Welcome to Trainboard Zak We are delighted you have joined our fine organization and appreciate your participation, such as the information about the Central California Traction line. I have lived in California all my life and never knew that line existed. I always thought SP had everything in the great valley! TYler .. thank you for your information and photos about the E&NR too. That's what I like about this thread the most .. there's so many short lines with such a diverse array of equipment and motive power. It would be difficult to get bored in this thread.
Greetings and Happy New Year to all of our fine new members who have migrated to Trainboard from Atlas lately. We are pleased to have you here. Regardless of scale, some of you may find this particular thread interesting. I would like to know if any of our new members model narrow gauge and or shortline operations If you do, how about sharing some info and photos with us.
We-ellll, as long as you're talking about interurbans-turned shortlines..... In the Tulsa, OK area are two such lines- the Tulsa-Sapulpa Union (which runs between the two namesake towns) and Sand Springs Railway (which serves various shippers in this community). Both railroads had both box motors and interurban cars, and are now operated with EMD diesel switchers. Tulsa-Sapulpa Union web page Sand Springs Railway, a division of Sheffield Steel
OC engineer JD .. thanks for your response ... and welcome to Trainboard I am guessing, but I assume you work for the OC. What makes this shortline special to you? What locomotive power do you use there? How about a photo or two! Rial Images is really easy to use (if you have not already registered for it)
Hello Bill. Yes, I am an Engineer with the OC. Started with them in 2000, after running trains for the Indiana and Ohio, and RJ Corman before that. The OC has one of the largest collections of steam engines, the largest, our 4-8-4 number 6325. The steam is used on excursions every year. The OC is a freight railroad, hauling unit coal trains, steel, lumber, plastic, etc. The power used on this railroad is also very different. We have everything from Alco's to EMD's to GE's. The newest power we have is SD45-T2's, and C30-7's. The OC also has several F units, both A's and B's. When I learn how to post on here, I'll post a picture or two. OK, figured it out! Thats me, after running an excursion with one of our FP9's. [ 05. January 2004, 04:26: Message edited by: OC Engineer JD ]
Coulda swore I'd replied to this thread Anyhow, my favorites would include any shortline or narrow guage in Northern California. My real few favorites however are featured on my "Foothill Rails" site (link below) and include: Amador Central Camino, Placerville & Lake Tahoe Diamond & Caldor Michigan-California Lumber and Mountain Quarries [ 05. January 2004, 04:41: Message edited by: John Barnhill ]
Heres a link to check out. http://www.ohiocentral.com/ Be sure to check out the steam section.....some great photos! [ 05. January 2004, 04:42: Message edited by: OC Engineer JD ]
That's quite an operation you have there JD. What a nice stable of locos! I'd love to sit at the throttle of any one of them.
Where did you pick up the info on the expansion from Antonito to Creed. I have never heard of this, and it certainly still does not exist. The Cumbres & Toltec is definitely my overall favorite museum railroad. Whenever I make it to the US I plan to get there. [ 29. December 2004, 19:17: Message edited by: swissboy ]
Hmmm, I can't recall ever answering this one. I know I've done so for the ghost shortlines. That seems to be where all my favorites end up. Lets see, my most favorite currently operating shortline would have to be California Northern. Some of its ops are fairly close. Love the green and white paint scheme. I have even done a GP15-1 in N. My only non SP/DRGW unit on my roster. Wish they still had the SD9s though. They were really cool and an upcoming project of mine. This one is ex SP!
Can I name a favorite shortline AND a favorite narrow gauge? If so, I choose Portland and Western for my shortline and Sumpter Valley Railway for my narrow gauge.
Not sure why but I like it when it was the Willamette & Pacific separate from the Portland & Western. I guess that way I got two shortlines for the price of one.
Favourite Shortline The late Oregon Pacific & Eastern would be my choice. A great little road. Too bad it is history now. There were several movies filmed on the OP&E including "Emporer Of The North". Just slopped into it but did meet Ernest Borgnine and his wife as well as Lee Marvin while chasing the "Goose" one Sunday morning about 35 years or so ago.
More OP&E The OP&E diesel fleet. Actually there were three GE 70 Tonners 10, 12, & 14. The 70 Tonners went to Modesto & Empire Traction. The 602 is now on the Oregon Pacific and the RDC is in Galveston Texas along with the 2-8-0 number 5. The 19 is on the Yreka Western.
The 'Goose' is still alive and well in Yreka, CA. She's just finishing up her summer excursion at the end of this month. The #19 was on lease to the OP&E by the Yreka Western from about 1969 to 1987. The OP&E was a part of the KYLE shortline empire as is the YWRR. I have been fortunate enough to have worked on, and operated the #19 since 1988 up to last year when I retired. (I still have been able to engineer her twice this summer when they needed the help) The YWRR is always looking for volunteers to help work on, and operate the Blue Goose. There's lots of work to be done this winter, so if you are interested, and close enough, get in on the fun. We have a couple of members in here who volunteer ... one is a fireman and the other is an engineer.
CofP Another shortline is the City of Prineville Railway. The classy Alco's are gone replaced by three GP9's two from the late MILW and one BN. Check out Jeff Moore's High Desert Rails site
