To put the roster in perspective to my operations it is going to be small. With the exception of a mixed train all the freight turns will have two locos for power. The roster is going to be cut down further by having power permanently assigned to the port facility and the sawmill. The small Mallet and the RS1 are my heavy haulers and primarily handle the mine and quarry, so I have ended up with enough power to run about 4 or 5 trains, which is exactly what I wanted. I tested running my 70 tonners in pairs spliced by a 44 tonner in the middle and they performed well on my previous 6% grades with 8 inch radius. Definitely a short line look with a narrow gauge flavor.
With the addition of two new 70 tonners my TCC roster is just about complete and I managed to decal them today. So this is what the power is going to look like on my trains. No big space eating locos but some small compact lashups to take the tight radius and grades on the main. And the unusual lashup will be able to take 30 or more cars upgrade. The 70 tonners retired two of the SW9s which will go into storage. Now I am just awaiting the Bandai passenger power and I am complete. 101_4891-1 by John M
And with everything being run as two and three unit sets that pretty much accounts for the roster of 22 locomotives with a few being permanently assigned as switchers, or at the engine house for service. No surplus setting around on this railroad.
Today I listed the steam that is excess on my roster and will never be run again because it is just too large for my downsized layouts and tighter curvature. It is a mix of old and new and some have only seen a test track. Some other than taken out of the boxes and drooled on have not seen a track. http://www.trainboard.com/highball/index.php?threads/downsizing-part-three-steam.92051/ I am busy in the process of getting ready for a move and all the crap that goes with it. So I will try to check the site daily. For you West coast folks remember I am four hours ahead of you and if it is 6PM there I am already in bed here being an old geezer and I'll get back to you the next AM.
The excess steam being offered on Swapmeet is now down to four steamers remaining, two 2-8-2s, one light 4-8-2, and the MiniTrix old timer.
The remaining steam locos have had a price reduction and are listed on my thread at Swapmeet. Scroll down to the last of the thread there for the relisting and new prices. Contact by PM is preferred if interested. The remaining steam locos are all sold and are either in shipment or awaiting shipment. I may be reducing the Turtle Creek diesel inventory of four of my RS-3s, the lone FM H16-44, and all of my SW units including spare parts if the new on order replacements work out. However that sale will not be until April or May.
Continue to adjust and downsize. Freight car fleet is reduced by about half and retaining only the cars that fit the era of 1945-50. Also very few 50 foot cars retained the majority now being 34 to 42 foot. Maintenance of Way has been reduced by about half and probably still too much remains. The new motive power fleet is as shown below with the exception of the four Shays. 100_4949 by John Moore posted Mar 28, 2016 at 9:37 AM The caboose fleet has been trimmed and is now what is shown. The five weird looking cars on the bottom right are three pickle cars from kits and two scratch built ones from 34 foot flats. The Bandai power units that are four axle powered are awaited, and should they test out satisfactory in performance then the last two LL SWs will be replaced. Their fast speed and troublesome electrical pick-up dooming them. Plus they don't run well with the lower geared slower performing steam and diesels. All the modern passenger power and equipment has been sold or put into storage.The fleet of 34 and 50 foot passenger has also been placed in storage with a few exceptions. The passenger and M of W remaining after the dust settled. 100_4950 by John Moore posted Mar 28, 2016 at 9:37 AM The top row of cars are my two scratch built RPOs and two 45 foot combines which will be run in mixed train service as mail and express on the Turtle Creek Central.Two scratch built excursion cars from 34 foot flatcars are also part of the retained passenger cars. The main passenger service will now be provided by the mini RDCs critters, the converted Bandai cars. Two more cars are coming which will give another cab car for two three car trains plus one two car train. Four more car cases hold the freight fleet plus two cardboard boxes of freight cars layered between sheets of bubble wrap. About three years ago I got rid of a lot of structures that would be too big on the layout and about a year ago I culled them again. Settled for engine houses of one and two stalls and the smaller Atlas Turntable for the rod steam. Most of the structures can fit into a 3 X 3 inch space with a couple of exceptions. Small rural type train stations are now part of my collection that those smaller passenger cars fit nicely at. Engine service facilities no longer include coaling towers as all my power is oil or diesel fueled. Water columns and a pump house are replacing most of my water tanks and an old tank car on blocks is fuel storage. A small sand house serves diesel and steam with a short covered hopper as sand storage. Downsizing is almost complete.
The steam sale is closed with all the locos at new homes, or going in the post tomorrow, and I am down to the steam that will be part of the Turtle Creek roster. Thanks to all that gave them new homes and new rails.
Thanks John. The locos I purchased from you have all looked and performed wonderfully and will continue to give pleasure to myself and to my family. Good luck with your move and your new railroad.
