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Post by dak94dav on Nov 6, 2016 1:19:08 GMT -5
Rainy weather around the farm has given me plenty of free time to play around with an idea for my next layout. My favorite type of modeling is freelancing, but I also want something that has a genuine sense of realism. I decided that modeling a subsidiary as a freestanding, independent railroad might be just the ticket. I chose the Colorado and Southern, a part of the Burlington (and later Burlington Northern) system since the early 1900s. www.american-rails.com/images/colorado-and-southern-railway-map.jpg In my version of history, the C&S has remained a fully independent company and the year is 1988. Its Texas subsidiary Ft. Worth & Denver has remained a "paper road" until officially merged into the C&S in 1976. According to my story, the Colorado and Southern began to struggle financially in the early 1960s. By 1970, the railroad was hurting severely and would've probably went belly up within a couple years had it not been for the Powder River coal boom. The C&S proved to be a quick and convenient route for shipping coal from the Wyoming mines to power plants in Texas, as well as export via Galveston and the Gulf. By the 1980s, steady coal traffic and a growing intermodal industry had helped bring the C&S into a prosperous financial state. Here is the Colorado and Southern roster I've developed. Many of the locomotives I've chosen are examples that were actually owned by the real C&S. Others I added to fill in. Here are some examples of the paint scheme I've chosen on several different units. Electro-Motive SD40-2s are the most numerous units on the system. Some are equipped with Locotrol, hense the "snoot nose." Pre-1972 units. The SD40, U30C, and GP20 represent the minor differences of the paint scheme and lettering used from 1955 to 1971. Most of these units will be heavily weathered and faded. Starting with the GP20s of 1962 (the first low nose units on the system), cab faces were painted red. This practice ended with the first order of SD40-2s in 1972. The latest and greatest power on the C&S. These GP60s were purchased to handle growing intermodal business between Denver and the Gulf Coast. These units feature new lettering and silver trucks. The C&S will continue to use this new scheme on future orders. Like the Rio Grande and M-K-T, the Colorado and Southern purchased a handful of GP40s from Conrail in the early 1980s. They remained "patched" for a couple years before being rebuilt to Dash 2 specs and painted in C&S colors. Thanks for looking!
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Post by lyled1117 on Nov 6, 2016 9:15:53 GMT -5
Quite intriguing! I've been known to play with CBQ/BN history as well, and can understand your take on these. I'm curious as to why you went away from the Chinese scheme. Too identifiable as CB&Q? No reason to stick with it of course, just curious. If you have a 'healthy' railroad there could be new equipment from GE around too, like dash 7's and dash-8s. I do seem to recall that C&S was predominantly an EMD user, but there were some U-boat GE's around. Food for thought And depending on your spin of history, maybe some pool power like Northern Pacific SD60s because the BN merger didn't happen. (I've got one of those on my to-do list) Lyle
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Post by dak94dav on Nov 6, 2016 11:28:22 GMT -5
Thanks for the interest! You are correct, the Chinese Red is a very sharp scheme in my opinion, but I felt it just had too much Burlington flavor to represent my independent company. As for the GEs, I've only included a handful of them to represent a few purchased when EMD wasn't able to crank out SD40s or SD40-2s quick enough. But seeing as how GE was taking the market by storm in the 80s, I might change that. Maybe some standard cab Dash 8s in the new scheme.
That Northern Pacific SD60 would be sharp, I guarantee it! Do you model a modern version of a fallen flag?
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Post by lyled1117 on Nov 6, 2016 21:50:05 GMT -5
My "modeling" depends on the day of week! LOL My interests are somewhat focused, but not really related. For my CBQ/BN modeling, I like to say I model 1970 plus/minus 10 years which allows a lot of flexibility with rainbow mix of paint schemes. I play it pretty straight, but I did an SD90MAC in CB&Q blackbird when the RPP shell first came out. That's why I want to do the NP SD60, so the 90MAC has a pulling partner. I'm also doing some modern modeling with the Illinois Railnet/Railway (my icon). Also early 1950's Minneapolis & St Louis. Recent Bessemer & Lake Erie. Green Bay & Western. Texas & Pacific. Tomorrow I will remember other stuff I have on the project list.
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Post by dak94dav on Nov 7, 2016 10:22:26 GMT -5
Sounds like you're having fun, and that's the name of the game. My interests are varied too. I like the CB&Q/BN, the Nickel Plate Road, Southern Railway, Frisco, and Texas & Pacific as well to name a few of my favorites. But my most enjoyment comes from abusing history and coming up with my own versions of subsidiary railroads, like the Colorado and Southern. Some might cringe, but I'm having fun lol
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Post by up9018 on Nov 11, 2016 8:14:49 GMT -5
I like your concept and your roster. If I was to make one suggestion it would be that your new paint scheme needs a bit more than just silver trucks and a different font. Think about retaining the colors, but add something to give it more of a modern style. Like your idea, keep us up to date on it.
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Post by MitchGDRMCo on Nov 11, 2016 10:05:40 GMT -5
Not sure it matters as the only "modernising" UP has done is that little z in the red stripe.
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Post by dak94dav on Nov 11, 2016 12:58:20 GMT -5
Thanks! And yes, some other differences in paint scheme might make it stand out a little better. Not sure what I should change though.
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Post by up9018 on Nov 11, 2016 14:49:14 GMT -5
If you would like, I would throw you together an idea of what I was thinking. No commitment of course, just a suggestion.
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Post by dak94dav on Nov 11, 2016 15:21:34 GMT -5
Sounds great, I'm all ears!
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Post by up9018 on Nov 11, 2016 23:15:23 GMT -5
Here's my take. Your choice of GP60 for growing intermodal service was perfect. In my example, I changed from std. GP60 to GP60M and GP60B. Since you run from Denver to the Gulf Coast, the Eastbound trains would rate 3 locos, but the Westbound trains would rate 4. Therefore, the locos would be set up in 4 unit train sets in both directions. The timing was perfect for this order, as the Santa Fe has just put several of these locos in their intermodal fleet. So the C&S piggybacked onto their order and made up A-B-B-A train sets dedicated to intermodal service. I maintained your colors, and just configured them in a new scheme to help promote the C&S' new Premier Intermodal Service. Notice that the B-Unit just carries the colors in a simple line, and there is no roadname lettering on the B either. Also, put your herald on the nose of the A. This is just a rough idea, no details done in this example. Hope you enjoy, Chris
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Post by dak94dav on Nov 12, 2016 11:10:49 GMT -5
Sounds like a good idea! It seems that B-units would be a logical choice for sets of locomotives that are dedicated to one type of service, like special intermodal trains. But for some reason, the picture is not showing up. Only a blank square
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Post by up9018 on Nov 12, 2016 13:06:45 GMT -5
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Post by dak94dav on Nov 12, 2016 14:26:14 GMT -5
Man, that's sharp! I may have to try this one. I must say, a new fleet of those would be a heck of a marketing strategy for promoting a new intermodal service. It proves the Santa Fe really was on to something when they placed orders for theirs. Thanks man! I'm saving it to my files with the others. May even try the scheme on an SD75 or a Dash 9 to see what the C&S might look like in the 90s.
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osrr
Trainmaster
Posts: 130
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Post by osrr on Nov 15, 2016 12:49:15 GMT -5
This is simply my opinion but, maybe B unit's aren't that great of a choice? I say that because they unit doesn't have a cab (although it should have hostler controls). If you don't have a cabbed unit then a B unit is pretty much useless.
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Post by dak94dav on Nov 15, 2016 14:52:25 GMT -5
Hmmm that is true....
It probably won't come to that anyways, as I've been tweaking the roster and have pretty much decided on Phase II GP50s arriving in 1985 instead, and SD60s for coal service showing up in 1987-1988.
Model railroading is fun!
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Post by jmlaboda on Nov 15, 2016 15:42:54 GMT -5
I remember seeing where someone had freelanced the C&S with the units being painted in Chinese Red and black with the stylized "C" and "S" from Santa Fe boxcars being used to create a new emblem. Can't remember where exactly I saw it but the locomotives looked great in such a scheme.
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Post by up9018 on Nov 15, 2016 16:11:42 GMT -5
I'm glad you liked the paint idea. I have done a few for others and a couple of them have been used in the past.
The B-Unit is intended for a particular role, and they fulfill that role quite well. While the issue of not having a cab is a valid concern, railroads who bought B-Units had intended use for them and they weren't considered a genral use locomotive. Like my example of the Santa Fe setting up train sets consisting of A-B-B-A for it's intermodal service. The reason being is omitting the controls and cabs was a cost savings, and if you were always going to run 4 locos together, then that made sense. Coincidentally, since you mentioned using GP50s instead, the Santa Fe also had several of those set up as master-slave pairs, essentially turning one of the locos into a B unit.
One thing to consider with your coal service locos is substituting the SD60 for a GE 8-40C with a standard cab. Both locos were built at the time you are considering, but the GE had a higher horsepower rating (4,000 vs 3,800), and the SD60 initally suffered from the bad reputation of the SD50.
Chris
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Post by dak94dav on Nov 15, 2016 17:45:52 GMT -5
Maybe I'll run across that scheme someday, sounds like a good looking combination.
And yes, it is a classy scheme, Chris. I think I'm gonna try to work it onto my other units...maybe the GP50s on up. It will add some variety. And on the Dash 8s, perhaps my railroad could've split the order between those and the SD60s. I have the feeling I need some more GEs thrown into the mix anyways. Especially since they were rising to the top in the 1980s. Great info!
Dakota
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Post by up9018 on Nov 15, 2016 20:30:08 GMT -5
You could easily incorporate a pair of brand new polished 8-40Cs as test units on your railroad. Run them in service with a Dynometer car and that would make an interesting conversation piece.
Chris
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