Hi everybody,
I thought I'd start a rather unusual thread. We have many railroads that are now fallen flags and many of us wish they were still around in the present. So, lets name our favorite carrier that became a fallen flag and say what we would do if it was around today under our control.
I'll start the thread.
My favorite common carriers were the Boston & Maine, Pennsylvania Railroad and Norfolk and Western and the Southern Pacific.
If I was in control of these 4 carriers I would employ steam locomotives to handle all movements. There would be more Cab Forwards in and around Donner Pass. There would be no F7 diesel electric locomotives. Electrification in the Bay Area would be extended to Sacremento, California with an interchange with the Sacremento Northern Railroad. Only commuter service would be handled by electric power. Freight and passenger trains would be steam hauled and only steam hauled. Diesels would only handle work trains and helper duties, when the Cab Forwards are busy pushing other trains or leading those trains up and down Donner Pass.
If I was in control of the N&W, I would employ steam power as far north as Detroit, Michigan via a jointly owned line with the Pennsylvania Railroad. The class Y 2-8-8-2s would handle only freight and helper duties and the A 2-6-6-4s would handle both passenger and coal trains. The J 4-8-4s of course, only in passenger service. The M 4-8-2s in both passenger and freight service and occasionaly in helper service. The S 0-8-0s also in helper service and switching duties, along with branch line service. The 4-8-0s would do any job.
On to the Boston & Maine...
4-6-2 "Pacific"s in both intercity and commuter. Branch line service on the big branch lines. 2-8-0s replaced by 2-8-2s for main line freight, while 2-8-0s handle branch line freights. 0-6-0s on small passenger and freight trains. As on the SP and N&W, no diesels.
Finally, the Pennsylvania Railroad...
Electrification would go to Pittsburgh and GG1s could hit western Pennsylvania. There would be a freight tunnel under the Hudson River and a freight yard in Queens where the Long Island Railroad would get freight cars daily from parent the PRR. Steam excursions would be every day and as on the B&M, N&W, and SP, no diesels. There would be as long as up to 3 mile freight trains and in some locations there would be trains as long as 4 miles long with double or triple headed J1 2-10-4s in freight service. The Pennsylvania Railroad would also have trackage to California via two new main lines. A Chicago to San Francisco main and a Chicago to Los Angeles main via an interlocking tower just outside of Chicago.
Plus lines in England and France and Africa, meaning international lines and more money or as I put it, more bang for your buffer. Longer passenger trains and permanently coupled passenger trains.
Back to the N&W, SP and B&M for a minute.
Just like PRR, they would have internationaly owned and operated lines as well, meaning more bang for your coupler.
Well, that's what I'd do to the PRR, N&W, SP, and B&M to make them succeed in the modern era or the present.
I thought I'd start a rather unusual thread. We have many railroads that are now fallen flags and many of us wish they were still around in the present. So, lets name our favorite carrier that became a fallen flag and say what we would do if it was around today under our control.
I'll start the thread.
My favorite common carriers were the Boston & Maine, Pennsylvania Railroad and Norfolk and Western and the Southern Pacific.
If I was in control of these 4 carriers I would employ steam locomotives to handle all movements. There would be more Cab Forwards in and around Donner Pass. There would be no F7 diesel electric locomotives. Electrification in the Bay Area would be extended to Sacremento, California with an interchange with the Sacremento Northern Railroad. Only commuter service would be handled by electric power. Freight and passenger trains would be steam hauled and only steam hauled. Diesels would only handle work trains and helper duties, when the Cab Forwards are busy pushing other trains or leading those trains up and down Donner Pass.
If I was in control of the N&W, I would employ steam power as far north as Detroit, Michigan via a jointly owned line with the Pennsylvania Railroad. The class Y 2-8-8-2s would handle only freight and helper duties and the A 2-6-6-4s would handle both passenger and coal trains. The J 4-8-4s of course, only in passenger service. The M 4-8-2s in both passenger and freight service and occasionaly in helper service. The S 0-8-0s also in helper service and switching duties, along with branch line service. The 4-8-0s would do any job.
On to the Boston & Maine...
4-6-2 "Pacific"s in both intercity and commuter. Branch line service on the big branch lines. 2-8-0s replaced by 2-8-2s for main line freight, while 2-8-0s handle branch line freights. 0-6-0s on small passenger and freight trains. As on the SP and N&W, no diesels.
Finally, the Pennsylvania Railroad...
Electrification would go to Pittsburgh and GG1s could hit western Pennsylvania. There would be a freight tunnel under the Hudson River and a freight yard in Queens where the Long Island Railroad would get freight cars daily from parent the PRR. Steam excursions would be every day and as on the B&M, N&W, and SP, no diesels. There would be as long as up to 3 mile freight trains and in some locations there would be trains as long as 4 miles long with double or triple headed J1 2-10-4s in freight service. The Pennsylvania Railroad would also have trackage to California via two new main lines. A Chicago to San Francisco main and a Chicago to Los Angeles main via an interlocking tower just outside of Chicago.
Plus lines in England and France and Africa, meaning international lines and more money or as I put it, more bang for your buffer. Longer passenger trains and permanently coupled passenger trains.
Back to the N&W, SP and B&M for a minute.
Just like PRR, they would have internationaly owned and operated lines as well, meaning more bang for your coupler.
Well, that's what I'd do to the PRR, N&W, SP, and B&M to make them succeed in the modern era or the present.