Hello all! Decided to model the L&N railroad to some extent from sometime around late 40"s to
50’s and was trying to find out what loco’s I would need to do it right…I have purchaced an
EMD F7 A&B from Broadway limited DCC full sound, very nice loco by the way but does cost a small fortune 450$ …I am new at this so this will be the first of many stupid questions…If you know where I can find the answer to my question please post…Thank you in advance…
[#welcome] I don’t model the L&N, but I thought I should say welcome. When you have photos, please post them!
You’re in luck - Indiana UP has just reprinted Richard Prince’s book on L&N steam - you can go to their website and pick up a copy at a very nice price (link enclosed).
A lot of RTR USRA stuff is usable - the L&N liked the USRA locos and bought a substantial fleet of them.
http://www.iupress.indiana.edu/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=1037_1272_1787&products_id=19962
Thank you …The reason I picked the time period 40’s and 50’s was so that I could run both steam and Diesel is my thinking correct?
And yes I will post photo’s just as soon as I figure out what track layout to do…I have never
modeled a scale railway before and am at the totally confused point right now until I read
more of the books i’ve purchaced…I will be asking more questions soon…
Yes, it is - the L&N ordered 2-8-4s in 1949, which was pretty late for steam. They started running diesels just before WWII.
I bought a BLI L&N E-6, with sound, and I’m happy with it. I also bought a Proto 2000 L&N E-8, and installed a Soundtraxx decoder in it, and I’m also satisfied with it.
I may be mistaken, but Trainworld seems to have the best prices.
42 2-8-4 M-1 (Big Emmas) were delivered between 1942 and 1949. Some ran until the end of 1956 on the EK Sub and one Mikado ran until 1-28-57 in service leased to the Carrollton RR.
Alco S1’s were delivered between 1941 and 1950.
Alco S2’s were delivered between 1942 and 1950
Alco s4’s were delivered in 1951, 1952 and 1963.
Alco FA1’s were delivered in 1948 and then one more in 1949
Alco FA2’s were delivered in 1952, 53 and 56
Alco FB1’s were delivered in 1948 and 49
Alco FB2’s were delivered 1952, 53, 54 and 56
Alco FPA2’s were delivered in 1952 and 53
Alco RS2’s were deliverd in 1947 and 1949
Alco RS3’s were delivered in 1951,52, 53, 54, 55, 56
EMD SW1’s were 1939 and 1941 models
EMD NW2’s were 1942, 47 and 49 builds
EMD SW7s were all 1950 models
EMD SW9’s were all 1951 models with 5 more delivered in 53
EMD E6A’s were 1942 purchases
EMD E7A’s were 1945, 46, 47 and 49 deliveries.
EMD E8s were all either 1950 or 51 models
EMD F3A’s and F3B’s were 1948 and 49 models
EMD F7A’s and F7B’s were 1950 amd 51 versions with some 1949 NC&StL locos later coming online
EMD FP7A’s were all 1950 & 51 models with some '49 and '52 versions later aquired
EMD GP7’s were all 1950 → 1953 purchases
EMD GP9’s were all 1953—>56 purchases
GE had two 70 tonners (1948 & 1949) on the roster and 4 1950 44-tonners
Dieselhorse: I don’t model L&N, but live in L&N territory in Kentucky. The last L&N steam run was in January 28, 1957 on the Carrollton Railroad.
Robby: The L&N RS-2s, FA-1, and FB-1 were bought used from other railroads or were acquired by merger. They were not delivered new to L&N. Also the GP9s started in 1954. If you can find a copy get the book Louisville & Nashville Diesel Locomotives by Castner, Flanary and Gordon.
Heh heh heh. Rode through there several times in a boxcar back in the 60s.[:D]
You’re correct, I was just going by road numbers and build dates late last night.
The FAs came from the Lehigh & New England in 1963 and one was bought in 1966 from PEC after getting an EMD engine during the 50’s.
The RS2s were about half from the L&NE in 1963 and half from the Monon merger in '71.
I do model the L&N but in 1979 so these units were almost all gone during my era. I too live in L&N territoy, grew up in Corbin, dad worked 44 years on the railroad and was terminal trainmaster during the '70’s. His dad was a C&M engineer in Manchester then worked for the L&N after the C&M was merged. He held down mine run jobs out of Loyall during the '30’s, worked the helpers on Emanual Hill and later took a yard job in Corbin during the '40’s. I’m required to model the CV…
Re the GP9’s, had to pull the books out for this one.
437 was built 02/53 and reported in service during 1953 as a GP7, wrecked 3/58 and returned to service as a GP9 the same year. 422 & 423 were built in 1953 also as GP7s, were wrecked during '56 and rebuilt & classified as GP9’s 2/57.
As built GP9’s did not see service in '53.
So I guess it depends on what actual year you want to model and if you want to run any of these three units.
I must commend all of you responders! You guys make me want to model the L&N! You’ve provided more reference than most of us could find on their own.
THAT"S what a forum should be about! Great Job.
You’re in luck as far as steam locomotives go.
L&N had a number of USRA based steam locomotives: Light and Heavy 2-8-2’s. light 4-6-2’s, light 4-8-2’s and USRA 0-8-0’s.
Andre
Division Point produced the M-1 Big Emma in brass a few years ago although not in any great number. It is by far the most awesome model of an L&N coal burner ever to see the market. They turn up on auction sites from time to time where I’ve bid up to $1,800 before and lost as the bidding war waged higher and higher. Someone else, Key Imports maybe, did the M-1 years before the Division Point model came out but it left much to be desired.
If someone could bring this baby to market in a high quality plastic or even a reasonable brass version, I might be tempted to backdate again. With all the other L&N steam offerings coming out it is very tempting. The Atlas Alco C-420’s are due in this month and I have 15 on order so maybe I would need to split eras. As much as I like steam, I grew up listening to that Alco diddly-rump of these units as they worked the yard. Pure music.
WOW! I’m completley blown away by the wealth of information you all have laid at my feet…
You have saved me no telling how much time …I can’t thank you enough…
Couple more Ideas: If I remeber correctly, the old Varney Berkshire was based on the L&N prototype. These were pretty common and were great runners. You might keep and eye out for one and may even come upon an unassembled kit. With some upgraded detail, it would make a super loco.
Also, you lucky dog, you can get away with running the Mantua General as issued to represent the original General as restored and operated by the L&N for fantrips and advertising, (and possibly a couple of movie shoots, including the one the L&N made aboiut the engine). Think about the one upmanship as you explain to nitpickers that it’s entirely prototypical to operate that ballon stacked beauty alongside your Diesels!
If you run the General. look out for other NC&STL locos. You will want a Yellowjacket or Stripe pulling a heavy passenger/freight. (no northerns on the dixie line). you need some steamers with a capped stack. You also need to visit what’s left of #576 in Centennial Park, Nashville.
Prince did an excellent book on the NC&STL, too - very similar to the L&N book, and also on sale at the U of Indiana Press website. Lots of great photos of the W&A division and great stuff on the “General.”
Thanks for the #576 info. i live about 6 blocks from centenial park but havn’t ever made it over (too many great parks in nashville), anyway, I’ll have to check it out as well. I’m starting to get an itch to learn more of the L&N now that I’m local as well. Thanks to everyone for teh info.
The 4-8-4 in Nashville’s park was called a “Dixie” and not a “Northern” by the NC&STL.
KY RY Museum has an L&N passenger diesel, an E6. It’s one of 3 surviving E6’s that I know about with an ACl and a Rock Island being the other two. Last time I saw the L&N E6 at KY RY Museum, it was in horrible condition. I’ve heard that the Museum has moved it to its new building to restore the unit for display and not for operation. (I’ve not confirmed that.) KY RY Museum has an operating (once in a long while) L&N 4-6-2 steamer, too.