What is your favorite short line railroad?
Mine is the Massachusetts Central Railroad sine i have live right next to the Ware yard for the past 13 years. (since i was five yrs old!)
There roster consists of 2 GP-9s #960 and 1729 both ex’Millwaukee, and NW-5 #2100 ex’Southern Railway.
My favorite is the TPW in East Peoria, IL. When I worked for them they were all like family. Great bunch of people to work with. Kinda wish I had not transfered, but oh well, moving onto bigger roads now.
I guess for me it is the “empire” owned by Benny Ray Anderson here in Georgia. It includes the Great Walton, Hartwell, and the Athens Branch although the 3 names are mainly administrative.
I would have to say mine would be Georgia Northeastern up around Blue Ridge, Ga.
Does the WSOR count? If not then the WN.
I’m going to have to go with the New Brunswick East Coast (NBEC)
It’s got about 20 RS-18us, and a few C-424s and SD40s. Except for the SD40s, they’re all of CP origin. It’s great!
Iowa Interstate cause it was the ROCK! I also have some respect for the IC&E a mix of the Milwaukee and the Rock ( note a pattern)
But my hands down favorite is the Iowa Northern. A scrappy little line that is run by a former Rock Island employee ( did I mention it was a Rock Island line as well) that is doing just marvelous these days.
The “former Rock” employee had a great article in Classic Trains a few issues ago in which he told tales of being a high school employee of the Rock. I forget his name, but I would highly recommend the article.
ed
Dallas, Garland, and Northeastern (DGNO).
Great people, great lines, and great power! From 3 SD20s(2000, 2001, 1011) to 2 2GS14Bs)(140, 141) their power runs the gamit from rare to very much legendary.
Here’s a current roster maintained by DGNO faithfuls, and myself.
The Maryland Midland is my absolute fave, the Canton Railroad is also one of my faves.
Carl T.
Mine in the Southern Railway of B.C. that runs from Trapp Yards in New Westminister to Chilliwack. It used to be called B.C. Hydro.
New York and Greenwood Lake Railway. It’s founder Jimmy Wilson came up through the ranks in train service. His love of the former New York & Greenwood Lake R/R inspired him to start his own (Unionized) Shortline, and start a new chapter for the NYGWL.
Aberdeen & Rockfish in Aberdeen,NC. It goes through Raeford,NC where I used to live that was the only source of trains for a little bit.
Kevin
Mr Dan Sabine is that employee. Yes that was a great article. Made me shiver when the train blew by. Mr Sabine also is a part of the Iowa Northern group in yahoo. Very nice guy who will give reports on his line and talk to people as well. Dont see Matt Rose doing that anytime soon lol.
RJ corman because they still run on the old nkp through my old hometown.(celina ohio)and the Maumee & Western always something interesting on their cars.
stay safe
joe
I don’t think I’ve come across a short line that I don’t like. In a world of very few Class 1’s, it’s nice to get out and see something different from time to time. That being said, I always had a soft spot for the Bloomer Line thanks to the Chinese Red paint. I never got to see the “Q” but it’s nice to see at least a bit of it surviving today.
Now if I could just convince someone to bring an O-5 back to life!
Please tell me that the Great people you are talking about is the Train Crews and not Managment. I wokred for the DGNO for about 4 months. There was one person in managment that was actually very friendly. The rest need to move on, but oh well. I can definitly see why there is such a high turn over rate though. Engineers running red signals on the UP, and running red MOW boards on the TRE. But, for the rest of the conductors and engineers they are great to train with.
Biased…where I work, the PTRA…
Unfortunatly, I am not exposed to a whole lot out here in Arizona. But I have to say I admire the Apache Railway. Very small, but seem, to stay steady. And, they a run a full fleet of Alco’s. Got to love that.
The Sierra Railroad.They still run steam and own at least one Baldwin diesel.Plus all those movie trains!