Wednesday, March 12, 2008

New Motive Power

New Alco Power Readied for Service
Three new Alco units pose next to the Avondale station
With the expectation that good economic times are ahead, the Carleton Railway recently added three new Alco units to the roster. The 2000 hp C420 #2010 (the railway's first C420 unit) with its distinctive Alco sound has already entered regular service on the main line but management anticipates that in the near future it may find more consistent duty as business expands on the Northampton subdivision. C424 #2492 will be based in the Aroostook County town of Monticello where the railway is in the process of constructing a major classification yard for marshalling potato and lumber traffic. The reconditioned 1000-hp S4 #1097 will also be assigned to Monticello where it will be kept busy in the yard. The railway currently has six additional C424's in service, along with 2 S4 locos that are assigned to the Avondale and South Newbridge yards.
Over the next year, the Monticello yard will be contructed on four modules that will be added to the Saint John club's modular layout. The modules have been assembled and are awaiting track and scenery. Several adjoining club modules (Blake, Bob H., and Bob K.) also represent railroading in Aroostook County; joined together they should provide lots of operating possibilities. Unlike the rest of the railway's roster of locomotives, the S4 and the C424 will remain as DC units for use on the club modules (unless the club converts to DCC).

4 comments:

Scott Jay said...

I'm curious, why would your modules have to be run on DC when they are at home? Couldn't you just plug them into your layout's DCC power bus for home use and then the club's layout DC bus for shows?

Scott

Wayne Woodland said...

Nice Looking Alco units. I myself have several Alco's in service on my layout as well. All the best.

Wayne

Doug Whitman said...

Scott

The locos are to remain DC, so they can be used on the Club layout.

Where would you setup 16 feet of modules in his basement???

Steve, is not the C420 the unit I ran?

Doug

Steve Mc said...

Yes Doug--but note that #2010 now has handrails and other details added. You had to be careful not to fall off!