Any Commuter Modelers?

[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

[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 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,

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]

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

[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.

[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