1. Southern Rail Fan

    Southern Rail Fan TrainBoard Member

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    I've been thinking about a change of pace and might try modeling a very small layout based around the PRR. It would be a branch line, single track, some small switching.

    I don't know a lot about how the PRR used their locomotives and was wondering if anyone had some suggestions as to a good model to use.

    This will be in N-scale. I have found readily available SD-9's, as well as RS-3's. I can get a GP-9 or GP-7, although not as easily.

    Anyways, did the PRR prototypically use their SD-9's on trains like short local freights?
     
  2. chooch.42

    chooch.42 TrainBoard Member

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  3. tsalacri

    tsalacri E-Mail Bounces

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    SD9's in Altoona and on the Madison IN grade (PRR coal hauling branch) down to the Ohio river.
     
  4. tsalacri

    tsalacri E-Mail Bounces

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    Sorry Madison grade was SD7, SD9's Altoona & Enola
     
  5. Flashwave

    Flashwave TrainBoard Member

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    Hey, since you guys seem to know, what all did the SD7s do? I can't imagine them lugging a coal train down a 6% incline, did they? to the asylum, yes I'll believe, and I read that, but what all did they down bleow the Hill? For that matter, what was on the work assignment for 8588 and 89 at all?
     
  6. chooch.42

    chooch.42 TrainBoard Member

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    Flash, those units are listed to the Southwest region (right location?) and are equipped with Dynamic Brakes (and "Hump Control"). Your post indicates some knowledge of the territory...wow - a "6% grade."? If the "kc.pennsyrr" link doesn't have what you want, try the PRRTHS .
     
  7. Flashwave

    Flashwave TrainBoard Member

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    Technically, it's only 5.89% But it rounds up. There's a reason it's go tthe record as steepest mainline grade. There's also a reason they pushed up the hill, not pulled. Someday, I'd love to see if the remains of the 1800s cars that got away are still in the Ohio, or smashed up and carried downstream.

    I'm in the process of modelling the current CMPA, with a few additions from businesses that are next to the track, but not serrved in real life by the track. If I could get some ideas as to PRR business there, I could keep them open in my world.

    The water treatment utilized the Hill to get their major parts in and out when broken, since it was the only straihht shot. In my stupider moments, I thought that the Power Plant could use it too, and then figured maybe coal trains could help offset the cost of stablizing the Incline, since it's in bad shape in real life (parts of the track are tightroping ofver spots where the ground has left the building) Because 60 loaded hoppercars on a 6% grade isn't asking for trouble, with or without engines on both ends. :D

    Tehre;s a story in Trains about the SD7s. Just after the PC catastrophe (That did at least produce a sharp looking Turbo Train) they sent the SD7s up to be shopped by some NYC guys. Story goes, that whether by accident or they didn't know what they were and decided they weren't needed, the NYC crew disabled the Dynamics. Then finisghed the SD7s, and sent them off.

    Thank goodness those engines were weighted extra heavy, cause those Dynamics weren't doing them jacksquat on the hill disabled...

    WHEEEEE!!!!!!

    WHen they were shutting the Hill down, the road foreman and an engineer were rifding sdown, speeding up just a bit. Finally, the roadman looks at the engineer and says "Not to tell you haow to do your job, but don't we need to put the brakes on and slow down?" The engiener looked back at him and said "I've got the things in reverse"

    Yes folks, southbound (downhill) gravity was overcoming the tractive effort of locos trying to go northbound.

    I reiterate: WHHEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!! Gott a love Frick' Hill.
    (Unfotruantely, that's where my infrmation ends.)

    There'sa wealth of information on the Keystone Crossings page, but little on Indiana that I've found. I tried the PRRTHS, I got lost.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 29, 2010
  8. tsalacri

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  9. Northeast Fan

    Northeast Fan TrainBoard Member

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    Around here (Lancaster County, Pa.) they used GP9s or SW7s. I don't recall ever seeing an SD except on through freights.

    Bill Banaszak, CEO of the NYA&W
     

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