"Maintenance of Way"
Rail Cleaning Train (I reckon they have "Bright Boys" driving the train... )
On the railroad, whether real or modeled, there's always a ton of work to do, whether real or simulated. There's ties that need replacing, track that needs ballasting, the occasional loco that's run into something or a car that's jumped the track. Whatever it is, the real railroads have a variety of equipment on hand they employ to do the job. From re-railing the errant boxcar, to repairing a washed-out bridge, Maintenance of Way (MOW) cars get the job done.
So, My Questions For Today Are:
-- What kind of Maintenance of Way cars and facilities does your railroad have?
-- Do you have a work train and a wreck train?
-- What about test cars or scale cars?
-- What about Crew Cars or Camp Kitchens?
-- Converted boxcars? WW-II Era Troop Cars?
-- Crane car?
-- Converted Tender?
-- What about ballast hoppers or gondolas?
C'mon, show us your Work Trains! Let's see how your railroad does it!
(Pictures always Welcome! :-)
As always, I'm looking forward to your comments and opinions!
John
It's a bit of a posed picture, but this is my old work train:
I think these are old True-Line models. I bought them back in the 1960s. When I pulled my trains out of boxes about 6 years ago, I zeroed in on these. They were the first group of cars to get upgraded from horn-hooks to Kadees, and many of them have new trucks.
Mostly, I run these as a unit train around my layout, just because I like the way they look behind an Alco RSC-3. But, I'd like to ask a bit of a philosophy question of my own:
How do you use your MOW equipment? Is it, like mine, a train to be run around the layout, or is it a static display as part of a permanent (or semi-permanent) accident, maintenance or construction scene? If you're involved in operations sessions, do you sometimes set up some track maintenance work as part of the session, either closing off a track from service, or issuing "slow orders" for trains passing through?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
By the way, a wrecker train, one intended to work on or rerail cars is technically NOT a "maintenance of way" train
"Maintenance of way" refers to fixing the track, structures and right of way. It refers to the engineering department.
Wreckers or equipment intended to rerail cars belongs to the mechanical department.
Different purposes, different departments, different equipment.
FYI
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Dave, thank you for the clarification.
I'm sure that many others such as I also had not thought about it.
Ken G Price My N-Scale Layout
Digitrax Super Empire Builder Radio System. South Valley Texas Railroad. SVTRR
N-Scale out west. 1996-1998 or so! UP, SP, Missouri Pacific, C&NW.
dehusman By the way, a wrecker train, one intended to work on or rerail cars is technically NOT a "maintenance of way" train "Maintenance of way" refers to fixing the track, structures and right of way. It refers to the engineering department. Wreckers or equipment intended to rerail cars belongs to the mechanical department. Different purposes, different departments, different equipment. FYI
Oh yeah, sure. I knew all that. I just wanted to see who was paying attention....
(That's my story and I'm stickin' to it! :-)
Beasley, I've got some of the same cars. My dad's had them since he was a kid, but they're in bad need of some new paint and lettering.
Anyway, I pretty much just put them on the main every now and then with an old switcher. My layout's not really complex enough to make special scenes for it, but I rather enjoy it. Sort of a change of scenery after running a bunch of coal drags.
For some reason I've chosen to model some of my railroad's MOW equipment. Most of it is hi-rail trucks, but they have a good number of ballast cars and a few flat cars or gondolas. They also have a weed sprayer train. The sprayer and some of the ballast cars are what I've modeled, but the ballast cars need lettering and loads before they're really done.
John, this is my MOW train, cleaning up a rock slide, while a WB freight uses the wrong main for a pass.
While most of my MoW equipment is seldom run, I do have some, with more to be built once the entire layout becomes operational.
The Elora Gorge & Eastern has this tool and supply car (a former MDC 36' reefer, rebuilt with a steel underframe, sliding doors and a few added details):
This ex-RPO (MDC) handles similar duties and also serves as a mobile shop:
An ex-combine, also from MDC, is used for similar duties, and provides some accommodations for workers:
Car 124m, another MDC car, is a crew and kitchen car:
This retired tender carries potable water for the crews, and also serves when cement needs to be mixed on-site, or, as seen here, as a water supply for the lines weed-sprayer:
Here's the weed sprayer (one of two), scratchbuilt from wood and styrene:
The sprayer arms are fully extendable:
Cars 117 and 121 are 40' gondolas assigned to general work service:
Car 120, another gondola, has scratchbuilt sides and ends on an Athearn 40' flatcar body:
120 is seen here under the Lowbanks shop crane, part of its load a mangled truck from a grade crossing incident:
Gondola 112 (from Ulrich), with its drop-bottom doors, is used for both ballast and cinder service:
Also visible in the photo above is the front end of water car 190. The open coal bunker is accessible through the removeable boards, and is often used to carry miscellaneous equipment or supplies. In the winter, it carries coal for the camp car stoves.
When necessary, revenue-service cars, like the drop-bottom 4506 pictured here (Intermountain), will be pressed into company service, too:
40' flatcar 108 (Athearn, with a board-by-board wooden deck), carries rail, ties, telegraph poles - whatever necessary to get the job done:
Another 40' flatcar (Tichy), with removeable low sides (note the wedges hammered into the stake pockets to keep the sides upright):
American derrick 162 (modified Walthers, unpowered) is around for the heavier lifting jobs, along with boom tender 162A, a re-decked Athearn 50'-er:
There are four scale test cars in service, two of which are on my layout. They're scratchbuilt on MDC passenger car trucks, and see more frequent service than most of the other MoW equipment:
Also visible in the photo above are an inspection car (modified Sylvan) and a motorised handcar from Durango. There are lots of handcars and trailers in service around the layout, too:
Because this is a small railroad, many of the cars shown above could also see service on wreck trains, as required.
Since the line is located within southern Ontario's "snowbelt", plows are a must, like this one from Walthers:
There's an Athearn rotary, soon to be built, and a scratchbuilt rotary on the agenda, too. Another invaluable tool for battling the drifts is this Jordan spreader (modified Walthers):
Using piano wire and parts salvaged from disposeable lighters, the wing blades are positionable for photos:
Since MoW cars usually look so interesting, I'm sure that more will be added as time becomes available. I'm currently gathering parts for a piledriver.
Wayne
One of the most boring couple days I ever spent was piloting a spray train over lines in Kansas. this car was shoved at 18 mph. So traveling over jointed rail at 18 mph with the smell of herbicides everywhere in the summer.
doctorwayne Here's the weed sprayer (one of two), scratchbuilt from wood and styrene: Gondola 112 (from Ulrich), with its drop-bottom doors, is used for both ballast and cinder service:
Wayne, Grampy-- As usual you guys don't fail to WOW!
Wayne, I am curious, the drop-bottom gondola in the photo above-- Walthers has some cars that are similar but they appear newer. Do you know which ones I mean? Any idea what era those would be appropriate for (50's maybe??) If not, do you have any idea where I could obtain some drop-bottom gondolas for maintenance service? I did see that you said yours was from Ulrich, are those still available? Are there other sources that you know of?
MisterBeasley It's a bit of a posed picture, but this is my old work train: I think these are old True-Line models. I bought them back in the 1960s. When I pulled my trains out of boxes about 6 years ago, I zeroed in on these. They were the first group of cars to get upgraded from horn-hooks to Kadees, and many of them have new trucks. Mostly, I run these as a unit train around my layout, just because I like the way they look behind an Alco RSC-3. But, I'd like to ask a bit of a philosophy question of my own: How do you use your MOW equipment? Is it, like mine, a train to be run around the layout, or is it a static display as part of a permanent (or semi-permanent) accident, maintenance or construction scene? If you're involved in operations sessions, do you sometimes set up some track maintenance work as part of the session, either closing off a track from service, or issuing "slow orders" for trains passing through?
I have a lot of those same cars, or at least they seem very similar. Mine are packed away at the moment though. Hopefully I can get started on my "real" layout this weekend. I am down to the last two jobs I have to get done before I start-- finishing up the tape&mudding-- all done except final sanding, and painting-- just rolling on some "builder white". Then as soon as that's done, I can get started-- don't even care if the paint's dry.... :-) I've been anxious to get going and it's been too many months of stuff getting in the way.
My plan for MOW cars & trains on my layout is to both show them as semi-static displays-- move them around here and there, now and then. And to use them in "scenes" / scenarios that affect operations. As you and Grampy mentioned, setting up an area that's under maintenance and requiring trains to re-route or otherwise deal with it. Setting up simulated disrailments and the like. (Of course it's always possible that maybe they won't be simulated...)
Work train cars and other non-revenue cars...
Some time ago, I shot my N-scale non-revenue work fleet and made a composite photo (shown in the middle of the long caption.)
1. An Atlas 40’ flatcar (model from about 1970) stripped and repainted in Santa Fe MOW aluminum, ATSF 192272 WT-G, based on photos in Santa Fe High Iron September 1973 and November December 1973, and in ATSF Color Guide to Frt & Psgr Eqpt p.114.
2. An Arnold Rapido UP work flat with hand-operated crane obtained 2 or 3 years ago from a collector in financial straits. I will want to convert to MTL couplers and make it as close to ATSF as possible.
3. Ballast hopper ATSF 77490 GA-74 rebuilt in N scale from Model Power 4-bay hopper #3602 adapting Andy Sperandeo’s HO kitbash article in Model Railroader Nov84 p.89.
4. Atlas #34774-6 ballast hopper ATSF 86620 GA-59. Atlas came out with this AFTER I built my own kitbash.
5. Walthers DIFCO air dump cars ATSF #186213, 186217, 186225. The car numbers and details represent the GA-193 class which did not come along until 1977. However, they are similar in general dimensions and outline to air dump classes that appeared as early as 1930s, so I use them as “stand-ins” on my 1957 layout.
6. ATSF work service boxcar 202272 class WE-19 as shown in Southwestern Prototype Modeler SepOct85 p.16
7. ATSF company service tankcar #101110 TK-N from rebuilt from Concor 1681M
as shown in Santa Fe Diesels & Cars, p.75.
NOT SHOWN (and in most cases, not built yet...)
I have had a Dimi Trains kit #1102 for a 120 ton Industrial Brownhoist wrecking crane for over ten years, unbuilt, which can be detailed as Santa Fe #199774 as shown in Santa Fe Modeler JanuaryFebruary 1982 p.9 and Santa Fe Work Equipment Cars p.78
I have an old Atlas #2604 Santa Fe cafe observation ATSF #35 which was not operated in passenger service in the 1957 time period I model, but which was the basis for a 1957 prototype modification into Diesel Instruction Car #5000, a conversion on my list of projects to do someday. #5000 is shown in ATSF Color Guide to Frt & Pass Eqpt p.28, and a similar instruction car #80 appears in AT&SF Rwy Passenger Train Eqpt. Vol2. Business Cars, plate 2. When built, I plan to have the instruction car brought onto layout from time to time on a freight train to be spotted on a spare track in the engine terminal, yard or depot area for two or three operating sessions.
I also plan to build 2 or 3 non-revenue ice service cars and at least one reefer salt transport car. The ice cars transported ice from ice manufacturing plants at one location to Santa Fe reefer icing platforms not served directly by on-site ice plants. My layout is based on Galveston, where there was no ice plant at the icing platform, but Santa Fe bought ice from local ice makers. One such supplier was Galveston Brewing Co.
(shown in a 1921 Valuation photo from Russell Crump Photo archives on Paired Rail Publications website: http://www.atsfry.com/photo-j/000413.jpg )
designed by the same architect as this San Antonio brewery which now houses a museum...
and which is similar to the Heljan brewery kit. I have a Heljan kit in reserve and plan to run in-town ice car movement between the brewery and my reefer icing platform, which will have a small ice storage house.
I also want to build one reefer salt car, a converted old truss-rod box car with refrigerator-car-style doors. The cars carried salt from a mine at Hutchinson Kansas to Santa Fe reefer shipment origination points where cooling below the normal 32 degree freezing point of ice was needed for supercold shipments, such as seafood from my fishing fleet harbor.
(mockup of uncompleted scene)
WHAT WILL I DO WITH MY WORK AND NON-REVENUE CARS?
Some cars are used in both work AND revenue service... for instance “convertible” ballast cars. When I had my East Texas layout which had a gravel pit. I loaded ballast hoppers at J J Stone Company to move in revenue regular freight trains to both revenue customers and company use.
(Shown here loading drop-bottom gons)
On my Island Seaport layout under construction, I can bring ballast hoppers in on revenue freight trains. An occasional car will go to a local concrete redi-mix plant. I can keep a few cars somewhere in the yard for railroad service, and an MOW train can be placed where I have trackage actually under construction (or out of service due to electrical problems. In that case, work cars would have to be ease into non-powered trackage by a loco using several cars as a handle, just as on the prototype, a handle must be used to move cars onto trackage which will not support a locomotive!)
I have no room on the layout for a dedicated MOW construction scene. But I have a hidden staging spur behind the Export Grain Elevator accessed by port terminal switcher.
It represents track of the terminal RR co. adjacent to and on the “other side” of the channel painted on the background, a way to represent traffic to industries for which there is no space on the layout. It is a place to consign 4 or 5 hoppers of ballast or several air dump cars of rip-rack rocks either to the Port Authority or the Corps of Engineers.
The ATSF company service tankcar will come in on revenue freight trains to deliver fuel oil to the engine terminal. (The oil comes via a Santa Fe supply contract with the Texaco refinery at Beaumont-- “Lost River” staging on my old East Texas layout.)
I want to be able to build and display the wreck train. In real life, it was stationed on a track at Galveston, ready to be called into service. However, I shall be hard-pressed to allow track space for it.
Drop bottom general service gons are appropriate from about 1910 to about 1990. Early ones had wood sides, later ones had steel sides. When I went to Colorado in the 1990's, the DRGW has GS gons in MofW service all over the place. They were much more common in the western half of the country (being the preferred coal car in the west). The solid bottom mill gon or twin hopper would be the preferred car in the eastern US. By the 1950's the eastern roads would be awash in surplus 50 ton hoppers as coal loading tanked and the 50 ton cars were being made obsolete by 70 and 90 ton cars.
The Reading had dozens of MofW cars made from their USRA clone boxcars (like the X29), USRA 46 ft gons (with side cut down to make flat cars or low side gons) or composite side gons (the PRR GRA sold by F&C).
The spray outfits I have been associated with had a lead car that was a 40 ft boxcar that held mixing tanks, bagged chemicals and pumps. There were windows cut into the lead end and sides. There were swing out, air cylinder activated spray arms. Behind that car were two tank cars of water plus another boxcar of chemicals.
What kind of Maintenance of Way cars and facilities does your railroad have?
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Being a short line we do not own any MOW cars..We do have a 5 men MOW crew that does light track maintenance,cuts weeds etc..They use a truck.
Any major track work is done by railroad contractor and is awarded by bid.
Derailment clean up is done by R.J.Corman.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
DoctorWayne!
I've gotta say it, it's "always" a joy to see pictures of your layout and your work, your workmanship and attention to detail really give a person the inspiration to build and create.
I sure wish the powers that be at MR would wake up and run a big feature article on your layout instead of some of the "filler" they seem to keep putting in there every month.
Looking at your pictures here gives me the inspiration to dig out my old MofW train from years ago and give it the full rehab I have been thinking about for better than 20 years now.
My hat is off to you sir and I look forward to seeing more of your excellent layout!!!
Mark
Mark, thank you for your very kind words. I have mentioned before, though, that I think my modelling is not quite up to MR's requirements, and there's certainly a lot of unfinished (and not-yet-started) layout that doesn't get a lot of bandwidth.
John, I don't think the Ulrich cars have been made for years, although they do come up (and get snapped-up) fairly regularly. For those who aren't familiar with them, they're an all-metal kit, with separate sides and ends. The four pairs of drop doors in the centre of the car operate (I ca'd mine shut - too many randomly-dropped piles of gravel), although all of the prototype's 16 doors, even over the trucks, were operable.
The car shown there in the following picture, from Intermountain, is a drop-door car (there are only eight doors, all in the centre of the car, with none over the trucks) although the doors don't operate. The car is styrene, with a wood floor and sides. Here's a view, courtesy of Secord Air Services, of that car's interior:
Walthers (Proto1000) offers a very similar drop-door car in all styrene, again with non-operating doors:
As you can see, the interior is similar to the Intermountain car:
Red Caboose offers this all-steel drop-bottom car, which is probably closest to the Ulrich car:
A look at the interior shows 16 drop-style doors, similar to the Ulrich car, but all non-operating:
True Scale (later Train Miniature and now Walthers), makers of the cars shown by Mister B., offers the Hart Convertible Gondola (middle left, near the locomotive, in his photo). I'm not sure if the prototype offered all features on the same car or if the purchaser chose the options which they wanted, but these cars had drop-doors or drop-bottoms, with doors hinged to drop inside or outside of the rails, and also had sides which were hinged at either the top or bottom.
I also forgot a couple of other non-revenue cars, these ice-service reefers. Both are 36'-ers from LifeLike (Proto-no-thousand) and were picked up for a buck from the "used" table at the LHS:
Also, EG&E business car Tyandaga, a converted Rivarossi observation car:
...and Rock Haven (a shortened and modified Athearn observation), its counterpart on the wholly-owned Grand Valley:
Work train??
Here is one that has been shown before, Instead of building something new, the crew is removing rails (yeah they are sure strong guys):
Maintenance facilities in the yard:
Close up of one of the cars:
Guy
see stuff at: the Willoughby Line Site
Nice photos, Guy. I especially like those tie plates on the flatcar.
The railroad I operate on regularly has track scales and a scale test car. I reported to the dispatcher that the scale was apparently broken, as the car only registers as weighing 2 ounces.
I haven't been given that train again :)
I have two sets of MOW Cars. In N scale I model SP mainly and have a Tichy set that I built, along with a Water Tanker and some MOW cranes.
In HO I model various Railroads and have a Amtrak MOW set up with a couple of Gons, a couple of Ballast Hoppers, a Flatcar, and a Amtrak Express Car.