I just finished repainting a set of MTH ex Virginian box cabs to Milwaukee Road. I'm using them for helper service over "the hill". They cut in to help another set of box cabs at the head of the train. Just wondering if anyone else has engines they use for helper service. Don




My layout in HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8__pRxVSyyw

I use two MTH Mikados for my incline and they look real good. By the way, where did you get the cat hanging under the poles? Looks real good


Paul

If I run a 60 car train on my layout I have to run helpers in the middle or the cars will pull over on the curves.

Using a pair of WILLIAMS F-7's in [snapper] helper service - YouTube

Paul, it's Marklin HO overhead wire. I made the poles. HO Marklin is over scale for HO but just about right for "O". All of the lines are powered and work very well. Don



My layout in HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8__pRxVSyyw

WOW Charlie, looks great. Love those long trains. I noticed you have a B&J auto dealership. I've got one also. Wish they were still in business. Don



My layout in HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8__pRxVSyyw

Great looking layout. How did you do your rock work.

...keep the rails polished...

I made and bought molds of real rock. It's all plaster. Don




My layout in HD: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8__pRxVSyyw

I use 3rd Rail decapods as snappers, as did the Pennsy. They are coupled to the rear of the steel-framed cabin car.



Here is a train on Horseshoe Curve with an N1s 2-10-2 on the point and a decapod snapper.

Nice shots Bob. I noticed your snapper is at the end. I wonder why Milwaukee put there helpers in the train? Also, Bob, why do they call it a snapper? thanks Don

Thanks Don. I don't know where the snapper term came from but Pennsy had their own terms for several things including cabin cars (cabooses on most other RR's). If the cabin had a steel underframe, they shoved against it. Reasons why Milwaukee put helpers in front of the caboose could have been that state law mandated them in that position, Milwaukee road policy was to place them there or perhaps some other reason. I'm sure you can find out with a little digging. I know the Pennsy had to deal with different laws in Ohio vs. Pennsylvania that resulted in modifications to some equipment (example: 4-wheel bobber cabin cars were prohibited under a 1913 Ohio law but these cars were used until 1950 in PA).

I place non powered units at about the 25 car point and place about 10-15 cars behind them.

I run a big boy
I don need no silly helpers

I use my Pennsy Centipede set and FF2 electric as pushers. Both scenarios have prototype precedent as PRR used both in pusher service, mostly from Altoona and Thorndale respectively.

Bob

A friend and I sometimes doublehead our K-Line scale Mikados on the museum layout. One of these days I am going to run a train at the museum with 60 or so cars with a 3- or 4-unit maroon and orange boxcab in front and a 2-unit black one in the middle, but I've so far been unwilling to spend the time to set it up for a 4-hour Sunday open house.

Speaking of Helpers, around here the UP and the BNSF run big diesel pushers behind trains a lot. It's pretty neat to see a Dash 9, or whatever, roaring past at the tail end of a train, its headlight shining to the rear. This could be easily replicated with a dummy unit.

I ran helpers during my TMCC demo days

quote:

Originally posted by Russell:
I run a big boy
I don need no silly helpers

How about another big boy?

quote:

If I run a 60 car train on my layout I have to run helpers in the middle or the cars will pull over on the curves.

On the railroads in my region, that's called "string lined". i.e. Like a pulling a draped rope tight.

One subdivision I worked had a 5 MPH curve so tight that if you were careless on the throttle you could string line empties off of it. I didn't, but one of our engineers did! He got three of them!

Andre Ming

quote:

a 5 MPH curve so tight

Is that in a valley or just an old line?

Andre - Off topic, but how are those leaves this year in Arkansas? We were supposed to ride the train this weekend but my mom got sick. So, we still haven't got to see you at work yet!

Today it's called distributed power, it's all computer controlled from the lead power unit, but it's still thrilling to hear the trailing power units wailing as a train enters an upgrade.

Modern railroading has its charms.

Jan

quote:

Originally posted by HiramO:
Today it's called distributed power, it's all computer controlled from the lead power unit, but it's still thrilling to hear the trailing power units wailing as a train enters an upgrade.

Modern railroading has its charms.

Jan

Indeed, it does....

quote:

Is that in a valley or just an old line?

Andre - Off topic, but how are those leaves this year in Arkansas? We were supposed to ride the train this weekend but my mom got sick. So, we still haven't got to see you at work yet!

Hi Greg:

That curve was on the Nashville Sub in southern Arkansas. It is the first curve heading toward Nashville after the line leaves the KCS connection yard at Ashdown, Arkansas.

The foliage was FABULOUS this year in the Ozarks. Last weekend the wife and I rode our dual sport motorcycles through the mountains around the Shores Lake area, and we saw some of the most colorful foliage ever.

Unfortunately, the leaves peaked a day or two afterward, and then the rain and wind of this week has taken its toll. There may still be some isolated color... but it won't be like last weekend. I can let you know this evening, for in a few minutes we'll be loading up and heading to the Ozarks again, this time on our Harley-Davidson Deuce!

Andre

Yep..

Y-3's over Raton Pass.

That is when the layout gets built again...