SMC Steam Roster and Passenger Trains

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hey Ya’ll,

This really isn’t an important topic, but I thought it be fun to read.

I have finally come up with a steam roster for the Smoky Mountain Central. So far I am 75% sure it will re-main the same, however, un expected additions and deletions may occur.

Locomotives for the Smoky Mountain Central are as follows.

From Bachmann, there is a Spectrum 2-8-0, a Heavy 4-8-2, a Russian Decapod, and a GS4 painted in a Daylight inspired scheme with Maroon and Gold for “The Hillbilly Limited” or “The Flying Hillbilly”, which ever I decided.

From Life Like there are 2 2-8-8-2 Mallets (The Primary heavy freight power), a 2-10-2 (Another primary freight mover), and an 0-8-0.

From Broadway Limited, there will be a light USRA 2-8-2 Mikado, a Heavy 2-8-2 Mikado, and a Blueline C&O 2-10-4 when released.

And of course, what is a shortline without leased power. From the Southern Comes a 2-8-0 (Bachmann), a 2-8-2 (IHC, I already have it), and maybe a second 2-8-0. From the Norfolk and Western comes a J 4-8-4, and maybe a BLI Blueline 2-6-6-4 Class A. And from the NC&STL, a Russian 2-10-0.

Of course that list is subject to change.

The Passenger Operations with include 1 express, 2 locals, and a Mxed.

The Express with consist of Rivarossi Smoothside Passenger cars I got from Trainworld cheap. I have 2 A packs and 1 B pack. I will not use all of the cars, I just wanted to have some extras on hand. The consist will be 1 Baggage, 1 RPO, 2 Coaches, 1 or 2 Diners, 2 Rommetes, and a Tail Car.

All 12 cars (4 not being used) will be painted in Norfolk and Western Maroon. The GS4 will be painted in a Daylight style, scheme, but with Maroon and Gold. The J will also see duties on this train.

The locals will consist of 3 to 5 heavyweight coaches (maybe an observation car on some trains) and they will also be painted in Norfolk and Western Maroon, so some can be standins for the Hillbilly Limited.

The Mixed will not run on t

2

Decent roster, but it looks more like a Class One roster more than that of a shortline. How “short” is your shortline? What sort of terrain does it cross? What’s its purpose in life? And most importantly, what region is it in?

Southern roads, except for the giant coal haulers, were pretty conservative with their power, and didn’t see much in the way of superpower steam. That’s why the Southern completely dieselized in 1952; they had a large roster of old, small steam that diesels quickly overawed. Southern shortlines relied heavily on the used steam market, which was dominated not by new superpower engines, but by older 2-8-2s and smaller engines (IC 2-8-0s and 2-6-0s were VERY popular). To build a believable roster for a freelanced Southern shortline, you have to keep these facts in the back of your mind.

Now, changing the nature of your road to become a small Class One (the definition of which is earning $1 million a year) would support the roster you like, as well as all of the passenger traffic you’d like. That’s an easy step to take, since Class Ones don’t necessarily have to be “long”, just as a regional road doesn’t have to be “short”.

Except during WWII, real steam-era lines rarely leased steam power. It did happen, but it wasn’t the norm. If you want to kee a short

3

Ray–

Actually, during WWII, quite a few railroads ‘leased’ steam power from other roads. For instance, Rio Grande leased about 8 of the big Missabe Yellowstones for work on their Moffat Tunnel line during the winters, when the Great Lakes were frozen over. Other Missabe power was leased by Great Northern, Northern Pacific and even Western Pacific. Rio Grande also leased locos from Burlington, and C&S, along with buying outright, some 2-8-8-2’s and 4-8-2’s from Norfolk and Western.

Pennsy and Santa Fe leased each other’s steamers as the War changed from the Atlantic to the Pacific theaters, and even SP leased locos from CB&Q, UP, GN and several eastern roads. So even though it was not a huge operation, it was not that uncommon.

Tom

4

Hmmm,

I can see by the way you asked about the terrain, you did not see the name “Smoky Mountain Central”. To be fair, it crosses the Cumberlands as well, but I love the Smokies and Pigeon Forge, so I chose Smoky Mountain Central as the name.

It is in the southern region. In the history I wrote up for it, it was built between Asheville, North Carolina and Knoxville, Tennessee, passing through famous vacation (well, now anyway) towns of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, and Maggie Valley. Others are along the line as well, but those were the main towns the line passed through.

Then the line was extended from Knoxville, TN to Bristol, TN, where it met up with the Norfolk and Western Railway (And the Southern, but the N&W was the main reason). In Asheville and Knoxville it met the Southern, its cheif competitior. Then for a boost in passenger service the line was extended in the early 1900’s to Chatanooga from Asheville, where it met the Nashville, Chatanooga, and St. Louis (and the Southern, but again, it was not the line they wanted to meat. It just came with the town).

And, I really dont care for beleiveability, as this is my road, and my rules. As long as the sceanery is somewhat realistic and the buildings and rolling stock is weathered nicely I’m goo with that. The line is set in the WW11 era, hence the leased steam.

I appriciate your information, but its my railroad, my history I made up for it, operations as I want them to be, and engines I want to run.

I beleive there was once a saying among modellers. Rule 1: Its MY Railroad, Rule #2: If you don’t like it, see Rule #1.

I chose the Flying Hillbilly as a gag name, as its just a fictional line, and the area, really is full of Hillbillys and Rednecks (me being close to one myself). The way I like to put it is thats its a Paralell Universe, similar, but different, so I’ll do as I please.

Thanks though, but its my line to do as I wish.

Cheese