So this past weekend we visited NYC and walked the High Line. This is a new park built on the elevated tracks on the west side of Manhattan. I highly(no pun intended) recommend this to all who visit the city. The trip has inspired me to design a small shelf layout featuring an elevated freight line. I do have a couple of questions:
I found some pictures of deisels on the High Line, but no steam shots. I also saw a shot of a box-cab on the line. When did NYC ban steam? I knew the date once but I can’t remember. Did steam ever operated on these tracks?
As my pike would be freelanced, I would want to operate steam reguardless. What locomotives would be appropriate? Would a 2-8-0 be too heavy or too long?
“A catastrophic train collision on January 8, 1902 in the smoke-filled Park Avenue Tunnel killed seventeen and injured thirty-eight, causing a public outcry and increasing demand for electric trains.”
This wreck, caused by smoke blocking the view of the engineer in the underground trackage, caused the city to ban steam on Manhattan not long after this, but I’m not sure of the exact date. The new Grand Central opened in 1913.
The High Line was built in the 1930’s so came several decades after the steam ban.
On your elevated line, I would think any small engine would work. I would lean towards an 0-6-0 switcher, or if there’s enough cars being worked to warrant it, an 0-8-0. Speeds would be slow so the need for a pilot truck wouldn’t be there…and having all the weight on the drivers would be preferred I would think. Plus there might be some sharp curves going into some industries.
I guess you could work backwards…the NYC used Alco RS units on the line in the fifties, you could find the per axle weight for those engines, so you’d know how much the NYC High Line could bear, and then find a steam engine with a similar weight per axle.
FWIW I’d be tempted to try the new Spectrum GE 45-tonner with the side-rods, kind of an “honorary steam engine”. [:)]
Depends on how stout you build the line. The PRR’s “high line” through Philly carried every engine the PRR ran in whatever combination was required to haul freight over it. Wasn’t uncommon to see double headed E44 electrics (8,800 hp) pulling loaded iron ore trains over the high line. Triple or quadruple headed SD diesels, no problem. I would say it would depend on where the high line goes. If it connects to a passenger terminal it would be whatever engines would be used on the passenger trains, if it was to a freight yard or terminal then whatever engines that would normally haul a freight train. CAVEAT The restirction would be when was it built. If it was built in the 1800’s then the line would carry whatever was the normal engines for that era. if it was built in the 1930’s then it would be whatever were the normal engines in 1930. So if it was built in 1925 and the biggest engine used in 1925 was a USRA heavy 4-8-2, then whatever the equivalent of that would be in your era.
Before the NYC’s West Side line was elevated and grade-separated, there were some Shays with box bodies used in the streets. According to city ordinance they had to, “Be proceeded by a man on horseback carrying a red flag.”
Keep in mind the high line was in effect a branch line. If they had used steam it wouldn’t have been big road engines, it would have switchers or small road engines at best.
When the New York City elevated trains were steam powered they used 0-4-4T’s, some of which ended up being sold after electrification to some northern Minnesota logging companies.
If anyone thought hybrid locos were a recent development, think again. The loco behind the Tenth Avenue cowboy had a distillate prime mover, third rail shoes and a large on-board battery.
Look closely at the front truck, and you will see the underrunning third rail pickup shoe.
There were some very nice looking 0-4-4T’s imported in brass. They were not inexpensive. Except for that latter part, I was awfully tempted to get one for my logging branch. This would probably be the perfect steam loco for the project.
Turning to a more affordable side, maybe a Dockside. They haven’t made them in forever, but you might find one to your liking. They, too, were awfully small and cute.
If you pick something like the above locos, you’ll be wanting to use live frog switches; or you’ll be doing an awful lot of nudging.
