The DL&W's electrification didn't make it an interurban, but its Passaic and Delaware ("P&D") branch to Gladstone, NJ certainly had an interurban-like rural charm about it. Overhead power was 3000 VDC. Thomas Edison was at the throttle when the first mu train left Hoboken on 09/03/1930 and the P&D branch began to operate under wire on 01/06/1931. An mu train at Hoboken [01/1981]:
Randy A great collection! I have made a database of all sorts of N Scale chassis that are out there. I guess some of the chassis will work with come of these CNSM steeple cabs, although there may need to be some butchery on the tops to get them to fit under the 'hoods'. Of course the trucks will also have to be amended to. Alternatively, why not motorize a box car, just as Sandy and David have done. It seems to work really well, and you cannot tell they are in 'push' mode. Peter Peter Harris N Scale Kits www.nscalekits.com
Thanks Peter, I sent two of these motors away to a clever modeler. So far it is looking very good for the Battery motors. The pups, GE steeplecabs may need the hoods widened by .040 to make them workable. Randy
This is my little hometown in 1927. At the time I'm certain that the population was about 1000. I used to walk this ground on my way to school everyday. I had family connections to the house next door to the station. This may explain my interest in interurbans...
I was converted from a house indeed ! It is now a house again. Nearly everything in the photo survives except for the interurban stuff. The train shed was torn down in the mid 60s. Randy
Peter, I believe I have contacted you in the past. I am working with a group of people and we are looking into offering a kit in O scale and possibly in HO Scale. I have scanned decals and artwork and plan to send them to mu decal printer to have the artwork created. Producing N scale decals would not be an issue, maybe we can work together on the Cad Data as I have actual CNS&M blueprints for the triple trailer version of these flatcars. Please feel free to contact me mslater at modelrailradio dot com
Mike, I don't think the HO modelers have been forgotten. I also collect HO and O scale trolleys. N scale is a niche where shapeways prints work. I would not be satisfied with Shapeways prints in HO or O scale because the price of the prints does not reflect quality. That said there are some individuals that have their own printers that are making fine models in larger scales. https://interurbanmodels.blogspot.com/ Nearly everything I am currently showing in N scale I also have in HO. N scale will give me the opportunity to run a larger system which is the goal. Longer Milwaukee road trains and larger scenes for the electric stuff. In my mind HO and O scale is the domain of etched brass.
Thread bump. I'm working on some more equipment and a couple of new layout sections. hopefully soon I have some nice stuff to show you. Randy
From 1975 or 1976, the Chicago Transit Authority's Skokie Swift is seen. The line is a former North Shore route. I think the overhead seen here has since been removed in favor of third rail and these cars are probably gone too.
This is my layout so far. I have said at times that I'm not sure exactly what I want to do with this mess illustrates my muddled ideas. Its certainly not picture ready. The current sections I'm building are more rural. A small city with some street running.
