Pike-Sized Passenger Trains

[davefoxx]

A few weeks ago, in another thread, we had a brief discussion about articles in Model Railroader magazine titled, “Pike-Sized Passenger Trains.”  For reference, see the MR issues from November 1980, January 1981, and June 2007.  I thought it might be fun to start a thread to document some pike-sized passenger trains for TRW use, so here we go!

For whatever reason (nostalgia, perhaps?), I have found myself watching YouTube videos of Pennsylvania RR/Penn Central trains under catenary.  Near the end of one video, it showed a small passenger train from the early PC years out of Harrisburg, Pa., which reminded me of our discussion.

Behold!  The northbound PC Train #575, the Buffalo Day Express, which, according to the video, ran northbound every other day between Harrisburg and Buffalo, N.Y., and southbound on the alternating days.  It was described as the “smallest long haul train to serve Harrisburg” and “Penn Central’s best kept secret.”  🤣

Here is one version that consisted of PC E8A No. 4286 (ex-PRR), E8A No. 4091 (ex-NYC), and E7A No. 4026 (ex-NYC) pulling a B60b and what is possibly a PC roach coach.



The same train from another angle:



If you think that is overpowered, I get it, but here it is on another day: still two E-units and two cars!



The grade to Buffalo must have been a b!tch!  😜

DFF

[eja]

Or perhaps those PC E units could produce only 30% of their rated power !

[davefoxx]

Or perhaps those PC E units could produce oly 30% of their rate power !

Or perhaps they were praying that at least one would still be running by the time they reached their destination.

DFF

[Point353]

The grade to Buffalo must have been a b!tch!  😜

The grade up to Keating Summit was nearly 3%.

A video from the 1950s shows a longer train with a pair of PRR Baldwin centipede locos as the power.

[Iain]

The Dover and South Bound only had three passenger cars total, and the Dismal Swamp RR had one.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Fun fact: the continuation of that service is the half the Amtrak service my layout will see.

The other half is the DC section of the Broadway Limited which was a similarly pint sized affair.

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Oh, and as for the Washington Express (the southbound version), here's a photo from what I believe was its last day of operation before Agnes.

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A few more fun ones of it running through Timonium.

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This is just one of the MANY reasons I model that stretch of railroad.

[seusscaboose]

break out the tissues

[davefoxx]

Very cool pics, @Ed Kapuscinski.  Thanks for sharing.  I literally just watched a video last night of a guy exploring the remnants of the NCR in Cockeysville.  I had no idea about the wye, the York Road underpass, the service to the quarry, or the freight and passenger stations.  So cool.  I get it.

As I’m aging and even hinted at in my original post in this thread, I’ve become nostalgic about 1970s railroading.  Born at Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace, Md., I came into this world within earshot of the Penn Central and the B&O.  It was only several blocks from the hospital to the PC’s Susquehanna River bridge.  I even came close on a few occasions lately of buying a PC diesel, somehow justifying it as runthrough power on the SCL, which, of course, I’ve never seen.  I could justify a PC E8, though.  Just like the one in your photo, because a few of those ended up in Amtrak’s hands, and, like the SCL E8 that I have, they weren’t immediately repainted or patched for Amtrak.

DFF

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Very cool pics, @Ed Kapuscinski.  Thanks for sharing.  I literally just watched a video last night of a guy exploring the remnants of the NCR in Cockeysville.  I had no idea about the wye, the York Road underpass, the service to the quarry, or the freight and passenger stations.  So cool.  I get it.

As I’m aging and even hinted at in my original post in this thread, I’ve become nostalgic about 1970s railroading.  Born at Harford Memorial Hospital in Havre de Grace, Md., I came into this world within earshot of the Penn Central and the B&O.  It was only several blocks from the hospital to the PC’s Susquehanna River bridge.  I even came close on a few occasions lately of buying a PC diesel, somehow justifying it as runthrough power on the SCL, which, of course, I’ve never seen.  I could justify a PC E8, though.  Just like the one in your photo, because a few of those ended up in Amtrak’s hands, and, like the SCL E8 that I have, they weren’t immediately repainted or patched for Amtrak.

DFF

That video has actually sparked a redesign of the unbuilt portion of my layout... dammit. lol

[Mark5]

Loving the NCL pics - I am very familiar with the ROW from North Ave up through Cockeysville. Lots of remnants in Cockeysville including visible rail back in the "industrial" area that parallels Cockeysville Road (near the "final" MBK location).

[davefoxx]

That video has actually sparked a redesign of the unbuilt portion of my layout... dammit. lol

Haha!  I feel your pain.  Immediately after my post last night, I went and ordered a ScaleTrains HO scale Rivet Counter Penn Central GP30 after watching a video the night before, showing a pair of PC GP30s laying over in Potomac Yard!   

DFF

[seusscaboose]

Loving the NCL pics - I am very familiar with the ROW from North Ave up through Cockeysville. Lots of remnants in Cockeysville including visible rail back in the "industrial" area that parallels Cockeysville Road (near the "final" MBK location).

[delamaize]

Here is one is modeled. I ended up with one of Rapidos NH FL9 in one of the mystery boxes, and fell on love with it. But im not a NH modelers, so I went looking for an easy consist to model accurately.

I give you;
New Haven FL9 Train 83, as pictured on July 20, 1968
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Consist is:
FL9
RPO
Coach
Coach

Unfortunately, I dont have a picture of my version, amd im at work. I will try to get a picture when Im off duty and back at home.
it was super simple to accurately model, thanks to Rapido.
Rapido FL9
Micro-Trains heavyweight RPO
And 2 Rapido Bradly-Osgood coaches in NH Green.

Eventhough I dont model the NH, ai love this little Train. Its a great "Last train" at train shows, because its intresting, all cars are lit (I shortened a Rapido EasyPeasy kit for the RPO.) And its super fast to clean up.

I got a few others in the pipe, but I gotta finish researching, and scratchbuild/kitbash a locomotive before I can get serious about it.

EDIT: finally got a picture
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[Ed Kapuscinski]

Eventhough I dont model the NH, ai love this little Train. Its a great "Last train" at train shows, because its intresting, all cars are lit (I shortened a Rapido EasyPeasy kit for the RPO.) And its super fast to clean up.

There's a lot to be said for that! My Amtrak train does similar duty.

[delamaize]

Ok, since i finally got around to gearing a picture of NH train 83, Ill add a few more to the mix.

Great northern Cascadian 1954-1959
F7A
F7A
Baggage 30’ Railway Post Office car (85')
Baggage express storage mail car (85')
58-Revenue seat coach
58-Revenue seat coach
58-Revenue seat coach
Cafe/diner (18-Revenue seat coach 16-seat café)

Another one that is damn near prototypical with off the shelf models.
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For the more modern modelers, there is the most current versions of the Amtrak Cascades Talgo replacement
June 2020 - March 2025
• Siemens Charger ALC-42, or GE P42
• 3 Horizons coaches
• 1 horizons cafe
• 1 cabbage
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This is my favorite version of the 2 replacement services. This only thing that has to be modeled is a Cabbage.

March 2025 - spring 2026
• Siemens Charger ALC-42E, or GE P42
• 2 AmFleet coaches
• 1 AmFleet Cafe
• 1 Cabbage
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After the severe corrosion was found in some of the horizons cars, they took them out of service, and brought some AmTubes out to replace them. Another that only needs a cabbage to be correct.

Another train I am researching is the 1940s-1970s "Pool train," that was a joint effort between the GN, UP, NP, and MILW. It was the 4 to 5 times a day service between Seattle and Portland. Im having a hard time pinning down the average consists. But from what I can tell, Northbound Power was provided by the UP, and was a Mikado, then later F units. Southbound was usually provided by GN and was the same. The consist was somewhere between 1 and 4 mail storage cars, 1 RPO, and somewhere between 3 and 5 coaches, sometimes a diner or cafe car. With all 4 railroads providing the equipment. Id like to find a good picture with a Date, then model that train specifically, like I did with NH train 83. If I am ever able to pin that one down, I'll post a picture and consist.