(rshsdepot) What kind of locomotive and cars best represent the early years of New England Railroading?

["Kenyon Karl" <kenyon_@_getglobal.net>]

It all started when I purchased an HO Gauge model of the Acela Express
http://www.bachmann-trains.com/asp/productdetails?itemnum=01202 to be run at
model railroad shows for the purpose of publicly supporting the High Speed
Rail Corridor proposed between Boston and Montreal. I have since added a
Genesis locomotive and an assortment of Amfleet coaches to represent the
trains that 'ordinary folks' would necessarily ride on such corridors due to
the rather high fares charged for the Acela Express service.
http://www.bachmann-trains.com/asp/productdetails?itemnum=01104

I am currently assembling a collection of Materials Handling Cars and
baggage cars as well as suitable intermodal cars to call attention to the
'Mail & Express' service that OUGHT TO BE USED to reduce the inevitable
subsidy requirements of modern rail passenger service. :-(

However, I believe that I must also call attention to the 150 year old
railroad beds that must inevitably be used for any POLITICALLY VIABLE
proposal for High Speed Rail Corridors. Since I rather like the idea of
describing these railroad beds as THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY PROGRAM OF THE
1850's, I think that the best way of vividly calling attention to this
critical asset is to deliberately add a reasonably representative train from
that era to my public operation at model railroad shows.

Accordingly, I have two closely related questions for extensive discussion
by NERAIL (and similar folks):
* What kind of locomotives and passenger cars were used during the early
railroads of New England?
* What operating HO Gauge train sets are available (new or used) that I can
'afford' to buy?

My relatively UNINFORMED SPECULATION is that a wood burning 'American'
locomotive (4-4-0) along with a few 60 foot open-end wooden coaches is the
best I can expect to find in the mass produced model train marketplace.
http://www.bachmann-trains.com/asp/productdetails?itemnum=00605 I also
SUSPECT that MIXED TRAINS were so common that I must ALSO acquire a few
freight cars from that era as well.
http://www.bachmann-trains.com/asp/productdetails?itemnum=00629

Please note that like my Web Site, my entire public show program is totally
financed from my limited income. I must likewise be EXTREMELY CONSIDERATE of
the model railroad clubs that are willing to provide 'trackage rights' on
their modular layouts at model railroad shows and the like. Accordingly,
there are distressingly SEVERE limits to what I can reasonably hope to
purchase and run for this purpose!

Finally, I must publicly commend the president and members of the Concord
Model Railroad Club <http://www.concordnh.com/Trains/> for their warm
cooperation and also for the necessary minor assembly and repair services
that I have needed to date. The New Hampshire Historical Society, the
Ashland Historical Society, as well as and a Lion's club in the Hooksett
Area must likewise be commended for encouraging me to appear at their
respective shows. :-)

Kenyon F. Karl
Webmaster_@_new-england-public-transit.org
http://www.new-england-public-transit.org



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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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