Train sets!

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Thanks for the update Arthur

Are the steam locomotives one of those model engines that you can put the liquid in and it puffs out actual steam?

Brandon wrote:Are the steam locomotives one of those model engines that you can put the liquid in and it puffs out actual steam?

These kind of models are available, but I have not seen too many of them as of late. My experiences with them have been very disappointing as well and I try to avoid them as a result. For the sake of clarity here is the entire roster of  the Phoenix Line's steam locomotive fleet

55

0-6-0 switcher without tender (builder unknown)

no #

0-6-0 camel back switcher with tender
 
908

Baldwin Santa Fe-Type (2-10-2)

1367*

Baldwin Mikado-type (2-8-2,) 

4008

American Locomotive Company (ALCo 4-8-8-4 Big Boy)

4073

Montreal Locomotive Works Pacific-type (4-6-2)

4075

English Great Western Railway "Castle" Class 10-wheeler

9410

0-6-0 tank engine (built in England )

* This unit is not operational

Once again for the sake of clarity, 4008 is the biggest steam locomotive on the Phoenix Line while the 55 is the smallest.

and thanks for the update art

Thanks for the updates Arthur

Cool list there TTFan .

Hello everyone. got another update to share.

As of 9:15 PM Central Standard Time on 11/25/2019, the PLRX situation looks like this...

1.) The testing of steam locomotives continues. So far the 908 is the only steam locomotive to have no problems operating on the Phoenix Line's track but we need to test the remaining locomotives.

2.) Unfortunately personal issues between myself and the now former 1mtvfan have resulted in me not operating my own trains on there. I remain interested in being a part of the railroad however.

3.) The railroad's general manager (my dad) has suggested that we operate the PLRX as a transition-era railroad but this has not been determined as yet.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

Hello everyone, got another update to share!!!

As of 12:30 PM Central Standard Time on 11/27/2019, the Phoenix Line's situation looks like this...

1.) Track work in Rustyville's passenger car yard has been completed, and this yard is currently playing host to the railroad's active maintenance-of-way equipment (the former CP Rail heavyweight maintenance-of-way cars are still in static storage due to their coupler and truck issues).

2.) Unfortunately space issues have forced me to pack some of my inter-modal equipment away. I am NOT going to be selling anything at this time however, and am still looking for some more 20' shipping containers (I am also trying to find some 45' shipping containers too).

3.) The train of the railroad's "Grain Express" may grow to 53 cars in the very near future, due to its potential purchase of 3 more grain hoppers. 

4.) Steam locomotive testing is currently on pause at present, but this continues to be the top priority on the railroad. 

Please stay tuned as the Phoenix Line's story continues.

Thanks for the update art

Hello everyone, here's another update!!!

As of 1:05 PM Central Standard Time on 11/30/2019, the PLRX's situation looks like this...

1.) The train for the railroad's "Grain Express" service has grown to exactly 50 cars now.

2.) Two of the tracks of Rustyville's passenger car yard are being used to store freight cars at this time, while the 3rd has been designated as a switching lead.

3.) One track in the intermodal yard in Stackville has also been designated as a switching lead and is required to remain clear of all cars. 

4.) There has been some discussion about the plan for construction of the Oakdale subdivision but no further action has been taken as yet.
 
5.) A former Santa Fe Railway heavyweight 3-axle baggage car has been placed on a section of disconnected track in Hillside to act as a maintenance-of-way storeroom as it will not stay on the tracks in an area I like to call  Linen Closet Corner. This may be temporary however, so the track and roadbed haven't been nailed down.

6.) The 3 former CP Rail heavyweight Maintenance-of-way cars (404910, 411296 & 411297) were also on a section of disconnected track in Rustyville for a while but have since been removed from this track (this track may get removed as well, but its hard to say for sure at the present time). These cars may be getting some modifications to fix their coupler gearboxes soon (as they also have issues with Linen Closet Corner), but action has not been taken on this matter either as yet. 

An interesting note here... The actual Tool and cable car 404910 turned 90 years old in January 2011, and is currently in storage in Calgary, Alberta's Ogden Industrial Park. Unfortunately I have no idea what happened to the actual sleeper 411296 and diner 411297.

Please stay tuned as the Phoenix Line's story continues.

Hello everyone, another update from me

As of 15:50 hrs on 12/2/2019, the Phoenix Line's situation goes as follows

1.) One of the flatcars owned by this railroad has undergone some maintenance and this has helped to bring it back into service.

2.) The railroad's camera car has spent some time in service but has been returned to its place in storage.

3.) An issue with power has occurred in Hillside, and its because of an experiment that my dad tried a couple of weeks ago. 

Please stay tuned as the Phoenix Line's story continues.

thanks for the update art

Hello everyone, here's another update

As of 9:10 AM Central Standard Time on 12/4/2019, the Phoenix Line's situation looks like this: 

1.) The power issue in Hillside has turned out to be a minor one (both sets of switching points allowing access to the lead track of this village's interchange track have to be opened in order for this track to have power).

2.) Some of the railroad's bulkhead flatcars (which are both 50' and 60' long) have had a chance to operate on its tracks. all proved to be operable on these tracks.

3.) The now 50-car long "Grain Express" has yet to be tested on the westbound mainline and 22 car long "Stack & Trailer Pack" have yet to be tested, but its hoped that this will be happening at some point in the near future.

4.) The railroad may be getting another three 20' shipping container as well as its first 45' shipping container, but nothing is for sure at the present time.

5.) There is nothing to report in terms of GP9 8827 or the former CP Rail heavyweight Maintenance-Of-Way cars at this time.

6.) There is nothing to report in terms of building the railroad's Oakdale section at this time. 

7.) SD45's 7406 and 6144 have been removed from service and placed in storage due to a lack of freight traffic.  

8.) The Phoenix Flyer passenger service powered by F9A 6500C has taken several trips around the railroad and performed well.

9.) F9B 4053 remains in storage at this time, but will be used for trips to & from the Oakdale extension.

Please stay tuned as the Phoenix Line's story continues.

cool thanks for the update art

Hello everyone, here's another update! As of 9:15 AM Central Standard Time on 12/6/2019, there is some bad news, some good news and some neutral news.

First, the bad news.

1.) Any plans regarding construction of the Oakdale Sub and to fix the westbound yard entry track at Hillside have been put on hold until after Christmas 2019 at the very least. 

2.) The railroad's plan to acquire some more 20-foot shipping container & a 45-foot shipping container have fallen through.

3.) Former CP Rail GP9 8827 remains in storage with mechanical issues. SD45's 7604 and 6144 are also still in storage at this time.

4.) The three former CP Rail heavyweight Maintenance-of-Way cars have not had any modifications as yet and remain in open-air storage at a place called New Roanoke. 

Next, the good news.

1.) The railroad's "Grain Express" train has grown to 52 cars. Interestingly one of these cars (370708) was built as a billboard/demonstrator car and still wears its original paint (a rainbow) and markings (the chemical formula for Hexamethylene diisocyanate). The other car (100668) is currently inactive and stored in the railroad's Maintenance yard waiting for its 2nd re-branding (it was built as a CN Rail car, but became a CP Rail car shortly after its sale to this railroad).

Finally, the neutral news.

1.) Its been suggested that one of the railroad's two former Cargill hoppers (road number 7241) should be removed from the main freight roster and added to the TSR roster, and such is under consideration at this time.

2.) There has been talk of the railroad purchasing another 3 grain hoppers and extending the  train to 55 cars but, due to space restrictions, this plan is being reconsidered.

3.) The railroad's three 50-foot former "Railbox" boxcars (road numbers 10001, 10941 and 11091) have all been operated on the PLRX's tracks now and performed quite well. All of these cars continue to wear their "RBOX' reporting marks but the 11091 has a silver roof in place of the more traditional yellow one.

Please stay tuned as the Phoenix Line's story continues.

cool thanks for the update Art

Hello everyone, a minor and quick update here.

     It turns out that I was wrong about hopper 370708, as it only has the rainbow paint and chemical formula for hexamethylene diisocyanate on just one of its sides. Also, hopper 100668 is now wearing its new number.  As of 9:30 AM Central Standard Time on 12/9/2019, there are no plans for any new construction or repairs made to the railroad due to the holidays.

Please stay tuned for further updates as the PLRX's story continues.

Thanks for the updates Arthur

Hello everyone, another minor and quick update here

As of 3:00 PM Central Standard Time on 12/9/2019, the Phoenix Line has managed to acquire another grain hopper. This car is a 54' 3-bay covered hopper but carries no external markings. This brings the train up 53 cars, but it hasn't been delivered as yet. 

The railroad is working on getting at least one former Milwaukee Road 54' 3-bay covered hopper too despite the fact that this will make its "Grain Express" train 54 cars long. 

Please stay tuned as this railroad's story continues.

Hello everyone, another minor update here:

Unfortunately, there has been some talk about the possibility of the train for the railroad's "Grain Express" running in two separate sections as result of length issues.  Such is only talk for now however and nothing is certain.

Stay tuned for further updates as the Railroad's story continues.

Hello everyone, here's another minor update.

As of 12:40 PM CST on 12/14/2019, two of the railroad's barley and/or grain hoppers have received some minor maintenance. Also, ownership of the grain elevator in Rustyville (which also handles malt barley) has been sold to Cargill. The general manager and personnel working at this elevator have not changed however.

Please stay tuned as the Phoenix Line's story continues.

cool thanks for the update art

Hello everyone, here's another relatively minor update on the Phoenix Line's situation.

As of 15:17hrs on 12/16/2019, the railroad's two former Santa Fe SD40-2's have taken a trip through its maintenance shop as well as a short operating session on the new track. Both performed reasonably well but the 5068 had to spend a little more time in the shops due to a mechanical issue. The railroad's two former CN Rail SD40-2's and former Conrail SD40-2 will be the next units to undergo this procedure but it may be postponed due to Christmas 2019. Sadly I have no construction updates to share but such is due to the christmas break.

Please stay tuned as Phoenix Line Railroad's story continues.

cool thanks for the update art

Hello everyone, here's another minor update.

As of 1:15 PM Central Standard Time on 12/19/2019, the Phoenix Line's situation looks like this...

1.) Former CN Rail SD40-2's 5937 & 5243, former Conrail GP38-2 8276 & SD40-2 6408, former Southern Pacific GP35 6534 and former Union Pacific 4-8-8-4  4008 have yet to perform tests on the new track but these will probably happen at some point in the new year.

2.) There is nothing to report in terms of former CP Rail GP9 8827, as it remains unusable due to mechanical issues. 

3.) The three former CP Rail heavyweight maintenance-of way cars remain in storage in the yard at New Roanoke at this time but the railroad continues to try and sort this matter out.

4.) There is also nothing to report in terms of track maintenance and/or repairs, as these operations are on hold due to the holiday season.

Please stay tuned as the railroad's story continues.

Hello everyone, here's another very minor update.

The railroad had some track issues recently but these have been fixed again. Its also moved some more carloads of barley and grain, but everything else remains on hold due to the holidays.

Please stay tuned as the railroad's story continues.