Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Running multiple RRs on your layout?

9159 views
56 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2011
  • From: Northern Minnesota
  • 2,774 posts
Running multiple RRs on your layout?
Posted by NP2626 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 6:37 AM

My layout is set in 1954 and the Northern Pacific.  However, I have a very small Logging line, the "Peep River", which has trackage rights over my small portion of the Northern Pacific in the Butte Montana area and allows me to have a few logging locomotives and small bobber cabooses.  All excepting my logging locomotives are Northern Pacific locos; or, have been kit bashed into Northern Pacific locos.  I do have a BLI New York Central J1e Hudson, which if I keep, will be bashed into N.P.s Timken 2626 loco, minus one set of drivers.

Which brings up my question:  How many of you model multiple lines on your layout?  I am pretty faithful to the Northern Pacific,excepting the logging line, which allows me to have a little fantasy, I have my Varney "Docksider" and my Bachmann 2 truck Climax and am considering one more loco for the logging line.  Beyond the logging line and the 2626 A-1 N.P. Northern which is really a Hudson, if I decide to keep, the rest is pretty much based in reality for my locomotive stud.  

I know there are plenty of people who buy whatever locomotives that tickle their fancy and I'm a strong believer in having fun, in this hobby!  

So, don't be shy and don't give a rat's pa-toot what others may think; or, say!  If you like to run your string of ABBA Santa Fe F-7s on your mostly B&O main line, let's hear about it!!    

NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association:  http://www.nprha.org/

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Central Vermont
  • 4,565 posts
Posted by cowman on Sunday, May 5, 2013 7:08 AM

I have a friend who does as you mention, when he sees a loco that tickles his fancy, he gets it and enjoys running them all.

Myself, I am a little more restricted.  I have two primary roads Rutland and Central VT.  They both had locations where they met up with or shared trackage with the B&M, so a few of those sneak in.  Also, CV was owned by Canadian National, so an occasional visitor from north of the border drops into my collection.  Rutland was closely associated with NYC, but I haven't crossed the western border of VT yet.

Since my planned layout space got reduced, I am having to rethink my plans.  Some may have to go.

Have fun,

Richard

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • 114 posts
Posted by Cooped on Sunday, May 5, 2013 7:08 AM
Layout is not finished yet, our even close to it, but yes, there will be quite a selection of railroads represented when done! So far in my collection there is a trend towards the PRR, but I have N+W, New York Central, Erie, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and a couple of others I can't think of right now. Oh and I'm a Brit so along side that lot there is British rail from various time periods since 1948, then pre 1948 the LNER, LMS, GWR, Southern Railway, London Transport. If I like it, I run it! Needless to say the layout will be somewhat freelance!
Dan
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Rimrock, Arizona
  • 11,251 posts
Posted by SpaceMouse on Sunday, May 5, 2013 7:27 AM

I know I'm going to be running several lines on my next layout.  The theme is basically running old-time 1890's steam through 3 foot high redwoods. 

Obviously the local is set to Northern California and I have settled on is the California Western as the logging railroad, Northwestern Pacific for transporting the lumber to San Francisco  and the SP for large yard operations.
 
 

Chip

Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: sharon pa
  • 436 posts
Posted by gondola1988 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 7:27 AM

I model the Conrail take over by the NS and CSX so I can run all 3 and a lot of borrowed power also which includes some BNSF, UP and a few others that I have in my collection. Makes things a little more interesting instead of the same loco's doing all the work. I live about 500 feet from the NS- CSX line and I see a lot of borrowed power here between Pitts. and the Ashtabula line, Jim.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Sunday, May 5, 2013 7:28 AM

I do the B&O and all incarnates, the C&O and the Chessie and the CSX, depending on my mood for what era.

BUT I also like the PRR. I "imagined" that the B&O gave "trackage rights" to the PRR for K-4s and M1a's and b's.

Later I found out the B&O DID in fact, give trackage rights to the PRR in certain areas.

SO I was not far off at all!

MOH's and mine initials are "D" and "H". SO MOH suggested strongly that I collect D&H stuff,so I do.

Now, try to explain why a D&H is running with a PRR? .

Geeked

-G .

Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.

 HO and N Scale.

After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Sunday, May 5, 2013 7:32 AM

My primary mainline is my freelanced ATLANTIC CENTRAL, but I also model the B&O with an interchange and trackage rights into my main yard/passenger terminal.

I also have a short single track mainline and interchange for the Western Maryland, and the C&O as well enjoys trackage rights over a large section of the ATLANTIC CENTRAL mainline.

So passenger trains from all three roads come and go from the passenger station, locos from all three are in the engine terminal, and trains from all three enter/leave the the freight yard in various directions.

I'm also planning a seperate waterfront ISL that will feature both ATLANTIC CENTRAL and B&O activity.

Prototypical and plausible.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Sunday, May 5, 2013 7:32 AM

On my past ISLs I never ran more then one railroad since I only used one engine at a time however,I would rotate locomotives from my favorite railroads.Chessie(C&O/B&O),N&W,Southern or my freelance shortline..A  quick change of layout eras its either CSX,NS,IHB,CR or my freelance shortline.

My biggest problem is I like several railroads and couldn't(wasn't smart enough?) choose a single railroad I wouldn't be above buying MP,BN,SP,Santa Fe or Cotton Belt if I caved in to my whims.

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: West Australia
  • 2,217 posts
Posted by John Busby on Sunday, May 5, 2013 7:43 AM

Hi

I am sure the US

Has an equivalent to Leamington Spa a place where 3 or 4 railroads converge either on there own trackage or via running rights.

Which would be a popular spot to model??

This would indeed let multiple railroads trains run on the same layout having kept the prototype modellers happySmile

I buy trains I like this has led to a horrendous mix of trains from all over the world.

 I do insist on not mixing nationalities in a train, when I start on the large shed layout it will be sceniced to match which ever trains predominate

Probably followed by a purge to get rid of the horrible mix, with one or two exceptions that where the dreaded gifts for the train set mutter mutter.

regards John

  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Chi-Town
  • 7,712 posts
Posted by zstripe on Sunday, May 5, 2013 8:03 AM

NP2626,

A lot of Locomotives out there,tickle my fancy,but at today's prices,I'm not so tickled..

I run a freelanced,Santa Fe,layout,with mostly,zebra stripe,paint scheme,around,50's,60 ish..but, on occasion, you will see,newer,container trains,running,with different road names,mainly,because I like them...Steamers,also,run,box cars,full trains,of tankers,,whatever,I feel like at the time,after all,I AM THE BOSS....

True Story;  About,5yrs, ago,I was in a,LHS,that I frequent a lot,(Richhotrain knows the one) the owner,gave me a tip,about another,LHS was going,out of business,so the next day,I went there and checked it out.. Looked at all the power he had,all DC, Athearn Genesis and Bachmann Spectrum,steam and diesel,all different,road names,only one,SD70m,in Santa Fe..I bought ten that day,went back the next day and bought what he had left.. The Bachmann's were 2-8-0's sweet little engines.. The total was 15 in all,,at 50% off,, now that,tickled my fancy,,, I have 8 left,sold 5,gave two away as gifts.. some have not even been out of the boxes yet,with all the added details,still in their packages..

I don.t give a cats butt,what anyone thinks about what I run on the ''Bosses'' layout...

Cheers,to all,

Frank

  • Member since
    December 2011
  • From: Northern Minnesota
  • 2,774 posts
Posted by NP2626 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 8:18 AM

zstripe

NP2626,

A lot of Locomotives out there,tickle my fancy,but at today's prices,I'm not so tickled..

I don.t give a cats butt,what anyone thinks about what I run on the ''Bosses'' layout...

Cheers,to all,

Frank

There you go, man!!  Right -On!!  Is not giving a Cat's butt, less than a Rat's Patoot?

NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association:  http://www.nprha.org/

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Whitby, ON
  • 2,594 posts
Posted by CP5415 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 8:20 AM

I run multiple RR's here.

CP, D&H, Milw, SOO

But i also throw in NS, CSX, Susqueanna, Amtrak & VIA as well as some run through traffic as well!

Gordon

Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!

 K1a - all the way

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • 2,124 posts
Posted by fec153 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 8:23 AM

Hi Mr. G !  Easy explanation- D and H stands for "DELIGHTED and HAPPY" .

Glad your O H  got the job.

Prayers and Blessings. Hope you feeling better.

Flip

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Sunday, May 5, 2013 8:23 AM

My layout is a fictional division of the CB&Q. NP and GN have running rights and I run all 3 roads regularly. Santa Fe trains run from time to time, and I say they are diverted trains on a detour around a problem on the Santa Fe line such as floods, derailments, etc.. I recently received some Union Pacific trains from a relative getting out of HO trains, and UP will run as does the Santa Fe. Trains from other railroads run anyhow, and I say they are lost. 

I have converted the layout to DCC, and many locomotives are awaiting decoders. So, now I am limited on the trains being operated. 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by cmrproducts on Sunday, May 5, 2013 8:33 AM

With me doing a prototypical Layout during the Conrail era in the 75-85 time period and I am modeling Western PA from Dubois to East Brady PA (the CR Lowgrade) I ended up having 7 independent Shortlines that Interchanged with the CR Lowgrade.

Each of these Shortlines run on their own schedule and some of them have as much mainline as most home layouts do which will keep an operator busy for 2 to 3 hours per OPs session.

With the Live Interchange, the traffic is always changing and one time the Interchange will fill up and other time it is relatively empty.

This makes for a never ending movement of cars and Operations night will keep 20 operators busy.

And in doing the beginnings of the Conrail era, allows me to have Penn Central, EL, Reading units (all in their original paint schemes) right along side fresh Conrail Blue units.

There will be B&P units coming into Falls Creek (B&P/CR Interchange) so one can see the Orange B&P units running along side the Conrail MP15s painted in Reading Green (which only a few ever were) and it all legal as the CR merger - this odd equipment was everywhere.

BOB H - Clarion, PA

  • Member since
    March 2013
  • 450 posts
Posted by EMD.Don on Sunday, May 5, 2013 9:15 AM

The nice thing about modeling a modern day Class 1 is that you often see many other locomotives (and rolling stock) from other Class 1's (and odd ball lines) as well as leased or demonstrator locomotives and repaints from locomotives acquired via mergers/acquisitions in neat paint schemes riding the rails of your chosen railroad. I model the UP and the majority of my locomotives are in UP livery. But I also have Norfolk Southern, CP, and an "old" Southern Pacific and Rio Grande with partial UP paint lingering...or is it lurking Laugh...on my layout. I like the variety and different color schemes. 

Don

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."

N Scale Railroader.
  • Member since
    January 2012
  • From: Cape Cod, MA
  • 79 posts
Posted by kelleywpns on Sunday, May 5, 2013 9:18 AM

Still in construction, but I'll have the B&M and New Haven sharing a yard

Mike

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • 86 posts
Posted by U-3-b on Sunday, May 5, 2013 10:43 AM

The vast overwhelming majority of my engines (25+) are Grand Trunk Western steam as I am modeling the South Bend Subdivision in the summer of 1953.  I do have 2 engines from New York Central on it as the GTW and NYC had yards right next to each other in South Bend and they interchanged with each other, so I have a USRA mike and 0-8-0 to facilitate the interchange.

With that said I honor my wife's Grandfather who worked on the Frisco with 5 SLSF steam engines circa 1944.  They stay hidden most of the time, and will never run with the GTW stuff, but I have them.

I will say when I was younger and more impulsive I had lots of engines from lots of roads but they are long gone now.

Steve

  • Member since
    July 2007
  • From: Pottstown PA
  • 1,039 posts
Posted by rdgk1se3019 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 12:15 PM

Although I have my own road......it does interchange with the Reading Co. and Penn Central.......at least as far as the next layout is concerned........but there will also be interchange with the B&O and a few other roads that friends have.

Dennis Blank Jr.

CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Baltimore, MD
  • 1,726 posts
Posted by CSX_road_slug on Sunday, May 5, 2013 12:21 PM

My layout is centered around a steel mill which has its own transfer railroad, as many steel companies do.  That fictional line is called the Iron Belt and it shares trackage rights with the B&O, mainly to move incoming raw materials from the yard 'across town' to the mill. 

-Ken in Maryland  (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)

  • Member since
    June 2012
  • 2,297 posts
Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 12:26 PM

SP&S and BN are the primary(mostly BN at the moment). there are sprinklings of BNSF, GN, NP, CB&Q, MRL, ATSF, Amtrak, PSAP, and SP. soon enough though my fictional road will be joining the fray, because I've swapped era's roadpower for my fictional line will change but I'm still gonna get a Dash 8-40BW to paint. I hope to get enough power to run three eras. there will probably be a quite a few freelance locos as I plan on getting SD40's to paint up for the SP&S, big new EMD's next to weary Alcos, and EMD's. I plan on trying to get atleast 75% of the SP&S's actual roster Diesels and maybe #700 if someone releases decals for it.

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Southeast Texas
  • 5,447 posts
Posted by mobilman44 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 12:51 PM

Hey, whatever floats your boat!  

That is the beauty of the Hobby that we sometimes forget.  It is OUR RR and we can do as we please. 

Personally, I run ATSF pre 1959 locos in a "generic midwest setting".   BUT, I have run-throughs by the Illinois Central, the railroad that takes me back to my childhood.  Of course the two RRs came very close to one another in north central Illinois, but never to my knowledge shared trackage.

So if you want to run "whatever" on your RR that is just fine by me. 

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

  • Member since
    June 2012
  • 2,297 posts
Posted by Burlington Northern #24 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 1:33 PM

mobilman44

Hey, whatever floats your boat!  

That is the beauty of the Hobby that we sometimes forget.  It is OUR RR and we can do as we please. 

Personally, I run ATSF pre 1959 locos in a "generic midwest setting".   BUT, I have run-throughs by the Illinois Central, the railroad that takes me back to my childhood.  Of course the two RRs came very close to one another in north central Illinois, but never to my knowledge shared trackage.

So if you want to run "whatever" on your RR that is just fine by me. 

my boat's a bit heavy not enough idler flat cars to go around. Laugh

SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.

 http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide 

Gary DuPrey

N scale model railroader 

Moderator
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Northeast OH
  • 17,237 posts
Posted by tstage on Sunday, May 5, 2013 1:41 PM

My road is the NYC and that's what my protolance layout is based upon.  I also have an affinity for Erie and have an FT A-B unit and a couple of S1 switchers but rarely run them.  If and when I start another layout, I may try and see where those two railroads interchanged/shared trackage rights and model that.

Recently I bought a Bowser PCC trolley (Shaker Heights #53) and run that around on the mainline.  That would be fun layout to model in another room - perhaps an around-the-wall in our study.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Sunday, May 5, 2013 2:10 PM

When Canada declared war on Germany in 1939 the United States poured supplies over the border to help the war effort under the lend/lease act. This included some nice Locomotives. We just forgot to give them back after the war.Whistling

Here a C&O 2-10-4 hauls a freight through the Rockies on the Canadian Pacific's main line. They'll never find it there.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Sunday, May 5, 2013 2:26 PM

If you look ONLY at the rolling stock, you'll never know the name of my main railroad.  Of course, if you widen your view you might notice the five-tiered pagoda with adjacent Sumo ring, the Torii gates at the little country shrine and the big red polka-dot on the flags flying over the police boxes and firehalls...

Since it was a national monopoly, the Japan National Railways didn't emblazon the company name on everything.

Four private railways of distinctly different characteristics interchange with the JNR:

  1. Tomikawa Tani Tetsudo, originates coal (some in unit trains) and interchanges rolling stock with the JNR.  Locomotives of both stay on their home rails at Tomikawa.  (Trackage rights? Nebba hoppen.)
  2. Nishikawa Electric Railway interchanges 2-legged cargo at Tomikawa, has no physical connection with the JNR.  The NER is a tourist route now, but was built as part of a power dam construction project.
  3. Harukawa Gorge Railway interchanges 2-legged cargo and transloads power production hardware at Haruyama.  Narrow(er) gauge.
  4. Kashimoto Forest Railway transloads logs from miniature disconnects to JNR flats and gons at Haruyama.  Same gauge as the Harukawa Gorge Railway, but the two don't connect.
 
The only reason the JNR doesn't operate every millimeter of rail is that the Imperial Government didn't consider the smaller lines worthy of acquisition.
 
Visually, there are obvious differences in design and paintwork between rolling stock of the different rail lines.  All are markedly different from the JNR equivalents.  However, with the exception of the TTT coal units, all remain on their own rails.  On the TTT, JNR cars can be differentiated from similar TTT cars by the Tomi Maru badge - TTT cars carry it, JNR cars don't.
 
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
  • Member since
    December 2011
  • From: Northern Minnesota
  • 2,774 posts
Posted by NP2626 on Sunday, May 5, 2013 2:38 PM

Chuck,  Are you living in Japan,now; or did you at one time?  I have to say that I have always thought your layout is certainly different.  I have more questions about it, but need answers to my question above, before I can ask them sensibly.

Mark

NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"

Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association:  http://www.nprha.org/

  • Member since
    November 2012
  • 118 posts
Posted by soilwork on Sunday, May 5, 2013 2:59 PM
I don't discriminate! All railroads and all types of locomotives are welcomed to run on my layout.
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Sebring FL
  • 842 posts
Posted by floridaflyer on Sunday, May 5, 2013 3:16 PM

Freelance Pa in the 50's with PRR, RDG, LV and a little WM. thinking about a little CNJ but haven't followed through.

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: North Carolina
  • 1,905 posts
Posted by csxns on Sunday, May 5, 2013 3:35 PM

Any modern Mexican,USA and Canada RR locomotives i do run.

Russell

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!