Any Commuter Modelers?

[METRO]

Hey to all of you who model everything from heavy-rail, light-rail, streetcar, interurban, subway and elevated! Drop in and say hi! I figured we could use a thread of our own.

So, if you would, tell us a bit about your line, and what got you started modeling commuter lines?

Thanks!
~Urban

[METRO]

I model the GO Transit lines around Greater Metro Toronto, and my own freelanced line which competes with the GO. I like the heavy urban settings of my commuter line, and the frequency of operations. I also like mountain modeling though so I took the liberty of extending the GO's north branch up to the Blue Mountains and Wasaga Beach along Lake Huron.

I got started doing commuter because, as someone born durring the Amtrak age, some of my best, and most frequent riding experences have been on commuter lines. Also I liked it because I also had a wide variety of operating possiblities that are not open to those who do primarily freight. Lol and ask anyone who lives in a large enough city what would happen if you took away their rail transit and I doubt you'll get anything but terror.

[M636C]

I have a long shelf about 14" wide, so it seemed that I was looking at point to point operation. I've always liked passenger trains, and diesel railcars seemed the way to go. A lot of British OO scale models were available at reasonable prices, so I've picked up railcars varying from the late 1930s Great Western AEC cars (including a dedicated parcels car!) through a Park Royal three car set in BR Green, the Western Region side door equipped sets in plain blue and also the refurbished White with a blue stripe to the more recent two car Class 158 in Regional Railways colours.

These can run from one terminus to the other and reverse with no need to couple, although coupling the GW parcels car with its single car passenger equivalent seems compulsory at times.

I can also run the occasional steam push pull set, since a number of my small tank locomotives are equipped for that.

Peter

[FJ and G]

Peter,

Like the idea of point-to-point ops. Grew up w/NY 3rd Av El. Maybe someday will model it?

Right now, I'm not a commuter modeler but I am a modeler who commutes (VRE).

Dave Vergun

[M636C]

Dave,

I am tempted to find a way of including the Proto 1000 NY Subway cars. Did these operate on any elevated lines? I know there are "small" and "large" cars in New York City, but I've only spent a short time riding the subway during a couple of short visits.

Having military connections, I've spent more time in DC and Alexandria VA. It's a pity nobody makes models of the bigger VRE converted GP40s (I sneaked into Ivy City yards to photograph those, since unlike the MARC units, they don't spend much time in Union Station). I really like the MARC units with the F45 cabs. Since they haven't been listed in the "Locomotive Guides", only locals know they exist. There are very few commuter cars available in model form. It's good the Bombardier cars are available, but other types would be useful.

Peter

[FJ and G]

Peter,

The gallery cars are nice to model (VRE); and the Coaster would be fairly easy to find as VRE is leasing these. There are also the plain old coaches with the 2 seats on one side and 3 on the other. Very uncomfortable to ride, as the size of the average American has increased dramatically over the last few decades after they were built.

A VRE layout would actually be pretty cool, as you can model NS or CSX freights sharing the tracks and, if you are esp. ambitious, you even could have metro "el" connections, such as at Alexandria. The DC metro is sort of an ugly brown and dull silver color but it would at least add variety.

The els I most recall were the low-Vs, which, I think they got rid of in 1969. Just 4 years later the 3rd ave el was abandoned (sections in Manhattan were torched in the 50s, leaving just the Bronx).

The blue World's Fair subways were the most colorful. Those and some red birds would add nice variety.

The real expert to ask is Joseph Frank who modeled the els in O scale and has taken pictures of them from the 50s to 70s. He's at: [e-mail]

Dave Vergun

[M636C]

Dave,

I would think that variety would be an advantage in a model, so Metrolink would be boring, if easy to model. MARC, and to a lesser extent VRE, would be interesting. In real life, you can take the radiators off an RDC, and the roof is there underneath. With a model RDC, you have a major job to do the same so the early VRE ex-RDCs from Boston are too hard to model.

However, since Athearn produced Bombardier cars and F59PHIs in N scale, you can get started easily. I have all this track left over from an abandoned N scale layout of many years ago....

Not that much else is available for commuter service in N scale, however.

Peter

[Anonymous]

I operate a few commuter cars on my layout - an Athearn Bilevel cab and coach in Metrolink livery, and a set of Walthers C&NW bilevels (2 coaches and cab car). Strictly speaking, I need some new motive power, as my current locos for these sets are a C&NW Erie-Built (Proto 1k) and a SF Warbonnet PA (Athearn). They do look good though!

I mainly use these cars as my layout is end-to-end, so to provide passenger service with minimal hassle and switching the push-pull concept makes sense. The Illinois Rail Museum has a preserved set of C&NW bilevels - the photos on their website inspired me to get a set of the Walthers cars as they're the closest thing available RTR (The preserved cars are to an earlier design than the Walthers ones). As far as the Athearn cars are concerned, I just liked the Metrolink paint scheme, and it blends with assorted motive power very nicely (can't find an Athearn F59PHI to match them at the moment, and anyway, I like using the PA with them! Other locos that have made appearences are an Athearn SD9 in SP livery...)

[Anonymous]

I've always like the New Haven RR, with the big Juice Jacks and all, but one small train that's always held a fasination for me is the Electroliner. Gauranteed, by this time next year, I will have a scratch built model of it and I'll publi***he photos of it. I may even try my hand at an article.

[METRO]

Freelancing a commuter line is what really added the variety for me: I run some old Athearn streamline coaches that I superdetailed, both Athearn and P1K RDCs, Walthers Horizon coaches and the newest stock would be some of the Bachman Chinese double decker coaches that I turned into commuter cars and repainted.

[Supermicha]

One of many themes i model is New Jersey Transit. I have a nice little fleet now, but no layout to run them...

[FJ and G]

Michael,

Trains Mag (June04) has a critical piece on the new Camden to Trenton line. Cost overruns, etc. Unsure if that's NJT.

Anyway, as railroads are still sheding hundreds and hundreds of miles a year, growing cities continue to demand new commuter routes. Nice that at least one aspect of railroading has growth!

Modeling modern commuter lines; the really new ones at least; doesn't seem to have caught on yet in model railroading.

Dave Vergun

[Anonymous]

does planning a CNW commuter train count is do i'm in

[cnw4001]

Hello,

I have a rather eclectic collection of commuter stuff. I have several RDC's which could be used in commuter operation although they primarly serve as branch line connections to the mainline passenger operations. I operate exclusively on a club layout. I have a CNW four car gallery set with an F unit for power. I have two GO Transit bilevel rakes of six cars cach, one pulled by an F40 and the other by a Geep (obviously in GO livery) and then I have a two car Class 158 DMU set in Scot Rail livery. That may not really be true commuter as I rode it between Kyle of Lochalsh and Edinburgh so perhaps it is "mainline."

For what it's worth, I see by today's Toronto Star that GO is worried their F 59's are not going to make it to their service life of 30 years and want to go out and get new engines instead of rebuilding the fleet.

Dale

[METRO]

haha I'd believe it about the F59s. ANY locomotive on GO gets use that on any other road would be considdered abusive on most other lines, as Amtrak found out when they bought the F40s from them.

My bet is that they go with either the F59PHI, E30, or something really tough from Europe. I doubt there is the political will in Toronto to electrify the lines even though something like an Acela HHP would be absolutely perfect for GO operations,could you immagine the 20 coach rakes they could pull with those things? That'd solve the Toronto-Hamilton overcrowding problems haha! I also doubt that GO will ever switch over to DMUs with all the money they invested in the bi-level coaches. It's also nice to hear that they already have the funding lined up for the new units, looks like that extra billion loonies was just what the doctor ordered

[Anonymous]

I model the C&NW commuter lines. I have a couple of the Walthers bi-levels, an old Reynolds kit and a couple of 3 Brothers kits. For locos I have a P2K E7 and E8 and some Atheran F7's. I try to have a model of every train that I have been on, and I have been on the CNW commuters more than any other. Interestingly, my son has a couple of the Walthers bi-levels in Metra colors because that's how they were when he has ridden them.

A dream of mine might be to somehow include a Chicago "L" train on my layout but so far that has only been in my thoughts.

[CP5415]

I have 2 Proto RDC's & a 3-pack of Athearn GO cars.
As my layout is set out in the middle of no-where, the GO cars will be used in excursion service & the RDC's will be used on a branch line.

Gordon

[AntonioFP45]

For HO scale commuter operation I plan on having:

New Haven EP5 and EP4 electrics pulling E&B Valley New Haven "American Flyer" style corrugated cars. The cars are silver with the wide, red stripe across the window rows, just like I remember them when I was a kid!

I'm getting the EP5 from Branford Hobbies in the fall. I'm ordering the EP4 from Fratesci in South America.

Have one and will buy another for a total of two New Haven RDC cars from Proto 1000. (for the price, excellent models!) I wonder if dummies are available?

4 car Bachmann Metroliner Electric MU (currently remotoring, repainting and detailing into Penn Central)

Theme mid-1960s.

M636C,

Yes, New York City Subway trains also ran on the elevated lines as the "el" lines were all interconnected with the underground lines. I rode the "Red Birds" very often with my parents as a kid. Always enjoyed the rides! Was angered when graffitti started showing up on a massive scale in 1971.

Cheers!

[FThunder11]

The Acela Express is a commuter train, and thats what I model.

[tater5150]

I have a 10X8 version of the modern Surfline. Coaster,Amtrak Surfliners,and 1 Metrolink train, take up the tracks, as well as the through freights out of and to San Diego. This is usually a vehicle and a manifest train,as San Diego does not have the traffic it used to.
The layout takes the place of Oceanside and is double tracked to run more trains,and have meets. Still being built,all the track is in,and scenery is being done now.
Since I work for BNSF, and my girlfriend works for Amtrak, we like to take trips and get great pics of the territory.

[cnw4001]

I operate on a club layout which is point to point.

This gives me the chance to run two commuter operations. From the one point out a reasonable distance it's GO Transit with the Bombardier cars. From the other end point it's CNW bi-level.

Makes for interesting operation.

[David_Telesha]

I model the New Haven - the second largest carrier of commuters in the US next to LIRR.

[MisterBeasley]

I've got a subway loop with Proto 1K Redbirds and a Bowser PCC car. The loop itself is entirely "underground" and only visible from the layout edge at the stations. However, I've detailed the entire tunnel so that I can use a mini-camera in the front of the train. There are connecting ramps to the surface, and I'll occasionally run the subways up for some air.

[tomikawaTT]

Most of the action on my partially finished, landscapeless layout is provided by five heavy EMU cars (currently operating with pantographs down) that terminate at the one fully modeled station. There are also a couple of consists of DMU cars with commuter-type fast load-unload doors. The modeled part of the railroad is presumed to be just beyond the 'bedroom belt' around a major port - the logical outer terminal for the commuter schedules that service those bedroom towns.

That said, the major emphasis is still on long-distance passenger trains and getting the freight over the road.

[DrummingTrainfan]

I have a 4-car Metra train (with one more car needing to be built) and a Trainline F40. I'm hoping to get an MP36 and corrugated BN style cars (if anyone ever comes out with those two things[:(!]) and then have two 5-10 car trains.

I also have a short Amtrak regional "Amtrak Midwest" train that has a couple single-deck cars and a Bombardier car (that will get custom painted, eventually) with an Amtrak California F50PHi. My story behind this is that they're testing out the service to see how profitable it may be, hence the odd line-up.

My dad has a two car Metrolink train with the F59PHi.

Finally, when I build my own railroad I'm planning to have passenger and commuter the main focus in an intercity layout.

[Anonymous]

Hello: as i am new to this site, and I was realing alot ofthe old post's I was wondering (1) does anyone know why Sounder / and VRE stoped modeling the sounder train sets with there road names and or the acutall Beginer VRE train sets, as I am from the DC Area I have found one N scale engine for the sounder/VRE set but no Commuter Cars, as I have found the HO cars but no Engines, I was told they are disscontinued, Does anyone know whats going on?

(2) Does anyone have any of the N scale Sounder or VRE train sets for sale? I'm modeling the Northeast Corridor from Lorton to New Your and I'm only missing VRE/Sounder and Marc trains but I was told Marc doesn't model there system any longer ( whats up with that ) 

 

[tomikawaTT]

Dave,

I am tempted to find a way of including the Proto 1000 NY Subway cars. Did these operate on any elevated lines? I know there are "small" and "large" cars in New York City, but I've only spent a short time riding the subway during a couple of short visits.

Peter

The Proto 1000 cars are dead ringers for the IRT subway cars I used to ride to high school half a century ago (except for the colors - they used to be green.)  Once out of Manhattan and into the friendlier confines of 'Da Bronx' they would crawl out of their holes and run on elevated structures - three parallel tracks, right hand rule, center track used for rush hour expresses or storage.  Typical stations on the Pelham Bay line were outside platforms with the ticket booth and turnstiles in a below-track structure that served both platforms and allowed passage from one to the other (as well as access to all four corners of a street intersection below.)  The only station that had access to the center track was Parkchester - platforms inside the outer tracks.  (Parkchester was the outer end of express service.  From there to Pelham Bay Park everything ran local except deadheads.)  Just beyond the Westchester Square station there was an elaborate flying junction above Westchester Avenue where the storage yard connected to the active line.

I have no idea what that route is called today, or how it is configured.  My last ride on it took place in 1962.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[Metro Red Line]

I have a 3-car Metrolink consist on my layout. In real life the commuter service doesn't go as far as where my little town is situated, but it is in my little N scale world!

Now I have to try to find a way to model TVMs (ticket vending machines) and make sure my train station has ample parking space. 

Thank you Athearn for producing modern commuter rail equipment!  

[Tracklayer]

Does Amtrak count ?...

Tracklayer

[trime1851]

I model HO scale and about 3 - 4 years ago I purchased the Athearn Sounder/Virginia Railway Express (VRE) passenger cars and waited for the F59 engines that Athearn was producing for other railroads to be produced in Sounder/VRE.  They never came.

About 18 months ago I contacted Athearn and was told that VRE had sent them a letter telling them to not produce any VRE models.  They would not provide further details.

I contected VRE who confirmed that Athearn would not meet their licensing requirements and that they had told them to stop making models.  I then asked them what the points of disagreement were and noted that most other railroads have reached agreement with Athearn.  I also asked them if they had any licensing agreements with any model manufacturers (Walthers also once produced VRE passenger cars).  They did not answer this second e-mail.

I also contacted our local Fairfax County Virginia Supervisor's office on this matter, but her office did not answer my e-mails.

It would be nice if these locomotives could be produced, but in our current contentious environment, started by Union Pacific about five years ago, unfortunately, this seems to not be possible.  I find it hard to beleive that the amounts of money extracted from the model railroad hobby by the railroads are significant to the size of real railroading.