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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Jul 29, 2014 0:31:23 GMT -8
As my layout has to cater for English and American my sidings may seem like a quart put into a pint pot from an American point of view. being a masochist the English models have link or screw couplings but where fitted then the coaching stock has Buckeyes fitted. Over here our Buckeyes were of the drop head version so we could couple up anything to 'anywot'. One of my duties when instructing new railway staff entrants ie those going to be guards or shunters was to shew them how to set the buckeye for raised or lowered working. My American modelling was greatly influenced by the authentic automatic coupling----most of the English automatic couplings were figments of someone's imagination and would never have been seen on a railway vehicle---but each to their own. When tracklaying I have to prove that two way running is practical as rails can set themselves to one direction running and three quarters of the low level will be covered by the high level baseboard when complete so I have to get it right for once and for all. Signalling I can only do English style so when it's an American running session I guess I have to live with it. The coal mine and steel works and docks are universal albeit on a smaller scale and there must be some sites in America where space was at a premium, if so that is where my model railway is located. How can I explain the centre third rail ? maybe not the height available for the earth wire return on top of the overhead electrics catenary masts so the centre rail is acting as a heavy earth return...as on sections of the London underground train tracks, but they also had an outside power rail as well !!!you can't win them all. (To keep Jim's wife happy I could add an outside electric rail and do some Tyneside electric units as running from Newcastle to South Shields). One question why did Bachmann do some D&RGW ng coaches in yellow ? Jim Brodie 67281.
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bcrn
Full Member
Posts: 133
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Post by bcrn on Jul 30, 2014 5:43:07 GMT -8
rock island, grew up near the indianola iowa branch.
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bigzmn
Junior Member
Posts: 91
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Post by bigzmn on Jul 31, 2014 5:56:22 GMT -8
I thought I had answered this before, but I didn't see my ugly mug tied to any of the posts so here goes...
I grew up in the small town of Wallis, TX, about 50 miles west of downtown Houston. The north/south mainline through town was the Santa Fe line between Fort Worth and Galveston/Houston. At the time it was the 1st District of the Southern Division, now it's part of the BNSF Galveston Sub.
There was an east/west Southern Pacific branch line that crossed the Santa Fe about half a block from my grandma's house. This was the Bellaire Branch of the Glidden Sub. It originally was built by the San Antonio and Aransas Pass. In Houston it connected with the SP main at Bellaire Jct, and to the west it connected with the SP main at Eagle Lake. It has been abandoned by the UP.
On the Santa Fe during the 70's I saw the last of the F units and the first of the CF7's. Most trains had F units, CF7's, GP7's and GP9's. The hot trains like the 195/591 and 588/885 would have the big power.
The SP line was basically a gravel hauling branch and the trains usually had GP9's with some GP20's and GP35's thrown in. There were U25B's until those were pulled from service. Once I saw an RS-11.
About 15 miles to the south the Santa Fe crossed the SP main from Houston at Tower 17 in Rosenberg. That's where one could see the big SP power. About 13 miles to the north the Santa Fe crossed the MKT at Sealy.
So I have interest in the ATSF, the SP and some interest in the Katy. I buy and build models for all three. Even though the cabbed F units were gone by then, I decided to model 1980 since that January I turned 16 and in February I got my drivers license. Then I was able to railfan. There was still a few B units running on the Santa Fe. For the Katy I can have the last red GP40 and a red GP7 to go with all the green and yellow stuff.
As for scenery, basically forget it. This is all on the coastal plains and it's flat as a pancake with just some trees and a river here or there to break up the monotony.
Chris Z.
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Post by jaygee on Aug 2, 2014 4:18:34 GMT -8
My NEXT railroad will be the Bessemer...as a point to point switcher layout. The geographic area will be from Powell Ave. Erie to Peach St. Erie. Time period will be from 1954 to 1969, or thereabouts. I want to be able to include the 12th Street running from Bucyrus down to the old passenger station at the Times News. All I need to complete this fantasy is the Genesis F units, and an NW2 for 286. Might also add an ex-DM&IR Alligator. Passenger cars for the Bullet will be kinda tough, and I'll have to farb 'em for the time being. Why? Spent a LOT of time down at Greengarden over the years, foaming the place...and chasing #454, the local switcher. This will be a fun operation, especially with DCC / sound!
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