My freelanced railroad - The Ohio Valley

[chessie77]

Hello, I posted a few notes on my Ohio Valley railroad on various other threads. It started of as a pure freelanced idea in 1979 and was set in the current year. I stopped advancing the era in 1996 as I felt I couldn't justify the Alcos on the roster any later. I gout of the hobby or a few years and I've started over. The Ohio Valley is now set in 1975-76. It is part of the Chessie System railroads now. It runs from Ashland, Ky. to St. Louis with a line to Memphis then to Little Rock. Other lines run from St. Louis to Chicago and Detroit. and a line runs it eastern Ky to tap the coal fields there. The Ohio Valley was owned by the C&O starting in 1924. The C&O gained full control in 1933 and tried to merge it in 1949. The ICC let the own it but wouldn't allow a complete take over, so the OV remained independent but followed the C&Os lead in paint and operating practices. The locomotive department was still run in house. The OV started buying diesels in 1938 with Alco HH600s and HH900s. The OV was an all Alco/FM railroad until 1953 with the purchase of 20 SW1s, then in 1956 more EMDs started arriving. The OV bought its last FM in 1957 and started buying GEs in 1964. They were loyal to Alco to the end, even transferring an order of C636s to MLW as M636s with HiAd trucks. The following roster is set at the end of 1975.

Ohio Valley Locomotive Roster Dec. 1975:

Road Nos. Type Qty. Yr. blt. Notes

200 GP40-2p1 1 1975 Bicentennial unit
1484-1499 PA3m 3 1953 ex 4111-4127 re#1969-70
1800-1809 U18B 10 1973 AAR trucks
1810-1819 U18B 10 1974 FB-2 trucks
1841-1864 SD9p2 24 1956-57 ex 6900-6923 re#1963
1865-1875 SD9p3 11 1958 ex 6924-6934 re#1963
1877-1882 SD9p3 6 1958 ex 6936-6941 re#1963
1883-1898 SD9p4 16 1959 ex 6942-6957 re#1963
1899 SD9p3 1 1958 ex 1876 re#1963, ex 6935
re#1975
2017-2040 RSD12 24 1956,59 ex 6710-6733 re#1966
2041-2048 RSD33 8 1963 ex 6734-6741 re#1966
2061-2084 RSD15 24 1957-58 ex 6812-6835 re#1968
2084-2092 RSD15 8 1960 ex 6836-6843 re#1968
2093-2098 RSD15 6 1962 ex 6844-6849 re#1966
low hood
2104-2113 C630 10 1967 HiAd trucks
2114-2128 C636 15 1968
2129-2143 M636 15 1969 HiAd trucks
2144-2146 C636 3 1968 Alco demos bought 1969
2200-2219 U23C 20 1972
2250-2273 H24-66 21 1956-57
2330-2349 U23B 20 1970-71 AAR trucks
2350-2359 U23B 10 1975 FB-2 trucks
2400-2409 RS27 10 1962 ex 2400-2409 re#1964
2410-2419 C424p1 10 1963 ex 2410-2419 re#1964
2420-2429 C424p2 10 1964 ex 2420-2429 re#1964
2430-2439 C425p1 10 1964
2440-2449 C425p2a 10 1965
2450-2469 C425p2b 20 1965-66
2470-2479 C428 10 1966
2600-2608 U25C 9 1964-65
2609-2613 U28Cp1 5 1966
2614-2618 U28Cp2 5 1966
2800-2805 C624u 6 1963
2806-2820 C628 15 1964
2821-2824 C628 4 1965
2825-2934 C628 10 1966
2835-2844 C630 10 1966
3048-3059 GP30p2 12 1963 AAR trucks
3200-3209 RS32 10 1961 high hood
3210-3219 RS32 10 1962 low hood
3220-3249 C420 30 1966-67
3250-3259 C420 10 1968 HiAd trucks
3313-3324 U36C 12 1974 HiAd trucks
3350-3359 U34CH 10 1975 HiAd trucks
3481-3499 GP35p2c 19 1966 canceled SP order
3585-3594 GP35p2c 5 1965 AAR trucks
3595-3599 GP35p2c 5 1966 canceled SP order
3666-3670 GP40P 5 1968
3676-3683 GP40-2p1 8 1975
3920-3929 GP39p1 10 1970
3930-3949 GP39p2 20 1971
4300-4309 C430 10 1967 AAR trucks
4310-4319 C430 10 1968 HiAd trucks
4700-4709 H12-44 10 1955
4710-4729 S4 20 1955
4730-4769 S6 39 1956-57
4770-4789 T6 20 1958-59
4790-4799 T6 10 1966 AAR trucks
4830-4839 GP38p2 10 1970
4840-4849 GP38-2p1 10 1972
4857-4879 S3 21 1950-52
4880-4899 SW1 19 1953
4910-4949 S2 9 1941-48
5116-5133 RS1 16 1953
5134-5169 S4 36 1953-54
5170-5199 H12-44 18 1954
5380-5399 RSD5m 20 1955
5410-5449 H16-44 9 1950-52
5450-5499 H16-44 26 1953-56
5500-5509 C415 10 1967 AAR trucks
5510-5514 C415 5 1968 HiAd trucks
5515-5529 SW1500 15 1969
5530-5539 SW1500 10 1972
5540-5559 MP15DC 20 1974
5560-5575 MP15AC 16 1975
5602-5679 RS3m 71 1955-56
5680-5699 RS11p1 18 1956
6264-6299 GP9p3b 36 1957-59
6300-6349 RS11p1 48 1957-58
6350-6399 RS11p2 50 1959-60
6700-6719 GP20 20 1960-61 ex 2000-2019 re#1966
high hood
6720-6729 GP20 10 1962 ex 2020-2029 re#1966
low hood
7100-7115 FPA2m 16 1955 ex 8100-8115 re#1970
reblt. 2000hp 1960-61
7116-7123 FPA4u 8 1959 ex 8116-8123 re#1970
uprated 2000hp 1960-61
7130-7134 FPA2m 5 1955 ex 8600-8604 re#1970
reblt. 2000hp 1960-61
7135-7138 FPA4u 4 1959 ex 8608-8611 re#1970
uprated 2000hp 1960-61
7144,7155 FA1m 2 1950 uprated 2000hp 1960-61
7186-7199 FA2m 14 1954-56 uprated 2000hp 1960-61
7319-7325 SD18 7 1963 ex 1819-1825 re#1970
7326-7333 SD28p1 8 1964 ex 1826-1833 re#1970
7334-7343 SD28p2 10 1965 ex 1834-1843 re#1970
7344-7349 SD38p2 6 1969 ex 1844-1849 re#1970
7350-7359 SD39p1 10 1970
7360-7374 SD39p2 15 1971
7380-7391 SD24p1 12 1958 ex 6880-6891 re#1970
7392-7397 SD24p2 6 1962 ex 6892-6897 re#1970
7441-7442 SD40X 2 1965 flared radiators
7443-7444 SD40X 2 1965
7605-7619 SD45p1 15 1969-70
7620-7634 SDP45p2 15 1971
7635-7649 SD45-2 15 1972 EL style fuel tanks
7650-7685 SD45T-2 36 1973-74
7700-7703 SD45X 4 1971
8016-8023 FP9 8 1959
8050-8055 FL9M 6 1960
8153-8162 U25Bp2b 10 1964 ex 2538-2547 re#1970
8163-8172 U25Bp3 10 1965 ex 2548-2557 re#1970
8173-8182 U25Bp4 10 1965 ex 2558-2567 re#1970
8183-8190 U28Bp1 8 1966 ex 2568-2575 re#1970
8191-8198 U28Bp2 8 1966 ex 2576-2583 re#1970
8300-8304 U30Bp1a 5 1967 ex 3100-3104 re#1970
8305-8309 U30Bp1b 5 1967 ex 3105-3109 re#1970
8310-8314 U30Bp2 5 1968 ex 3110-3114 re#1970
8315-8319 U30Bp3 5 1968 ex 3115-3119 re#1970
8320-8329 U30Bp3 10 1969 ex 3120-3129 re#1970
EMD trucks
8330-8339 U30Bp3 10 1975 FB-2 trucks
8600-8609 U33Bp2 10 1969 ex 3130-3139 re#1970
EMD trucks
8610-8629 U33Bp2 20 1970-71 AAR trucks
8630-8639 U33Bp2 10 1973 FB-2 trucks
8640-8643 U36B 4 1974 EMD trucks ex AT 4013-16
9630-9639 SW1200 10 1965-66 Flexicoil trucks

Well, there is the roster. I hope you all don't think it's too long of list. I would appreciate any comments and ideas that anyone has. Feel free to express any opinions. Thanks for looking.

David

[royalblue72]

As you absorb into Chessie, are you going to keep Chessie re-numbering practices?

[chessie77]

:)Yes, that's the idea of all the renumbering in the list. The SD9s were renumbered to follow the B&O SD7s and SD9s. The 1970 renumbering follow the C&Os for the proposed N&W merger which fell through. The U25/28Bs are numbered after the N&W's ex Wabash U25Bs, and the U30Bs are between the C&Os up coming U30B orders and the N&Ws U30Bs, with the OV U33Bs numbered after. The SD18/28s are after the C&Os SD18s also. The RS27/C424 renumbering are to avoid the Reading's switchers in the 2700 series. The SD45s are numbered after the RDGs SD45s. The Reading was controlled by the C&O/B&O during the 1960s and were cut loose at the formation of the Chessie System in real life, I haven't decided if the RDG is still part of the CS or not in my world.
I noticed a mistake in the list, the SD28s and SD38s should have been renumbered from the 1900 series not the 1800. Their previous numbers should have been SD28p1 (1900-1908), SD28p2 (1909-1918), and SD38p2 (1919-1924). It was late when I put up the list.

[royalblue72]

This is really comprehensive. Very cool. I take it you will be using a lot of C&O lettered Chessie Equipment as well as the OV. I am using a lot of B&O equipment with some C&O, WM and CNJ sprinkled in.

In my world, the CNJ was absorbed by the B&O Pre-Merger.

My railroad is the P&C or Potomac & Chesapeake. (the Royal Blue route from Washington,DC to Baltimore) I may re-letter my C630s and C430s for your OV.

[chessie77]

:)Yes, I plan on using a number of C&O units mainly, with a few B&O and some WM. I'd like to have a WM RS3 in black and a GP35, GP40p2, SD35 and SD40 in red/white, and two F7As in black and red/white. I've thought about even doing a RS3 in the red/white too, even though the real WM didn't paint any that way. I plan on a C&O C630 n the large C&O and one in Chessie. A SD40p2 in large C&O, a SD35 in the original paint, two GP40p2s in Chessie and large C&O, a GP35 in the original paint and large C&O, a GP30 in the original paint and large C&O, a RSD7 in the original paint and the simplified blue, and a RSD12 in the blue and the large C&O and 4 or 5 GP9s in various paint. I also want a few U30Bs, U23Bs, GP39s, GP40-2s. I want 2 B&O GP40p1, one in large B&O and one Chessie along with 2 GP40p2 the same. I plan on the gold GM50, 1977 and one other GP40-2p1 in Chessie. Also 2 GP9s, S4 and one GP30 in Chessie.
Of course this is along with collecting a representative fleet of OV locomotives and rolling stock. It's going to take me awhile. Right now I have a SW1500, C420, H16-44, SD45-2 to be painted and a C&O GP40-2p1. I have on order a C636 for the OV and a C&O C630. I mostly check EBay for good deals, I'm thinking of ordering 2 of the new Bowser C430s, one with AAR trucks (RDG) and one with HiAd (SCL). My plans are ambitious but they give me something to shoot for and i just slowly fill in what I can find in my price range. I'm saving for the C636 and C630 and my LHS has lay-away. I'm working on the SW1500 right now. I'll post pictures when I get all the details on it before I paint it. It will be in Chessie paint with OV lettering. The SD45-2 is next, it will be in Chessie also but I need to repair it. It needs new handrails and drive shafts. I got it on EBay for $56. It runs and the decoder and sound work. I plan on adding DCC and sound to the other locos as time and money permit.
Royalblue72 please feel free to add some OV units to your fleet. I would be honored by it. Any more ideas would also be appreciated.

[slowfreight]

That's a pretty big fleet. I was thinking LV- or CNJ-sized railroad from your commuter discussion. How big is the OV network?

[chessie77]

Well, the OV is on par wih the C&O and B&O. I'm going to try to upload a map. Hope this works.

[slowfreight]

Makes me think kind of a Wabash meets Monon meets L&N. That explains the big fleet. What part are you modeling?

[chessie77]

:)I'm thinking about central Ky from where the branch into E. Ky joins the main to maybe past Louisville. Depends on how much room I have. I want to model a locomotive shop complex. I want a complex similar to the C&O at Huntington, W.VA. and the Russell facilities. I like the loop track at Russell that goes under the yard throat. I want one to loop around the roundhouse and turn-table. It also gives me a reason to have more locomotives. I like the idea of some locomotives in various states of repair and being striped for parts.

[royalblue72]

This is a huge roster. How many locomotives are you planning on modeling? How large is your layout and how much of the system do you plan to model?

[chessie77]

I plan on modeling about 10% to 15% of the roster. My layout plans are in the future as I currently have no room for much, maybe a shelf style switching layout for now.

[royalblue72]

That's really funny. I have the same problem. I have a huge collection of locomotives and nowhere to run them. I'm actually thinking about modeling an engine terminal.

[chessie77]

:Dthat's why I am thinking of modeling a shop complex. I currently only have 5 locomotives with 4 on order, 2 cabooses, 3 freight cars and no passenger cars. Ten years ago when I was in N scale and modeling just the Chessie I had over 150 locomotives, almost 500 freight cars, 30 cabooses and 50 or so passenger cars. So I have a long way to go again.

[T]

David, Your loco roster reminds me of my childhood railroads EL and PC. And the early years of the BIG BLUE..

Tom

[royalblue72]

Nov 14, 2012 21:17:29 GMT -5 chessie77 said:

:Dthat's why I am thinking of modeling a shop complex. I currently only have 5 locomotives with 4 on order, 2 cabooses, 3 freight cars and no passenger cars. Ten years ago when I was in N scale and modeling just the Chessie I had over 150 locomotives, almost 500 freight cars, 30 cabooses and 50 or so passenger cars. So I have a long way to go again.

I really like the idea of a subsidiary road. I liked it so much that I will probably incorporate some of my own P&C stuff on my railroad. I have had it packed away for years. It's a few SD9s, Trainmasters and Tyco stuff that I turned into Dummys because I didn't know how to paint the Chessie scheme at the time. It actually represents the RF&P lines as a competing road that the B&O owned in attempting to move southward. I was 13 when I came up with the concept. Is your Bicentennial unit going to be sub-lettered for OV? I think it's cool that you're doing that.

[jaybrooks504]

I like your concept, I love your Alcos, Your line could have had Alco steam so they stayed with them as a locomotive supplier. The same could work for BLW & Lima hint hint ! My RR is the Texas Railroad and runs from Paris Tx to Houston Tx with some branches, it is controlled by the Fisco in 1965. I have Alco, BLW, FM & EMD but my RR went broke in the late 60,s or early 70,s.

[chessie77]

:DYes the Bicentennial unit #200 is going to be painted red, white, and blue, using the Chessie scheme as a basis. I want to have C&O (1776), B&O (1876), and a WM (1976) units as well. All GP40-2p1 units. As far as steam is concerned I thought of having USRA 2-6-6-2s, Hvy 2-8-2s, Lt and Hvy 2-10-2s and a few 2-8-8-2s, along with Hvy 4-6-2s and Lt and Hvy 4-8-2s for passenger and freight use. I also like the Lima 2-10-4 which the OV had 80 C&O copies built in 1937-1940 and an order of PRR copies (25) which they canceled in 1944 or 1945. I also thought of a few (40) 2-8-4s copied from the NKP and C&O (20 each style) but built by Alco. Also 15 4-6-6-4s built to UP specs during the war and 25 2-6-6-6s built in 1946 (last steam). Steam switchers were mainly 0-8-0s based on the USRA design. The last passenger engines were C&O design 4-6-4s (Baldwin 1944) and 4-8-4s (Lima 1944), these were classed as duel service units. I liked the idea of a freight 4-6-4 like the IC built. I want to get 2 BLI 2-10-4s someday and give the C&O version a Kanawha (2-8-4) front end look and do a similar job to the PRR one too. The PRR J1 will have a low headlight and angled number boards with a cast pilot like the C&O J3a 4-8-4s. No streamlined steam though, as the OV had already started dieseling its passenger trains with DL109s and Erie Builts.

[royalblue72]

This is really good stuff. This has inspired me to re-paint and detail some of my fleet to my Potomac and Chesapeake scheme. It is actually very similar to the B&O/C&O gothic scheme with an orange stripe instead of yellow. It also has orange end stripes. It's similar to Western Pacific's scheme only with Blue instead of Green. The lettering is yellow though. I'll post a paint job early next week.

It's impressive that you have gone back as far as steam. Nice roster.

[plowboy1970]

I buy private road names at train shows here and there. I have owned this for probably close to 10 years. From the roster it is not yours, but someone did it.

[chessie77]

:)That's interesting, your right it's not one of mine. My old locomotives that are out there somewhere are a Bachmann/Athearn GP30 with and experimental stripe ala D&H. Some older Atlas: 2 GP40's, 1 GP38, 1 SD35, 2 FP7s, 1 GP39(large OV), a kitbashed C36-7(large OV), a Tyco C630 with its original drive with the correct trucks(kitbashed low hood), an Athearn FP45 dummy(large OV), the rest were various C&O, B&O, WM or Chessie locomotives.