What was operating a typical two-footer like? What kind of speeds were involved, and how far did it take a typical train to stop? (My guess is “none too fast” and “none too far”, can someone quantify these?) And did they have extensive Rules Of The Operating Department like their standard-gauge brethren?
According to Lin Moody in his wonderful “The Maine Two Footers”, the largest of these roads, the 100 mile Sandy River & Rangely Lakes RR could move at a pretty good clip even in its last years and, as he told it, give you a “…good scare.” In their early years, the SR&RL carried a lot of tourists to the lakes in the summer. There were several places where they could get it up to 50/60 mph. This wasn’t for any great distance, as the track in places might have been laid out by a stray dog with a reel of fishing line tied to his collar. As far as the rules go, you could be just as dead in a two-footer wreck as the big roads, so they had rules governing the operation just like the big ones. They even had several locations between n.g. and s.g., and at several n.g. junctions requiring ball signals as described in Classic Trains current issue.
Might I suggest
Go to this URL and call and ask them
http://www.pikes-peak.com/attractions/cripplecreek.htm
They run about 2 miles of 2 foot gauge under steam
What was operating a typical two-footer like? What kind of speeds were involved, and how far did it take a typical train to stop? (My guess is “none too fast” and “none too far”, can someone quantify these?) And did they have extensive Rules Of The Operating Department like their standard-gauge brethren?
According to Lin Moody in his wonderful “The Maine Two Footers”, the largest of these roads, the 100 mile Sandy River & Rangely Lakes RR could move at a pretty good clip even in its last years and, as he told it, give you a “…good scare.” In their early years, the SR&RL carried a lot of tourists to the lakes in the summer. There were several places where they could get it up to 50/60 mph. This wasn’t for any great distance, as the track in places might have been laid out by a stray dog with a reel of fishing line tied to his collar. As far as the rules go, you could be just as dead in a two-footer wreck as the big roads, so they had rules governing the operation just like the big ones. They even had several locations between n.g. and s.g., and at several n.g. junctions requiring ball signals as described in Classic Trains current issue.
Might I suggest
Go to this URL and call and ask them
http://www.pikes-peak.com/attractions/cripplecreek.htm
They run about 2 miles of 2 foot gauge under steam