I'm sold on modeling HO in present time, but also love RRing the mountains with tight curves and diesels running to mine, timber, oil and cattle customers. I'm modeling the mts. in the NE corner of Arizona. Since I'm not where I am long enough to make a layout, I'm modeling a 2'x4' diorama to display the locos and rolling stock I'm making and get the feel of what I want to do in a larger space later. Presently I'm shortening some Shark Nose diesels for the tight curves and scratch building some 32' lumber and tank cars. Like to swap ideas with others of like mind in any scale. [ November 20, 2005, 06:17 PM: Message edited by: gg1dman ]
gg1dman, Welcome aboard!! My only suggestion for you for tight mainline curves, is the Denver & Rio Grande Western. The LaVeta Pass area is especially suited for you. The curves are so tight, and the grade at a steep 3% disallowed 6-axle diesels from the whole area from La Veta, CO to near Alamosa. The EB grade was a milder 2.5% max, and a 3% downgrade clear to LaVeta, CO. This link will show you how tough the trackwork thru the pass was: La Veta Pas track profile The older route, as-built across the Pass featured 4% grades, and a 30* curve as well! Maybe that helps you? The Rio Grande Southern, and D&RGW narrow gauge would also make a facsinating standard gauge layout. They featured numerous 4% grades, and 20* plus curves!
Another that could be o use to you is the old DNW&P (predecessor to Denver & Salt Lake, D&RGW) route over Corona Pass. 11,600 feet high, 27 miles of 4% grades. 16* curves everywhere...
Hemi; Thanks for the info. I'm really sold on modeling the NE Arizona mountain area I mentioned. I've been wandering around that area for years and have been gathering info from the remains of four old shortlines. One, in Superior that served a Pearlite and a copper mine, just closed a few years ago. It's train appeared to have a top speed of 4MPH coming up the grade with empties. Also another, last owned by an Apache tribe near Showlo/Pinetop, could have cashed in on the tourist/sking business. I intend to cash in on all this potential and "do it right" with the Orca Mtn. Curt
I am running on ex-L&N and ex-SCL mainlines in Alabama. Steep grades and sharp curves, and we are using SD units on it. Makes for some great running!
A modern shortline that runs on ex Milwaukee tracks is Tacoma Rail. No mining or cattle, but lots of lumber. clean red and white diesels (MP15AC's, SD-40R's and some older Geeps), a 3.4% grade, serves a major port and hosts steam excursions with an ex-Reading 4-8-4, if that interests you. They are also negotiating with BNSF to handle transfer runs from Tacoma to Auburn several times a day. You might want to check out their website. Tom
Ahh...I can identify two of your inspiration sources as the Apache and Magma Arizona railroads. What are the other two? Speaking of Apache...you MUST check out the following link, it takes you to a website displaying a 1963 article from Arizona Highways about clearing the upper end of the Apache Railroad with a pair of their FMs. Talk about some serious snow! http://iprr.topcities.com/azhwy/index.htm Back in the 1960's a tourist railroad, the White Mountain Scenic, actually did make a fairly decent living on the upper end of the Apache. They had two steam locomotives on site, both small mikados- ex Sierra #36 and ex-Santa Maria Valley #100. The company owned a third steam locomotive in the form of Sierra #34, but it never left Jamestown, CA, and is still there today. The tourist operation died when Southwest Forest Industries elected to close their mill in McNary and abandon the part of the Apache that the tourist train used. If you poke around in the Arizona RailwayMuseum's website, specifically in their photo gallery section, you can find a bunch of photos taken on the White Mountain Scenic. Go to the following link: http://www.azrymuseum.org/images.htm Click on the "I agree" button, and you are in. There is no real rhyme or reason as to how the photos are displayed on the site...six photos on each page, use the arrows at the bottom to scroll from one page to the next. You will find the first of the White Mountain Scenic photos on Page 8. The next photos are on pages 43 and 44. Most of the White Mountain Scenic photos are marked as "Location Unknown". There are many other photos of other Arizona railroading photos scattered throughout the site, including several of the Magma Arizona. I have always had a strong interest in the Magma Arizona, primarily through the three Baldwin diesels they had. I have always been a fan of Baldwin diesels, especially those operating on the various logging railroads throughout the west. As it turns out all three came to the desert from such service, the #8 from the Medford Corporation logging railroad out of Medford, OR, and the #9 and #10 from the McCloud River Railroad. I grew up next to the McCloud River, and I run an extensive website about the company located at: http://www.trainweb.org/mccloudrails If you go to the Locomotive Roster section and click on the #29 and #31 you will see photos of two of the Magma Arizona units, both before and during their tenure on that road. It definately fit your criteria of a line with many steep grades and sharp curves. They replaced their fleet of Baldwins with a quartet of EMD six axle road switchers, three SD38's and a SD38-2. As for modeling, my theme is a timber and tourist oriented shortline running from a connection with the joint BNSF/UP line in the area of Bend, OR, eastward into the Ochoco and Blue mountains. It allows me to model the McCloud without being tied down to just the McCloud, if that makes any sense. Much of the equipment on the railroad will be patterned after McCloud prototypes. I hope this helps you out or gives you some inspiration. If you would like to talk to me directly click on my name towards the bottom of the McCloud Rails front page...it is an e-mail link. Jeff Moore Elko, NV
I'm working on an N scale layout featuring a free-lanced shortline. It's on a blue foam sheet that's 16" by 34" and has 7 1/2" radius curves to form a complete loop. I use a Life-Like SW1200 as my main power but I've also squeezed an Atlas GP9 (with cars!) around there. Most of the switching takes place on the same side as the interchange track so the majority of the traffic that goes around those curves is in MDC/Athearn 3-bay open hoppers and the occasional MDC 50' boxcar. It was a lot of fun to design and I'm really looking forward to finishing up basic scenery once school is out for the summer.
