I am considering purchasing a BLI B6 0-6-0 slopeback and was wondering how far they might stray from the yard in local switching. What is a rough range as to how far they can go before requiring water or coal? Assume reasonably level trackage and up about 8-10 loaded cars plus reasonable switching time. In my layout it would not be far from the yard and facilites, but I was wondering how far in real life they might go.
Not a direct answer, but the âratâ electric switchers had a very low maximum speed, but reportedly were worked on their own wheels and under their own power from New York and New Jersey west to Altoona for servicing.
I think local âpeddlerâ and perhaps even transfer work would be done with 2-8-0s of various age and size, not switchers.
That would be a neat trick.
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Now Iâve got an excuse for running my DD1s and P5as on the Middle Division!
PRR_under-wire DD1 P5a by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
According to the Columbus Railroads website, âAfter WW II the B6sb was used for switching passenger and mail trains around Union Station, the freight house and industries around town.â So it apparently wasnât unusual for them to stray from the PRR yard sometimes. I assume the tender held enough coal and water to work an 8-12 hour shift in the yards, moving cuts of 30-40 freight cars around, without needing to refuelâŚso should have been fine going 10 or 15 miles from the yard with a short train of freight cars.
Yeah, Iâm sure they were towed west of Harrisburg, but still slowly.