What locomotive would be normal in 1960s Pittsburgh Steel Mill?

SleeperN06 Aug 22, 2011

  1. Specter3

    Specter3 TrainBoard Member

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    I want to second the "model your memories" idea. You are modeling based on an idea in your head. Kepp doing it. I was doing the same thing and started researching the site I was remembering and actually got to go there and take a bunch of pictures. Well, now I am stuck actually trying to accurately represent the facility. Because of my OCD I now am way further into modeling it than I ever planned to be. I could have been done by now but I am forced by myself to get it right. I am having fun doing it but there is not enough modeling time to be as nuts about it as I have become. So I would say stop doing the research and build it like your mind is showing you.
     
  2. Chris333

    Chris333 TrainBoard Supporter

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  3. Delamaize

    Delamaize TrainBoard Member

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  4. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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  5. garethashenden

    garethashenden TrainBoard Member

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  6. Flashwave

    Flashwave TrainBoard Member

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    On a couple of unrelated notes, closing on the PC to COnrail era, there was a Michigan train that derailed on lousy track. rather than try to go fix it, PC just cut the connection and left the entire train there. It's possible, though a stretch, that the engine had been abandoned not because no one wanted it, but because the track was to the poitn of being worn out. With the mill seeing the writing on the wall, they had nursed the roadbed as best they could, but never pumped major money into it, and after they closed, the line just gave out. Or, it's on a line that the Mill traffic was keeping alive, and with the Mill closing, the railroad abandidned everything lock stock and barrel. There's a few boxcars that got "left" when the museum line had freight service discontinued. They are now a part of the warehouse hey used to serve.

    One other point: to my knowledge, and it could be flaky, but I don't think a 44ton is an ideal yard switcher, if you mean a freight yard. Not enough horseys. If it's a smaller transfer yard, or a shortline, then I could be entirely wrong, too, but I think of Pittsburgh as having large yards require three loco lashups to drill trains.
     
  7. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    Although NOT from a steel mill I found this in the Barstow museum on Friday. It had USMC markings, but I immediately thought of the steel mill.

    [​IMG]
     
  8. drewstrainrc

    drewstrainrc New Member

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    Any help would be appreciated

    I am trying to get together a nice and accurate layout of J&L Steel and both sides there of the Mon, but feel overwhelmed. I tend to jump from looking for layouts; looking at old 1960's pics of Aliquippa and such; trying to find pics of all the railroads (including Aliquippa & Southern J&L Steel Line); and finding ones on ebay to purchase.

    I would like to see if you can give me some pointers to stay on track and help push me in the right direction before I get frustrated.

    Also, If it would be easier to do this by email, let me know.
     
  9. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    Wow this is sure an old thread, I wasn’t sure if I should respond because I gave up on this project completely years ago. I instead just built a bridge with a lock over the Allegheny river and left out the steel mill because of the direction it was taking me. Plus I didn’t have the room to do it right.
    I'm sorry but I can't help you, maybe someone else could help you
     
  10. johnh

    johnh TrainBoard Member

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    Not sure you would have seen a PC SW8 in the 60s. Too soon after the merger for a repaint
     
  11. johnh

    johnh TrainBoard Member

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  12. dualgauge

    dualgauge TrainBoard Member

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    Looking at above site wonder what trucks are under Aliquippa & Southern RS11. Are not what came from ALCO.
    Dan
     
  13. PK

    PK TrainBoard Member

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    Not wanting to hijack this thread, but for great info on the Aliquippa & Southern and the J&L plant, I highly recommend the book Ghost Rails X Iron Phantoms by Wayne Cole. Well worth the price in my opinion. You have to mail a check to the author, but I received my copy in less than a week. A google search on the title will get you an order form.
     
  14. Jerry M. LaBoda

    Jerry M. LaBoda TrainBoard Supporter

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    About the only power you likely would see abandoned at a steel mill in the 1960s would be something like a GE 44T since all other power would be possible to sell once the plant shut down. BLW VO1000s, FM H12-44s, ALCO and EMD switchers all would be reasonable fodder in the 60s for resale and given the other steel mills in the area they would be picked up very fast. Only something like a 44T (or a GE 65T, made by placing the 44T cab and hoods onto a Bachmann 70T chassis and catwalk parts) would be likely not to be picked up... but a GE 70T would also be fair fodder for resale because they were comparable to an EMD SW1 in H.P. and pulling ability, would also sell quick, given a number of North East and New England GE 70Ts.
     
  15. Mike C

    Mike C TrainBoard Member

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