Hi all.
Recently I have been poring over the excellent Burlington "Operating Data
Sheets" book, which the Society made available a couple years back, in an
attempt to get a handle on what some typical trains and their consists were
in order to more faithfully at least "suggest" prototypical train makeup on
my planned HO layout. The area to be modeled on my layout is part of the
double track main, and a fictional branch, "somewhere" between Chicago and
Galesburg. The era I am modeling is roughly the late 1960's, more
specifically would be late summer/early fall of 1969, but I am claiming
some modeler's license in that there will be a four unit FT set as well as
a VO-1000 occasionally in appearance.
Anyway, I have run into various terms and abbreviations in the Data Sheets
book and would respectfully ask the members of this list to help define
some of them.
The definitions needed are:
PHP
Dead Freight
Propers and Shorts
S.O.T.
A & C Mixed (on page 14)
I am using the info in the book to make a list of freight trains which
would be running through my modeled section of the line (passenger, mail
etc. comes next), as well as at the time of day my operations would be
taking place, which would be something like 6 am - 6 pm for a 12 hour
shift, I suppose. In other words, what would a typical "day in the life"
be in terms of trains running through my modeled part of the 'Q world.
I then went through my Burlington Route In Color books (thanks Mike S. & Al
H. for making them available, and yes, In Color, Volume 4 has been
ordered) trying to match as many of the pictures up with train numbers as
I could. This would possibly help me see what power was used on some of
these trains, as well as give a hint of what some of the consist actually
might look like. I was surprised I didn't find near as many as I thought I
would but I did learn one thing - in one of the books I read that the
freight train numbering system on the 'Q was changed in, I believe it said,
October of 1968. I am now wondering if someone on the list has, or could
point me to something which shows the old train numbers, as well as what
the new numbers for them became changed to. This would possibly help me
match some of the older dated pics where train numbers are mentioned to
their post October 1968 equivalents. Does any such thing exist?
Finally a couple more things I would like some clarification on:
Does "Connections", as used in the book, mean the same as "Interchange"
[with other RR]?
The term "Grouping", as used on the data sheets, I am ASSuming means
"Blocking" - am I correct?
I have noticed the data sheets specifying that TOFC cars be placed before
the waycar many times under Grouping, but in most of the photos in the
Color books where TOFC is in evidence, the cars are behind the motors. Can
anyone shed some light on what appears to be a discrepancy?
Where would one find a list of actual, or at least typical freight cars
used on these trains? Am I correct that this is what as meant as the
"consist" of a train? This is not a necessity but would be interesting to
see exactly what cars were used and who their owners were on some of these
trains. Is such a list available?
Well I am sure I will have some more questions for you all as my research
progresses but that's probably enough for now. This has proven very
entertaining and rewarding for me and I look forward to seeing how far I
can go with it, as far as obtaining info. Many thanks in advance to all
who respond, on list or privately.
Paul Kossart - Peru, Illinois, USA
Modeling the CB&Q & fictional Illiniwek River Valley area in the 1960's.
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"Serving Agriculture and Industry in the Illiniwek River Valley since 1904."
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