I want to include a minimal short line on my layout. Operationally speaking, should the short line have its own locomotive or should I use the locomotive power from the main line (or does it matter)?
I guess that is entirely up too you, remember it is your railroad. Having a short line though is a great opportunity to add a locomotive that you would like to add to your roster or you could custom paint one to suit.
I agree with Paul, a short line is a great way to get a locomotive or two which would otherwise not fit into your area/era
Either way is very prototypical. A short line may lease from the company with which they interchange. Or own their motive power. I'd lean toward the latter option. It gives you some variety. Boxcab E50
Would make a lot more sense for the shortline to have it's own power. Shortlines leasing locomotives from their connecting class 1s is not unheard of, but is not all that common. For starters, shortlines tend to be very, very flexible with their operations, and it cannot be always guaranteed that the Class 1 will have a locomotive available when it is needed. Bottom line- get the shortline it's own power, even if it is a lease unit from a lease company (or something equivalent). -JDLX Elko, NV
One more thing I was going to add as an example to my previous reply...when the Eureka Southern (EUKA) started operations in late 1984 over the north end of the old Northwestern Pacific Railroad (EUKA took over the Willits to Eureka, California, line and connecting branches), they initially leased a pair of GP-9's from Southern Pacific to move their trains. However, the leased units were costing the new road $300 PER DAY, which gave the company strong motivation to aquire it's own power (4 ex-Conrail GP38's). If the shortline was a spinoff, it would not be uncommon for the class 1 to include a locomotive or two in the deal. Or, like Paul said, it would give you an excuse to model a locomotive that otherwise wouldn't fit in (many shortlines held onto power from minority or deceased builders (like Baldwin or Alco) long after the Class 1's had retired all of theirs). JDLX Elko, NV
I can also say this would be a good way to "combine" power as well.. The shortline have their own fleet, with leased units running around from the local class 1. PLUS add a ton of variety, the class one will have the latest loco style etc, whereas the shortline will have resurected older equiptment, such as real GP-7/9's, GP-20's, 30's, U boats of all sorts, Baldwin, an even ALCO units. Posslble even cab units like E, F, PA, RF, units etc.... Freight cars as well, the class one thats local to your shortline could supply older rolling stock, with their own markings with "patchwork" renumberings.....
I have Frisco diesels running on my Spring River Sub, while on the Spring River RR you'll see SPRY Baldwins and also Oklahoma & North Eastern Alcos (SPRY and O&NE are subsidiaries of ONERail, which includes the Missouri & Kansas, or MoKan). To really mix things up, I have a GE 70-tonner and CF7 on the SPRY roster coming out of the shops what'll be used on the SPRY.
From a purely modelling point of view, if it is a 'minimal' short line and you use main line power on it, who will know (except you) that it isn't just a branch?
In my pretend world my little short line has the luxury of buying second hand power from any and all railroads. That is a handy explanation for a Jersey Central RS4/5 (eBay $19.90) next to an SP SD35. Great scenario for justifying cheap but good locos. Great test bed for weathering skill development, too! In the prototype, Trona has several ex SP/UP locos with the numbers and logos erased, but the basic paint scheme tells where those units came from. By the way, this is a good use for these IM Tunnel Motors of apparently dubious finish quality. Just weather the tar out of them and presto! Yep, Trona has a few SD45-2 and TM's in their fleet! The sky (or your imagination) is the limit. William
I agree with what most of the guys already said, give the short line their own engine- it will help illustrate the point that part of the tracks belong to a different railroad & will make the interchanging of cars more believable.
