Rapid Transit Modelling?

[Green_Elite_Cab]

I am just curious, if anyone here has ever modeled or considered a rapid transit line for your layout? Do you own any rapid transit models?

While I'm not personally into modeling subways and things (other than the few I've taken a ride on in my life), I do sometimes consider it, especially for prototypes that have a serious amount of surface time. Even though they may not directly interact with a regular railroad, they often travel close by or even right next to regular lines.

In an urban, or even semi-urban environment, there is potential to add a little bit of extra "action" with a subway zipping past on some elevated line. This could be easily automated on a separate line from the rest of the layout.

There is also the "human factor" in the sense that many of these trains will see more people in a week than some of our prized mainline "big railroad" prototypes will see in their entire lives.

[Sumpter250]

I do have a three car, brass, set of LIRR MP54's.
I haven't yet reached the point where I could comfortably model the "outside third rail" power system, but I haven't made the choice not to.

[Green_Elite_Cab]

The over-running third rail does pose some challenges. While kits exist to make the New York Central under-running third rail, the Over-running type might be tricky. I don't think I've seen anyone do it.

If it were me, I'd get some rail, solder metal rods/pegs to the bottom of it, and string on some beads to look like an insulator. I then mount this into the board. Not sure how I'd build the sheilds that go over it though, maybe wire brackets and styrene "boards", but this might make it a little time consuming.

[talltim]

In the UK there's been quite few London Underground layouts <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=london+underground+layout&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Bc1RVfmxPMm17gax9oPQBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1680&bih=911#tbm=isch&q=london+underground+model+layout">https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=londo ... del+layout</a><!-- m -->
There aren't many other systems you would call rapid transit. Here's a model of the Tyne and Wear Metro. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://roundtreessidings.wordpress.com/">https://roundtreessidings.wordpress.com/</a><!-- m -->
On the subject of third rail, much of the rail system south-east of London uses it, so there have been plenty of models. It uses uses top contact third rail ( think that is what you mean by over-running) and is quite easy, although time consuming to model as the insulator pots are available <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strParents=3309,3328&CAT_ID=3330&P_ID=17548">http://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strP ... P_ID=17548</a><!-- m -->
AFAIK the only bottom contact third rail in the UK is on the Docklands Light Railway, which I have never seen modeled.

[Tyson Rayles]

No interest in passenger operations/modeling of any kind.

[Mike Kieran]

The Bay Ridge Model Railroad Club in Brooklyn has an elevated subway line, a city trolley line, and an interurban trolley line. You may have seen some of the guys at the East Penn meet. I used to go there years ago. They used to fill up a ballroom or two just with modular layouts.

[Green_Elite_Cab]

In the UK there's been quite few London Underground layouts <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=london+underground+layout&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Bc1RVfmxPMm17gax9oPQBw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ&biw=1680&bih=911#tbm=isch&q=london+underground+model+layout">https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=londo ... del+layout</a><!-- m -->
There aren't many other systems you would call rapid transit. Here's a model of the Tyne and Wear Metro. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://roundtreessidings.wordpress.com/">https://roundtreessidings.wordpress.com/</a><!-- m -->
On the subject of third rail, much of the rail system south-east of London uses it, so there have been plenty of models. It uses uses top contact third rail ( think that is what you mean by over-running) and is quite easy, although time consuming to model as the insulator pots are available <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strParents=3309,3328&CAT_ID=3330&P_ID=17548">http://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strP ... P_ID=17548</a><!-- m -->
AFAIK the only bottom contact third rail in the UK is on the Docklands Light Railway, which I have never seen modeled.

Now those WOULD be useful! I might have to pick some up for a PATCO display sometime.

You are correct, "top contact" is Over-running. Just a difference in terminology I suppose!

I suspect that even though over-running is more common in the US, that the Under-running is probably more popular on model railroads thanks to the New York Central railroad and its "heavy" third rail electrics. Indeed, I'm not really sure if any other railroads employed gargantuan third-rail locomotives like the New York Central did.

This reminds me that I need to get my T-motor running!

[Green_Elite_Cab]

They definitely were there. While there were several Trolley Layouts, I was surprised to see the number of Subway modelers there.









In particular, Steve Smith (who posts here as AC_Catenary) won the "first place" prize for a layout that had not only surface and subterranean Trolley Lines, but also a Subway station, based on SEPTA's commuter operation in Philadelphia.

Steve eventually plans to connect with our Heavy Electric Modules via a planned 30th Street station module. Sounds Awesome!











There was also a 3/4 scale Rapid transit layout, featuring enormous Interurbans and SEPTA M3 "Almond Joy" cars. EVERY detail was there! You might not be into passenger modeling, but these people are probably the most serious modelers I've ever seen. One car that I was dumb and failed to photograph, actually had side doors and steps that were "linked" and worked in tandem when you opened them, just like the prototype.

The motors in these cars were loud enough that they sounded just like the real subway cars. I took a few videos, and I'll have to edit it together sometime.


3/4 scale! every interior detail is present.





Scale Controls!



I all operates off the Third Rail to boot!



A Very large "Almond Joy" car. These ran on the Market Frankfor El in Philadelphia for many years.





SEPTA Work Train



Even the Flatcar is powered (or it at least picks up power!)



Side Dump Car



N-Scale Subway System

[talltim]

Now where's the Like button....

[Mike Kieran]

Were the NYC Subway cars run by two guys named Steve Olsen and Vern Gilman? They scratch built every subway car way back when.

[Mike Kieran]

Were the NYC Subway cars run by two guys named Steve Olsen and Vern Gilman? They scratch built every subway car way back when.

[MountainMan]

I considered a transit line because one can pack an enormous amount of action into a relatively small space, and there are a couple of modellers who model underground lines quite successfully. Kind of the "ant farm" approach...