Starting over: Questions on Norfolk Southern Motive Power N-scale

[SpaceMouse]

I just decided to go from the stone age to today, and it's like I'm entering a whole new world I know nothing about. I'll do some research, but I'd like to get started without buying wrong.

I'm modeling modern day Norfolk Southern mainline through Pennsylvania with Conrail doing the yard work. My focus has been so narrow on small steam that what I see when I look at the big trains go by is mostly big black ones and sometimes big blue ones mixed in. I know that the helper engines are SD-40's because I read it on the sides.  But I have no place for helpers on my propsed layout.

So I need road engines and a yard goat.  

1) What would those engines be?

2) Who makes good ones? I would like to get them with decoders since I'm a little nervous about the small scale.

3) Where would I get a good deal on them?

4) Bachman makes an Acela Amtrak set. Is that any good? IS it DCC? TrainWorld has them for $225.

5) I need a bridge to cross a small creek. It will be a double main. What style bridge would I use and who makes one?

5) Where would I learn this stuff?  

[Adelie]

Hi Chip, and Happy Holidays,

It's been a while since I've been to Horseshoe Curve to watch NS trains roll by.  So, I don't know for sure what equipment they are running through Pennsylvania these days.  There would definitely still be SD40s of some variety, and I know Conrail ran SD50s, 60s and 80s through there.  So,

1) Can't say for sure, but any newer EMD or GE locos would be fine.  I've been watching your trackplan thread, and it looks like you are using 15" curves so that will not be a factor.

2) IMO, for those varieties Kato is number one followed reasonably closely by Atlas.  I love Intermountain, too, but they don't offer anything in the ilk we are talking about here.  Katos are drop-in lightboard replacements for DCC conversion as is anything from Atlas that claims to be DCC ready.  Atlas decoders are pretty basic, so you might be better off getting DCC-ready and then buying the appropriate Digitrax decoder.  It takes about 20 - 30 minutes to replace the lightboard for a decoder, including testing it.  It is very simple and the size is not really an issue.

3) My favorite vendors are Brooklyn Locomotive Works (www.blwnscale.com), Rio Grande Hobbies (www.4nscale.com) and Toy Train Heaven (www.toytrainheaven.com).  You can get some pretty good deals from Trainworld and the normal haunts, provided they have what you want.  I've also picked up some good deals from established vendors on ebay.

4) Don't know.  I have no plans for an Acela on the Bunter Ridge since Amtrak was not around in 1958, although I still toy with the idea of getting a Kato Bullet Train and attributing it to the Bunter Ridge R&D Department run amok.

5) You can learn a lot from the web sites.  Brooklyn Locomotive Works has listings for most locomotives from the major brands on their web site.

Have fun!

[BRAKIE]

Chip,I recommend these 2 N Scale pushers..I have dealt with both.

http://www.buynscale.com/

 

http://www.nscalesupply.com/

 

Dave has covered your questions quite well.

[Anonymous]

Chip,

You might consider joining one of the N scale groups on Yahoo. One of the most active is:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/n_scale/

 On the 15th and 30th, they allow For Sale postings and you might find what you need there.

Mike Tennent

[SpaceMouse]

Thanks. Mike I signed up.

[tgindy]

There are 164 Yahoo Groups dedicated to N Scale.  I belong to some others that are related to the PRR & traction.  There do not seem to be any NS-dedicated Yahoo Groups.

"n_scale" is indeed a good one with 4,000+ members, and; another good one you should find helpful is "ndcc" with 2,000+ members.

[Bill54]

Chip,  try going to the NS website.  Most of these sites have a list of current loco's that are in service.  CSX has a photo arcive section as well as a list of current locos in use.  I believe NS should have something similar.

Bill

[NS2591]

Common Power on the NS Is Dash 9s, SD70s, SD60s, and Hi-Hood SD40-2s, its nice to see another Modeler that Models Modern Day NS. Atlas is running Geeps and SDs in NS and Kato did SD70Ms in NS.

[BRAKIE]

Chip,Here is a excellent NS site.

http://www.nslocos.com/main.html

 

[SpaceMouse]

Thanks Jay,

I think I want to get a pair of Dash 9's. I have no way to turn engines. How do I run two Dash 9 back to back using DCC. Do I wire one backwards? What if they are plugs-ins?

Brakie,

Great site. It will help a lot with weathering.

Okay, I have what I need for NS. What is Conrail using for switchers.  When I went to Jersey the were all over the place. In Conway yard there must have been 50, but I don't have a clue what the were.  I was pretty far away.

 

 

 

 

[TrainFreak409]

Howdy Chip! If you are looking for N scale anything, I'd definitely recommend http://www.blwnscale.com/ . They are a good company.

I've got an Atlas SD60M in NS. It's a great locomotive. I'd also recommend that.

As with the Bachmann Acela...I haven't heard the greatest reviews about it...It requries at MINIMUM 19" radii curves. Here's a review on it written by one of the guys at Nscale.net; http://www.nscale.net/Reviews-index-req-showcontent-id-12.html .

[SpaceMouse]

Howdy Chip! If you are looking for N scale anything, I'd definitely recommend http://www.blwnscale.com/ . They are a good company.

I've got an Atlas SD60M in NS. It's a great locomotive. I'd also recommend that.

As with the Bachmann Acela...I haven't heard the greatest reviews about it...It requries at MINIMUM 19" radii curves. Here's a review on it written by one of the guys at Nscale.net; http://www.nscale.net/Reviews-index-req-showcontent-id-12.html .

Thanks for the website and reviews. I guess I'm still looking for an Acela.

Another question. Does NS mix their locos in a consist. Any reason a Dash-8 couldn't run with an SD-70?

 

 

  

 

[TrainFreak409]

Thanks for the website and reviews. I guess I'm still looking for an Acela.

Another question. Does NS mix their locos in a consist. Any reason a Dash-8 couldn't run with an SD-70?

From what I have seen...NS runs same manufacturer consists more often than not; but they do run mixed manfacturers. So a Dash-8 and an SD70 isn't far-fetched.

Here's two GEs and an EMD:
ttp://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=168400
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=168117

And one of each:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=167962

And you'll see this sort of thing in the yards:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=168121

 

[trainfreek92]

I just decided to go from the stone age to today, and it's like I'm entering a whole new world I know nothing about. I'll do some research, but I'd like to get started without buying wrong.

I'm modeling modern day Norfolk Southern mainline through Pennsylvania with Conrail doing the yard work. My focus has been so narrow on small steam that what I see when I look at the big trains go by is mostly big black ones and sometimes big blue ones mixed in. I know that the helper engines are SD-40's because I read it on the sides.  But I have no place for helpers on my propsed layout.

So I need road engines and a yard goat.  

1) What would those engines be?

2) Who makes good ones? I would like to get them with decoders since I'm a little nervous about the small scale.

3) Where would I get a good deal on them?

4) Bachman makes an Acela Amtrak set. Is that any good? IS it DCC? TrainWorld has them for $225.

5) I need a bridge to cross a small creek. It will be a double main. What style bridge would I use and who makes one?

5) Where would I learn this stuff?  

Chip, welcome to N scale!

1. NS has SD70's SD80's, SD90's, SD60s, SD50s, GP38, GP40, GP50. SD40s and im sure a few others.

2. As already stated Atlas and Kato are the best and about the only 1s

3. try Modeltrainstuff.com

4. sorry cant help you there.

5. My freind who models NS used a Kato double track bridge and just took off the unitrack.

6. These forums lol

Good luck with your RR. Have you considered building your empire in N scale?

 

[rrinker]

Thanks Jay,

I think I want to get a pair of Dash 9's. I have no way to turn engines. How do I run two Dash 9 back to back using DCC. Do I wire one backwards? What if they are plugs-ins?

Brakie,

Great site. It will help a lot with weathering.

Okay, I have what I need for NS. What is Conrail using for switchers.  When I went to Jersey the were all over the place. In Conway yard there must have been 50, but I don't have a clue what the were.  I was pretty far away.

 

 

 

 

 If you use advanced consisting (CV19), just program the trailing unit with 128 + the lead unit, and it will run opposite. IE, lead unit CV19 = 1, trailing unit CV19 = 129. OR is using command station consisting, just select the proper direction on the second unit before hitting MU + on the DT400. OR is just programming two locos to the same number, simply add 1 to CV29 to change NDOT.

 

                        --Randy

[NS2591]

Chip, NS is one of the more strange companies in the way they run their locomotives, Sometimes even if there is locos facing short hood forward the lead unit may still run Long hood forward, Most of the time if the loco is set up for the short hood forward operation then they will run them short hood forward. But some of NS locos have dual Control stands so it doesn't matter which way the run Both is forward, And alot of the SD40-2s and the older Geeps inherited from Southern and N&W are set up for Long hood forward, As far as Yard power goes for Conrail you would find GP15-1s doing yardwork along with Various types of SWs and MP15s. NS also uses SWs, GP15-1s and older geeps for yard power. The locos most common found in Humpyards are Ex-Conrail SD38s paired up with 1 or 2 Slugs. Helper sets in PA are most commonly Ex-Conrail SD40-2s but anything can be found on the NS system doing anything at any time. I've seen NS use a couple year old SD70M in local service when I was in Marion Ohio.

[SpaceMouse]

advanced consisting (CV19), just program the trailing unit with 128 + the lead unit, and it will run opposite. IE, lead unit CV19 = 1, trailing unit CV19 = 129. OR is using command station consisting, just select the proper direction on the second unit before hitting MU + on the DT400. OR is just programming two locos to the same number, simply add 1 to CV29 to change NDOT.

 

                        --Randy

I thought it might be something like that.

[SpaceMouse]

Chip, NS is one of the more strange companies in the way they run their locomotives, Sometimes even if there is locos facing short hood forward the lead unit may still run Long hood forward, Most of the time if the loco is set up for the short hood forward operation then they will run them short hood forward. But some of NS locos have dual Control stands so it doesn't matter which way the run Both is forward, And alot of the SD40-2s and the older Geeps inherited from Southern and N&W are set up for Long hood forward, As far as Yard power goes for Conrail you would find GP15-1s doing yardwork along with Various types of SWs and MP15s. NS also uses SWs, GP15-1s and older geeps for yard power. The locos most common found in Humpyards are Ex-Conrail SD38s paired up with 1 or 2 Slugs. Helper sets in PA are most commonly Ex-Conrail SD40-2s but anything can be found on the NS system doing anything at any time. I've seen NS use a couple year old SD70M in local service when I was in Marion Ohio.

I guess the Conrail GP-20 will do then. I already have a spare decoder, if runs decently, I have part of the picture. It is a cheap LL that I picked up on eBay. I don't have high hopes.

[SpaceMouse]

Does Amtrak still use these P42?

 

 

[NS2591]

Yes Chip they do. its the F40s you won't find anymore. but P42s in that paint scheme are what you'll see now.

[emdgp92]

NS still has some old SD40s and GP38s occasionally at the train station here in Pittsburgh. Some are still in Conrail blue, but renumbered. Big GEs and EMDs are on many trains here, including the coal drags further south.