When I started up a short

When I started up a short line a few years ago our favorite locomotive was the SW 1500 with road (flexicoil) trucks for a smooth ride on rough track on short (10 miles) switching operations. These type of engines have great visibility with a high cab (so you can see your conductor 0,have a better view of road crossings over the front hood as well as clear vision when backing up and when equipped with shallow steps/stairs/air conditioning make a wonderful piece of equipment.

In another situation, where we had a longer daily run (60 miles) we had a pair of GP-15s, back to back (no turning facilities at either end) and they also made a compact set of road and switching power with their short wheel base and easy boarding steps. 

I came to really appreciate both of these favorites for dependability and ease of operation. You just can't beat a good EMD locomotive. 

Barry 

The loco you're looking for - German edition

Hi,

if you were modelling said line set in Germany you'd likely go for this little workhorse...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DR_Class_V_100

Lots of these and similar locos still around. For a very-short line you'd probably go for two numbers smaller:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DRG_Kleinlokomotive_Class_II

There is one intermediate size, a three-axle version of the first one (called "V 60").

Have fun!

Shortline

The loco markets would be different since 1980 is 35 years ago

What type of service?  How big of trains?  First off you have defined one criteria, MU capability (2x2 consists).  That rules out many switch engines back in the 1980's that would not have had MU (including most of the GE 44 tonners).

You wouldn't buy, you'd probably lease.  Cheaper and less liability because......

....  the lessor can be responsible for the maintenance, if a loco dies its their problem , if you own them its your problem.

1980's :  GP9, GP18, de turbo'd GP20, SW1000's, CF7's

Now :  SD40T-2's, SD40's, GP38-2, MP15, SW1500's

Here is a good example of a

Here is a good example of a real world short line roster. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locolist.aspx?id=GNRR. Based on this, my short line would probably select something like GP20 or 35 Locomotives. If an interchange yard was in the mix then I would consider adding a smaller But Head loco like an SW1001 or similar. In regards to paint and insignia. KISS. I have always been partial to schemes like the Arkansas Missouri Railroad.

....in my area (Tulsa OK)

....in my area (Tulsa OK) there are 4 shortlines.

The Port of Catoosa. (POC) has or had NW2, SW1200 & SW1500.

The Sand Springs Railway (SS) has 3 SW900s nearly always used as a pair back to back.

Tulsa-Sapulpa Union (TSU) has or had SW1, SW7 , SW9 and SW1200.

TSU 1905 "The Jenks Traveller" in Garden City Yard (Tulsa) Painted to Celebrate The Centennial of Jenks.

These 3 roads could all probably termed "Terminal Railroads".

Sorry I don't have pix of POC or SS on this computer.

The big daddy in shortline terms around here is the South Kansas and Oklahoma (SKOL) which is a Watco railroad and they have a huge fleet spread out on their RRS.

Some of the locos I have seen over the years include GP7, GP8, GP30, GP39m (rebuilt GP30), GP30 road slug, GP35, GP38, High Nose GP40, GP40-2LW, SD40, SD45, SD50, SD40-2.Along with various SWs. Most of these are not seen around here anymore with the majority of locos being SD40-2 or GP35 GP38-2, GP38-3, GP38R.

As SKOL is a Watco line you do get locos from their other RRs and they usually have WAMX reporting marks. They are mostly now in the corporate black and yellow schemes with a few in "Special" schemes such as school football team colours. Some locos have the roadname but a lot are just lettered WAMX on the cabsides.  

Road Slug + GP35 combo in Owasso Yard June 15 2014

SW1500 Dead in Owasso Yard 14 November 2013 formerly used at Sunoco (now Holly) Refinery until it died.

  SD40-2s in a typical current day consist sitting in Owasso Yard. SLWC is the Stillwater Central which is further west in Oklahoma.

GP7's and 9's would be my choice!

Even though these units have a lot of age on them, they were manufactured in prolific numbers and many parts were and are interchangeable from many other EMD units.  There are still a handful of these in regular service here in the Northeastern US as well as across the country. 

Prof, if your planning a US based short line, present day is all plausible and prototype!  I'm sure Australia has an EMD equivalent as well!

For Industrial Shortlines

or 

Looks like scratchbuilding is in order here.

Bernd

CF7

Santa Fe CF7 were used in grain service and later sold off to regional railroads and shortlines.  Many are still in service today.

The Pickens Railroad

The Pickens Railroad operating in the Upstate of South Carolina from Anderson to Belton and south from Anderson to Gluck at end of track serving Owens Corning, Michelin, etc.  uses former CSX(SCL) GE U18b locomotives painted orange (like the old CSX MOW scheme) with black lettering.

Bill Michael

Pickens 9500

Here is a link to photo of Pickens 9500 in 2009

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=535562&nseq=10

Bill Michael

Some I've seen , the SC &

Some I've seen , the SC & BT bought two ATSF CF7's. The M&ET had a nice fleet of restored GE 70 tonners for years ,but I think I read where they've bought Gen set types now. The CCT used a pair of  GP7s then added a GP18, then later a gen set type and some SW 1500's. Short lines in the bay area used Alco switchers , the Amador central used old Baldwin switchers so just about anything could work depending on the layout type and scenario......DaveB

Spares and Maintenance

The continuing issues are ease of maintenance, associated costs, reliability, and availability of "stuff" for repair/replacement.

So you could chose Alcos, with 251 engines, as one nearby RR had done.  Or, chose EMD's with 645 normally-aspirated engines. 

If I were chosing, I would pick GP38-2's, as they are readily available (either as is, or derated from GP40's).  At 2000 HP., they have plenty of capacity, can be MU'ed, good at low speed handling of switching operations, and have or are easily-equipped with speed recorders and ditch lights for mainline operation.

Simple answer

Use whatever you want...........it is YOUR railroad .

Prof...

Something to think about is era and location. Shortlines near the Southern Pacific in the late 1960's got the SP's old Baldwins. The 1970's brought the sale of the old ALCO's, and in the 1990's the GP9's, SD7's and SD9's were sold off. 

Southern Ontario examples

Prof,

A Canadian slant on the subject: I am fortunate to live in OSR and GEXR country. I moved here 5 years ago and on my first day trackside I saw a Rail America GP35 (Ex CP) and an ex-UP still in Armor Yellow GP38-2 switching in Kitchener. Both units numbered 2210. Which happens to be my birthday, so I was hooked.

Recently there was an SP tunnel motor switching with a leased SD40-2. And you can see regular and wide-cab 2nd gen GPs of various types. Since then the RA unit got renumbered to 2211, but still neat. Part of G&W, this line seems to favour 2nd gen EMD.

Now the other local shortline, OSR, can be seen hauling 80+ multis with 2 or 3 F Units (FP7s), or GP9s, RS18us etc. Thay also have a pair of ex CP SW1200RS' and ran 2 MP15DCs for a while. It's a smaller privately owned line and the owners seem to be railfans. Several 1st gen units around, both EMD and MLW/Alco. This rather neat reality, coupled with "Rule 1" allows me to justify pretty much any motive power I want on my freelanced O scale 2R modern shortline that's based on, and interchanges with, both. 

You can get an idea of OSR and GEXR power from the excellent photography of OSR guru Walter Pfefferle here:

http://railfan.thegrebs.com/index.php/Railpast-Photos/OSR

http://railfan.thegrebs.com/index.php/Railpast-Photos/GEXR

http://railpast.com/

HTH

Pete

SW 1500s purchased used and

SW 1500s purchased used and retro fitted for MU service.

RS11s used.

GP20s

Shortline

The San Joaquin Valley RR is a classic little outfit that works the agribusiness industry out of Exeter California. Here's what was around last time I was over there. I'm not an expert on locomotive types so I'm hoping you guys can tell me what they are using. Look EMD to me.  

...

2120 is a EMD BL20-2 rebuild,  the second one is a convertible or a "GP and 3/4"

Andrew

I think the second one has

I think the second one has decoder issues and is ready for JMRI

Fun memories looking for a shortline to model

I've been trying to land a shortline to model since 2014 and seen a lot of interesting lines in North America.

- OPR (Oregon Pacific Railroad) has a SW1 and others,  My number one pick.

- KPR (Kelowna Pacific Railway) had SWs, GPs, SDs and others

- OKAN (Okanagan Valley Railway) GPs and a M420W.

- WHRC (Windsor and Hantsport Railway Company) (4) RS23 and others.

- SCS (Squaw Creek Southern Railroad) colorful older SDs.

and the list goes on with a lot of the shortlines having SWs and GPs and other hand me downs. 

Some had ships!!!

The most interesting, but not viable for 1/4" scale, was the terminal railroad CG Railway and their two ships the BALI SEA and the BANDA SEA. Easily modeled on a 1' X 6' mobile platform in HO scale. (maybe someday!)

It might be easier to eliminate the locos they wouldn't want!

shortline roster

I'm modeling the Raritan River Railroad in the mid 70's. It was a 12 mile shortline in NJ with lots of industrial customers. Their entire roster consisted of six SW9 switchers painted in a sharp red and grey sceme.  I've seen photos on line with five of the units MU'ed together pulling freight from the interchange to the yard at Parlin.

Aberdeen and Rockfish

I model the FEC but for a shortline, I would choose the Aberdeen and Rockfish. It is not a spinoff but has been around sine early 1900s. Motive power is painted in an attractive blue and gray and it is only 45 miles but operates with GP7, GP18 and GP38. Now has added CF7. 

Check it out:

http://www.aberdeen-rockfish.com/

Bill Michael

Not Typical

Hobbs. NM <> 9043

Brownfield Tx. <> F40 

Regards, John

No man is enitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.<> Gen Douglas MacArthur

@Chuck

Great choice of subject - the Raritan River Rail Road happens to be my modeling interest as well during about the same time period.  I had the opportunity to visit the shops in South Amboy, NJ before the line was merged into Conrail and the shops burned down in the early 80's.  I believe the line is still in operation today under CSX, but the extent of the trackage seems to shrink.

The railroad dieselized in 1954 with six EMD SW900's (minor differences from the SW9 - mostly having only one stack instead of two) which remained on the line even for a couple of years after Conrail took control.

As a modeling subject there is a surprising amount out on the market for a fairly little known railroad - even in RTR.  With such a small locomotive pool and a fairly small roster of revenue and non-revenue equipment, you don't need to break the budget to fill out your fleet!

Love to hear more about what you are doing!