Hi, As many of you may know I have a weekly feature on my website titled "Coffee Break" where each week I highlight a product or website that may be of interest to Z scalers. I normally don't make an announcement for an individual topic, but this week's feature is so interesting I wanted to make sure this one gets bookmarked! This week we link to a clickable map of North American and Mexican regional and short line railroads. GP35s, GP7s and GP9s are a popular choice for these Class II (regional) and Class III (short line) railroads and with these 3 locos now being produced in Z, this clickable map is a great reference for DIY paint and decal work. Many of these smaller railroads include a history as well as a photo section on their websites. Visit Ztrains and check out this, as well as our archived, Coffee Break links. Thanks! John Cubbin Ztrains.com http://www.ztrains.com
S.A. & A.P. RR In the later half of the 1800's a shortline railroad was built linking San Antonio with Aransas Pass, Texas. This was San Antonio's route to the Gulf of Mexico. As you might have guessed, this railroad was called the San Antonio & Aransas Pass RR. In 1890 a small town was established on this railroad about 50+ mile marker south of San Antonio. This town was called Castine. After the Spanish-American War, 1898 a war hero was riding the rails touring Texas and giving heroic speeches. It just so happened, the very next year the small town of Castine was changed to Hobson after Richmond Pearson Hobson, the war hero. The S.A. & A.P. RR was bought out by the Southern Pacific line about this time. Southern Pacific ran this line for about 100 years afterwhich the line was deactivated and later dismantled. How do I know so much about this once famous route to the Gulf of Mexico. It was in that little town of Hobson, Texas, that I grew up as a boy watching the freights pass thru on a daily basis. We would place pennies and dimes on the rails hoping to find flattened metal when we returned. We played on the trestle quite often too. Climbing the supports to the top. Walking and running across. No water undernieth, just a farmers dirt road so don't fall off. I recall on so many occassions when those SP and SSW "Cotton Belt" diesels would come running thru town. Town? Actually it is more a community than a town. But what the hay!! It's where I grew up as a boy and where I will always call home!!! San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad!!!! Hobo Tim
I'm no expert on the region, but I was interested in the Texas & Mexican Railroad featured in the N scale forum here on Trainboard. Their GP-9's had extra windows cut into the high nose below the number boards that were the same size and shape. I understand these were so the "conductor" could see outside? Anyway, didn't see it on the list and wanted to add this heads up to a cool article. Lots of interesting ideas for smaller roads that mix it up with the Class 1 Railroads, makes for interesting yard scenes. Great Job!! Joe MTL
