Despite the fact that I’m a dyed-in-the-wool SP and ATSF fan, the MEC Mountain Divsion (specifically the climb from Bartlett, NH to Crawford Notch, NH) is exerting a powerful appeal the more I think about it. It’s a relative short helper grade (15 miles Bartlett to Crawford), offered plenty of steam action (3-4 light Mikados on relatively short freights - maybe 35 or so cars during the time period in question), passenger service (MEC #162/163 and the B&M Mountaineer in season) and the Beecher Falls mixed train. From what I can see, it also offers the possibilty of some good operation without requiring a cast of thousands just to run an operating session, as it appears from Herron Rail Video’s tape (also available on DVD) on the subject that trains were run in fleets with the westbounds scheduled to go through in the morning hours and eastbounds in the afternoon. Passenger trains were also pike-sized as they ran from 3-5 cars depending on traffic.
As always, there are drawbacks and compromises that would have to be made. MEC steam motive power is hard to come by, except for MEC’s 6 USRA light Mikes numbered 621-626 (MEC also had some USRA 0-6-0’s and at least one USRA 0-8-0, but these weren’t used on the line). However, a half a dozen Genesis or the new BLI light Mikes augmented with a 4-6-0 or two (modified MDC Harriman) and a Spectrum 2-8-0 and one would be set. Add a B&M E-7 for the Mountaineer and you’ve probably got enough motive power for a nice evening of operation, except for the “minor” matter of a small 4-6-2 for MEC 162/163. That would probably be a matter of kitbashing a Bowser K-11 or using a USRA light 4-6-2 as a stand-in. Kitbashing would also be required to make reasonably believable models of MEC’s more numerous 2-8-2’s, probably using a USRA light as a starting point. All MEC Mikes were put in class “S” regardless of origin. The non-USRA locos were slightly less p
You will know from my posts elsewhere that I model the MEC in NH, so I’ve already been through some of this thought process.
Your right Andre the Walthers caboose is based on a Grand Trunk prototype, it bears not the slightest resemblence to any MEC caboose I’ve ever seen pictures of! I’d thought about using one of their CA-1 cabooses for a kit ba***oo. Alternatively I was going to use some MDC parts as a starting point. Only MDC have gone and temporarily (I hope) vanished in this Horizon merger thing.
As far as steam locomotives is concerned I do not recomend the Athearn light Mikes, they are poor runners, very under weight and prone to electrical failures. I intend to completely rewire mine in the near future. I just hope BLI will solve the problem for me completely!
As you say the light Pacifics are something more of a problem, the MEC locos were not USRA designs but quite close. A USRA light could be kit bashed fairly easily, but which model to start from?
The ten-wheelers are also quite a problem. I have kit-bashed one from an MDC Harriman kit but it was quite some work for a loco which looks and runs only “OK”. I’d definitely like to see another mass produced ten-wheeler on the market from which to kit bash (the Bachman one is too far away from the MEC locos) - but all the manufacturers seem fixated with huge Mallets at the moment.
It’s too bad that the Bowser NYC K-11 4-6-2 is made with 50 year old technology. It’s just about the right size for MEC’s C-3 Pacifics with some modifications. I’m only about 20 miles from where MEC #470 sits on display and, in fact, my wife and I went t
Guys, the Maine Central Mountian Division is so unique and beautiful. I have spent many days hiking in the moutians in the Crawford Notch area. I was on the first train that Conway Scenic operated thru the notch when it reopened to passenger service in 1996. The roundhouse at Bartlett still exist, although in rough space. If you need any assistance on this unique piece of railroad please let me know.
Man, you were up real late or got up really early. Thanks for the offer. I’m only a couple of hours or so drive from Crawford Notch. One of the things I intend to do before returning to CA for the winter is to go take a look-see at the Notch and ride on the CS.
I know there’s a couple of modelers who are or were modeling the Mountain DIvision, but their websites haven’t been updated in years. And there’s another, who’s modeling the St. Johnsbury end in the late 70’s/early 80’s http://mywebpages.comcast.net/mikemcnh/mrr.html
Are you familiar with Mountain Division operations during steam days? That’s the kind of info I’m looking for. I’m also not so sure that a layout based SOLELY on the climb out of Bartlett to Crawford Notch would be sufficiently interesting to operate. I like helper operations, but there’s a lot to be said for centering a layout around St. Johnsbury, VT, since you’d get a great deal of variety with the interchanges among the B&M, CP, MEC, and StJ&LC.
I see you’re new to the forum. Welcome. Howzabout telling us what you model?
Andre, I was working the over night at my contracting job, 10p-8a. There is not much to do but surf the web and watch movies. Any way, my layout is losely based on the other end of the Mountian Division between Cumberland Mills (Westbrook) and Portland. While I don’t have nearly enough room (who ever does) I have tried to create a layout with some of the industries found in portland and Cumberland. Dominating most of my layout is a modern version of the SD Warren / SAPPI plant (Walthers Pulp and Paper), the dock area around Mountian JCT / Fore River / PT yard 3. And lastly a small version of Rigby yard and the PT roundhouse. This is only my third major layout, my last one was of Crawford notch and Barlett, but never got finished.
Josh, it looks like you’ll have a cool layout when the scenery’s in. Thanks for the link.
It’s going to be about a year before I start construction as we’re (virtually all my equipment is in CA and we’re only here in ME 6 mos out of the year), so I’m still in the planning (read - what the [censored] am I going to do with this space?) stage.
At one time, I wanted to build a representation of SP’s climb up Cuesta grade in Central California until I calculated the cost of all those lovely steam engines (brass and plastic). I even had a baker’s dozen brass SP engines, which all (but 1 - my first brass purchase - a Westside GS-8) got sold a few years ago when I decided it just wasn’t worth it.
MEC’s Mountain Division (ca. 1948-1950) seems more of a practical project to me, especially since I’m in a location where it would be difficult to gather a “cast of thousands” operating/building crew. It also could be operated by a single person, although it would be kinda fun to have 2 or 3 other people to share the operation. I have no desire to spend a bundle
There’s a fellow in South Jersey doing a very true-to-prototype Mountain Dvi circa 1970. My long term layout plan includes Bartlett-Fabyans circa 1930.
I have his page bookmarked. I like what he’s done to get some of the key St Johnsbury structures.
Bartlett-Fabyans in the 30’s, that means steam only. How do you intend to build your roster? I’m thinking that a half a dozen USRA Mikes, a couple of kitbashed MDC 4-6-0’s and a modified Spectrum 2-8-0 will work as a start. A Pacific is a bit more of a problem. Since I’m considering the late 40’s, a B&M E-7 plus a few cars to represent the “Mountaineer” is mandatory. 'Course, if I were to go to the other end and do St. Johnsbury, the E-7 would still be mandatory, but then we’re talking “Alouette” and “Red Wing”, plus some CP diesels and something for the St. Johnsbury & Lamoille County.
Hello Andre, I notice this post is several years old… Anyway I was thinking of modeling the MEC Mountain division also. I want a better layout then my current layout is offering for operation. I cant seem to find any good info about the MEC? Did you end up building a RR?? Anygood sites you would recommend? Happy modeling.
No, I didn’t. As a matter of fact, the original post in this thread was just thinking out loud.
Although I think the Mountain Division would make a good layout, I would limit it to the steam era or at the very most, a time period no later than around 1957. Course, I suppose one could “protolance” and extend the 1940’s operations into the 50’s and just substitute diesels for steam. Check out Herron Rail Videos http://www.herronrail.com/ DVD on the MEC’s Mountain Division in the late 1940’s.
One of the things that changed my mind was the fact that I have a [censored] load of books on the SP, I’ve lived in California most of my life and I know a heck of a lot more about the SP than the MEC. Besides, except for the 6 USRA light Mikes, the later Pacifics and the two Hudsons, MEC steam power was kinda homely.
BTW, I posted several links to MEC related sites in at least one other thread.