What is today the Riverside Railroad was originally founded in the early 1900s as the Firth River Railroad, mainly a grain hauling shortline that serviced the local agricultural businesses at the turn of the century, interchanging cars with the Baltimore and Ohio. When WWII broke out, the line was given over to the United States Railroad Administration as the food resources needed to be sent to the front lines as quickly as possible. Following the war, the B&O bought the line as a subsidiary in order for the trackage rights to run an unnamed passenger service between the town of Riverside and the city of Cincinnati, tying into one of the big B&O Streamliners that went to St. Louis or New York.
In 1958, seeking to modernize the motive power of the FRR, the shortline was allowed to purchase a second-hand F3A unit from EMD as the B&O had no locomotives it could readily reposition for such a small operation. The locomotive that arrived was ex-CNW F3A #4056, formerly 4056A from a trainset. Being a streamliner cab unit, this was seen as ideal for operations as it could function as a backup unit for the once-a-week passenger connection service, while also being good for freight operations. Its CNW logos were painted over with plans to fully repaint the unit in B&O colors, but this never happened.
In 1971, passenger service nationwide was consolidated under the newly formed Amtrak. By this time, the B&O was looking to abandon the Firth River Railroad as it did not see it as profitable. In compromise, a group of locals purchased the rights to the railroad and reorganized it as the Riverside Railroad to keep operations going to support the town. To save on paint, F3A 4056 was merely restored to original colors and the railroad billed as one of the first 'historical' tourist railroads in the country. In 1986, the railroad saved ex-CNW 4242 from the scrapper's torch to join 4056, even though ironically neither locomotive nor the CNW itself ever operated in western Ohio.
In 1987, CSX formally took over all operations of the B&O and formed a partnership with the RRR. Ever since, the RRR has functioned much like its predecessor line did, being a shortline freight operation with an emphasis on the local grain economy, interchanging cars with CSX freight trains for new destinations. One major difference however, is that the RRR places great importance on its fleet of engines, most of them hailing from the mid-to-late period of by gone streamliners. These venerable locomotives continue to earn their keep long after they would have once been destroyed, as the smaller train lengths on the shortline make up for their reduced strength compared to the modern engines that ply the rails across the states. At the same time, the locomotives also pull brightly colored vintage coaches on railfan excursions through the picturesque rural landscapes of the nearby towns, hearkening back to an earlier era and delighting locals and railfans alike.
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Saturday, September 2, 2017
Locomotive Info: Union Pacific 2-6-2 "Prarie" 1836
Road of Origin: Union Pacific
Prototype: Baldwin 2-6-2
Series: Bachman
Status: Limited service (off-line excursion only)
When 1836 was acquired, Riverside RR management was not sure what to make of the engine as subsequent research showed that the Union Pacific never actually had a 2-6-2 at any point. It is more likely that this is a former Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe (ATSF) 2-6-2, as that road utilized the largest amount of this type of any American railroad with several lasting into the mid 1950's and many having been preserved. This engine's markings suggest it was renamed and renumbered to try and market it as a 'rare' UP 2-6-2 but without knowledge of the engine's true history, its false livery is the only one it can use. However, this has proven trivial as the engine still functions at an extremely high level of reliability and as the only steamer in service on the RRR, it remains highly popular since many people don't really even care that UP #1836 is an entirely fictitious designation. Due to the railroad's ongoing overhaul, 1836 is only called out for use on steam excursions that take place away from its current operator's home rails.
Note: Despite being from Bachman's cheap end of engines, this engine runs reliably and the tender is hollow enough to allow for upgrading to DCC standard in the far future. I've also never bothered with the smoke gimmick even though it came with the fluid for it as that crap makes me cough.
Locomotive Info: Union Pacific 2-8-0 Consolidation 618
Locomotive number: 618
Road of Origin: Union Pacific
Prototype: Baldwin(?) Union Pacific 2-8-0 #618 (Retired 1957)
Series: Bachman Spectrum
Status: Not in Service (maintenance)
The first steam locomotive on the RRR, No. 618 arrived having recently been overhauled and meeting all specifications for restored operational steam. However, problems arose when it was discovered the tender was not constructed properly and as such tended to derail when too much load was put behind it, unless significantly more weight than should have been necessary was attached directly to the tender. Currently out of service while attempts to modify the tender to run normally are undertaken, though with the state of the railroad itself being overhauled this has taken lower priority.
Note: As a Spectrum engine, this is the only locomotive with DCC (though it can run on DC like every other engine). However, despite all its doodads and whatnot, the tender simply doesn't have enough weight to really be reliable without putting a 1/2" socket wrench head in the coal bin to keep it on the rails.
Locomotive Info: Riverside RR "Hustler" 1116
Road of Origin: Unknown
Prototype: H. K. Porter industrial switcher
Series: Athearn Hustler - First Generation (with replacement gear drive)
Status: Active service (Servicing Switcher)
The exact origins of this locomotive are unclear, save that it originated from a bankrupt shortline somewhere near San Francisco and was in poor mechanical shape. This unique industrial switcher was however functionally restored and repainted as the only locomotive to wear the livery of its current owner. Known for it's "jerky" behavior even after post-repair, No. 1116 is the only locomotive on the roster not intended for full mainline service. Instead, it functions as a switcher dedicated to the small freight yard and locomotive/rolling stock service yard, moving around other locomotives in and out of servicing as well as building train sets for the larger locomotives to take away. Additionally, this locomotive has its own exclusive train set; the road service consist, which it occasionally takes out for mainline repairs. As the entire line is undergoing upgrades, this locomotive's pre-existing servicing duties as well as its strength despite its small size make it one of the two engines allowed to still be active on the main line.
Note: This locomotive is the most mysterious of all the engines as I truly have no idea of its history - I found it in a ziploc bag in a junk box in a San Francisco hobby shop completely dissassembled, and with a GOLD body shell (which actually made it short out too) but with a completely different gearing as opposed to the infamously fast rubber band drive this locomotive should have had. As far as I can tell, somebody had tried to upgrade the locomotive, failed, and ditched it. I of course nursed it back to health with help from local model railroaders and while it is far from being a smooth runner like most of the other engines, it has its place as the little switcher behind the scenes.
Note 2: This locomotive type is the Athearn Hustler, which was a non-specific kit (but based on the Porter one-off switchers) originating from the 50's. So named because its nose grill has "HUSTLER" written down the middle vertically.
Locomotive Info: PRR GP9M 9912
Locomotive number: 9912
Road of Origin: Pennsylvania Railroad
Prototype: Electro Motive Division PRR GP9M #9912
Series: Walthers Trainline
Status: Limited Service (Backup unit)
This locomotive is a bit of a conundrum in that its motor is in fact lower rated than a normal GP9, the "M" designation actually referring to how it was constructed using parts of one or more EMD locomotives that were scrapped but had compatible parts. All that is known is that its engine is in fact a salvaged GP7 prime mover. That said, the locomotive is still significant as one of the numerous survivors of the early GP series, which succeeded the BL2 and were the beginning of how 99% of all revenue trains in America now have non-streamlined utilitarian diesel locomotives heading them. As testament to its reliability, it has been in constant service since at least the 60's, having gone from the Pensylvania RR, to the Penn Central, then Conrail, and finally a generic locomotive leasing service before being sold to the Riverside Railroad which repainted it in its original colors. Currently set as the backup unit to take over operations for CNW 4242 should that locomotive need to be taken out of service for maintainance or two mainline locomotives are necessary.
Note: Shortly acquired by the RRR before its overall shut down for comprehensive overhaul, this locomotive has not seen much service for its current owner.
Locomotive Info: C&O BL2 1845
Locomotive number:1845
Road of Origin: Chesapeake and Ohio
Prototype: Electro Motive Division BL2 "1845"
Series: Life Like Proto 2000 (pre-Walthers purchase)
Status: Not in Service (storage)
One of the infamous "Ugly Ducklings" produced by EMD to try and create a switcher locomotive that could also handle full road service, 1845 is one of the most historically significant members of the RRR locomotive roster as an experiment leading to the end of streamlined mainline road power. Its exact history between being retired by its former owner and finding a home on the RRR is unknown, but it is somehow still functional despite having all the mechanical headaches the BL2 is known for. Unlike the checkered history of its model's original service, though, its unique body shape and history make it one of the most popular locomotives to fans and locals alike. It is capable of road service as well as switching, but due to its popularity is is mainly used to head passenger specials and excursions.
Note: Because the BL2 is essentially an EMD F engine with cut-out parts of the cab, it is generally used in a multiple unit consist with CNW 4056 - the only true F unit on the RRR - because their motors are rated about the same and it is a very reliable marketing gimmick for excursions.
Locomotive Info: CN FA-2 6750
Locomotive number: 6750
Road of Origin: Canadian National
Prototype: American Locomotive Company (ALCO) FA-2 CN #6750
Series: Life Like Proto 2000 (pre-Walthers purchase)
Status: Not in Service (storage)
A rather odd unit, how it made the journey from Canada to the midwestern United States remains unclear - most likely the same way a similar unit (#6789, ex-CN FPA-4) managed to end up on a historical railroad in Illinois. Despite its dashing looks, its ALCO 244 Prime mover is not the strongest performer compared to locomotives dating from the similar period and later. As such, #6750 tends to be held in reserve as a backup locomotive when not in use for railfan excursions.
Note: This is the only locomotive on the roster to hail from a non-US railroad.
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