Any Commuter Modelers?

[mustanggt]

I'd hate to say it, but my layout is currently in the planning stages....I could take a picture of the train, but it will be on unitrack on the floor in my living room......

Dave

[modelmaker51]

Doesn't anyone have any pictures to show of their model commuter lines?

[mustanggt]

I also model GO transit........Minus the Canada. My "layout" is currently set in Eastern Massachusetts, so I  got a set of 3 HO bombardier double deckers with ambition of painting a "what if?" MBTA scheme..........But with my lack of painting skill I was too scared, so I just left them in green and white. Then I bought a matching GP40, and now I have a short commuter train...

Dave

[railroadyoshi]

I model a fictional commuter rail service molded around the practices of the MBTA and the B&M. The service is based out of Springfield, MA and runs north along the Connecticut River Division of the B&M. At Northampton, MA, the service enters my modeled pike. Here, solid trains of RDC's from Springfield will be broken down to ply the branches operated by my fictional pike, travelling further north on the Connecticut River to Greenfield, on the Mountain Main to Charlemont, and on the branches to Turners Falls and Amherst.

 

As this operation is still in the planning stages, things are likely to change. It may be redesigned as two services, 1 solid commuter set running to Greenfield, and another RDC set to split at Northampton and serve the branches.

 

For the moment, I just make RDC runs between Northampton station and Turners Falls station, dreaming of what is to come.

[Metro Red Line]

Dave,

I would think that variety would be an advantage in a model, so Metrolink would be boring, if easy to model.

Wrong there -  

Certain Metrolink trains run leased Altamont Commuter Express and Sounder passenger cars, and occasionally mix them in the consists. Plus, there was a time when Metrolink ran borrowed Go Transit cars from Canada for emergency service after the 1994 earthquake.

Also in addition to the F59PHI in the loco fleet, there are also standard F59PHs  as well as a couple F40PHs acquired from Amtrak.

[lvanhen]

Does having a UP doodlebug and an ancient AHM trolley count?!

[R. T. POTEET]

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

Do you realize that this topic is only 2 days short of being three years old?

I am not an "electric" modeler of any persuasion at this time; however . . . . .

I have always had an inordinate interest in electric railways and I have toyed for years with designing and building a layout set in a late '20s - early '30s environment and building an urban/suburban/interurban railroad to run down the middle of it.  I model in N Scale and I willing admit that there are some definite challenges associated with this type of modeling in this scale; two years ago I attended the national in Cincinnati and attended a couple of clinics on streetcar operation; when I mentioned that I was an N Scaler and interested in overhead wire operation I generated a considerable amount of laughter within the clinic room.  I would love to go to a convention and wipe a few grins off of a few faces.

Shortly after I returned from that convention I discovered an article in, I believe, N Scale magazine; the modeler there had taken a heavyweight passenger car and converted it to an interurban - it used pantographs, took power from the overhead, and pantographs would be my preference for overhead electric operation were I to make a decision towards modeling in that arena.

There have been a few articles in the hobby press over the years about this type operation in N Scale but they have been few and far between; I do figure, however, that if one can do it, I can do it too!!!

We shall see!!!

[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.

[Tracklayer]

Does Amtrak count ?...

Tracklayer

[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!  

[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)

[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 ) 

 

[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.

[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.

[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.

[David_Telesha]

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

[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.

[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.

[FThunder11]

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

[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!

[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

[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.

[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

[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

[Anonymous]

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

[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

[Supermicha]

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

[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.

[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.

[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...)