CHRIS D’AMATO: ROANOKE, VA; APR. 9, 2005
Maintenance-of-way trains and equipment
Modeling maintenance-of-way operations can add interest to a layout/Ben Swope T
his article is intended to help model railroaders better under- stand the operations of mainte-
nance-of-way trains and on-track work equipment and how to emulate them “working” on your layout.
There are two basic forms of mainte- nance-of-way (m.o.w.) operations: work cars moved by locomotives and self- propelled, on-track work equipment. Each of these types will be discussed, as well as the interaction some mainte- nance operations may have with rev- enue trains.
Maintenance-of-way trains moved by locomotives,
non-revenue trains, or
what are commonly called “work trains” can be very different from one to another. Some non-revenue trains may be posh, using the railroad’s top varnish on an inspection train. Or, the non-revenue train could be performing
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some of the dirtiest work on the rail- road, dumping track ballast in prepa- ration for
enue trains are just that,
later trackwork. Non-rev- not
money-makers, so the make-up and op- erations of these trains will have a spe- cific purpose.
Varnish trains
Business and office car trains trans- port railroad officials across the sys- tem for the purpose of inspecting the line. These inspections can be before or after major trackwork, or simply to show the railroad to major stockhold- ers or customers.
These trains are always very clean and pulled by the road’s best power. Within reason, these trains have high priority over the line. Business trains may vary with the number of cars, with the main office car bring up the rear
(many with rear-facing track viewing seats), a sleeper and/or a second office car, and perhaps a diner car included. Depending upon the era operated, a baggage car converted to a power car may be coupled next to the locomotive to provide electricity or, in times past, steam to heat the train. These trains typically run from one division office to the next with railroad officials on board. They may run “dead- head” back to the home terminal for servicing and storage.
As an alternate to running an extra
train, a smaller number of business cars may be added to the end of the hot-shot freight or passenger train. From railroad to railroad, much of the equipment discussed here may vary in design or details. Check the In- ternet or other sources for photos of you favorite road’s business cars or any
OCTOBER 2013
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