Rolling Line

[SMRY]

I've been following the MSTS thread of building structures, trying to offer support somewhat in that dept. Since MSTS died for me long ago, took that project, worked around to where I've been able to get the basic structure into Rolling Line this morn. Anyways, take a peek, enjoy, may spark your creative juices.

[haverfordwest]

Mike, I'm after an electric - preferably the 46 Class - because they were on almost every coal train that I saw when I lived in the Blue Mts. (1976 - 1984).
They were superceded by these.....

http://www.trainman.id.au/photos/nsw/electric/85class/

and these.....

http://www.trainman.id.au/photos/nsw/electric/86class/

The electrics were tossed aside in favour of diesels because of the cost of electricity, I believe.

Yup i realised that thank you Bruce, in regards Blue Mountains electric traction.

Your last sentence about the reason for replacing with diesels, is a strange one.

Pre-covid crude oil prices. Surely it was more efficient to generate electricity domestically. Than to import oil for diesel traction.

A question buddy, not an assumption.

Mike.

[NorthernWarrior]

It has happened in the UK as well Mike - Tyneside electrics replaced by DMU's in the mid-60's, at least until the Metro arrived. Woodhead closed in favour of the Hope Valley route. Just got to look at the UK today, the amount of diesels running under the wires particularly on freight.

[haverfordwest]

Don't understand the reasoning then Vern. Particularly in this day and age. With the emphasis on a low carbon railway or whatever they call it.

The only rational i can think of for diesel hauled freight. Is that they traverse non electrified lines as much as running under the wires ?

Just putting it out there buddy. I take no interest at all in the privatised railway.

Mike.

[seagoon]

I'm not too well versed in non-North-American equip. Perhaps some of the units already in Rolling Line come close that we could build upon. I'll still try a scratch-built alongside see how things go. Can't say for sure, but, give it a go.

Thanks, Scott. Even a long box with dual pantographs would be close!

[metalangel]

Same thing happened in North America, too... the Milwaukee Road, for example, had over 1,000km of electrified lines through challenging mountain terrain in the north and western US.

My understanding is that by the end of the 1960s, the equipment had served well but was getting old and needed to be upgraded. GE approached them offering to bring all the overhead equipment and substations up to modern standards at a bargainous price. The board, however, decided that modern diesel-electrics could handle the routes now without the time-consuming loco changes (the two electric divisions were separated by a 200km gap of flat terrain) and they could make some money selling off all the copper wiring used in the overhead equipment.

1973's oil crisis happened, and suddenly, it wasn't cheap to run diesel trains any more. The price of copper collapsed, so almost no money was actually made dismantling the overhead, either. This and other incompetence lead to the flag falling for good in 1986.

[seagoon]

....the basic structure into Rolling Line this morn. Anyways, take a peek, enjoy, may spark your creative juices.

Ah-haaa! Definitely usable. Reminds me of the grain silos at Canowindra.

[seagoon]

Your last sentence about the reason for replacing with diesels, is a strange one.......A question buddy, not an assumption.
Mike.

Weird, but apparently true, Mike.
The Main Western is only electrified as far as Lithgow and it was found to be more economical to use diesel locomotives than the electrics....even tho' the amp-guzzlers would use regenerative braking when descending the line on either side of the range.
How the bean counters arrived at this decision (made in the early 1990s), I have no idea.
Electric inter-urban passenger trains operate between Lithgow and Sydney every day for the commuter traffic.

Like you, I would have thought that it was cheaper (let alone cleaner) to use electricity but apparently not.

[seagoon]

HEAVY COAL
Here's a couple of screenshots of a bit of construction so far.
Currently working around the loader-to-Lithgow section.



There is an off-stage yard which represents the Main Western Line beyond Lithgow.
Trains heading to Sydney on this line are assembled here and the idea is that a hidden loop will be created from the Sydney end of the route and will come back to this point. That will then allow mainline trains to loop whilst the Heavy Coal section remains point-to-point.

[SMRY]

Thanks, Scott. Even a long box with dual pantographs would be close!

I began creating a very rough draft of the Class-46. I've got lots of refinement to preform that's for sure. I'm finding the rounding of edges around the window pillars at the corners a challenge. I had placed a rough windshield in & at some point during the conversion look very large / different. I just had to set it aside for the day as lots of white areas on the screen cause me to feel rather sick. Anyways here's our first attempt. The lighting along the side looks like a row of windows...lol. the side panels are solid with several round windows along with square outlines where mesh panels are.

[seagoon]

......Anyways here's our first attempt. The lighting along the side looks like a row of windows...lol. the side panels are solid with several round windows along with square outlines where mesh panels are.

I can see a 46 taking shape!
Thanks for making the effort to create it, mate.

[haverfordwest]

Thanks for the further info Bruce. I was under the impression that Australia had tons of coal to mine.

To keep electricity generation costs fairly low.

Liking the piccies of your layout.

Does the game support over head line electrification ?

Mike.

[derekmorton]

>I was under the impression that Australia had tons of coal to mine.

There is plenty, but the tide may be turning!!

[haverfordwest]

What it can only be mined when the tide is out Derek

Anyway i just purchased Rolling Line and subscribed to some extra goodies on the Workshop.

Mike.

[metalangel]

Weird, but apparently true, Mike.
Like you, I would have thought that it was cheaper (let alone cleaner) to use electricity but apparently not.

Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC) runs the Penn line commuter service along the Northeast Corridor. They are getting rid of all their electric locos in favour of diesels, which will run entirely under the wires. Their reasoning was that the electrics they did have were old and/or unreliable, and the new diesels will only make a difference of a few minutes on the schedule, and have the added flexibility to be used elsewhere if needed.

We need to stop digressing, maybe