I plan to operate with two different
power schemes on the Louisiana Central. The usual year of
operation will be 1964, but the waybill program will allow the year to
be anything I want at will, so I may slide back and forth a few
years from time to time (but probably never later than 1964).
But
on to the power. Under one scheme, we'll be operating using steam
power, most of which are locomotives acquired at bargain prices
from the larger roads as they were phasing out their steam power.
A few come from the LC predecessor roads, the Mayberry &
Southern and the Willis, Acadia & Monterey. On hand is a
varied assortment of power ranging from an 0-6-0 up
to several chunky 2-8-0's. The actual engines are a mixture of
older brass engines that I acquired in the 60's and 70's, an MDC kit,
and I also
have several of the plastic Bachmann 2-8-0 models.
The other
scheme will utilize first generation diesel power, mainly a sizable
stable of ALCO locomotives: RS-1, RSC-2, RS-3 and RSD-4's, along
with an S-2 switcher, and a lone EMD NW2. I have a couple other
1st generation EMD units, but it is unlikely that they will see service.
In both scenarios, the connecting railroads (IC and T&P) will be operated with EMD GP7 locomotives.
Passenger
Passenger traffic will be handled by an ex-SP/T&NO M-4 2-6-0 and an old
4-6-0 acquired from the predecessor road WA&M. In the
diesel scheme, the duties will be handled by either RS-1's or RS-3's.
The cars will have their own heat, so steam won't be
required.
Freight
The freight will be handled by the 2-8-0's (ex-IC, ex-UP, and ex-WA&M), and a
couple ex-logging engines inherited from the former M&S, which in turn were brought in from a defunct logging
operation (a 2-6-2 and a 2-8-2). When using diesels, they will
be those named above.
The Spencer Lumber Company
The
Spencer logging operation has two Shay geared locomotives. Primary power is a class C
(3-truck) model, and backup power is provided by a class B (2-truck)
model,
both bought new from Lima. The Spencer operation has no internal
combustion power.
Louisiana Central Steam Roster
| Road Number |
Wheel Arrangement |
Acquired From |
Model Builder |
| 3 |
0-6-0 |
UP |
PFM/United |
| 11 |
2-6-2 |
M&S |
PFM/United |
| 12 |
2-6-0 |
SP/T&NO |
Fujiyama |
| 14 |
2-8-0 |
UP |
PFM/United |
| 21 |
2-8-0 |
IC |
Bachmann |
| 22 |
2-8-0 |
IC |
Bachmann |
| 23 |
2-8-0 |
IC |
Bachmann |
| 30 |
2-8-2 |
M&S |
NWSL |
| 42 |
2-8-0 |
WA&M |
MDC |
| 53 |
4-6-0 |
WA&M |
Bachmann |
Louisiana Central Diesel Roster
| Model |
Road Numbers |
Total Number |
Builder |
Model Builder |
Comments |
| RS-1 |
201-206 |
6 |
ALCO |
Atlas |
- |
| RSC-2 |
251, 252 |
2 |
ALCO |
Kato |
- |
| RS-3 |
301-303 |
3 |
ALCO |
Atlas |
- |
| RSD-4 |
401-404 |
4 |
ALCO |
Atlas |
- |
| S-2 |
101 |
1 |
ALCO |
Atlas |
- |
| NW2 |
701 |
1 |
EMD |
Kato |
Stored serviceable |
| F3A |
501 |
1 |
EMD |
Stewart/Kato |
Stored serviceable |
| F7A |
521 |
1 |
EMD |
Stewart/Kato |
Stored serviceable |
| GP7 |
801 |
1 |
EMD |
Atlas |
Stored serviceable |
I
recently equipped one of the ALCO RSD-4's with a SoundTraxx Tsunami
ALCO 244 sound
decoder, and I'm really pleased with the installation. The sound
is just great! The $bad new$ is that I've decided that now all
locomotives will be headed to the sound shops as funding permits.
Addendum: the second decoder has arrived; a Tsunami ALCO 539T,
to be installed in RS-1 #201.
Spencer Lumber Company Roster
| Road Number |
Type |
Class |
Builder |
Acquired From |
Model Builder |
| 4 |
Shay |
B |
Lima |
New |
MDC |
| 5 |
Shay |
C |
Lima |
New |
Bachmann |
