08-26-2011, 03:17 PM
Folks, most shortlines don't have:
Engine facilities/houses. Fuel is delivered by truck, sanding performed using a forklift and bags of sand, maybe a shanty for lube oil, extra air hoses, spare knuckles, fusees, brake shoes, head light bulbs etc.
Not much of a yard if any...usually lucky to have a runaround/wye at each end of the line but not necessary.
Definitely, no defined switching or "drill" leads, and no arrival/departure tracks... those are for the big railroads. Lucky to have a pair of tracks or three to sort out cars before spotting industries. If not you use what industry tracks are available.
Office/fax machine/laptop- sometimes in a caboose office with solar panel on roof to charge batteries for portable fax and lights. Caboose can be used as an office, a "shoving platform" and a place for Santa to ride when you run Santa Specials at Christmas.
That's it. No fancy stuff until the revenue dollars start rolling in, the track is re-habbed (usually the new short line aquires track the big line didn't maintain and is crap), the business is growing and profits allow expansion.
This is often what a modern short line is like. I know, I have started up and managed a few.
Barry
Engine facilities/houses. Fuel is delivered by truck, sanding performed using a forklift and bags of sand, maybe a shanty for lube oil, extra air hoses, spare knuckles, fusees, brake shoes, head light bulbs etc.
Not much of a yard if any...usually lucky to have a runaround/wye at each end of the line but not necessary.
Definitely, no defined switching or "drill" leads, and no arrival/departure tracks... those are for the big railroads. Lucky to have a pair of tracks or three to sort out cars before spotting industries. If not you use what industry tracks are available.
Office/fax machine/laptop- sometimes in a caboose office with solar panel on roof to charge batteries for portable fax and lights. Caboose can be used as an office, a "shoving platform" and a place for Santa to ride when you run Santa Specials at Christmas.
That's it. No fancy stuff until the revenue dollars start rolling in, the track is re-habbed (usually the new short line aquires track the big line didn't maintain and is crap), the business is growing and profits allow expansion.
This is often what a modern short line is like. I know, I have started up and managed a few.
Barry