My freelance RR, the Alberta Pacific, is a railway that runs from Winnepeg to Prince Rupert via Red Deer, Howse Pass, and Prince George.
It’s motive power was a deep royal blue until 1958, when it adopted a paint scheme similar to the second unit in http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=120422 . Until the mid-'60s, the motive power was exclusively F-M, except for some SD9 helpers on the Howse Pass.
In 1966, the bought 20 SD45s, and now have the largest surviving fleet of them in the world. (just the 45s, no -2s)
They had some of the first AC units, SD50MACs, and also the largest Canadian steam (4-6-6-4s, with small drivers, as opposed to UP units)
They now operate with a mix of SD70s, SD45s, SD45t-2s, SD40-2s, and the many excursions powered by F-M cab units, as well as the regular passenger trains, with remotered CPA16-5s.
What do you think of it?
BTW, it’s partly based on the Utah Belt before they got AC4400s.
Trainboy
I think if you like it go for it.
Sure, why not? Really. I’m curious about the Red Deer to Howse Pass selection, but if it has the right grade, go for it. Anything truly unique that you aniticipate having to craft for that road? A special trestle, service station, switchbacks, whatever?
sounds great ! you’re gonna have to build some awesome scenery , that’s one of the most beautiful areas in the world
Excellent name
Looks a lot like EMD leased units.
Having just a couple EMD units must have been a nightmare for the loco shops
They must not care too much about fuel consumption. The 45’s were probably the worse guzzlers of the bunch. Expecially since…
One would think as soon as they got the fuel efficient ACs and realized all the profits didn’t have to go into the fuel tank the 45s would have been scrapped over night.
Once again seems to be a nightmare for the loco shop personnel.
I really like it, in that you are creating a history that can develop into something believable. Most free-lancers don’t bother with thinking about this and end up with a really unbelievable mess of equipment. You can start filling in the “why” these things happened this way. That will guide other things like rolling stock, train composition, etc. Which time period of this do you intend to model?
As a rail roader and EMD lover, I take exception to the SD45 Guzzler coment. A single SD45 could probibly pull 50 loaded grain hoppers on a flat grade at 50 mph where as it would probably take 2 - 6 axle alco’s in throtle position 8 to maintain the same speed. Just because the EMD’s are 2 stroke engines and the Alco’s are 4 stroke doesn’t mean they are more efficient, that depends on the engineer!
It goes up the North Saskatchewan river, along a route that was surveyed by the CP.
No switchbacks, but numerous tunnels, and the only Canadian SD45T-2s
Thanks!
It was! They were exclusively serviced in the Red Deer shops, so the crews got used to it.
We are VERY raiilfan concious. We operate mor excursions than all other Canadian roads combined! Also, we still rin SD45s, Because they’re reliable, and most railfans (Especially in
It looks like you’ve got an awesome paint scheme,and a great logo to go along with it[8D]!
Thanks, I took the logo from a combination of UPs, the 1880s CP, and added mountains. What can I say, it was a god day for design
Matthew
Here are some maps. Red is CP, olive is CN, light blue is BC rail (Now under APR Ownership) and dark blue is the AP.
Matthew
Ah, I can see how my comment wasn’t clear and could be missunderstood. When I said “of the bunch” I meant of all EMD units. The extra 600 hp of the SD45 series over the SD40 series wasn’t worth the extra fuel it cost which is why the 40’s ended up being the loco of choice for most railroads.
Okay, giving this the ol’ bump because of some new news!
The APR has signed several contracts lately, the most noteable being a freight contract with GDRACo of Australia, that includes bringing in various carloads from US and Canadian cities and shipping it to GDRA’s terminals in Australia in exchange for locomotives from GDRMCo Locomotive incorporated. The first of these were the GT44AC-SMs ( http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b274/trainboysd40/APRGT44AC-SM.gif ) and they are anticipating a large order of four axle units within the next year if these units work out.
The APR has also signed a contract for freight haulage with the wisconsin railraod Pacificm Ayer and Atlantic, a regional owned by Aussie investors.
GDRMCo is designed my Mitch Legg and the PAA is dsigne by James Saunders
Hey, good luck with your freelanced. I think it rocks going FL, but I am bit biased, i admit it. I like the paint. The mountians on the end make a nice touch.