Hi there Cal-NGSL-Nut .. *grin* First off, I would like to welcome you to this forum. To date, as you may have already noticed, we have had a fairly good response in here. We welcome any and all comments you might have without judgment on our part. We are here to have fun ... and to learn! I am very familiar with the shortlines that you described. My grandfather used to have a ranch outside Coulterville (Greely Hill) and I have been to your town many, many times over the years. I often wonder if that little Porter 0-4-0 is still sitting on the corner of Main Street and SR49 in Coulterville. Maybe you could show us some pics of some of the features of the railroads you like .. and how you are building your model of it? ------------------ Bill "Get Goosed on the Yreka Western"
My favourite shortline is the Twin Cities and Western. Small, efficient, busy. Runs over the old Milwaukee mainline to the Pacific Northwest and purchased from the Soo. Interchanges with BN, CP (Soo), MNCR, Sisselton & Millbank, and serves the Mississippi waterfront. Neat power from the start - GP7u's (ex-BN), GP10's and SD20's (ex-IC/ICG), and now Cat repowered GP20C's (ex-BN), GP15C's and GP30C's (ex-Soo). Also a couple of CF7's converted to slugs and ex-NS slugs. Dakota - SD20 601 is for sale. It has been outside the office in Breck since July last. What scale are you modelling in? Bill - I have a couple of shots of RRVW 2052 teamed with TC&W 404 and slug 309. Taken east of Breck late Sept last. Also, check the my site for pics being posted in the next week or so. Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page N to the Nth degree!
Ironhorseman, Thank you for the welcome. This looks like a great group of people. That 0-4-0 is in deed still sitting up their, I saw her not more than 4 months ago. I had been talking with a couple of friends (one of which has the smokebox front from the engine in storage) and I wanted to go up an do a quick study of wether the old Porter might be restored to operation. Truthfully, I almost cried. Vandals and mountian weather have taken their toll on it. No side rods, broken cylinders, broken bell bracket, cracked drivers, cylinder covers removed, holes in the boiler, smoke box front "missing" (which was sold to my friend by a previous owner, not stolen). However, if anyone wants to study the Porter design it's exposed innerds make for a great opportunity; and the frame is still in good shape, driving boxes intact, some of the spring rigging still there, and enough on both sides of the engine to make replica parts of all the castings. Right now my steamer exits only in a CAD program, but am hoping to get started this summer! (After 4 years of design & research.) I will be putting up a website about the history of the engine and about the design & construction process once the construction begins in ernest. CNGN
GATS ... I just noticed this weekend that the covers are off the stacks of the TC&W 601 and it has been moved closer to the engine house. I'm guessing it's going to be put back into service, or is being readied to be shipped out. I suspect the former. If I see my friend who works for RRV&W at Rotary tomorrow (Tues) I'll ask him about it. I'm in HO scale. Got started with that while a member of a model railroad club in Fargo, then a module group, and now building my own layout. Too much invested to switch scales at this point, plus N is too hard on middle aged eyes.
Dakota, LOL... you were right in the first instance - it's not just your eyes According to Vic Sargeant, CMO for TC&W and RRV&W, it's for sale. When they had the pair of them, 600 and 601, they weren't what they thought they would be. As soon as the GP20C's arrived, they got sidelined. I guess the old girl gets moved around occassionally as it gets in the way. I suspect a buyer may have been found, too. Let me know what you hear, please. I reread you post at the top of this page and the CF7 you mention was probably 309. 302 was spotted in new paint, similar to it's original RRV&W scheme but stencilled for TC&W, about 3 weeks ago in Hopkins, Minneapolis. I suspect 309 is being, or has been, done as well. Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page N to the Nth degree!
GATS ... The 601 is back in revenue service on the RRV&W. BN4EVR and I have both seen it in action within the last week, including the morning of 05.19.00. I still don't know the story behind it. My contact wasn't at our meeting this week. I'll continue to investigate.
Dude! Great news. I need some measurements off it Thanks for the long distance 'heads-up'. I'll add it to the news section - thanks! They must be hard up for motive power out there. What's the traffic level been like lately? Send me you email address, please. Gary. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page N to the Nth degree!
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Justin May: I would like to pay tribute to the Columbus and Greenville out of Columbus ,MS. I have a friend who operates on the line and the John Deere green schmeme on the former N&W highhoods looks great. You can find some images at: http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Rodeo/4694/index.html Just a great little shortline of the south- are there any other shortlines above the Mason Dixon????????? 8~)<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Justin, Great site! I've got it saved to my Favorites file. The vast majority of my shortline-chasing was in the South, and I shot the heck out of the C&G in Greenwood back in 1994. In answer to your question about Northern shortlines, well yes, I've chased down the Iowa Northern, Iowa Interstate, Kyle, and Wyoming Colorado (the line from Walcott Jct. to Saratoga, WY). IMHO, a shortline anywhere is something to behold ------------------ Southeast....Southwest.. Ship IT on the Frisco! Bob T. http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html
Another of my favorite shortline railroads is the McCloud RR, located in McCloud, Calif. Though it is a standard gauge operation, it has many unique features. The McCloud RR has two junctions, one where it meets with BNSF to the east and the other with UP to the west in Mt. Shasta City. This RR also has a switchback located just outside of McCloud on the line that runs over the south flank of Mt. Shasta. The McCloud RR has two steam locomotives. One being a 2-6-2 Lima (#25) and the other is a 1914 Baldwin 2-8-2 (#18). The latter is just in the final phases of restoration and is scheduled to make her maiden run doubled up with number 25 on the 24-25 of this month. The run will be from McCloud to Burney, Calif .. some 75 miles one way.
The West Virginia Rail Authority started i the late 70's. The State of West Virginia became the first state in US history to own and operate it's own railroad. The railroad started when the state bought a portion of track from Just north of Romney,WV to south of petersburg,WV, and aquired a few Chessie units to start operation, they expanded southward to Franklin,WV and on November 3-6,1985, the whole railroad line was demolished in what was called by scientists"The worst flood in 500 years" . The flood was caused by a large slow front of rain, and remenants of Hurricane Juan, in late october of 1985 of '85. All trackage from romney to franklin was washed out and the state was falling in debt. in spring of 1986, the stae rabuilt all the trackage with the help of the new CSX system. in 1987, the line was completed, and decided to start passenger trains to help raise mo9ney, the first passenger train was sold out 4 weeks before the train actually started for the first time. The State of WV also at the time owned cass scaenic Railroad Sate park, that had some of the best preserved Shay locomotives andy where in the world, and still day in and day out trek up the mountain with passengers. (i'll post about it later) In 1998 the state bought from VSX what ws left of CSX's belington Subdivision. from Grafton,WV to elkins,WV and rented a dozen or so Norfolk & Western's Powhatan Arrow, passenger cars, and N&W T-1 switcher #41 from the Roanoake chapter of the N&W historical society (i think) and brought up a Western Maryland BL2 Exx-WM #81, ex-SBVR 7271 and was repaired and started for the first time in 15 years. the first train was also sold out quickly. Last fall the Stae of WV bought a trestch of line from south of elkins, wv, throught Durbin & greebrier trackage in Durbin,WV (this railroad had 1 passenger car 2 gondolas 2 cabooses, and 1 little "LeRoi" switcher) and ran into Cass, WV the line is lated to open in late summer fo this year, starting in romney ,wv to Cass,wv. the railroad is the only railroad in the us NOt to haul coal, but does haul most everything else, but intramodal. their oster is made up of some old power such as GP7/9's and an ALCO PA-1 and a PB-1. there are more however.
That's quite a history A&A! I have always enjoyed history, especially histroy of little known railroads. I'll bet that little railroad runs through some beautiful country! I'll be looking forward to hearing more about that line, when you get time to share it. Thanks for your input.
Thanks, and the best part, it's true!!, one not about my previousl post, : 1)The "The Potomac Eagle" is the very passenger train that I mentioned that ws started after the flood of 1985 if anyone is in western maryland, south central PA or nor the north eatern section,in wv, this is a great train ride, alothought it only runs from Romney to Petersburg,wv. 2)The flood waters of 1985, raised to be 30 feet above the tracks, and took a week to receed, the tracks were just erased, one section fo track (about 18' long), was found own river 40 miles away! 3)The train that started from Ex-CSX trackage in 1998 is called the Tygart Flyar, they also run an imported railbus from the UK and an older wooden one (like a trolley) they both run up cheat mountain (the flyer wil run to their i late summer after track is inspected.) 4)there were several short lines around here in the early part of the 20th century, but were gobbled up by either B&O or Western Maryland. I'll post some as more researching is done. [ 16 February 2001: Message edited by: A&A 6183 ]
I agree with friscobob, what ever shortline I'm chasing that particular day! I've been lucky enough to have chased a lot, my two all time favorite chases were the Louisiana & Northwest RR from Arkansas to Gibbsland, La and also the Green Mountain RR thru Vermont- neat power & neat countryside!
Wow, What a great thread this has been I really enjoy railfaning shortlines and it is interesting to see that others out there enjoy them as well. I also must agree with Frisco Bob that my favorite is the one that my camera is currently aimed at I have a section of my website: www.geocities.com/marktomer/ that is dedicated to shortlines. Unfortunatly I am remodeling much of the shortline section at this time) so many of the photos are not up but check back often because I am trying to have them all back up in the next few weeks. If any of yall have shortline photo pages please post a link to them. I really enjoy looking at various shortline operations and this helps me plan my next railfaning trip. I enjoy Southern shortlines for many different reasons. 1) The lines are full of history i.e. IC, GM&O, L&N, Frisco ect. 2)The Southern lumber industry is very interesting and great for modeling. Put in a small spur and wala! instant industry (Pulpwood Yard) Also like woodchip loads, sift sawdust through a screen and makes for a great woodchip load in HO scale. When I came to Mississippi in 1992 to attend the University of Mississippi the Midsouth Railroad was still seperate from KCS and the lines in Mississippi ran with Midsouth power for many more years so this is a favorite of mine. Also really liked the new Mississippi Central which runs from Grand Junction TN. to Oxford MS. Crews on the line were always really friendly. I enjoyed several great cab rides including a trip over the Tallahatchie River bridge. I even got a chance to switch a cut of cars with one of their GP16's. That would never happen with a Class 1!! Now I live on CNIC's Grenada Sub(30 yards from my back door) which runs like a shortline. A local runs from Grenada to Memphis and return 6 days a week. The traffic is made up of woodchips, lumber, pulpwood, chemicals, ect. The line also see's empty northbound grain and coal trains (grades are a little to stiff for loaded trains which use CNIC's Yazoo Sub a few miles to the west that runs through the flat MS. River Delta region) Oh well enough rambling looking forward to more posts on shortlines!! nullRedeker's Railroad Photos
Hi Terry .. first of all, I would like to welcome you to the membership of Trainboard. We, the Administrators and Moderators of Trainboard appreciate your active participation. Please tell a friend or two about us too. You are not kidding about how much better and friendly Class 1 railroads are than the majority of others. I know that normally, all someone has to do is ask and they can get a cab ride on the Yreka Western. With exception of hauling chemicals, the CNIC Grenada Sub sounds alot like the YWRR. I look forward to seeing more information about your favorite short line. I visited your homepage and can only say that it is 'huge!' And to think it is not fully functional as well. You just missed a contest where members were showing off their personal webpages. Thanks again for your participation. Keep up the good work!
Favorite Shortline: FarmRail, of course, need you ask? Trackage used to be Frisco and Santa Fe. Favorite Narrow Gauge: Cumbres and Toltec from Antonito , CO, to Chama, NM (or the other way around). They are soon to expand to run from Antonito to Creed, Co, as well. Will actually carry some freight again on the old D&RGW line, as well as a dinner train, from what we were told last July. Beautiful country as well.
Graphite, I've got a couple of shots of Farmrail GP7s 617 (Kiowa) and 620(Caddo) upon arrival at Kiamichi's yard in Hugo, OK in November 1987. These ex-Florida East Coast units ran the system in their FMRC colors for a while- one (620) became Chaparral 703. BTW, don't forget the ex-Rock Island trackage between Sayre and Hydro- that was FMRC's first line. It's good to see these stretches of the former Frisco, Santa Fe and Rock Island not go the way of the MKT line from Altus north to the panhandle.
OK, it's a tourist RR but my favorite shortline is the Strasburg RR in Pennsylvania. There is nothing like riding behind steam power through countryside that hasn't been touched in hundreds of years! My second choice, and more modern, would be the New York and Atlantic( and not just because it is 2 blocks from my house) A nice little freight handling operation whose motive power includes GP38's and Sw1001's. You can see some pix of the NY&A on my website - The Hoffman Valley Railroad Russ/NYC NARA member#28
My favourite narrow gauge railway has to be the Festiniog Railway in Wales. It is (nominal) 2ft gauge, and runs from the coast at Porthmadog, and climbs up int the mountains to Blaenau. It was built to carry slate from the quarries down to the ships in the harbour. It was originally gravity worked Horses rode in the wagons on the downhill, and then hauled the empties back up to the quarries. They have a wonderful collection of working steam locomotives in use. The trouble is that all of my photographs are slides, and do not have a slide scanner
