NYC RS3 locos on P&LE

[clehman]

Bill8106 - That's the one! I have a book with a color photo, but now all I have to do is remember WHICH book!!! Thanks. Carl

[poppyl]

Just to throw another wrinkle into the discussion, you could also include some Western Maryland and Reading diesels as run through power on the P&LE. Steam still ruled on the WM east of Connellsville in 1952 but the RS's and Geeps were making in-roads as the advantages of distributed diesel power became more apparent.

Poppyl

[NKP1155]

In your planning, don't forget that the P&LE and Erie pooled power between Cleveland and Pittsburgh for their @ 10 passenger trains a day. We often would see P&LE passenger units at the Erie E 55th st roundhouse in Cleveland. Erie had PA's, RS-3's geeps and E units equipped for passenger service, all types would have made it to Pittsburgh at one time. (and don't forget the Detroit to Pittsburgh passenger trains that operated NYC-DTW-CLV via the Erie Station (into CLV from Berea on the LS&MS main, right turn after Bridge 1 onto the original Big 4, stop at Superior St Station under the CUT trestle, onto the Erie and up past Literary St completely bypassing Cleveland Union Terminal); Erie to Youngstown; P&LE to PGH.

[wjstix]

FWIW although you want to have an accurate layout based on the P&LE in 1952, I'd leave yourself a little leeway. Very few folks are going to know if a P&LE RS-3 is right for 1952 or not, and it certainly will look right since RS-3 production started in 1950. Similarly, to me at least, seeing a NYC engine on the P&LE isn't going to look out of place. It might be hard for you to prove that a particular NYC locomotive was used on the P&LE at some point...but it would be even harder for someone else questioning it to prove it wasn't used on the P&LE.