Announcing DT&I (AA) Concrete Catenary Arches from Keystone Details

[Lemosteam]

For the DT&I and Ann Arbor modelers here and for any Detroit area modelers, the DT&I history contains a portion where Henry Ford attempted the electrification of his railroad.  This resulted in many concrete catenary arches of the two and four track variety that are still extant in the Detroit area today (sans wires though), which makes them great for any era!



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit,_Toledo_and_Ironton_Railroad

Keystone Details announces six kits, in N HO and O scale that represent these two and four track concrete catenary arches.

N Scale 2 track (FUD):
http://www.keystonedetails.com/keystone-customs/2017/2/21/n-scale-dti-2-track-catenary-arches

N Scale 4 track (FUD):
http://www.keystonedetails.com/keystone-customs/2017/2/21/n-scale-dti-4-track-catenary-arches

HO Scale 2 track (BSF):
http://www.keystonedetails.com/keystone-customs/2017/2/21/ho-scale-dti-2-track-catenary-arches

HO Scale 4 track (BSF):
http://www.keystonedetails.com/keystone-customs/2017/2/21/ho-scale-dti-4-track-catenary-arches

O Scale 2 track (BSF):
http://www.keystonedetails.com/keystone-customs/2017/2/21/o-scale-dti-2-track-catenary-arches

O Scale 4 track (BSF):
http://www.keystonedetails.com/keystone-customs/2017/2/21/o-scale-dti-4-track-catenary-arches

The 1:1 design is actually quite elegant IMHO, especially the 4 track design.  One of the examples I did not photograph has a signal box mounted to the center column:



Instructions are here:
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[jagged ben]

Almost makes me wish I modeled that area.   The pocket for a magnet (or post) is very thoughtful. 

[Lemosteam]

Thanks @jagged ben !!

[OldEastRR]

Can't see pictures.

[w neal]

Next layout project: launch!

[cv_acr]

Weren't there also some single track versions which were a half-arch?

[Lemosteam]

Not that I have seen evidence of, but I will investigate that!  No one on the DT&I Facebook group has mention this either.

[w neal]

AA?

[Lemosteam]

AA?

Ann Arbor RR.  They were merged in 1905 but separated again later.  please note that I am decidedly NOT at DT&I or AA buff, but had to learn a little in the creation of these arches.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Arbor_Railroad_(1895%E2%80%931976)

[OldEastRR]

Now somebody has to make a shell for the electric locos that used those arches.

[w neal]

Yeah. I know what is meant by AA, ya big silly. I meant as in, AA used those? Sure, DT&I did, and Ford owned them both at one point (sorta), but... AA?

My rather weak understanding is that (big irony) they were raised, but never actually used, per se, by electric locos.

[OldEastRR]

No, they were used. Ford had 2 big locos made, complete with chromed grills and other auto flourishes. I think they were rated at 8000HP -- so big than when they dug in to haul a long train the electric drain made the whole Ford assembly plant area suffer a brown-out.

[w neal]

Awesome!

[CNR5529]

No, they were used. Ford had 2 big locos made, complete with chromed grills and other auto flourishes. I think they were rated at 8000HP -- so big than when they dug in to haul a long train the electric drain made the whole Ford assembly plant area suffer a brown-out.

[OldEastRR]

On June 1, 1925, trial runs were made with two articulated, motor-generator electric locomotives.  Numbered 500 and 501 with a D-D+D-D wheel arrangement, the articulated pair was designed by Ford engineers with Westinghouse electrical components.  Weighing 785,600 pounds, the units had a starting tractive force of 250,000 pounds, 2,200 vole AC current being converted to 600 volts DC for the traction motors.  Power for the line came from the Ford Highland Park plant and later some was generated at the Rouge works.  Top speed of the dark green and red giants was 43 m.p.h., and after several months of tests, they entered service between the Flat Rock Yard and the Rouge Plant early in 1926.
There seems little doubt that Ford envisioned considerable use of electric motive power and certainly pioneered the motor-generator concept that was adopted in later times, but disenchantment and frustrations caused him to abandon further electrification beyond the first 17 miles under the concrete arches.

(From "inside Track". magazine about MI RRs)