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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 29, 2024 18:08:43 GMT
Hello,
Well I resisted as long as I could but I have now gone down the wood reefer rabbit hole. Most of my engines are not of that era.
Any thoughts on the type of steamer that would be best to head up this sort of train?
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Post by superwarp1 on Aug 29, 2024 18:20:44 GMT
Do you care which road they are from? Any steamer from the 20's through the 30's will do. B&A or B&M berkshire, any mikado, ten wheelers, consolidations, or moguls. For the most part any steamer during or post WWII would not have pulled wood sided reefers. I think most were go by then.
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Post by josef on Aug 29, 2024 18:55:12 GMT
I have a tendency toward 2-8-0 engines for long hauling and 0-6-0 for switching in that era of wood reefers.
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Post by david1 on Aug 29, 2024 19:02:42 GMT
I have about 30 reefers From MTH and AtlasO and I run them with my Legacy Mikado.
As said above almost any pre war steam locomotive pulled reefer blocks one time or another. Its up to you!!.
Dave
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Post by superwarp1 on Aug 29, 2024 19:06:44 GMT
I'll add NYC L1 or L2 Mohawks. so early 4-8-2
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Post by runamuckchuck on Aug 29, 2024 20:44:19 GMT
Thanks to all for your replies. As I had no idea of era correct engines every suggestion is of value. I will hone in on my decision and since road name is not critical, we can all be surprised at what I end up using!
Road name wise I am leaning towards one of the excursion RRs that run one of the type of engines suggested. I pretty much know what my choices are here in the Mid Atlantic., however since I am looking at reefers from all over the country.
Any road name suggestions around the country available from MTH or Lionel that I should consider?
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Post by josef on Aug 29, 2024 22:37:37 GMT
Thanks to all for your replies. As I had no idea of era correct engines every suggestion is of value. I will hone in on my decision and since road name is not critical, we can all be surprised at what I end up using! Road name wise I am leaning towards one of the excursion RRs that run one of the type of engines suggested. I pretty much know what my choices are here in the Mid Atlantic., however since I am looking at reefers from all over the country. Any road name suggestions around the country available from MTH or Lionel that I should consider? This may help why I considered my 2-8-0s as my favorite engines and ran all the way into the mid 50s.
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Post by quietman on Sept 5, 2024 12:34:13 GMT
For pulling power you'd want to stick with an x-8-x arrangement. With typically heavier weight than an x-6-x arrangement, you'll be happier. For "period correct" it would be a Consolidation, Mikado, or Mountain / Mohawk.
For normal speeds you'd want the 2-8-0 or 2-8-2. For a high speed long distance run, you'd want a 4-8-2 (although some would use a Heavy Pacific early on). The first 4-8-2's went into service in 1911, with them being very popular in the 1920's.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 5, 2024 12:56:35 GMT
Thanks once again to all those who responded with terrific useful intel for a person who is more into just running than the nuts and bolts of real trains as some of you obviously are. Based upon. my layout I believe the 2-8-0 is the sweet spot. Now I just have to select from the available road names available from MTH or Lionel. With so many of these woodside reefers advertising companies from the mid or further west something more old timey/rustic like Copper Canyon seems to be calling my name.
While I have nothing against beer/wine my primary interest lies more in commodities and agriculture. Cars with images rather than just old timey printing are preferred.
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Post by superwarp1 on Sept 5, 2024 13:45:59 GMT
Thanks once again to all those who responded with terrific useful intel for a person who is more into just running than the nuts and bolts of real trains as some of you obviously are. Based upon. my layout I believe the 2-8-0 is the sweet spot. Now I just have to select from the available road names available from MTH or Lionel. With so many of these woodside reefers advertising companies from the mid or further west something more old timey/rustic like Copper Canyon seems to be calling my name. While I have nothing against beer/wine my primary interest lies more in commodities and agriculture. Cars with images rather than just old timey printing are preferred. Why not AtlasO 2-8-0? Weaver tooling, comes with MTH PS3 electronics. Many road names. Supposed to be out this winter.
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Post by dennym57 on Sept 5, 2024 14:42:50 GMT
I like the K4 4-6-2. It's a powerful engine.
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Post by josef on Sept 5, 2024 15:07:45 GMT
I like the K4 4-6-2. It's a powerful engine. But remember 4-6-2s were mainly used for passenger service. It was the standard at its time for most passenger pulling engine for most Railroads that purchased it. If interested in a 4-6-2 I have 3 MTHs and willing to let one go. Super detailed.
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Sept 5, 2024 17:22:14 GMT
Depends on the train size.
Roads like the NKP, Erie, Lackawanna and other eastern roads used 4-8-4s, 2-8-4 or 4-8-2s on heavy, long reefer trains. They needed pulling power and speed as their contents were perishable after a short time, especially with iced reefers…
Tom
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Post by JDaddy on Sept 5, 2024 18:47:32 GMT
Don't forget the massive 2-10-10-2 Santa Fe locomotive. It pulled plenty of wood side reefers.
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Post by runamuckchuck on Sept 5, 2024 19:16:45 GMT
After much consideration a decision and purchase has been made.
Road Name first; the winner is Nickel Plate Road. Why you ask? During Vanderbilt's ownership, he barely kept the RR solvent which meant less traffic. Consequently the trains could run faster. The local press dubbed the Nickel Plate as the 'Meat Express Line' as each night six long meat trains ran and a couple of fruit trains during the day.*
Somebody ought to do a custom run' 'Meat Express Line' train with woodside reefers. Are you listening Mr. Muffin?
Next the engine type; 2-8-2 light Mikado USRA as it seemed to fall squarely in the middle of most of the suggestions, and my favorite almost local train store Sidetrack Hobbies had one NPK NIB. This engine will also fit comfortably within the limits of the layout.
Thanks again to one and all for your replies from which I learned interesting information in the course of researching your suggestions.
*paraphrased from Wikipedia
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