by mopacbuff
Gentlemen,
First post here (other than the required introduction) after quite a bit of lurking. Very fine site.
I'm a lifelong fan of the Missouri Pacific (my family has been involved with the MP/UP since the '70s), but I've lived in Ohio now for 16 years and my interests have wandered (or evolved). Lately I have absolutely fallen in love with "The Little Giant", the P&LE. I find myself devouring anything and everything I can find to read about this amazing railroad, and I've visited Pittsburgh a few times, which has sealed the deal (the P&LE terminal station is a beautiful structure). I now realize that since I'm at an age and in a position in my life to finally pursue building a serious model railroad (I've been involved in various ways with model trains for 25+ years), that I want to model the P&LE. It seems absolutely perfect for modeling, especially in the '40s & '50s.
I've narrowed my modeling era (I think) down to 1952, the year my Dad was born. Mostly because I want to include lots of passenger trains and first generation diesels along with steam locomotives.
Having said (rambled) all of that, here's my question.
I really like ALCO RS-3 locomotives. According to my research, the P&LE didn't aquire RS-3s until '53. So, what was the possibility/likelyhood of NYC RS-3s operating on the P&LE at least occasionally in 1952?? I guess I'm just not familiar (yet) with how common it was to see NYC power on the P&LE during this time period, if at all.
Thank you for any input. I'd also appreciate if you could point me to any references that would "confirm" what I'm looking for, as I want to be as accurate as possible.
MPB
First post here (other than the required introduction) after quite a bit of lurking. Very fine site.
I'm a lifelong fan of the Missouri Pacific (my family has been involved with the MP/UP since the '70s), but I've lived in Ohio now for 16 years and my interests have wandered (or evolved). Lately I have absolutely fallen in love with "The Little Giant", the P&LE. I find myself devouring anything and everything I can find to read about this amazing railroad, and I've visited Pittsburgh a few times, which has sealed the deal (the P&LE terminal station is a beautiful structure). I now realize that since I'm at an age and in a position in my life to finally pursue building a serious model railroad (I've been involved in various ways with model trains for 25+ years), that I want to model the P&LE. It seems absolutely perfect for modeling, especially in the '40s & '50s.
I've narrowed my modeling era (I think) down to 1952, the year my Dad was born. Mostly because I want to include lots of passenger trains and first generation diesels along with steam locomotives.
Having said (rambled) all of that, here's my question.
I really like ALCO RS-3 locomotives. According to my research, the P&LE didn't aquire RS-3s until '53. So, what was the possibility/likelyhood of NYC RS-3s operating on the P&LE at least occasionally in 1952?? I guess I'm just not familiar (yet) with how common it was to see NYC power on the P&LE during this time period, if at all.
Thank you for any input. I'd also appreciate if you could point me to any references that would "confirm" what I'm looking for, as I want to be as accurate as possible.
MPB