Modelgenic shortlines

[keystonecrossings]

Bellefonte Central -- Bellefonte to State College PA. Tons of crushed limestone and powdered lime out (for drywall) from "The Gyp" plant owned by American Gypsum. Tons of coal inbound to the power plant at Penn State University. All sorts of other loads inbound. Interchanged with the Pennsy at Bellefonte. Real cool heritage thoroughly covered in Mike Bezilla's 2007 book "Rails to Penn State".

[Virginia Atlantic]

The answer is to create your own Road.

Solves every problem one can raise.  Off-the-Self model availabillity, check.  Abillity to model any era, check.  Industries you like/want, check.  Scenary/locale you like, check.  Operational challenges you want to have, check.  Interchanges with other roads you fancy, check.

The only limiting factor is ones own creativity.  All of you have the Railroad knowledge to make it hyper-realistic.  All you need is the desire to create and blaze your own trail, not the one others have done 100 time over already.

[Mark5]

All you need is the desire to create and blaze your own trail, not the one others have done 100 time over already.

While I respect those that choose to model their own fantasy road (some like yourself have great concepts), there is plenty of reality based modeling that is relatively untouched or done poorly. Even in cases where it has been done many times (I've known more PRR modelers than anything else), the modeler's passion can always make the difference between another clone or something brilliant and unique.

Mark

[Dave V]

Bellefonte Central -- Bellefonte to State College PA. Tons of crushed limestone and powdered lime out (for drywall) from "The Gyp" plant owned by American Gypsum. Tons of coal inbound to the power plant at Penn State University. All sorts of other loads inbound. Interchanged with the Pennsy at Bellefonte. Real cool heritage thoroughly covered in Mike Bezilla's 2007 book "Rails to Penn State".

That's a great book, by the way.  I have an author-signed copy.  Guess it depends on your choice of era.  If you're looking toward the last years of the BC it was much less operationally interesting.  WWII-ish it was much busier.  From the 50s onward, the steady decline of traffic makes it less operationally interesting.  Once Penn State switched to trucks to haul coal to its power plant, the State College extension really began to die.  The 50s are still model-able, but the limestone traffic would need tons of early covered hoppers needing to be built from brass.

[inkaneer]

I always thought that the Pittsburgh & West Virginia RR would make a good RR to model.  Not exactly a shortline as it had a single track mainline of 132 miles with lots of tunnels, bridges and trestles with heavy concentration of online coal mines.  It ran from Pittsburgh Junction in Ohio where it interchanged with the NKP/W&LE to Connellsville, PA where it interchanged with the Western Maryland and possibly the B&O.  Along its route there were interchanges with the Montour, P&LE, PRR, Union and probably a few others.  It was part of the "Alphabet Route" and run thru trains from the NKP and WM were common.  One could see Western Maryland engines in some of these consists as well as NKP, N&W and, at least on one occasion, a P&LE.  The hardest part to model would be the motive power.  In the late 1930's the P&WV was the first RR to buy 2-6-6-4 articulateds of which they had seven.  Only 60 locomotives of this wheel arrangement were ever built.  The SAL had 10 and the N&W had 43.  No N scale model of this locomotive exists and I am not sure if the Bachmann 2-6-6-2 could be used as a starter.   The 2-6-6-4's were replaced in the late 1940's-early 50's  by FM H20-44 road switchers.  Again no N scale model of this engine exists.  The paint scheme on these was somewhat attractive and also complex.  The body was basicaly black with a yellow band near the top of the hood.  The yellow and black were separated by two smaller strips of red.  Both the yellow and red curved down at the front of the locomotive and came to a point just belowthe headlight.  The P&WV also sported 2-8-2's for which the Kato model appears to be dead on.  They also had 2-8-0's which bear a similar appearance to the Bachman Spectrum model.  Incorporated into the N&W in the mid 60's the P&WV was spun off later and is now operated as part of the new Wheeling and Lake Erie.  In its time the Railroad served coal mines and steel plants.  The official nickname of the P&WV was "The Hi-Line" but its unofficial nickname was 'The Old Hi and Dry" as some of its bridges and trestles were quite spectacular and also because most RR's in the area followed the river valleys the P&WV hugged the hilltops.  If anyone travels Interstate 70 through Western PA the highway crosses the Monongahela River at Belle Vernon, PA.  Immediately to the North of the I70 bridge is a high railroad bridge that was the P&WV's although I think the bridge is still labelled Norfolk Western. Several miles north of this there is a spectacular 180 foot tall trestle spanning Mingo Creek.  The adage of "the Old Hi and Dry" was well earned. More information, including photos, can be obtained at the following website:

http://thepwvhiline.com/PWVHistory.htm


And here is a photo of the Mingo Creek trestle:

http://images.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/i/image/image-idx?med=1;sid=dd80f05ce96e69bd3d1761063f115ed4;q1=hpicphlf;rgn1=hpicphlf_all;size=20;c=hpicphlf;lasttype=boolean;view=entry;lastview=thumbnail;subview=detail;cc=hpicphlf;entryid=x-30-pandwv-9-01;viewid=0056.TIF;start=161;resnum=170


You can see why they called it "The Old Hi and Dry".

[davefoxx]

Another favorite of mine: Winston-Salem Southbound Ry.  If modeled in the past, it used its own steam locomotives and, for a short time after dieselizing, four GP9s.  However, if you model the 1960s to present, they have leased locomotives from their owners, NS (formerly N&W), which it interchanged with in Winston-Salem, and CSX (formerly SBD, ex-SCL, exx-ACL), which it interchanged with in Wadesboro, NC.  This means that finding or painting a custom paint job is not required to successfully model this road.  Just find the appropriate NS, CSX, N&W, SBD, SCL, or ACL equipment, depending on your era.  It did have its own cabooses for a time though, but those are not difficult, if you can find or make decals.  It also interchanged with other interesting NC short lines, such as the High Point, Thomasville, and Denton RR, as well as the Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Ry.

Commodities carried by the railroad include grain, sand, gravel, stone, forest and paper products, coal, coke, cement, clay, fertilizer, aluminum, chemicals, iron, and steel.

Oh yeah, it has served (if it no longer does) a brewery not far from a tall steel trestle.  Nice.

Dave Foxx

[inkaneer]

I know someone here models the Laurel Valley RR.  I located some photos of engine #13 of the Laurel Mountain RR that you might be interested in.  She looks rather spiffy in one of them.  There are 378 photos in this collection of different RR's that served Western PA.  The photos of Laurel Mountain RR #13 are in the next to last group of photos with numbers 321 -361. 


http://digital.library.pitt.edu/images/pittsburgh/fairbanks.html

[Brakie]

Modern short lines are very modelgenic and easy to model.

As far as modeling the major railroads if one rethinks his understanding of railroads one can see they to can be modelgenic if one chooses a industrial branch line or other small workaday line instead of a major mainline.

[Mr. G]

I'd love to model the Bath & Hammondsport in the late 50s, early 60s.  It's a pretty little line and the motive power consisted of a few 44-tonners and Alco S1s.  The zinc bodies on the Arnold Alcos would be a pain to modify much, but even just a stack swap would sell it as an S1 to all but the most eagle-eyed viewers. 

I've also been tempted by the Sacramento Northern's switching operations in Chico, CA.  There were quite a few small, very modelable  customers and again, motive power could be covered by a few 44-tonners, maybe he occasional F7s or GP7/9s rolling on.  On the plus side, all your motive power will look great in the Zephyr scheme, but on the downside, your operations have to occur in the dark, though that may be a boon to those who love doing lighting project.

Finally, the California Northern is very cool for a modern shortline, as is the Richmond Pacific.  Unfortunately for modelers of the CNFR, you're limited to an SD40, GP15s in the wrong phase and SD9s for motive power, as there are no Gensets or SW1500s available in N scale.

[m301]

Mr. G, the winery business in the area of Bath & Hammondsport is still quite vibrant, and although not as big as California, NY has grown in stature in the wine business.
 The track for that RR are still there.

Those of us old farts may remember Boone's Farm and their not so great wines. They were NOT made in NY. LOL

[Denver Road Doug]

Ahhh, Boone's Farm.   Love me some Strawberry Hill.   Their 2010 stuff was a good year.   ;D

I model a shortline of sorts (commuter line) that I think is pretty modelgenic...the Trinity Railway Express.   The key reasons are mostly due to the unique motive power and rolling stock and the variety of trains that traverse the line.  The TRE equipment consists of F59PHI's, Bomardier Coaches and Cab-Control cars (i.e. the Athearn models), F59PH's (the less aerodynamic looking commuter cowl), and MOST importantly....RDC1's.  The contrast of this equipment alone is worth the price of admission.

But then there is freight.  Both BNSF and UP utilize the line for freight trains fairly regularly.  In the mid-2000's UP relinquished it's switching duties to shortline Dallas, Garland, and Northeastern ("The Dingo") introducing even more variety.  Lots of corn syrup, centerbeam, and rock/sand cars along with the typical smattering of boxcars and covered hoppers.  Mockingbird Yard is the center of operations for the online freight destinations and there is always colorful shortline power there.  Additionally, Amtrak has used the line on occasion for wreck or MOW-related bypass for the Texas Eagle.

Scenery-wise, well it's about as good as it gets for north Texas.       The line roughly follows the path of the Trinity river between Dallas and Fort Worth.  So plenty of bridges spanning the river or its tributaries.   Kind of a mix of cross-timbers and prairie scenery but overall....not especially exciting stuff.   But, some good "city" stuff to pump things up a bit.   Starting with downtown Dallas with Dallas Union Station and nearby Reunion Tower. (the lighted sphere tower that is a staple of the Dallas skyline)  Amtrak, DART (overhead electric LRV's), and TRE all serve the station, and UP, BNSF, and DGNO pass by.   Then the line passes Dealy Plaza, the Dallas West End, the Victory development, and its stop at the American Airlines Center. (home of the Dallas Stars and Dallas Mavericks).  On the Fort Worth side there is the fairly new "Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center" and also the historic art-deco "T&P Station", both picturesque structures set against the backdrop of "downtown Cowtown".  They also happen to be a stone's throw from the hotbed of railroading activity in the north Texas area, Tower 55, where 125+ trains cross the diamonds every day.

[Mr. G]

Mr. G, the winery business in the area of Bath & Hammondsport is still quite vibrant, and although not as big as California, NY has grown in stature in the wine business.
 The track for that RR are still there.

Those of us old farts may remember Boone's Farm and their not so great wines. They were NOT made in NY. LOL

No, NY isn't at fault for Boone's Farm, but it still has to answer for Mad Dog 20/20.  California produces only good wines, such as Night Train, Thunderbird, and Cisco.  Sadly we no longer bless the tippling world with Ripple.

I've had the B&H on the brain ever since I first got a copy of Schafer's "Railroads You Can Model".  The recent discussion of the A&R led me to drag out old books and magazines looking for the MR piece on the line.

What exactly constitutes a shortline for the purposes of this discussion?  I mentioned the SN above, but immediately began to wonder whether it counted, since it was a part of the WP system and ran pretty far.  Do RailAmerica lines count? 

[m301]

Bath & Hammondsport brings up a not so short line which someone could do...maybe one of it's branches...

The Delaware & Hudson. The D&H had traffic rights from Montreal to Philadelphia on different railroads.
It connects to some famous (and not so famous) railroads, B&A, including everything New England.....

From it's headquarters in Rouse Point, NY, the D&H meandered through NY, New England, and PA.

Certainly someone could do the Albany to Bingamton route, running into major and minor railroads.
Bingamton may not be New York's second biggest city, but it sits on the "Southern Tier" of NY.

D&H is currently managed by Canadian Pacific. However, locomotives can still be seen proudly displaying
"The Bridge Line".

You have to have respect for the railroad than ran Challengers in New York.

I model the D&H in Nscale, but I love Conrail & NS.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_and_Hudson_Railway
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:1886_D%26H.jpg

These are quick referral links showing the proud history of the D&H, America's oldest transportation company.

Marty

[Dave Schneider]

Lots of great suggestions here. I would like to add one of my favorites, (the original CR), the Copper Range. This line was located in Michgan's Upper Peninsula and was a subsidiary of the Copper Range mining company. However it was more than just a conveyor belt for the copper mines. It hauled forest products and general merchandise as well. During the steam days it hosted a school train to haul the children of stamp mill workers (located on Lake Superior) to the big city of Painesdale. It interchanged with the Milwaukee Road in McKeever, the DSS&A (later the Soo Line) in Houghton, and the Calumet and Helca (mining company) in Calumet. The Soo Line hosted the famed Copper Country Limited, a joint Soo Line Milwaukee Road train that offered daily sleeping car service between Calumet and Chicago. Here is a great web site devoted to the Copper Range from a friend of mine, the late Kevin Musser (http://www.copperrange.org/).

A trio of the forthcoming Lehigh Valley VO-1000s from Atlas would suffice for the motive power, but it also hosted a lovely tourist train using a retired 2-8-0 (Copper Range #29) for many years.
Some eye candy of a rock train hauling (native copper bearing rock) to the stamp mill in Freda.



Best wishes, Dave

[jmlaboda - RIP]

"It also interchanged with other interesting NC short lines, such as the High Point, Thomasville, and Denton RR, as well as the Aberdeen, Carolina & Western Ry."

The HPT&D is owned by the WSS and has been since June 1960.

If anyone might be interested there is a group at Yahoo! Groups that deals with all aspects of both roads...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WSSRWY-HPTDRR/