GandyDancer
Member
We have seen lots of “what is your roster”, and what is the most “xxxx” locomotive, so I want to try something a bit different that requires a bit of thinking. So here it is, The Rad Roster Challenge.
The mission, if one decides to accept it, is to develop a roster for the railroad described. One can consider power needs, manufacturer, past history, aesthetics, economy, economics, marketing appeal, and even preference of the General Manager or President. The answer is a simple list of the era appropriate locomotives, quantity, and their assignments. The list is then followed by a brief description of why these locomotives were chosen.
Railroad -
The date is 1934. Geography is plains, max grade .04% and never more than 1/4 mile at a time. The railroad after struggling through hard times, makes a connection with a second class one. It is a trunk line which now happens to be the only connection between two Class 1 railroads for 200 miles in either direction. It is in the enviable position opposite of most railroads during the great depression, business is booming. It is getting enough interchange pass-through traffic for two through trains a day in each direction. The pass-through traffic is mostly merchandise with a few regional drag thrown in. No through coal or unit. Occasionally it will get a "hot" block of produce reefers, that get priority treatment so they don't have to be iced on-line.
The railroad now has its own interchange yard at each end of the system. There is locomotive servicing and storage at each end but there is only one locomotive shop. Likewise there are two connecting passenger trains in each direction each day (morning & evening).
The railroad is the sole provider of services in six small towns between the two large roads. There are the normal 1930s industries in almost each of these towns (pass station, freight house, team track, feed/seed store, cold storage, elevator, general merchandise row, and the less common fuel supply, warehouse, implement dealership, etc.). With the depressed economy these industries generate enough traffic for a tri-weekly local in each direction. There is one major industry (a textile mill) nearly dead center on the line that generates enough traffic for one train a day in each direction. This Textile mill is off the main far enough to almost be considered a branch.
Name that roster.
The mission, if one decides to accept it, is to develop a roster for the railroad described. One can consider power needs, manufacturer, past history, aesthetics, economy, economics, marketing appeal, and even preference of the General Manager or President. The answer is a simple list of the era appropriate locomotives, quantity, and their assignments. The list is then followed by a brief description of why these locomotives were chosen.
Railroad -
The date is 1934. Geography is plains, max grade .04% and never more than 1/4 mile at a time. The railroad after struggling through hard times, makes a connection with a second class one. It is a trunk line which now happens to be the only connection between two Class 1 railroads for 200 miles in either direction. It is in the enviable position opposite of most railroads during the great depression, business is booming. It is getting enough interchange pass-through traffic for two through trains a day in each direction. The pass-through traffic is mostly merchandise with a few regional drag thrown in. No through coal or unit. Occasionally it will get a "hot" block of produce reefers, that get priority treatment so they don't have to be iced on-line.
The railroad now has its own interchange yard at each end of the system. There is locomotive servicing and storage at each end but there is only one locomotive shop. Likewise there are two connecting passenger trains in each direction each day (morning & evening).
The railroad is the sole provider of services in six small towns between the two large roads. There are the normal 1930s industries in almost each of these towns (pass station, freight house, team track, feed/seed store, cold storage, elevator, general merchandise row, and the less common fuel supply, warehouse, implement dealership, etc.). With the depressed economy these industries generate enough traffic for a tri-weekly local in each direction. There is one major industry (a textile mill) nearly dead center on the line that generates enough traffic for one train a day in each direction. This Textile mill is off the main far enough to almost be considered a branch.
Name that roster.
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