The Walkersville Northern Railroad
May 23, 2018 20:58:55 GMT -5
TK Dave, wildecoupe, and 1 more like this
Post by pokemonprime on May 23, 2018 20:58:55 GMT -5
Walkersville Northern is my Class II freelance RR
, which I've put far too much work into for it's history and motive power. Reporting mark is WKN.
Lines - The Walkersville Northern operates primarily in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware with minor operations in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, and New Jersey. The railroad started with the remains of the Hagerstown & Frederick interurban line, later adding the majority of the PRR (PC) Frederick Branch and parts of the B&O Old Main Line. Later on, in the 70s-00s, a large number of lines were added through purchases from Norfolk Southern, CSX, Conrail, and Guilford System. During this time the Maryland Midland was also purchased, with the Walkersville Northern taking over switching duties at the Lehigh Cement plant in Union Bridge.
Most recent acquisitions have been from CSX.
Motive Power -
GE 44-tonner (1947-1979) initially used for general service, pushed to yard service through the late 60s early 70s before retirement.
Whitcomb 65-ton (1947-1958) inherited from Potomac Edison with the purchase of the Hagerstown & Frederick
Alco RS-1 (1950-1970) First road power, rebuilt into S-1R starting in 1970.
Alco RSD-7 (1955-1960) Meant to handle new heavy duty traffic, trouble with 244 prime mover led to them being traded in to EMD in 1960.
Alco RS-3 (1955-1964) Meant to replace RS-1s, trouble with 244 prime mover led to them being traded in to EMD in 1964.
EMD SD18 (1960-1984) Replaced troublesome RSD-7s, first 5 units built with "vampire" trucks from RSD-7s. Rebuilt by VMV in 1984 to BN standards.
EMD GP30 (1964-1985) Replaced troublesome RS-3s and limited RS-1s. All built with AAR B trucks from RS-3s, rebuilt by VMV in 1985 to BN standards.
Alco (Rebuilt) S1-R (1970-1982) Alco RS-1s rebuilt to have short hoods removed for visibility and with electrical upgrades.
Alco S1 (1978-2017/2018) Purchased from a mixture of railroads, these units also are operated in pairs in yard service. Due to low HP, all units have been rebuilt to S4C.
Alco S2 (1977-Present/2018) Purchased from Chessie System and later Conrail and then finally industrials and shortlines, these units are typically operated in 2-locomotive sets in yard service. Some units are undergoing rebuilds to S4C
Alco S4 (1977-Present/2018) Purchased from Chessie System, Conrail, and other railroads. Typically operated in pairs, some units are undergoing rebuilds to S4C.
Alco C420 (1980-Present) Purchased from Conrail, major road power until the 1990s. Still in service on locals and lighter freight. Can also be seen in MU-lashups on larger freights.
Alco C424 (1980-Present) Purchased from Conrail and later Canadian National and Pacific, major road power along with Alco C420s until 1990s. Still major power for local and light freight trains, as well as in MU-lashups on larger freights.
EMD (Rebuilt) SD18V (1984-Present) Rebuilt by VMV to BN standards with EMD 645 prime movers and updated electrical gear. Despite rebuilding, units are deteriorating and due for retirement by 2019-2020.
Alco T6 (1985-Present) Bought from Norfolk & Western in 1985, operated in 2-unit lashups in yard service. Favorite units due to performance of Alco 251 prime mover.
EMD (Rebuilt) GP30V (1985-2016) Rebuilt by VMV to BN standards with updated electrical gear. Retired in 2016 due to increasingly persistent problems.
GE 70 tonner (1986-1988) 2 units acquired from Maryland Midland during the buyout. Rebuilt in 1988 with Alco 251 prime movers by Walkersville Northern in-house.
GE (Rebuilt) 70A (1988-2008) 70A is the technical designation for the GE 70 tonners rebuilt with 251 prime movers for standardization reasons. Units were retired in 2008 due to deteriorating frames and increasingly apparent low HP and tractive effort compared to even lower HP Alco S-series units.
GE U23B (1990-Present) First GE road units, of MEC and ST heritage. Most assigned to yard service since 2010.
GE U30C (1990-2008) First 3,000 HP units on roster. of BN heritage. Short lasting due to interior wear and tear that eventually doomed them.
MLW RS-18 (1991-Present) The most modern and currently only RS-units on the roster, high hood units of Canadian National heritage bought to expand the Alco fleet once large US sources dried up.
EMD GP40 (1992-Present) Kept as straight GP40s to this day, units are ex-CSX of B&O, SAL, and WM heritage.
MLW M420 (2000-Present) Never entered service, used as parts sources for C420 fleet.
EMD SD45 (2002-Present) First units purchased from Aurora, Illinois, and Western (a friend's freelance road). More units purchased from Montana Rail Link and NYSW later on.
EMD SD50 (2002-2006) Purchased from Aurora, Illinois, and Western, sidelined almost immediately due to problems with prime mover. In 2010, remaining units were traded to NRE for GE units.
GE B23-7 (2010-Present) "Modern" low HP units, acquired from NRE in exchange for SD50s. Ex-NS units of Conrail heritage.
GE B36-7 (2011-Present) Ex-CSX units
GE B32-8 (2016-Present) ex-NS -8s, rebuilt electricals and interior freshening up.
Alco (Rebuilt) S4C (2017-Present) Collective designation for Alco S1s, S2s, and S4s rebuilt with 1,200 HP Caterpillar prime movers, upgraded electricals, and roller bearing AAR Switcher trucks if not present
EMD SD40-2 (2018) ex-UP units, freshly received. Currently being brought into service, only -2s on roster.
I'm done for now, I might have more to update with tomorrow. I'll also post equipment for the railroad here, right now it's mostly patched stuff but I'm working towards custom decals.
To come: Rolling stock and paint schemes
, which I've put far too much work into for it's history and motive power. Reporting mark is WKN.
Lines - The Walkersville Northern operates primarily in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Delaware with minor operations in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, North Carolina, and New Jersey. The railroad started with the remains of the Hagerstown & Frederick interurban line, later adding the majority of the PRR (PC) Frederick Branch and parts of the B&O Old Main Line. Later on, in the 70s-00s, a large number of lines were added through purchases from Norfolk Southern, CSX, Conrail, and Guilford System. During this time the Maryland Midland was also purchased, with the Walkersville Northern taking over switching duties at the Lehigh Cement plant in Union Bridge.
Most recent acquisitions have been from CSX.
Motive Power -
GE 44-tonner (1947-1979) initially used for general service, pushed to yard service through the late 60s early 70s before retirement.
Whitcomb 65-ton (1947-1958) inherited from Potomac Edison with the purchase of the Hagerstown & Frederick
Alco RS-1 (1950-1970) First road power, rebuilt into S-1R starting in 1970.
Alco RSD-7 (1955-1960) Meant to handle new heavy duty traffic, trouble with 244 prime mover led to them being traded in to EMD in 1960.
Alco RS-3 (1955-1964) Meant to replace RS-1s, trouble with 244 prime mover led to them being traded in to EMD in 1964.
EMD SD18 (1960-1984) Replaced troublesome RSD-7s, first 5 units built with "vampire" trucks from RSD-7s. Rebuilt by VMV in 1984 to BN standards.
EMD GP30 (1964-1985) Replaced troublesome RS-3s and limited RS-1s. All built with AAR B trucks from RS-3s, rebuilt by VMV in 1985 to BN standards.
Alco (Rebuilt) S1-R (1970-1982) Alco RS-1s rebuilt to have short hoods removed for visibility and with electrical upgrades.
Alco S1 (1978-2017/2018) Purchased from a mixture of railroads, these units also are operated in pairs in yard service. Due to low HP, all units have been rebuilt to S4C.
Alco S2 (1977-Present/2018) Purchased from Chessie System and later Conrail and then finally industrials and shortlines, these units are typically operated in 2-locomotive sets in yard service. Some units are undergoing rebuilds to S4C
Alco S4 (1977-Present/2018) Purchased from Chessie System, Conrail, and other railroads. Typically operated in pairs, some units are undergoing rebuilds to S4C.
Alco C420 (1980-Present) Purchased from Conrail, major road power until the 1990s. Still in service on locals and lighter freight. Can also be seen in MU-lashups on larger freights.
Alco C424 (1980-Present) Purchased from Conrail and later Canadian National and Pacific, major road power along with Alco C420s until 1990s. Still major power for local and light freight trains, as well as in MU-lashups on larger freights.
EMD (Rebuilt) SD18V (1984-Present) Rebuilt by VMV to BN standards with EMD 645 prime movers and updated electrical gear. Despite rebuilding, units are deteriorating and due for retirement by 2019-2020.
Alco T6 (1985-Present) Bought from Norfolk & Western in 1985, operated in 2-unit lashups in yard service. Favorite units due to performance of Alco 251 prime mover.
EMD (Rebuilt) GP30V (1985-2016) Rebuilt by VMV to BN standards with updated electrical gear. Retired in 2016 due to increasingly persistent problems.
GE 70 tonner (1986-1988) 2 units acquired from Maryland Midland during the buyout. Rebuilt in 1988 with Alco 251 prime movers by Walkersville Northern in-house.
GE (Rebuilt) 70A (1988-2008) 70A is the technical designation for the GE 70 tonners rebuilt with 251 prime movers for standardization reasons. Units were retired in 2008 due to deteriorating frames and increasingly apparent low HP and tractive effort compared to even lower HP Alco S-series units.
GE U23B (1990-Present) First GE road units, of MEC and ST heritage. Most assigned to yard service since 2010.
GE U30C (1990-2008) First 3,000 HP units on roster. of BN heritage. Short lasting due to interior wear and tear that eventually doomed them.
MLW RS-18 (1991-Present) The most modern and currently only RS-units on the roster, high hood units of Canadian National heritage bought to expand the Alco fleet once large US sources dried up.
EMD GP40 (1992-Present) Kept as straight GP40s to this day, units are ex-CSX of B&O, SAL, and WM heritage.
MLW M420 (2000-Present) Never entered service, used as parts sources for C420 fleet.
EMD SD45 (2002-Present) First units purchased from Aurora, Illinois, and Western (a friend's freelance road). More units purchased from Montana Rail Link and NYSW later on.
EMD SD50 (2002-2006) Purchased from Aurora, Illinois, and Western, sidelined almost immediately due to problems with prime mover. In 2010, remaining units were traded to NRE for GE units.
GE B23-7 (2010-Present) "Modern" low HP units, acquired from NRE in exchange for SD50s. Ex-NS units of Conrail heritage.
GE B36-7 (2011-Present) Ex-CSX units
GE B32-8 (2016-Present) ex-NS -8s, rebuilt electricals and interior freshening up.
Alco (Rebuilt) S4C (2017-Present) Collective designation for Alco S1s, S2s, and S4s rebuilt with 1,200 HP Caterpillar prime movers, upgraded electricals, and roller bearing AAR Switcher trucks if not present
EMD SD40-2 (2018) ex-UP units, freshly received. Currently being brought into service, only -2s on roster.
I'm done for now, I might have more to update with tomorrow. I'll also post equipment for the railroad here, right now it's mostly patched stuff but I'm working towards custom decals.
To come: Rolling stock and paint schemes
