Love that avatar, Angelo!
Standard gauge railroading in the Colorado Rockies in the days before the Archduke went to Sarajevo- what I think of as "the first transition era," roughly 1890-1913. Railroading went through a period of enormous change: systems were consolidated, air brakes and automatic couplers were mandated, train length and weight grew dramatically, and brought more innovations. Steel replaced wood, locomotive size grew and grew again, and over the course of those two decades, a Western trunk line could plausibly sport almost any kind of equipment. Imagine a better-capitalized Colorado Midland, begun about a decade earlier, embracing the D&SL route, completed to Salt Lake City and extended tbrought the Feather River to the Northern California coast, and you have my concept- the direct main line, tied to a regional system, that Denver never really had until the Moffat tunnel was completed.
http://mprailway.blogspot.com
"The first transition era - wood to steel!"
MidlandPacificStandard gauge railroading in the Colorado Rockies in the days before the Archduke went to Sarajevo- what I think of as "the first transition era," roughly 1890-1913.
This sounds like a really interesting concept. And I agree with your thinking of the era as the first transition - it's a big part of why I picked 1907. Have you made any progress with your line? I'd love to see pictures or hear more.
Chris
Plywood Pacific stage; most of my modeling efforts have been focused on rolling stock. I will post some pics, but will probably take a couple of days w/ the Easter holiday (don't have the jogs on my tablet).
I am modeling the period between 1968 to 1976, the years between Penn-Central and Conrial. An independant start-up line the Coal Belt Lines (CBL)has bought into the Lehigh Valley, CNJ, Pennsylvania line taking over much of the routes from Allentown, Pa. to Scranton and Wilkes Barre offering better services to non-coal hauling customers and better service to the mine owners at better rates. The line is financed by coal mine owners, industrialists and venture capalists and later IPO money. Much of the CBL early equipment, 2nd Generation diesels is purchased third hand, 'hand-me-down-get-rid-of-it' equipment. Most of the equipment comes from SP and ATSF with some from UP - therefore the colors - the yellow jacket scheme, black and yellow. CR and the CBL do a hand-off at the Allentown (south) through freight is exchanged in Wilkes-Barre (North) and Mount Carmel (West). The CBL out lasted the PC and owns much of the operating territory CR would have taken over if the industrialist and mine owners and investors had not stepped in to take over much of the defunct PC lines. # # #
It's nice to see this thread active again.It would be even nicer if this could be the designated "Free Lance Thread" and stickied at the top of the forum.
Saw this thread and how long ago everything was posted, so I thought I'd give revamping it a shot.
My railroad, the Delaware & Thunder Creek Railroad, was formed in 1881 to transport anthracite coal between the small fictitious town of Thunder Creek, Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Canal. Of course, it eventually grew to replace the canal and had a rather large influence in the Northeast (in my layout's timeline, lines like the Lackawanna and Lehigh Valley never got as big as they did). The management of the railroad was very smart, however, in the fact that they focused on expansion and diversification. So, when the anthracite industry in PA collapsed in the '50s, the D&TC kept on chugging (literally, because it didn't retire steam locomotives until 1964. You can tell which side of the battle I am on.) Though I model the mid '50s, I've outlined the railroads history to the modern day, where it is about the size of CSX and NS combined, and competes directly with UP and BNSF.
My railroad is in 1954, and is in no specific area.
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I just buy and run what looks good to me. I am not trying to fit into the real world anywhere.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
My freelanced line is set in in 2005+, but is set up as if the railroads still have a ton of business. Coal is still king, and both long and short hauls are profitable, as trucking can’t keep up.
I model a fictional short line, that runs from the shore of Lake Erie in NY state south west into PA. (Most places there is not really trackage where I model it, or the places do not really exist at all.) My line interchanges with both NS, CSX, and two real shortlines. (Partnered with one.) It hosts both NS and CSX run through traffic, as well as a run through from both shortlines. My line also operates a road freight each way in addition to a local. There are various interchange points, with 2 locations for NS, one for CSX, 2 for the partner shortline and 2 for the other shortline.
The modeled portion includes a small yard, interchange with one of the two shortlines, a section of the main line, and a few online industries. (Frac sand transload location, a dimensional lumber distributor, and a warehouse with secure indoor and outdoor storage for offline industries.) I am unsure if another online industry will be modeled or not.
The motive power is a mix of NS, CSX, freelanced line power, and power from both real shortlines that interchange. The freelanced power is all second hand, save for one new ES44AC that was purchased at the same time as an order placed by NS, that was tacked on the end of NS production and was made to their same specs. (Painted as a heritage EL unit. It was subsidized by NS in exchange for use of the line for Coal and Intermodal unit trains.)
My line also owns a couple of MOW cars, as well as a couple of cabeese for both MOW use and for use as shoving platforms. No other freight cars are owned.
The line also has a very good PR dept that will use steam locomotives on fan specials, and hosts a weekend passenger special, and an occasional Amtrak special.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.