Been a while since I've posted. I'm slowly working on building an HCD layout. The intended goal is as shown below. Right now I've got the main loop and my passing siding. As money filters in, I'll continue to construct the various sidings and what have you. Once it's been tested a while I'll buy some foam and start carving out terrain. I'm trying to decide how I would go about putting in a creek and pond near the brewery. But anyway, the main reason I'm posting this time around is to think out loud about choosing motive power for the layout. So far I have one complete train, an Amtrak P42 in phase III livery and four Amfleet cars. Looks nice, fits on the passing siding to keep the main clear with some room to spare on either end. The next train to assemble will be freight. I've got a selection of grain hoppers, corn syrup tankers, box cars, and reefers chosen to keep the brewery supplied, and I'm looking at some general box cars and maybe some flats to supply the town with goods. What I'm trying to decide though is what kind of motive power to pick for the freight work. The era for this layout is modern day in the Northeast as if Conrail was still kicking around, so I've been thinking of one of Fox Valley's ES44AC diesels as my primary freight power. But I was also thinking of a "character" engine, something unique to be used from time to time, either assigned to the brewery or dug out of a scrap yard somewhere to fuss around with some light duty switching. I've been thinking about either an F-M H15-44, an RS3, or another '50s-era diesel-electric, or to go another route a "railfan restored" steam loco that earns some keep switching for the local in between excursion runs. Maybe a 2-8-2 if I could find a Kato, or a 4-8-2 heavy mountain. Any thoughts?
Well, you could always justify an Alco for that purpose even up to today if it's a short line. Or a small GE. Like a 70 tonners. But realistically, most likely 50s era first Gen loco is going to be either a GP9 or an SW type.
A late era Alco would be good, I'd second the GP9 or SW. Another would be GP15-1's-GP40's, the local G&W subsidiary Puget Sound and Pacific has a number of GP40's and GP15-1's in the local area(only three PSAP engines) the rest are leased from Cali. Northern, Central Oregon & Pacific, CITX, and the new kid on the block a BNSF Green weenie(GP38-2 or something).
Western New York and Pennsylvania currently operates a sizeable fleet of Alco Centuries. Connects with Norfolk Southern. There are several other Alco powered shortlines running in New York State. One (Battenkill) still uses RS-3's. Connects with CP Rail.
The layout seems to call for older 2nd generation refurbished and upgraded diesels of the four axle variety like maybe a GP 38 or a GP 40. As far as the small older diesel for switching the brewery or other site there are still a number of the older SW units and some RS units in service in shortline and private ownership. One can go also with a 70 tonner which would be seeing say its third or fourth owner. As far as getting in a pond and stream on a hollow core door that can be done by simply elevating a section of the layout with some thin foam glued to the door base at say the brewery end. Minor transition from the hollow core to the foam in terms of grade and have the stream come on the layout from one side exiting on the other staying within the foam bed. Some thing like 1/4th inch foam should do enough to carve a channel and a pond with say a beaver dam creating the pond.
Interesting question. On the diseasels: 1. As others have stated, already, most of the shortline power out there is rebuilt early GPs. The larger things are more expensive to operate/maintain/repair and provide more power than most short lines really need. Some of the early GPs were rebuilt with Caterpillar engines. I do not know if these have any external characteristics that are different from as-built, but a review of some photographs would answer that question. 2. The switcher is a thought. Kato sells some pretty good NW-2s. There have been complaints of gear/driveshaft/nub cracking, but mine have yet to show this. The LL/WKW SWs run well enough, although those contact tabs burnished onto the walkway do leave something to be desired. The older LLs like to pick frogs and points on Atlas and Kato code 80 turnouts. I understand that the latest WKW issues of these have lower profile wheels. Some have stated that the use of these wheels has solved the problem. One, or a pair of the B-mann GE industrial switchers would work well, also. There are many of these still out there on the prototypes. There are a number of ALCo yard goats still out there. B-mann has an S-4 that runs well. I am not too crazy about the archaic flexing wires soldered to pivotting trucks method of current transmission, but, for now, they do run well. Atlas has announced a S-2. Atlas sells a superb Baldwin VO-1000. There are one or two out there that still operate in revenue service, so you might get away with it. 3. FM road switcher-I do not know if any of these still operate in revenue service. Still, either Atlas or B-mann is pretty good. 4. ALCo RS-3-There are still a number of those out there, although I do not know if any are still using 244 prime movers. AMTRAK has one that operates at Washington, D.C.'s Union Station. Some roads had the 244s replaced with EMD prime movers, over the years. This changed some of the external characteristics. That would be a good and simple bashing project. On steam: Nevada Northern used to use some of its excursion steam power in revenue service. I do not know if it still does. There are also photographs out there of the Challenger and the FEF's pulling double stacks. It seems that once UP took over SP, SP's chronic motive power shortage metastised system wide. Thus, you would get away with this. 1. B-mann makes a nice 4-6-0 and 2-6-0. They come with factory decoders if you are a DCC user. In addition, the newer issues of the B-mann SPECTRUM 2-8-0 come with factory decoders. There are those who do not have too much nice to say about the Bachpersonn factory decoders, but they are there. I would assume that swapping out the Bachmann decoder for another would not be that difficult, but as I am not a DCC user, I can not say for certain. Older issues of the B-mann 2-8-0 do not have decoders or a front coupler. 2. The Athearn/MDC mogul has sixty three inch drivers. While it is a decidedly nineteenth century locomotive, a few minor modifications to it will make it appear to be an old locomotive that was rebuilt over the years. The Athearn version comes with MTs on the tender and pilot. It requires some work to get DCC into this one. 3. Model Power sold an eight wheeler and a mogul. Sadly, MP is out of business. They are nice runners, when they run, but they suffer from 1970 construction methods. Swapping out the stock tender for a B-mann SPECTRUM USRA standard or switcher tender makes these things real winners. It requires a minumum amount of work. If you wish to keep the stock tender shell, it will fit onto the SPECTRUM slopeback tender chassis. MP also sold USRA light Pacifics and Mikados. They suffer from the same problems as the eight wheeler and mogul. 4. WKW sold a USRA 0-8-0. Mine are HOON-kay, but others have stated that WKW addressed the problems from the first run in the second. I have yet to tempt the hands of fate on this one. 5. The Kato Mikado is an excellent locomotive. If you buy an older issue, be sure to do the traction tyre driver upgrade. It is a swap 0ut/drop in conversion. It is reputed to be the most difficult steam DCC install out there. I may have left out a few in both diseasel and steam.
You can choose and run anything your heart desires. For the older diesel, I'd look at an ALCo or and FM. Atlas even had or possibly still has a Baldwin switcher.
No one has mentioned the obvious, the radius of your curves. I am skeptical that your Kato passenger stuff won't be hanging over the curves a lot and I hope the loco can make it through the turnouts successfully. If I were doing this I would use only four axle power and shorter cars. That is a challenge if you are doing modern era class 1 railroading, but you could backdate things.
+1 Long cars and sharp curves leave a lot to be desired. Then there is the HCD itself. Personaly I don't care for them but they seem to be the darling of the N scale world for the present time.
Put me in the GP38 camp, as both short axle and pretty typical for switching engines these days. Also put me in the "why do you think you will only be able to hold to one?" camp.......I am sure you will end up over time, wanting a couple of different locos for variety. And, if money is an issue, (which it usually is for all of us) then put me in the "pick a handful of ones you would be happy with and look for an insane deal on EBay or internet train shop/train show/LHS. Never know when one of those vendors will be clearing older stock. BTW, like the track plan. Looks like a layout that will give you lots of use and pleasure.
Curves are 15" radius. Yes, my Amfleet cars hang out a bit when they're running the loop, but given the constraints of space, time, and budget, I'm okay with it. The P42 handles switches fine going forward or back. The HCD may not be ideal, but it does get me up off the floor and allows me to start. My selection of freight cars definitely holds to the older, shorter type wherever possible. From what I've read, the Fox Valley ES44AC should be fine on 11" radius and up. I was looking at '50s-era diesel electrics for their smaller size. A GP7 or NW2 could work fine. So maybe the best idea for my crazy self is to complete an era, then look at another era. Buildings stay pretty much the same for a few decades, and track alignments wouldn't change. I could have a full on 1950s transition era collection of motive power and cars, and a pared-back modern era collection as well.
I think back to my HO days to determine curves. If you recall: Less than 24"-sharp 24-29,99999-conventional 30" or better-broad I use a HO to N conversion of 0,544375 and a N to HO of 1,836969 In N this works out to: 13,064 or less-sharp 13,065-16,33124-conventional 16,33125 or better-broad This puts the fifteen inch radius curves in the middle of the 'conventional' category. ENGLISH TRANSLATION: Yeah, you will get away with it, but there will be overhang. As long as you are allright with that, good. The six axles run fine in fifteen inch curves, so if you want the SD or RSD for extra tractive effort, go for it. You can add the LL/WKW 2-8-4 or either B-mann USRA 4-8-2 to your list of steam choices, if you are still interested in that. Do not be shy about a modern era railroad with its excursion power's working for a living. As I stated previously, Nevada Northern was doing that. I do not know if it still does. It would be something that sets your pike apart from that shibboleth of model railroading, >cue up thunder and echo chamber< Sommmmmeboooooody elllllllse's layyyyyyyoutttttt.
Guys, advocating second Gen power. Sure, but he wanted 1st Gen and there are still GP9s out there earning their keep. Or maybe a GP9 and a GP38. Also, I don't think a gp38 or 40 will look any worse on 15"radius curves than a gp9.
This I have some 'old' buildings in both my towns. IRL...at least around here...those 'older buildings' are still preserved. Upgraded to code...but still being used. I like that 'old town' feeling with newer trains and vehicles running about. And I can still run dang near anything from staem to present...and it will fit in 'era wise' to the scenery !! :teeth:
