BURLINGTON NORTHERN Motive Power and Rolling Stock Availability A Quick Market Research for 0 Scale Beginner
Author: Johannis Likos e-mail: likosjo@yahoo.com http://issuu.com/johannis_likos/docs/BN_0_USA July 28, 2010
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Generally about U.S. 0 Scale
– sound propagation (voices and noises) – air pollution (steam and smoke)
For better enjoying our model railroading hobby one advantage of 0 scale compared to H0 scale is that we can set up a track layout indoor and outdoor as well. The major differences of the American 0 scale compared to the European 0 scale are the following:
There are several brands of 0-scaled modern era motive power, rolling stock, control devices, buildings, bridges, spare parts and further material, such as Lionel (including K-Line), Atlas, M.T.H., Weaver, Williams and other manufacturers. Some of the manufacturers separate their model products into quality categories, for instance M.T.H. uses the following brand labels with their distinct price levels:
• 1:48 (with compromises in reduced model length according to quality level) • alternatively affordable 3-rail1 system available
• Railking
– provides with better electrification contact
• Railking Scale
– enables single track return loop
• Imperial
• multiple functionality and special effects even without digitalization
• Premier Optionally in most models the hi-rail wheels can be replaced by proto wheels. Regular 0-scaled models are difficult to find in local shops, so the best way for purchasing the desired product is to contact the web-based shops and to browse through their on-line catalogs. Some 2nd
1 The
model railroader can choose between classic shiny 3-rail tracks with or without trackbed and more realistic 3-rail tracks with blackened 3rd rail in the middle (with or without trackbed). There are several suppliers of 3-rail track material, such as Atlas, GarGraves, M.T.H. and R.C.S., where some of them provide with compatibility solutions to competing track systems.
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hand 0-scaled models can be obtained from internet auctions. Demanding 0 scale model railroaders can find also limited editions of brass2 models clearly at a much higher price level, who can then join the Proto:48 initiative. The modular layouts in 1:48 scale can be built by applying the module specifications either of the official NMRA3 or of the Independent Hi-Railers or of any regional 0 scale organization. Some hobbyists restrict and dedicate themselves fanatically and exclusively to a single operator, while some others mix operations of several co-operating railroad companies on their 0-layouts. Generally 0 scale provides with a wide range4 of choices and a plethora of product categories for every taste and budget. The 0 scale market offers also new opportunities for enterpreneurship as component supplier.
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a headquarters building in Saint Paul, Minnesota, until the merger was finally approved. On November 21, 1980, the former St. Louis - San Francisco Railway was acquired. In 1981, corporate headquarters of parent Burlington Northern Inc. were moved to Seattle, Washington, and in 1988, after its non-rail operations were spun off as Burlington Resources, to Houston, Texas. On December 31, 1996, Burlington Northern merged with the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway to form the BNSF Railway, whose name was later shortened to BNSF Railway.
2.2 Route Description
About the Operator
A brief background information5 about this particular operator helps to understand the aimed target and what it is about in this article. This typical example of the famous Burlington Northern represent one of several railroad company choices in the miniature modeling, which may be major operators or regional ones in local branchlines.
The Burlington Northern traversed the most northerly route of any railroad in the western United States. This route started at Chicago, Illinois and ran west-northwest to La Crosse, Wisconsin. From here the route continued northwest through Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota 2.1 History Facts to Grand Forks, North Dakota. From Grand Forks the route ran west through North Dakota, Montana, and Idaho to Spokane, Washington. At Spokane the route split into three routes. The former Great Northern route proceeded west to Wenatchee, Washington, crossed under the Cascade Range at New Cascade Tunnel, and descended into the Puget Sound region through Everett, Washington. The former Northern Pacific proceeded southwest towards the Tri-Cities, turned northwesterly to Yakima, Washington, and crossed under the CasBurlington Northern Railroad was the product of a cade Range at Stampede Tunnel, descending into the March 2, 1970, merger comprising the Great Northern Green River Valley at Auburn, Washington, where it Railway, the Northern Pacific Railway, the Chicago, connected with existing NP lines running from British Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and the Spokane, Columbia to Portland, Oregon. The Spokane, Portland Portland and Seattle Railway. Consent for this merger and Seattle also proceeded southwest to the Tri-Cities, came only on the fourth attempt dating back to the then followed the north bank of the Columbia River to days of James J. Hill, but for many years they shared Vancouver, Washington. With the acquisition of the St. Louis - San Francisco Railway, the route was extended 2 http://www.car-locomotive.com/new-info.php into the South Central and Southeastern United States. 3 http://www.nmra.org 4 In other documents will be discussed proposed solutions for segDuring the last decades of the previous century (and mented and modular 0 scale layouts with all applicable track geome- millenium) Burlington Northern6 represented one of the tries for 2-railers and 3-railers (hi-railers) separately. 5 The source of the original photos, of the history facts and of the route description as well is Wikipedia.
6 Observe the green mainline routes of Burlington Northern on the above depicted railroad map.
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most dominant megamergers before founding BNSF.
Table 1: Freight Locomotives 4- and 6-axled hood diesels
2.3
Modeling the Operations
vendor
catalog number
description
Atlas
1160-1
GP-35 (dummy)
USD 114.99
listed price
MTH
20-2952-1
GP38-2
USD 359.99
MTH
30-2958-1
RS-3
USD 299.95
MTH
20-2217-1
SD40
USD 199.99
MTH
20-2217-1
SD40
USD 229.99
MTH
20-2116-0
SD60
USD 174.99
MTH
20-20082-1
SD60M
USD 429.95
Lionel
6-28312
SD60
USD 437.95
Williams
21805
SD90
USD 144.99
Williams
21805
SD90
USD 159.00
Williams
21805
SD90
USD 239.95
Williams
U1007
U33C
USD 99.99
the simulation of switching activities on a yard in front of industrial buildings.
3.1 Hood Locomotives
There have been repeatedly published articles by experts in several magazines on how to model a realistic scenery with Burlington Northern motive power and rolling stock in various scales. So, we focus here specifically and exclusively on 0 scale, where the following tables present the results of a quick market survey, in order to indicate, which models are available and at which price range they can be obtained. Choosing Burlington Northern labelled models in various green liveries for the own 0-layout symbolizes the transition of industialized U.S.-regions to the modern era. Some hobbyists prefer to model smaller branchlines, while some others do larger mainlines with Burlington Northern models in miniature scale.
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The massive 6-axled diesels can haul long and heavy freight trains on a larger 0-layout compared to the 4-axled road switcher, which behave better on narrow curves and in switching yards full of switches and diamonds while pulling or pushing only few cars. Heavy hood locomotives in multiple traction and in elephant formation with plenty of diesel smoke and simulated vibrating engine noise is the absolutely best this scale can offer at any exposition or convention. In order to experiment with sound and smoke effects, at least one full featured diesel locomotive should be purchased while starting with the 0 scale model railroading hobby.
Freight Trains 3.2 Freight Cars
A complete set of mixed freight cars may consist of over twenty different 0-scaled model products, but it is not necessary to own all of them in order to enjoy the 0 scale model railroading. In order to get a more realistic touch, some doublicated cars can be detailed, decorated, renumbered with white dry-transfer decals
For the most complete heavy freight train set you need more than seven meters long tracks to display it at your switching yard and many more meters tracks to run it on your 0-layout. Alternatively few short cars coupled to a road switcher is sufficient on a small 0-layout for 3
Table 2: Freight Car Set
Table 3: Maintenance Crane and Boom Car Set E8 A-B-A passenger locomotives
various freight cars vendor
catalog no.
description
Atlas
946C
Caboose 10277
listed price
vendor
catalog number
description
USD 11,09
Lionel
6-29885
Crane Car (TMCC)
USD 297.95
Lionel
6-29886
Boom Car (TMCC, Railsounds)
USD 192.95
Atlas
6502-1
53’ Double Door Boxcar LN+/Box
USD 24,99
Atlas
189030
O Scale 2-Rail Reefer EX-/Box
USD 24,99
MTH
30-7456
Double Door Boxcar LN/Box
USD 24,99
Atlas
6331-1
ACF Cylindrical Hopper MT/Box
USD 27,99
Atlas
6331-2
Hopper LN/Box
USD 27,99
Lionel
6239
Standard O Boxcar LN+/Box
USD 27,99
MTH
20-97432
4-Bay Hopper LN/Box
USD 29,99
MTH
20-97116
Coalporter Hopper Car
USD 30,99
Atlas
6376-1
3-Rail Hopper LN/Box
USD 34,99
Weaver
456125
4-Bay Hopper EX-/Box
USD 34,99
Atlas
6376-2
3-Rail Low Side Cov. Hopper/Box
USD 34,99
MTH
20-9701
Coalporter Hopper LN/Box
USD 34,99
Williams
47103
3-Dome Tank Car
USD 39,95
Atlas
2001016
50’6” ACF Box Cars
USD 42,95
MTH
20-98404
Corrugated Auto Car
USD 44,99
MTH
20-9200
Tank Car MT/Box
USD 44,99
Atlas
810
40’ Hy-Cube Box Cars
USD 45,95
MTH
30-73183
Modern Tank Car
EUR 55,57
MTH
30-74333
40’ High Cube Box Car
EUR 55,57
MTH
20-97171
Ps-2CD High-Sided Hopper Car
EUR 55,57
MTH
20-93304
50’ Dbl. Door Plugged Boxcar
EUR 61,75
Lionel
6-27440
Cylindrical Hopper
USD 67.95
Atlas
8918
Gunderson Stack Cars (A and B set)
USD 149,95
Atlas
8919
Gunderson Stack Cars (C, D and E set)
USD 194,95
listed price
3.3 Maintenance Cars
and weathered with dry-brush. Gondola cars could be filled with ballast or scrap or other load, but the gravity point should be kept low, otherwise the train may mis-behave in narrow curves by getting out of balance. Lionel’s new crane and boom car set is equipped with a high degree of functionality through a digitally7 controlled solution even on an extremely small 0 layout.
4 Passenger Trains For the most complete passenger train set you need an approximately six meters long platform to display it at 7 TMCC is the abbreviation for Lionel’s TrainMaster Command Control.
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5 Conclusion
Table 4: Passenger Locomotive Set E8 A-B-A passenger locomotives vendor
catalog number
description
listed price
M.T.H.
30-2997-1
E8 A-A set (powered)
USD 349.95
M.T.H.
30-2997-3
E8 B-unit (dummy)
USD 119.95
Table 5: Passenger Car Set 60’ streamlined passenger coaches vendor
catalog number
description
M.T.H.
30-67556
coach
M.T.H.
30-67557
full length vista dome
M.T.H.
30-67555
2-car sleeper/dinner set
USD 119.95
M.T.H.
30-67554
4-car passenger set
USD 229.95
To have on the own modular 0-scaled layout a complete passenger train set, a long heavy freight train set and another short one for switching, and all of them from the same railroad company with all that diesel smoke and all the diverse sound effects, and all that stuff in the same livery, in this case Burlington Northern, is extremely exciting. But it is recommended to slowly start first from a short train set of whichever railroad company and of whatever model manufacturer, in order to become perfectly acquainted with the 0 scale technology, the modeling requirements and the industry standards before expanding step-by-step according to the budget.
listed price USD 59.95 USD 62.95
your passenger station and many more meters tracks to run it on your 0-layout.
4.1
End-Cab Locomotives
6 Sources Below are listed web links for further investigation of the possibilities in the 0 scale model railroading hobby. A complete set of 6-axled end-cab passenger locomotives may consist of E8 type 0-scaled model products 6.1 Major 0 Scale Manufacturers in different running numbers. The motive power of • http://www.atlaso.com a passenger train may consist of one of the following locomotive arrangement alternatives: • http://www.lionel.com • A (shortest) • http://www.mthtrains.com • A-A (basic) • A-B (realistic) • A-B-A (extended)
http://www.weavermodels.com
•
http://www.williamstrains.com
6.2 Known American Resellers
• A-B-B-A (longest)
4.2
•
Passenger Coaches
•
http://www.discounttrainsonline.com
•
http://factorydirecttrains.com
•
http://www.internettrains.com
• • •
A complete set of 60’ streamlined passenger coaches may consist of eight different 0-scaled model products, but a shorter set of four coaches for a regional commuter train is more suitable on a smaller 0-layout.
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•
http://www.micromark.com
•
http://www.trainworldonline.com
•
http://www.trainz.com
6.3
Some European Resellers
•
http://www.easygleis.de
•
http://www.spur-0-shop.de
6.4
6.8 American Conventions
Magazines in English
•
http://www.2010oscalenational.com
•
http://www.oscalenews.com/meets.html
•
http://2012oscalenational.com
6.9 U.S. Conventions in Europe
•
http://www.ogaugerr.com
•
http://www.oscalemag.com
•
http://www.classictoytrains.com
6.5
Magazines in German
•
http://www.spurnull-magazin.de
•
http://www.012-express.de
6.6
North American Associations
•
http://www.nmra.org
•
http://www.hirailers.com
•
http://www.proto48.org
•
http://www.oscalekings.org
6.7
Central European Associations
•
http://www.argespur0.de
•
http://www.morop.org
•
http://www.fremo-net.eu
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•
http://www.us-convention-brd.de
•
http://www.trainmaster.ch/convention.htm