Operations - NY/YN Freights on the Layout

We've looked at the prototype operations of the NY/YN freights, but how does that apply to the layout?

From 1946 to 1951 NY-4/YN-3 are the primary freights running during the session. In addition, NY-2/YN-1 form the backbone of the staging of the operating sessions, even after NY-4/YN-3 are no longer running since NY-2 leaves a cut of cars overnight, and the crews block outbound cars for YN-1 to pick up after the session ends.

NY-4/YN-3 was reinstated in the April 1953 freight schedules, but was gone by the Autumn '53 ones.

Locomotives

A closer look at the schedules shows that during the era when NY-4/YN-3 were running, the scheduling of motive power was dependent on all four trains, although this isn't always clear in the engine assignments. For 1946 and '47 these are DEY-5 (Alco S-2) locomotives, usually 0605 and 0606, then it switches to DERS-2b (RS-2) locomotives 0502 and 0503 until NY-4/YN-3 are canceled in 1952.

The 1948 and 1950 Engine Assignments note that 0502 runs on NY-2 and YN-3 and 0503 is NY-4 and YN-1. However, the 1949 lists 0502 assigned to NY-2/YN-1 and 0503 assigned to NY-4/YN-3.

This isn't possible, though, because NY-4 leaves Cedar Hill at 5.45 AM and arrives at Holyoke at 12.30 PM, while YN-3 leaves Holyoke two hours earlier, at 10.25 AM. 

In reality, it appears the motive power cycles between all four of these trains. In terms of the layout, it simply means that NY-4 and YN-3 each runs with a different locomotive.

DEY-5 (Alco S-2)

0605

0606

DERS-2b (Alco RS-2)

0502

0503

Models

The S-2s are the Atlas model. They will receive ATS Boxes for the Springfield line (required for the stretch of the run from Cedar Hill to Berlin). They had 3-chime Crosby whistles instead of horns. But the biggest difference is the low-clearance cab used by the New Haven. Mike Redden made some fantastic cabs just for this project and they are available on Shapeways.

The RS-2s are the Proto 1000 models. As I've noted before, Chris has an extensive number of posts on the modifications he made to his model of 0510. He also had an article in MRH Extra Running with more details on this build. I'm still working on mine, but will do a post about what I decided to do differently.

Cabooses

Like the locomotives, I'll need two different cabooses since YN-3 leaves Holyoke while NY-4 is en route. Unlike the motive power, though, there are four cabooses assigned to the four trains. That means that the NY-4/YN-3 trains use one pair of cabooses. Each one will be on one job one day, and the other job the next.

I have caboose assignments for 1950 and 1951. The 1950 assignments are for the fall, all of the others spring. However, since these aren't tied to the clock (and daylight savings) these may have been all of the assignments produced during my era.

In 1950, NE-6 class cabooses C-708 and C-709 are assigned to NY-3/YN-4.

In 1951 it's C-701 and C-709.

I'll start with C-708 and C-709, but will eventually model all four cabooses.

What about pre-1950? Without assignments, my next primary source is photos. Unfortunately, pictures of the cabooses on these trains are rare, although we have NE class C-139 pictured in 1945. It was condemned in 1951. Another picture of 0606 in Plainville clearly shows it's using an NE-5 class caboose in July of 1947, but I can't make out the road number. NE-5 class C-528 was assigned to NY-4/YN-3 when it was reinstated in spring 1953, so I'll go with that for now.

So I'll add C-139 as an option for 1946-1948, and also use C-528. I also know that NE-5 C-546 was assigned to HDX-5 (the New Hartford local) in 1950 and '51. But all of the photos of HDX-5 running behind K-1-d 479 show NE class C-116. So during those years I can also use C-546 for NY-4/YN-3 through 1948.

NE Class

C-139

NE-5 Class

C-528

C-546

NE-6 Class

C-701

C-708

C-709

Models

The NE class is the Crown Custom brass model, which are just about perfect out of the box. I swapped out the brass trucks for Kadee, and then I'll have to take a closer look at what else to do. 

The NE-5 cabooses are two different models. One is an Overland brass one, but I replaced the floor with the Intermountain floor, and also installed the Intermountain interior. I still need to add the missing ribs to the roof.

The second one is a modified Intermountain one. I corrected the end windows and added the missing ribs on the end, added the towing staples. and replaced the running board with the correct one. I just need to get some decals printed, since none of the sets that have been released are correct. I'll need those for the NE-6's too. If modifying the ends wasn't so much work, they would be the obvious choice. The body is already drilled for the towing staples, and it's easy enough to swap out the running board.

The NE-6 cabooses are the Atlas model, with new running boards, and using the Intermountain underframe and interior again. The Atlas underframe is sparse, and the caboose sits too high. Otherwise it is more accurate than any of the brass ones. I'm using the accurate Tahoe trucks on all of the steel cabooses.

Operations

For operating sessions, crews start the day with a cut of cars left by NY-2.

NY-4 is the only train staged coming from Cedar Hill up the Berlin Line and terminates in an empty track in the main staging yard. Neither the locomotive or caboose will return that session.

YN-3 is already staged to come out of Holyoke/Plainville with separate power and caboose, and terminates in the track vacated by NY-4.

As noted, the crews also block cars for YN-1 to pick up after the session ends. 

Time to get working on those RS-2s and NE-6s...