HO Scale Norfolk Southern Roster Help

Sd70ACe1030 Jun 29, 2013

  1. Sd70ACe1030

    Sd70ACe1030 TrainBoard Member

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    I am collecting rolling stuock for a future layout that I will build. I currently have a small switching layout, but I already have all the engines and rolling stock that I need. I am wondering, as I have never before collected rolling stock for any real layout, what and how much I should aquire. The layout that I am refering to would be about 15x15 representing the Norfolk Southern's former PRR Middle Division mainline from Altoona, PA to Harrisburg, PA via the Horseshoe Curve. I will have a small yard, and the track plan will be taken from actual track charts. The main focus will be Harrisburg, and will run as a continuous mainline through the Curve. It will then go through a small staging yard before re-entering Harrisburg. I am huge fans of 12 of the 20 heritage units, and plan on getting at least those, the ES44AC's from Intermountain and the SD70ACe's ( oneof my two favorite modern-day locomotives) from Athearn Genesis. A large portion of the running (about 60%) I want to be coal drags, but if any of you experts out there think this is to high a percentage please let me know. Also, what should the length of my trains be? I am serious about only purchasing high-quality models, but I am money -pressed. I dont have much money to begin with, and I'm also collecting PRR 1950's equiptment. Thanks for the help!
     
  2. lars128

    lars128 TrainBoard Member

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    As a person that lives near and actively rail fans that area, I'd say you're too high on coal drags. It's probably more like 60% intermodal.

    I think for 15 x 15 it will be not an easy task to recreate Altoona to Harrisburg. Can't wait to see the track plan.
     
  3. SD40E2

    SD40E2 TrainBoard Member

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    I work the NS port road branch,from Baltimore to Harrisburg,60% coal would work on that route,as that is what comes to Balt.,but as LARS 128 says, much of what runs west out of Harrisburg is intermodal,with quite a bit of double-stacks.As far as power,usually we run two units on 130-car coal trains to/from Balt,I have not witnessed additional units added at Enola or Harrisburg,any coal trains I run into Harrisburg,(GI-8 as we call it,)we turn over to another crew at the fuel pad,so I couldn't tell you of any changes to the consist.15 x 15? you could probably run 15-20cars,so as not to have lead eng. chasing marker.
     
  4. Sd70ACe1030

    Sd70ACe1030 TrainBoard Member

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    When I think about it and do some research I find that you're totally right, there's a large amount of intermodal traffic, and coal traffic has really declined the last few years. I am still working on a plan. I'm looking at a 3 track main. Even though the prototype (I believe) has a fourth track around the curve, I think that that's WAY to much trackage and I'll need massive isles to accommodate that many modelers. I plan on hqving the layout start at Harrisburg. Harrisburg is the main hub on the layout. It will have a classification yard with room to hold 10-20 car trains. There will also be a large engine facility, with room for how ever many engines I decide the layout needs, plus 5. This (I hope) will only take up one 15' wall. The layout will then traverse a bendy section of track through the forest before entering the curve on the third wall. It will go onto a large peninsula that will have somewhat large radii. I would like to have them no smaller than 36". The layout will then hook onto the fourth wall, which is un unsceniced staging yard. The door will be on this wall, and there will bee a duckunder. The layout then re-enters Harrisburg.
     
  5. dti406

    dti406 TrainBoard Member

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    The fourth track was pulled up during the Conrail Years so there are only three tracks around horseshoe anymore. Don't forget the Broadway goes thru in each direction hauled by Amtrack.

    Rick J
     
  6. lars128

    lars128 TrainBoard Member

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    For what your goals are, modeling Altoona may be easier to represent than Harrisburg. Rose yard has flat switching and if you're coming out of staging into Altoona you could tack on a helper at Altoona to go up the mountain. If you put a pretty steep grade up the curve and add some weight to your rolling stock you could have a very enjoyable representation of the east slope.
     
  7. Sd70ACe1030

    Sd70ACe1030 TrainBoard Member

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    Thats not a bad idea. I'm definately going to consider that.
     
  8. Sd70ACe1030

    Sd70ACe1030 TrainBoard Member

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    Does anyone know of any track charts on the former PRR Middle Div. from the modern day? I have some 1950's era ones but dont really want to follow the line on google earth that'll take forever. Also, what motive power should I have? I would like to have my yard tracks be able to hold 15-20 cars, so how many can I squeeze in? I will take this to figure out how many trains I can support. Ill say I want all but one of the yard tracks full and I'll have a local and 2 road freights on the main at least at all times. Also, what percentage of my traffic should be what? Autoracks, intermodal, and coal traffic should be the majority, right? As for engines, I'm mostly interested in A.C. traction SD70ACe's and ES44AC and SD40-2 High Hoods (they are fantastic). 12 of the heritage engines apeal to me, but if this makes up all of my roster it's not worth purchasing this many. Thanks for the input!
     
  9. lars128

    lars128 TrainBoard Member

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    J Alex Lang has a simple timetable. http://www.jalexlang.com/radio.html

    Here is another one I found. http://www.multimodalways.org/docs/...k Charts/NS Pgh Division Track Chart 2008.pdf

    Both are older and will not include the redone CP Altoona interlocking.

    Motive power should be C40-9Ws, C40-8Ws, ES44ACs, S70-2Ms, SD70ACEs, SD80MACs and a mix of older NS power. The helper pool consists of SD40Es which are de-rated SD50s. You need about 12 feet to hold 15 cars at 70 ft. You'll need a stub ended yard given your 15 ft and even then you will not have many tracks capable of holding 15 cars. Staging will be equally hard to do. A helix to under layout staging may work well or possibly do surround staging.
     
  10. Sd70ACe1030

    Sd70ACe1030 TrainBoard Member

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    You make a good point with the staging. I might add a second deck with stagind under the forested area and a helix under the curve. I'll draw this idea out a little later and I'll post a picture of it on this discussion. On regards to motive power, I already have 3 athearn RTR C40-9W's. Although not the best engines, I'm going to install sound and dcc in them and they'll be great. I am planning on getting at leaast 7 of the heritage units, so that covers most of the ES44AC and SD70ACe models. I'm going to get some MTH or Athearn (mabe 1 or 2) SD70M-2's. Both are nice, but I want to see them in person before I decide which I'm getting. Does anyone make SD40E models? I might also get some GP38/40 or SD40-2 High hood models.
     
  11. Sd70ACe1030

    Sd70ACe1030 TrainBoard Member

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    In fact maybe I'll just put Harrisburg or Altoona on a totally seperate level and not have it be continuous loop, though I'd have reverse loops at both ends.
     
  12. Sd70ACe1030

    Sd70ACe1030 TrainBoard Member

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    Here is a quick look at the path of the mainline and the benchwork that I'm thinking of. The horseshoe curve folds up as I'm planning this layout to go into a future bedroom. This layout will give me some nice oppertunities for helper power, and eventhough I'm going to only run short trains, the effect if fantastic. Also, if I build it well, I will also be able to run my 1940/50's pennsy power and cars on the layout. I plan to have a picture of Altoona Car Works on the backdrop at Altoona, but I will not actually model ACW.
     

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  13. lars128

    lars128 TrainBoard Member

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    SD50's will be your starting point for SD40Es. I suggest taking your trackplan thoughts over to the Layout Design discussion once you're ready to start planning.

    I will give my opinion on Harrisburg vs Altoona, though...

    Harrisburg is a true terminal town, with the Rockville Bridge being the bottleneck. There is a lot of wating at Harrisburg: waiting to get into Enola, waiting to come of the Buffalo line, waiting for a train to clear the wye's at Rockville's approaches, waiting on the bridge to get into Harrisburg yard and the fuel pad, etc. The beauty of Harrisburg is that it is a game of chess for the dispatcher. From a model enginner's standpoint, it could be pretty boring. There will be a lot of coming out of staging, waiting, and then terminating thier train in a yard. Waiting is a part of actual railroading; it's tolerable after just completing a 30 minute run, but not so much when for the majority of your running time you're doing anything but.

    Altoona is more of a helper terminal and it's pretty straighforward. Come into town, get your helper and make a run at the hill. I think it could be much more interesting in a smaller space as instead of trying to portray a 100 + mile run your goal as an operator is to safely get up or down the few miles from Altoona to Gallitzin. Add in the cutting in/out of helpers and special operating procedures of the New Portage Tunnel and you could pack in a lot excitement in a relatively small space. You will lose yard activity, but the smaller Rose yard would scale down much better to a 15 ft space.
     
  14. Sd70ACe1030

    Sd70ACe1030 TrainBoard Member

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    Ya, you make some good points. I think I'll make my layout's base Altoona, and have the reverse loop look like Galitzen.
     
  15. SD40E2

    SD40E2 TrainBoard Member

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    You are so right,LARS128,I've arrived at CP PAXTON,coming off the Royalton branch,with 4 hours on duty time left,and ended up being relieved right there after sitting there the whole time.It can be a nightmare at times getting in to Harrisburg yard,and it has also happened in Enola too.I've had days where it could take 5-6 hours to get out, depending on traffic and Y/M.
     
  16. Sd70ACe1030

    Sd70ACe1030 TrainBoard Member

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    That is a long wait! I got my C40-9W's and they are absolutely gorgeous! after I install dcc and working ditch light they'll be perfect.I plan on some heritage units soon, the N&W, Interstate ones look fantastic together, I love the Pelver Blue color. What rolling stock do I need? Some BLMA or Walthers TopGon hoppers, some autoracks and double stacks, what do I need? Here's another cool layout idea that I dont know if I can incorperate into this layout; interchanges with Pan Am Railways and maybe Providence & Worchester, with some NorthEast Corridore Action. Probably wont work on this layout unless I made this the focus. It's an interesting thought though, since I'll be operating the layout alone sometines.
     
  17. SD40E2

    SD40E2 TrainBoard Member

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    You can run a mix of anything on manifest trains,BLMA topgons are plentiful on many coal trains,but lately they are starting to be replaced by aluminum gons and newer black 3-bay coal hoppers built in the last 3-4 years.Getting harder to see solid trains of topgons lately.Intermodals can be a mix of flats and doublestacks.autoracks on my route are usually on 33A/WB,34AEB,mixed in with boxcars, covered hoppers,tankcars,lumber flats,60'&89' flats with tractors,dozers,(those go to Russia)&gons.Hope that helps for rolling stock.
     

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