Redrawing Midland Belt lines

[deez]

My freelance Midland Belt has always been an 80's Southern California line. It's been hard to place it with the Santa Fe, UP and SP already crowding the So Cal. scene. I have a little room with mainly ex Pacific Electric "citrus" lines both for passenger and freight. I think this is where the "unique and interesting twist" I've wanted comes into play. 
My roster has always been a jumble of the EMD diesels I like. Being mostly medium horsepower road switchers. I've realized that I need a better fitting diesel stable for a low budget shortline on mostly older jointed rail. This kinda means lighter and smaller "Geeps" since I'm going EMD of course. There may be room for a few Alcos idk yet lol. It's 80's California and this state wasn't exactly too friendly to the type. 
What I,m thinking is good old 50's & 60's 4 axle Geeps. The MB started in the early 50's buying lines from SP and the first new locomotive purchasing in the form of GP7's. 2 cab and 2 steam equipped B units for the light passenger operations still in use. Later ordering GP9's, GP18's, and 20's in small quantities all with low hoods. Throw in a few torpeedo boats for passenger service and B units also. The GP20's were ordered more for the growing hauler service in and out of the inland empire. The GP30's came next and with that purchase came more B units with steam generators too. There are also 4 SD9's for heavier service and haulers. MB tried out some SDP35's but they are mostly used in hauler service now along with some SD39's and a quartet of SD45's and latest are 4 ex UP SD40X demos and maybe some ex SF SD26's. 
Im not sure weather I want GP35's or GP28's yet but one model will join the roster for sure. The only newer 4 axle models on the roster will be a few GP39-2's and some GP39X's. 
The paint scheme will be a mix of three of my faves. Rock Island early Maroon color bodies with Santa Fe style silver zebra stripes on the whole face of the locomotive, the long hood ends and pilots. "Zebra'ed" sills and maybe even fuel tanks. And silver trucks. Later paint will be black bodies with the silver stripes. 
The "Midland Belt" font will be the type used on CB&Q "Burlington" font I gues lol. I'm thinking the GP39X's will come in all silver with black zebra stripes and Italic "Midland Belt" on the sides. 
Thats it for now. I have a healthy stable of Kato GP35's to build from just need to collect some Proto early Geeps. 
Let me know what you think. 

[Deleted]

Interesting plan can't wait for more updates

[spike]

How about no GP20, but stick to the GP18, which is the lower powered sister. Big Dawg has GP28 shells. This was the smaller sister of the GP35.

In the later period, the GP38 would work. With the oil crisis, the GP39, or even GP15 would be good. I know that you mentioned SD39, or even some SD9s would be good for big drags. Their only drawback is that they couldn't go into tight industrial tracks. Just remember that the cars were much lighter back then. Many class 1 lines were hauling big trains with 4 axle units then. Look at WP, D&RGW, and B&M. All had mountains, and 2 out of the 3 mentioned had no 6 axles. D&H had lots of mountains, but stopping buying 6 axles, and concentrated more on go anywhere 4 axles.

[MitchGDRMCo]

Apr 2, 2017 15:04:31 GMT -5 spike said:

Big Dawg has GP28 shells.

Wonder who they copied that off.

As for the Midland Belt I'm keen to see more, I quite like these smaller RR concepts as they lend a bit of individuality.

[spike]

I don't know what the politics is behind the disdain for Dawg. I was just pointing out that a heavy switching line wouldn't need high horsepower units. A good example is the US Steel roads. GP38s, and low powered SD units, for transfers.

The concept of this plan is very appealing. I'd use some geeps, switchers, and maybe some cow and calf sets. Smaller SD units, like SD 7, 9, 18, 28, 38, and 39 would be perfect.

[deez]

Thanks for the comments guys. As for the switchers I've tried to get myself more into the first gen EMD's which could make sense for an 80's shortline but I'm still on the fence even after this write up lol. What I was thinking for the light passenger service was a steam boiler equipped SD9 or SDP35 on one end of a 2 to 4 car train and a single GP30/35 on the other end to get up to speed & stop quicker. Medium horse power turbo EMD's are my favorite. So the 39's will always be on my roster. GP and SD. When I get to thinking I want to use first gen EMD's I just end up with a roster that feels to me more transitional era. The GP18's and 28's I do like also but I can easily go turbo again with a small stable of GP15T's.
Also there is no way on earth I will throw $35 bucks in the trash for a BD shell when there isn't a 35 line Ho diesel that even compares to a Kato GP35. I've got plenty already. In fact I will build my late radiator UP style SDP35's with Kato GP35's and Atlas drives.

[MitchGDRMCo]

I wouldn't bother with 2 locos on the passenger service, a single SDP35 would suffice.

[deez]

I remember reading somewhere that one railroad was using two locomotives on small passenger runs for power. One being and older unit that happened to be steam boiler equipped and another 4 axle unit to help get the train up to speed and stop faster on a multiple stop run. The two locomotives could be coupled together or one at each end of the train. I like this idea. My units will be equipped with the multi headlight setup seen on ACL and IC units from the 60's using a standard EMD vertical twin nose headlight and a Mars type on the cab with one gyrating and one red. My railroad will use the red to signify that it is the end locomotive and not the front unit. I reall like these units with the light shows.

[Deleted]

Liking the light plan on the power

[coaldog]

Anymore updates.

[deez]

I haven’t done anything lately on my own “Midland Belt” units. Idk what I’m going to do with it for now. But I am working on other diesels.

[largemike]

You might also consider a steam generator car for your passenger train, eliminating the 2nd diesel. Something like an ex-CN, GN, etc., heater car. This way you could run a higher horsepower loco for power giving you the quick starts needed.

Large Mike

[spike]

I think EMD MP15 would be a good bet. ex CN GMD1 would be good too. Keep to the simple units, which would be easier for a small road to maintain. Chopped nose geeps could work out well too. Precision National was leasing them. Many of the 1980s startups had them, like Iowa Interstate, and Chicago Central and Pacific. With your CA locale, CF7 would be good too.

[deez]

Switchers would probably make the most sense for the trackage. But I’m not a big switcher fan. If I did throw in a switcher it would definitely be an MP15AC or DC. Throw away locomotives from neighboring railroads are what I like. I do have some Atlas SD26’s I’d like to put on my roster. Perfect mid 80’s buy for the MB. CF7’s are a thought also.

[Deleted]

Any further progress Deez.