Model Railroading > Pocket Passenger Trains

I've had an ongoing mission of modeling prototypically short passenger trains.  A big appeal has been the fact I can easily display them - an entire train will easily fit without needing 10-20' of wall space!
Until recently my pocket sized trains have been built for display only- I've never really had a place to actually run them.  
Enter friend and "just across the tracks" neighbor Jim (fivechime).  With Jim's invite to visit the RR Club in Crockett, it was time to up my game.  I'm slowly upgrading my game ,adding DCC, lights, sound, etc to my static displays and taking them on the road...
Thanks Jim!  It's a kick to see these guys actually move!
SR

Photo 1.  The SP #247, The El Dorado-  one of several local trains the SP ran between Sacramento and the Oakland Mole.   Shown here crossing coming off the bridge from Benicia.   The locomotive is the SP's only passenger RS-11, the former ALCo demo unit 5722.

Photos 2-5.  The 5722 was having DCC issues, so I handed the 247 over to PA 6042 (still common power for the Sac- Oakland trains).   Shown at Davis, on the bridge, and Martinez.

Photos 6-8.  Something a bit different crossing Donner:  BCR's Caribou Dayliner.   (Probably never happened)

Photos 9&10.  Equally improbable on Donner:  The Tonapah & Tidewater's  Crucero to Death Valley Junction train with T&T 99 pulling the though UP Pullman from LA.   This was a real short lived service.  The Death Valley RR, the T&T, and the UPRR teamed up to provide passenger service to tourist access to Death Valley.  The Stock Market Crash put a quick end to THAT!   BTW:  The cream color of the 99 is correct for the period- the more familiar silver came later.

Photos 11&12.  Finally, SP's #255.   This train ran connecting service to Coast Line trains to Oakland.  Originally it carried through cars from the Daylight, but in later years it was an across-platform change for passengers.  That rear rider chair was about the only constant for this train- forward of that anything goes!!  Any passenger power you want up front and the train consist included a variety of head end cars and passenger cars deadheading to shops in Oakland and Sacramento.   In this case I threw in some REA express and a Parlor Obs.   When Rapido makes good on their 3/4 Dome, I'll run it here.
 

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A great looking fleet!!

Thanks!  These are fun to research and build.  Already in "the shops" and in various states of completion:  The NWP Redwood, The Sacramento Daylight, The Del Monte, and The Niland Turn.
SR

Awesome variety and photos, love the shorter trains.

Rich

First time I think I've ever seen a T&T model on this forum. Neat.

~ Mr. MRL

I really like the long shot of the PA crossing the Carquinez Bridge.  Impressive indeed!

Does the RGZ count?

 

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Um…. no.

But the Yampa Valley Mail comes to mind…
SR

Love me some Del Monte! Be sure to share!

wpdude Wrote:
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> Love me some Del Monte! Be sure to share!

I will- although it might be awhile. I live an amphibious lifestyle and will soon be returning to the water for the next 6mo. I will finish the Del Monte lounge car “at sea” this summer. It will probably make its Crockett debut in Jan when I slither back ashore.
SR

BTW: My Del Monte will be the later version of the train with the LW lounge (unless I luck into a model of the HW lounge)

Geez, with my background, a pocket passenger train is in 1970s Empire Service, and has a Penn Central E-unit for power, often with the side panels so rusted that you can see into the engine compartment. Nobody seems to model that. 

I'D like to try. I have the PC and SCL coaches that were common in early Amtrak days. I know how to weather them,  but see-through side panels?  Beyond my skill level so far. 

Nice pix on this post, though. That bridge is great. 

 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/24 13:44 by march_hare.

The CP/B&M Alouette between Montreal and Boston is a favorite of mine. Ran with CP or B&M power and a random combination of both roads' rolling stock. Carried a milk car, RPO, baggage/smoker, coach, and a nice CP heavyweight open end parlor obs.

BoilingMan Wrote:
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> Um…. no.
>
> But the Yampa Valley Mail comes to mind…
> SR

Even the YVM might not qualify at the end when it was "bloated" as Joseph Strapac worded it.  But I could make one with the combine and a P-S coach.

In the early days the RGZ ran with 4 ex CZ cars and a combine.  How many cars is the limit for a pocket passenger train?

I don't know that there's an actual standard for this!
I look for trains up to about 3 or maybe 4 cars.  A lot of these trains did indeed run with more cars- generally in their earlier glory days.  But in later years, or off-peak seasons, they were pretty short.  SP's 27-28, The Overland, actually shrunk down to just 3 cars (Sleeper-Diner-Chair. Not even a Baggage Car!) in it's twilight.  
SR

Like them all. On a side note, the Coast Guard is moving a little to fast to help that sail boat that went over, lol.

How about Santa Fe trains 25/26 between Clovis and Carlsbad, NM with the M-190 super gas-electric and a pre-war round end coach-observation?

Yes- that’s a good one. Probably a bit pricey to do right? I’ll look into it.

I bought an RDC and a couple observation car bodies to cut up and bash. I’d like to try for that CRI&P Rocket that had the observation car turned baggage car. Now THAT was a unique train!!
SR



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/05/24 18:00 by BoilingMan.