Does anyone know what type of steam the FRISCO ran through Cherryvale? I seen one picture long ago of a 4-4-0 stopped at the depot with a passenger train heading east toward Columbus Kansas and I have EXACTLY 1 4-4-0 on my roster, but as time went on did the power get bigger, or did they run any 2-8-0's? Did any of the big 4-8-4's ever make that journey over those rails? I am basically trying to learn here and nothing more. I am taking the advice given recently in my last post about modeling the FRISCO with PRIDE in my own way!!! My layout is based off of Andy Sperandeos (model railroader magazines) Cajon Pass and I have a room that is 48X36 at my disposal. When I was part of the Cherry Valley Modelers Association circa 1989.....They had their layout in the passenger section of the Santa Fe Cherryvale Depot and it was the largest layout I had ever seen. What I am saying here is I am accustomed to larger layouts and that is what I want to build. I figure 45-50 car trains behind steam power is pretty prototypical for operations as well as continuous running. SO anyway........as my enthusiasm is sparking new interest in knowledge of the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad, I am just wondering, since I plan to have a functioning layout with both thru freight and operational industrial switching, I just wanted to ponder this question.
You won't see 40-50 car trains behind anything smaller than a 2-8-2. Even with the 2-8-2, that could be a double header depending on the tracks of the division. What time frame are you wanting to know about? If earlier than 1920, typical trains would be 20 cars of less. The smaller the locomotive, the less cars. 2-8-0 typically 15 cars 2-6-0 typically 8-11 cars 4-6-0 typically 10-15 cars 4-4-0's typically max 8 cars Again, so many factors come into play that it is impossible to really answer that question. My numbers are estimates and NOT the rule or law.
See if you can get your hands on a copy of Frisco Southwest, by Schultz and McCall. It has numerous photos (B&W) of trains from that era, including at least a few that were taken around the area you want to model. There are sections covering "branch line" passenger and freight trains, using smaller steam power. I believe this book will be an invaluable reference for you (if you can find it--it was published 30 years ago by Kachina Press). Good luck! GS
Also see if you can find any of Stagners Frisco books, they have information on the Frisco in Kansas. Also read Frisco Folks by Bain. In the 1940's you would have found Mikado's on freights and Pacifics or Ten-Wheelers on passenger trains on this line. You also might have seen some consolidations in local service. I have seen photo's of all of these wheel arrangements on this line in the 1940's. Line had too small rail and bridge restrictions which kept any of the large Frisco steam off it. No Mountains or Northerns. Even in diesel days you would not have seen six axle power on any regular trains. John Chambers
Will, aside from the prototype considerations, with 45-50 car trains, towns on the layout would need about 100 feet between them to keep the front end of the train from being in one town with the rear in the other. The two largest layouts here in KC, one in a nearly 4000 sq ft basement and the other in a 2500 sq ft basement will support at maximum, 25 car trains. The total running distance from end to end on these layouts is about 820 and 650 feet respectively.
