On my layout based in present day Northeastern America, one of the roads on the layout will be the CHR(Chicago Heavy Railroad) which runs from the Appalachian Plateau in Virginia to Chicago carrying coal. All the locomotives in the fleet will all be diesel locomotives built before 1990. I already have a SF B23-7, UP F7A, and a MR C-420 that I will paint in custom CHR liverie (will show pics when done), what other locomotives should I use for the CHR?
Wow, I totally misread the question …
pre-1990s era locomotives, I’d say you’d probably do well to get some dash-7s or dash-8s. Depends on how far back you want to go though in terms of age. I mean, a couple GP9s might not be untoward - but those were last produced in the mid 1960s.
For a coal road still running an F7A after 1990, I expect you’d need another A and two B’s. It’s tradition. And the F’s would have been lovingly maintained to last that long, and/or highly modified. Sounds like fun.
BN was famous for fielding ABBA helper sets over Marias Pass. And there’s a photo of BN F’s in iron ore service in 1980. You might track down photos of them in service for inspiration.
Staying with the coal road concept, one could add more modern power. That would be either EMD or GE. I would seriously consider getting SD38’s and/or SD38-2’s (See Athearn and Kato).
That takes care of the coal.
The B23-7 and C-420 will do well for “other” freight, especially MU’ed together as a way-freight local set.
For faster (than coal) through freights, you can’t beat SD40-2’s. They are kind of bland (except for the porches), so you could argue for something “different”. But the SD40-2’s would likely be THE best choice. OR. You might get something like SD45-2’s. Or even argue for F45’s.
Ed
An alternate use of the F7A, since F-units were most all retired from general freight service a long time ago, would be to power an excursion or dinner train. One F-unit with 3-4 dining cars or coaches might be a nice diversion from the usual coal trains. It wouldn’t matter if the cars were all from different railroads either, as historical societies and railfan rail organizations often ‘mix and match’ equipment.
So your present day railroad only uses 30 year old locomotives? Um ok. Then you will need several SD40-2 locomotives. They were built until 1989. Also GP50 or GP60 locomotives. You might also want some SD40T-2 tunnel motors. Of course you don’t have to paint them all in your railroad’s livery. You can do what the real railroads do when they buy used locomotives and just renumber them. If your railroad can’t afford new locomotives then it probably can’t afford paint either.
I’d suggest using locomotives from only one manufacturer, as it would cut down on the parts inventory that your road would need to have on-hand, and also simplify maintenance, as the shop forces would need to be familiar with only one brand.
It would also make sense to standardise on the models to choose: one type for the mainline trains and something else that’s suitable for switching, perhaps.
While from a modelling perspective, it might be less interesting visually than having locos from different manufacturers, I’d think it to be more prototypical.
If you want to include variety in your fleet of similar locomotives, buy the same models, but in different roadnames and paint schemes, then simply “patch” them with your freelanced road’s reporting marks and numbering system.
Wayne
So present day, but all locomotives are nearly 30 years old?
The EMD SD40 series as previously mentioned is an obvious choice. If you like the look of GE locomotives, the GE C40-8 series as another option if you want older locomotives on line.
An EMD SD50 is another option. They were gas guzzlers, but a railroad looking for some high horsepower options might snag them up and use them into the present, despite their reputation for burning fuel.
As for classic F units? You could see those in service on freights up until the 1990’s; but if its the present day I can’t think of any railroad still running those unless it has a tourism or museum operation of some sorts. You might be able to get away with using an F45 though in freight service, if you justify it as some second hand engine picked for its common EMD parts despite being poorly designed for switching. Shove it into the middle of a consist to sell the image that its not used for switching and just really on the train for the added horsepower.
Speaking of switching, yard or local power can easily run on EMD GP9 or GP15 engines. Maybe some SW1500’s or some older switcher units can work yards. The Rapido GE B36-7 coming out soon might be another unique choice for an old yard or local engine although those are somewhat rare engines in comparison to the EMD models previously mentioned.
Or go crazy… a few railroads still run ALCO diesels. Those are rare operations, but those that do have managed to keep those old engines running well for over 50+ years now.
In short, use some online photos to look at area shortlines and start grabbing ideas were you see them. Make sure the power has a common ‘look’ to them. Even buying second hand locomotives, chances are your railroad’s power department looked for specific classes or unit types to compliment the roster, or bought batches or second hand engines together in auctions. You don’t want it to look like the roster o
Keep in mind EMD built F-7s from 1946 to 1954, so the OP’s F-7A would be somewhere between 64 and 72 years old!
Regarding Alcos - Montreal Locomotive Works continued building “Alco” engines for 10+ year after American Locomotive Co. quit making them in the 1960s. Minnesota Commercial RR runs some used MLW “Alcos” built in the 1970’s ('80’s?) - along with a few actual US Alcos. Several companies make models of MLW engines.
Thanks for your help! Those locomotives are good ideas! The F45 is one of my favorite locomotives and I will definitely consider utilizing one! Also, on the CHR, the F is modified with an EMD 12-710G3C-EC prime mover instead of the 567 engine which is almost 80 years old. I will also use some SD40-2s. Kyle Martin, Modelling a multi-road railroad set in the Northeast since 2015
Thanks for the suggestion! I will probably use some GP9s for switching!
Thanks for the suggestions! Did you know the Keokuk Junction railway still operates heavily modified Fs for freight, and sometimes Pan Am uses their F9s for freight. I would probably mostly use the Fs for an OCS or excursion service, but they would occasionally pull freight.
Just wondering, does the Chicagoland area nowadays receive a significant amount of inbound coal traffic? I know southern Illinois has several coal mines, but not sure what level of coal traffic Chicago has (maybe Gary, Hammond and what remains of industry in NW Indiana, SE Chicago?)
Maybe this can help you if you haven’t already seen it (Illinois State Freight Plan):
http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Reports/OP&P/ILFreightPlan_FINAL.pdf
I took a bit of a look around, including that report I linked to. In 2014 Coal comprised 40+% of all rail traffic in Illinois (which is not that great for future traffic levels). Inbound coal seems to be thermal coal (for power production), and a number of articles mention at least 6 coal power plants fully or partially closed down in the north Illinois since 2012. Maybe the OP might want to diversify their planned traffic flows…
You can’t go wrong hauling coal to Chicago with Century Series Alcos.
Coal road? 1990’s?
SD40-2’s, SD40-2’s, SD40-2’s. Maybe a set of C40-8’s for new power. Oh yeah, get some SD40-2’s.
Yes, they recieve a lot of coal from the Powder River Basin.
So Ill coal isn’t very useful since its very high sulpur and causes emissions problems.
SD40-2s and GP50s.
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Both of these were available in Undecorated in Athearn Blue Boxes. The freelance railroader’s best friends.
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-Kevin
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I would go with GP38-2’s, more parts in common with the SD40-2’s, they have the same 500 hp/axle as SD40-2’s. GP50’s are good for higher speed, lower tonnage trains such as intermodal, automotive or perishable service. Not so good for bulk service. Actually they weren’t so good for any service since the SD50’s were retired by the class 1’s pretty quick, but they wouldn’t know that yet in 1980-1990.
C40-8’s (or C36-7’s) had more tractive effert than an SD50.
And, on BNSF, the GP50’s have mostly been effectively downgraded to GP38-2’s, anyway. Pretty common for wayfreight work on the north bank of the Columbia will be a GP38-2 and a former GP50, running back to back.
I agree that a railroad would be well served by buying only GP38-2’s and SD40-2’s. But most of us can’t exercise such restraint.
So I will still advocate for getting some SD38/SD-38-2’s for coal.
And, if you want some F45’s mixed in, it is not at all unreasonable. Your railroad might have bought some from BN when they sold theirs around 1985. You could have a patched BN one, and/or one repainted for your railroad.
And, noting the existing U23B and C-420, there might be other interesting remnants. Who knows, maybe a cow and calf (and another calf?)(C&O) SW7. Just don’t get carried away with wide variety.
But to field a reasonably prototypical roster, I advocate the coherence of MOSTLY those dash 2’s mentioned earlier.
Ed
How come nobody is mentioning U-Boats? Six Axle. U33C, U36C.
Or C30-7s.
I’d think that if the railroad used B23-7’s, they’d have more GEs.
Just to refresh everyone’s memory, we’re talking about a layout set in 2018, but using locomotives that were built before 1990.
[;)]