Post by NCCR 2580 on Dec 29, 2008 7:11:30 GMT -5
On the topic of modeling short lines ect, This would be a great modeling choice. The Georgia & Florida Railnet rosters a unique set of locomotives from GE and EMD.
The Georgia & Florida operates former Southern/NS trackage from Albany to Sparks and trackage rights on to Valdosta.
They also service a branch there. Among branches, the line from Adel Ga. off of the NS main two miles south of Sparks, the road runs this line to Foley Florida. This line is restricted to ten miles per hour and is a true branch line operation. GFRR keeps two units in Adel for this Assignment. The power for this job is mix between two GP40-Ls and two former B&M/GRS GP40-2s. Sometimes mixed. Back out of Albany to the south, The road operates the former CSX line to Thomasville Ga. which is where a connection is made with CSX. Most all local industries in Albany are served by the GFRR. Most notable is the Miller Brewery located on the old Air Force base. A local yard job handles all work from here and builds GF87's train. GF87 which operates five days a week is dedicated to all production from this plant. All Miller traffic is taken to the NS and on to the FEC for points south. In recent years since 2003, GF87 has picked up more traffic in the form of aggregates, chips and general freight which are worked around Moultrie half way between Albany and Sparks. GFRR also bases a local, GF8 out of Moultrie. Sometimes GF87's train requires three units instead of the normal two. Again, The mix of GP40-s normally holds this assignment down. The power for the Moultrie, Adel and Valdosta jobs is also ferried on GF87.
Most traffic is interchange with NS in Albany. The NS runs from Macon Ga. once a day with most traffic being given to the GFRR. NS still runs high hood power on these trains, up to three units on their train consisting of any thing from GP38-2s to SD70s. Also a CSX coal train which uses NS trackage rights from CSX's Fitzgerald Sub is brought to the GFRR in Albany for a Georgia Power Generating station located on the south side of town on the Thomasville Line. GFRR normally cuts the train in two for the trip and sometimes uses the CSX ACs which brought the train in. The train and power lays over in the GFRR yard which is the old ACL facility. NS still uses their own former Central of Georgia yard.
As far as motive power, the road rosters three GE B23-7s, four GP40-2Ls, several former IC GP10s, several ex MILW GP10s in red (5000s) and four former B&M/GRS GP40-2s. Most of the time there is also a few leased units on the property in the form of HATX or HLCX GP38s. On my last day in Albany, There was red,silver and blue Rail America GP38 there that was of CN history.
A note worthy job for a modeler is GF8, The Moultrie Local. It uses a pair of GP10s for normal power and also features a ex BN wide vision caboose with no windows patched. The only patch is a small CSP reporting mark. This is used for shoving jobs around town. There are two lines through Moultrie, The old and the new. The old which crosses a creek had the bridge washed out and it was never rebuilt. So to access other customers. It must reverse for several miles around to Shley Jct. From being on the old MILW GP10s (the 5000s), MILW called them GP20s. I was shocked to find out they still had the old brake system and never been upgraded to 24L configuration. The control stands were still 1950s era! But these things were great pullers and had plenty of floor space, So the crews liked them. The GF8 job handles general freight for local customers, chips and aggregates.
One more note worthy subject. Anytime NS has a miss hap on the GS&F District between Macon and Sparks such as a derailment, They reroute their trains via the GFRR from Sparks to Albany where they can reach home rails for the trip on to Macon via the former CofG. So this short line operation has been host to the Triple Crown trains 264 and 251 more than once. The main line between Albany and the NS in Sparks is all welded rail and good for 40mph. Dark territory... No sidings... Southern railway completely rebuilt this trackage in the mid 70s and NS kept it up pretty good. The only rough rides you really get is in the extreme hot south Georgia summers. You get those pesky heat kinks which by FRA ruling you must subtract 10mph from the posted speed limit. One dumb ass question was asked to me one day, Quote: Well, what do you do if the speed limit is ten? end quote
It simply doas not apply obviously!
So for a model railroader, This could be quite a operation and one could have a diverse mix of power, New and old.
For the most notable power, The former Sou/NS B23-7s. They went through the LRC rebuild center and lost their high short hoods. During this time the short hood became the front with a normal operating cab. This was basic chop of the existing hood. Refer to photos. After a stint on the CSP, They found a new home on Railnet's GFRR based out of Albany Ga. They were regular power on train GF87 which became NS 087 once hitting the NS main in Sparks Ga. for the trip to Valdosta and return. They have since been displaced to yard and local assignments by two new to the railroad rebuilt ex CN GP40-2Ls. There are a total of four GP40-2Ls. All in the green scheme. The GE's still retained there CSP colors of yellow and green but with GFRR heralds on the cab sides.
The Georgia & Florida operates former Southern/NS trackage from Albany to Sparks and trackage rights on to Valdosta.
They also service a branch there. Among branches, the line from Adel Ga. off of the NS main two miles south of Sparks, the road runs this line to Foley Florida. This line is restricted to ten miles per hour and is a true branch line operation. GFRR keeps two units in Adel for this Assignment. The power for this job is mix between two GP40-Ls and two former B&M/GRS GP40-2s. Sometimes mixed. Back out of Albany to the south, The road operates the former CSX line to Thomasville Ga. which is where a connection is made with CSX. Most all local industries in Albany are served by the GFRR. Most notable is the Miller Brewery located on the old Air Force base. A local yard job handles all work from here and builds GF87's train. GF87 which operates five days a week is dedicated to all production from this plant. All Miller traffic is taken to the NS and on to the FEC for points south. In recent years since 2003, GF87 has picked up more traffic in the form of aggregates, chips and general freight which are worked around Moultrie half way between Albany and Sparks. GFRR also bases a local, GF8 out of Moultrie. Sometimes GF87's train requires three units instead of the normal two. Again, The mix of GP40-s normally holds this assignment down. The power for the Moultrie, Adel and Valdosta jobs is also ferried on GF87.
Most traffic is interchange with NS in Albany. The NS runs from Macon Ga. once a day with most traffic being given to the GFRR. NS still runs high hood power on these trains, up to three units on their train consisting of any thing from GP38-2s to SD70s. Also a CSX coal train which uses NS trackage rights from CSX's Fitzgerald Sub is brought to the GFRR in Albany for a Georgia Power Generating station located on the south side of town on the Thomasville Line. GFRR normally cuts the train in two for the trip and sometimes uses the CSX ACs which brought the train in. The train and power lays over in the GFRR yard which is the old ACL facility. NS still uses their own former Central of Georgia yard.
As far as motive power, the road rosters three GE B23-7s, four GP40-2Ls, several former IC GP10s, several ex MILW GP10s in red (5000s) and four former B&M/GRS GP40-2s. Most of the time there is also a few leased units on the property in the form of HATX or HLCX GP38s. On my last day in Albany, There was red,silver and blue Rail America GP38 there that was of CN history.
A note worthy job for a modeler is GF8, The Moultrie Local. It uses a pair of GP10s for normal power and also features a ex BN wide vision caboose with no windows patched. The only patch is a small CSP reporting mark. This is used for shoving jobs around town. There are two lines through Moultrie, The old and the new. The old which crosses a creek had the bridge washed out and it was never rebuilt. So to access other customers. It must reverse for several miles around to Shley Jct. From being on the old MILW GP10s (the 5000s), MILW called them GP20s. I was shocked to find out they still had the old brake system and never been upgraded to 24L configuration. The control stands were still 1950s era! But these things were great pullers and had plenty of floor space, So the crews liked them. The GF8 job handles general freight for local customers, chips and aggregates.
One more note worthy subject. Anytime NS has a miss hap on the GS&F District between Macon and Sparks such as a derailment, They reroute their trains via the GFRR from Sparks to Albany where they can reach home rails for the trip on to Macon via the former CofG. So this short line operation has been host to the Triple Crown trains 264 and 251 more than once. The main line between Albany and the NS in Sparks is all welded rail and good for 40mph. Dark territory... No sidings... Southern railway completely rebuilt this trackage in the mid 70s and NS kept it up pretty good. The only rough rides you really get is in the extreme hot south Georgia summers. You get those pesky heat kinks which by FRA ruling you must subtract 10mph from the posted speed limit. One dumb ass question was asked to me one day, Quote: Well, what do you do if the speed limit is ten? end quote
It simply doas not apply obviously!
So for a model railroader, This could be quite a operation and one could have a diverse mix of power, New and old.
For the most notable power, The former Sou/NS B23-7s. They went through the LRC rebuild center and lost their high short hoods. During this time the short hood became the front with a normal operating cab. This was basic chop of the existing hood. Refer to photos. After a stint on the CSP, They found a new home on Railnet's GFRR based out of Albany Ga. They were regular power on train GF87 which became NS 087 once hitting the NS main in Sparks Ga. for the trip to Valdosta and return. They have since been displaced to yard and local assignments by two new to the railroad rebuilt ex CN GP40-2Ls. There are a total of four GP40-2Ls. All in the green scheme. The GE's still retained there CSP colors of yellow and green but with GFRR heralds on the cab sides.
