mostly interested in the locomotives, but any other equipment information would be useful as well.
My plan: (so far) A branchline set in the semi-arid west. More great basin, less desert. Former mining road, started late 1800's/early 1900's. This means I'll be able to model equipment and structures from the turn of the century through to the early 40's should I choose. Being a shortline, the track will be lighter, the trains shorter and lighter, and the scheduling loose.
Rolling stock will likely be from the late 20's through the 30's, with some older equipment in company service. (Cutoff dates: nothing before 1890, nothing after 1945, with the bulk in the teen's and 20's)
The short list of things I need to find/figure out:
Locomotives: What kind of steam would be used? 2-8-0/2-8-2, smaller, larger? Would it be oil or coal fired? What Diesels would be used, and how? (No mainline AB sets, obviously)
Passenger Equipment: limited numbers, obviously. But what construction (wood/steel?) size (80' or smaller?) type (combine/coach?) possibly only a doodlebug?
Lastly, Industries. Mining, obviously. likely precious metals or coal. Possibly an associated smelter or chemical works, and the town(s) along the line. (general freight, mostly LCL)
One big question I have concerns the oil industry, would they have been active at that point?
I apologize for the massive post, but I'd appreciate any info I can get at this point.
For locomotives, I'd stick with 4-6-0 and 2-8-0 types. The 2-8-2 locomotives seem a little on the large side for a light branch line. Also, coal wasn't very prevelant in the west so oil fired would be better IMO. Same thing applies to mining - not much coal mining in the west. Some in Utah but not in the part of the state that would be considered Great Basin.
Cheers,
Ken
~G4
19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.
An oil-fired 2-8-2, as well as 2-8-0, 4-6-0 or 2-6-0 would typically be used. Unlikely a shortline would have a diesel locomotive except possibly a gas/diesel mechanical 4-axled industrial switcher.
Passenger equipment could be either wood or metal and probably include a combination baggage/coach and perhaps some coaches of any length. Doodlebugs too.
The oil industry was more railroad-active in those days because fields were being developed and pipelines were less common. However, I don't believe there was much oil production in the Great Basin. I am aware, however, of a very small field (with equally diminutive refinery) located along US Hwy 50 in eastern Nevada.
A military base would be great as a major industry, particularly during the war years. An ammunition depot or airfield facility are a good choice depending on whether you want the rolling stock to be dominated by box cars (carrying ammunition) or tank cars (carrying aviation fuel)..
Mark
the southern pacific began converting to oil fuel in the mid 1890s, of if you're modeling a line connecting to the SP it is entirely possible that in the 1940s to 50s you'd find a second hand SP steamer maybe a 4-6-0 living out its last years. if you are modeling a post mining boom shortline i doubt you'd find any 80' passenger cars. maybe a couple of old 50 foot open platform cars left over from the 1880s. most of the rolling stock would be coming from your mainline connections, so you could have up to date steel 40 and 50' boxcars. home road might have some old ore cars left over from mining days and maybe a 34' truss rod wood box for on line LCL.
nice concept
projectbluebirdfrom the turn of the century through to the early 40's
You may want to reconsider your time frame for a transition era layout. As I understand that period, the beginning of the diesel era, thus the transition, really took hold in the late 40's to the mid 50's.
Just my 2cts. worth and that may be all it's worth
Good luck with your modeling and pictures are really appreciated.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
projectbluebirdI am in the beginning stages of planning for my next layout. This time I'm going to freelance a shortline/branchline in the early transition era, and I need to know what kind of equipment to start looking for. I am mostly interested in the locomotives, but any other equipment information would be useful as well.My plan: (so far) A branchline set in the semi-arid west. More great basin, less desert. Former mining road, started late 1800's/early 1900's. This means I'll be able to model equipment and structures from the turn of the century through to the early 40's should I choose. Being a shortline, the track will be lighter, the trains shorter and lighter, and the scheduling loose.Rolling stock will likely be from the late 20's through the 30's, with some older equipment in company service. (Cutoff dates: nothing before 1890, nothing after 1945, with the bulk in the teen's and 20's)The short list of things I need to find/figure out:Locomotives: What kind of steam would be used? 2-8-0/2-8-2, smaller, larger? Would it be oil or coal fired? What Diesels would be used, and how? (No mainline AB sets, obviously)Passenger Equipment: limited numbers, obviously. But what construction (wood/steel?) size (80' or smaller?) type (combine/coach?) possibly only a doodlebug?Lastly, Industries. Mining, obviously. likely precious metals or coal. Possibly an associated smelter or chemical works, and the town(s) along the line. (general freight, mostly LCL) One big question I have concerns the oil industry, would they have been active at that point?I apologize for the massive post, but I'd appreciate any info I can get at this point.
Just to choose a time period arbitrarily, let's say it's Fall, 1941. The buildup to WWII is going on, so traffic levels are up. The road is changing from "really loose" to "big time". The current locomotives are 2-8-0s and 4-6-0s, but they have to doublehead to get the trains down from the mine to the junction. So management has gone to the used locomotive market and bought a pair of USRA light 2-8-2s. The general manager really likes the new Alco RS1, but Alco is quoting 6 months delivery. And two Mikados cost less than one RS1.
Fuel would be whatever is cheapest to being in - coal or oil.
The passenger equipment could either be old wooden cars or "modern" steel cars bought in the 1920s. It would not be unusual to have a fleet of steel cars, 3 coaches, and 2 baggage-RPOs.
Industries: Mining and the associated industries. Also general incoming and outgoing freight. A smelter would have a good deal of mine to smelter traffic, like the Nevada Northern. The mine to smelter traffic would be separate from the mainline traffic (though sharing the same tracks) and could use different equipment - say, a Russian Decapod.
Oil wells would be a possibility, but oil distributors would definitely be present in every town. Possibly a military base with the associated traffic.
Another possibility for an industry would be a college campus. A college would have a reasonable amount of incoming freight traffic, but a lot of passenger traffic. It could justify connecting Pullmans on the passenger trains, and solid Pullman trains during the football season.
Great info everybody, keep it coming!
I like the idea of an online defense industry. That would provide a rational for a larger industry and possibly even a deisel or two. There were a few projects like that here in Utah that I have been considering as prototype sources. One was the late Geneva Steel plant, though a bit large for an online industry, suitable for an entire layout. The other were two refineries on the west side of Salt Lake City, All located inland in case of invasion. Those prototype industries were located on or near Class 1 railroads, with the attendant infrastructure.
For my layout, an existing chemical plant with a newfound status as a defense works might make an interesting industry. Especially if I concentrate on the period immeadiatly after the outbreak of World War II, say '42-'43. In fact, the plant itself could be quite small, with the "expansion" for the war effort making up a large portion of the traffic. The line and spur leading to the plant could even be "upgraded" with heavier, newer rail and/or bridges leaving the rest of the branchline as it would have been during the depression years.
superbe As I understand that period, the beginning of the diesel era, thus the transition, really took hold in the late 40's to the mid 50's.
That is true, especially for mainline deisel service, but many switchers were offered starting in 1939, with the EMD SC/SW offered as early as 1936. And, one of the largest customers for war-time deisel locomotives was the government. If I have a defense plant on my shortline, a deisel switcher might not be out of place. Even if my focus is more on the steam side of the transition.
[edit] P.S. CBQ, it looks like you and I were thinking the same thing!
I think I've found a good centerpiece industry for my pike. A chemical plant using the chloralkali process. From the few photos I've found of such plants, it looks like it would be nothing more complex than a largish building and some storage tanks. (depending on size) All the complex equipment is inside. The raw materials are alkali salts, which would be plentiful in the high desert location of my freelanced shortline. Output is hydrogen gas, chlorine gas, and sodium hydroxide (aka caustic soda or lye). That last one is an important ingredient in aluminum production. Which would provide reason enough for the plant to have defense plant status, especially in late '41 and early '42. It also provides some additional industry candidates; namely soap, fertilizers, and possibly pesticides (depending on the exact processes)
Now I just need to find someone who would know about this kind of plant at that time, so I can figure out traffic numbers. Does anyone know how hydrogen gas would have been shipped?
projectbluebird My plan: (so far) A branchline set in the semi-arid west. More great basin, less desert. Former mining road, started late 1800's/early 1900's. This means I'll be able to model equipment and structures from the turn of the century through to the early 40's should I choose. Being a shortline, the track will be lighter, the trains shorter and lighter, and the scheduling loose. Rolling stock will likely be from the late 20's through the 30's, with some older equipment in company service. (Cutoff dates: nothing before 1890, nothing after 1945, with the bulk in the teen's and 20's)
A good resource would be to look at similar real-life standard-gauge railroads such as the Nevada Northern Railway and Virginia and Truckee Railroad, each quite similar to your concept. Using Google, you can find lots of information on the ralroads and their equipment rosters. You may also see photos of many of these locos which have been preserved.
Though both of these railroads have had revivals in some form as tourist roads, in earlier revenue years they made use of lots of smaller power such as 4-4-0s, 2-6-0s, and 2-8-0s. In fact, none of the locomotives on either line during their primary active years had a trailing truck, with the exception of one tank loco on the NN.
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cuyama A good resource would be to look at similar real-life standard-gauge railroads such as the Nevada Northern Railway and Virginia and Truckee Railroad, each quite similar to your concept. Using Google, you can find lots of information on the ralroads and their equipment rosters. You may also see photos of many of these locos which have been preserved. Though both of these railroads have had revivals in some form as tourist roads, in earlier revenue years they made use of lots of smaller power such as 4-4-0s, 2-6-0s, and 2-8-0s. In fact, none of the locomotives on either line during their primary active years had a trailing truck, with the exception of one tank loco on the NN.
Shortline railroads in the Great Basin area of the country were built before WW1 when even Consolidation locomotives were considered large power. Almost all had died or were withering by WW2, so had little need to upgrade their motive power. But if you contemplate your WW2-era free-lanced railroad to be a healthy/busy one, a Mikado is in the cards.
The 31-mile Trona Railway Company acquired a used Mikado in 1937 to supplement its Consolidations. It also had a wooden combination coach/baggage car, a short all-metal observation car, and a Doodlebug.
Although not served by the Trona Railway Company, the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station wasn't far distant. It had its own military railroad, and it connected with the Southern Pacific's Lone Pine Branch (as did the Trona.)
The SP had two other branchlines in the Great Basin which had military bases as important customers: Mina and Fallon branches. Mikados were common road power. (My favorite train is the Mina Mixed which even had an RPO.)
I suggest you look up the Virginia & Truckee & use that as a prototype.
Locos: A nice collection of 19th century steamers. 4-4-0,4-6-0, maybe a 44ton critter.
Passenger Equipment: 19th century wood coaches. or teens heavyweights. Short 2-4 car trains (Bag, Mail, Coach &Combine)
Freight: Mining road to silver mines. 1-2 branchlines.
The advantage is you should find a wealth of material. Mainline connection is SP via the Donner Pass route. The best feature is you can go visit the area to get an idea for scenery, ROW, etc.
With WW2 still on in 1945, a lot of oil was transported by rail. Not sure how many wells or coal mines are in Nevada. You could always move the oil distributor. (Raw materials out, goods in with a poor road system). I-80 is still far in the future.
superbe projectbluebirdfrom the turn of the century through to the early 40's You may want to reconsider your time frame for a transition era layout. As I understand that period, the beginning of the diesel era, thus the transition, really took hold in the late 40's to the mid 50's. Just my 2cts. worth and that may be all it's worth Good luck with your modeling and pictures are really appreciated. Bob
While there is no fixed date or event that marks the beginning and end of the transition era, generally it is considered to be the 1940-1960 time frame. Box cab diesels began showing up as switchers in the 1920s. In the 1930s, you had the the advent of streamlined passenger sets but the first road diesels, such as the FTs, began showing up around 1940, maybe shortly before. WWII put a temporary halt to the transition to diesels or it would have happened sooner than it did. In the post war years, the transition picked up again and by 1960, all major roads had fully dieselized.
It is unlikely a branchline would have a road diesel in the early 1940s. Many of them ran with hand-me-down power so smaller early 1900s locos would be appropriate. I'm partial to the 4-6-0s but 2-8-0s and 2-8-2s would be appropriate as well. You might even see a 4-4-0 still around. I have a branchline planned for my layout and I've already obtained a pair of 4-6-0s which will be the primary motive power. I'm undecided whether to go with a doodlebug or a Galloping Goose type rail truck for secondary power.