Ok, time for my daily stupid question..I am going to model my layout as being the 1940's (early). What types of engines and train cars would be appropriate??
BIG Steam such as one of these is just being built so they would be brand new... Class J (4-6-6-4)- D&H#1503 Photo taken: July 15, 1940 at Oneonta, NY
From Rivarossi / IHC D&H#1519 Associated Passenger Cars: http://www.trainweb.org/dhvm/models/ho_rivarossi.htm
I believe you need 18" and higher curves for this engine as well as the passenger cars for them to operate smoothly. You might get away with 15" but I'm sure 9" is too tight.
I will check the 1940 Era to see if any of these engines were still operating or not but they would not need a wide of a radius like the one above. IHC#9511 - D&H#999 IHC#9852 - D&H#607 IHC#23161 - D&H#61
I also know the D&H was operating a Diesel (ALCo S2) Engines by May 1944 so you would have some of these options too. Atlas made an ALCo S-4 (D&H#3035) that the D&H was running by the late 1950's so other roadnames might have been running them earlier; but, I'm not certain.
Hey now, those are fight'n words! Triva Questions: 1) What is America's oldest continually operated transportation company? 2) What transportation company was the first to operate a steam locomotive in North America? 3) What was the Engine called? 4) Where was it built?
Back to your question, #61 is out since it was scrapped by 1919, #607 was built 1914 and was in operation until 1952, and #999 was built 1911 and was in operation until 1947. D&H operated a ton of steam in the 1940's of various classes.
40's era freight cars is a pretty broad topic, but I'll try to explain just a wee bit. I model 1956 and it seems I do more research than modeling. Generally speaking: Boxcars: 40' and some 50' (auto parts, furniture), wooden or 1937 AAR type. Full ladders and roofwalks. Reefers: ice cooled wooden reefers. No 57' mechanical types. Gondolas: 40' range, steel or composit. Hoppers: 55 tonners. Steel or composit. Tank cars: 8,000 - 10,000 gallons, riveted. Caboose: wood, plywood, or steel construction, depending upon individual railroad. As I said, these are quick, general observations. Try this site to begin your research: http://www.steamfreightcars.com Glenn
I model the C&O Railroad and use equipment set between 1945 and 1955. As with many modelers, the transistion era. What has been successful for me are the historical societies. Especially w/ the internet, historical societies are an extreme benefit to modelers attempting to closely follow or faithfully replicate a specific era. Go online and "google" the road and time that "does it for you". Also, visit some railroad historical societies and seek photo's and articles from the early 1940's As NYandLB_Fan correctly mentions, the research alone is timely. The research can be a hobby unto itself. Have fun
