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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Jul 6, 2014 0:14:56 GMT -8
Kind Sirs,
Have been reading the print off McGee and Nixon's Northern Pacific book and glanced at page 201 then by coincidence on the web saw an 0 gauge model advertised. It needs some LTC which for old models I have plenty of time.
These railcars does anyone know could they be driven from either end and did they ever haul any tail traffic ie a coach or baggage cars or even the odd freight car.
James Brodie.
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Post by mlehman on Jul 6, 2014 6:08:35 GMT -8
James, A NP expert will have to assess how that applies specifically to it gas-electrics if the book doesn't cover this. Almost all self-propelled railcars have couplers on either end. This was useful in case they became non-self-propelled.  Thus, the presence of couplers is not a reliable sign a capability to haul anything but itself -- and even that wasn't 100%. In general terms, yes, some railcars did have the power to handle a trailer car for passengers or a freight car. This was generally in flatter areas where grades were less of a factor, but also depended on the extra power that might be available from the engine. There were some railcars set-up to drive from either end, but not a lot of them until you get to the relatively modern RDC. This was less of a factor than it might seem. Often, these cars took over a route from steam, with facilities for turning often left in place. |
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Post by Christian on Jul 7, 2014 3:23:49 GMT -8
This topic seems to have become crab grass in another thread.
Those big NP rail cars could pull an extra car or two. As could the bigger cars used on many railroads. Should be plenty photos out there of short trains pulled by a motor car. EMC - later - EMD's car body contractors could provide matching passenger trailers which were a bit smaller, lighter and cheaper than a Pullman. Again, lots of photos out there. I'm not sure about pulling regular Pullmans because of weight and the lack off steam for heat and air conditioning.
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Post by Spikre on Jul 7, 2014 10:34:09 GMT -8
 James, generally Doodlebugs of 300 HP or less could only haul a lite trailer,but not many of those were built.[the lite style trailers] Doodlbugs of 400 - 800 HP could haul several trailing passenger cars,or short freight trains on branchlines. RDCs were not supposed to haul any trailers of any type,and Budd wouldn't honor Warrenty Claims if they did.and some roads did,heck with the warrenty. in several cases RDCs were replaced by rebuilt to Diesel Power Doodlbugs to be able to haul anything the road wanted them to haul. Spikre 
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2014 11:23:24 GMT -8
Kind Sirs, Have been reading the print off McGee and Nixon's Northern Pacific book and glanced at page 201 then by coincidence on the web saw an 0 gauge model advertised. It needs some LTC which for old models I have plenty of time. These railcars does anyone know could they be driven from either end and did they ever haul any tail traffic ie a coach or baggage cars or even the odd freight car. James Brodie. A gas electric had the vestibule for loading passengers at the rear of the car and the cab on the other end of the car. The gas engine and generator were located behind the cab and separated the cab from the RPO(if equipped) or passenger coach section. On the NP, the gas-electrics didn't pull any trailers or other cars. They were for branchline passenger service. Generally they'd run from a station where a named train like the North Coast Limited or Mainstreeter would stop to the end of branch line. Most of the branch lines were laid with light rail and the gas-electric had very light axle loadings. Gas-electric's were retired for a couple of reasons. The first, was discontinuance of passenger service and second, the lines that retained passenger service had the gas-electric replaced by Budd RDC's. RDC's were air conditioned, ran on diesel, were much more comfortable for the passengers, were more modern for the Post Office and more reliable. NP had a handful of RDC's. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2014 15:33:00 GMT -8
Tommy-Trudy-Naomi, Thanks for the NP Doodlebug info. Typical of me the car turns out to be C&NW ! The only F F photo I have of one of theirs shews it as a full baggage!! The model is en route from America but I will get the fine tooth comb out when it arrives to see what is located where. I don't have a Y (or turntable as yet) so any reverse running then the driver if only one driving position will have to hang out the side window as we used to when the diesels came and we were reluctant to change ends. To us at the time there wasn't much difference a 60' diesel body or a long steam engine boiler but it got tut tutted on so we had to behave. Is the model of this? kohlin.com/soo/Namakagon_1000.jpgIf it is that, it is gas-electric which pulled the CMO(Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha), a CNW subsidiary, train The Namakagon. The Namakagon was a three car train(including gas-electric) and ran from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Ashland, Wisconsin. One car was a coach and I don't remember or can find photos of the third car. |
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Post by jamesbrodie67281 on Jan 23, 2015 20:30:47 GMT -8
babalooey , Thanks for the G E Railcar photo. Sorry no the photo is a full parcels/post etc mine is a mix single driving cab then post and parcels the passenger. The trailing end has a gangway fitted and buckeye coupling so to my eye looks as though there was a trailing car/s attached.
Christian, Not sure what you mean by the article coming 'crab grass' sorry but open to it being explained. My railway speak is the English version but am slowly learning the American railroad speak.
Thanks chaps for all your help. Incidentally GGD mentions some GEs in their boneyard section.
James 67281
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Post by Spikre on Jan 25, 2015 13:46:55 GMT -8
James, there is a nice soft cover book on the Erie Doodlebugs. "Diamondbugs" by Jack Grasso,available from Railroad Avenue Enterprises,list price is $14.95, very reasonable. write to: Railroad Avenue Enterprises Dept 201 Flanders, N.J. 07836 this may not answer all questions You have,but Erie ran the Big cars until about 1951,then some were rebuilt into locos for an Ohio Quarry and ran another score of years,but looked much different from their as built appearance. Spikre
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