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 EMC doodlebug acquired from the predecessor road
WA&M.
In the
diesel scheme, the duties will be handled by RS-1's and the (recently
re-engined) doodlebug.
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 (pending)
|
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 |
501 |
1 |
ALCO |
Atlas |
- |
| NW2 |
701 |
1 |
EMD |
Kato |
Stored serviceable |
| F3A |
601 |
1 |
EMD |
Stewart/Kato |
Stored serviceable |
| F7A |
621 |
1 |
EMD |
Stewart/Kato |
Stored serviceable |
| GP7 |
801 |
1 |
EMD |
Atlas |
Stored serviceable |
Doodlebug
|
M-100
|
1
|
EMC
|
Bachmann
|
-
|
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: two more sound decoders have arrived; the Tsunami ALCO
539T,
to be installed in RS-1's #201 and #202.
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 |
