NYC Pacemaker 40ft Boxcar
Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2015 11:46 pmThis model is a New York Central Pacemaker reskin of Michael Stephan’s freeware 40ft PS1 Boxcar. The 40ft-PS1 base model can be downloaded at http://www.stephan-michael.de/railsim/p ... 40ps1.html .
The original Pacemaker freight service consisted of LCL merchandise trains NB-1 and BN-2 between New York City and Buffalo. Inaugurated in July 1946, these trains were run as solid consists of 70 specially-equipped red-and-gray Pacemaker cars.
Steam power was originally used west of Harmon, N.Y., with electric and tri-power locomotives doing the job on the electrified New York City terminal lines. By May 1948, the Pacemakers were dieselized outside the electrified territory. West of Buffalo, the cars could move in other symbol freights, although in August 1949 the schedule of westbound NB-1 was extended to Collinwood (Cleveland.) Meanwhile symbols BB-1 and BB-2 had been added as Pacemaker trains between Boston and Buffalo in April 1949.
The Pacemakers were successful, but became less of a premier service when the New York Central instituted its system-wide Early Bird merchandise service at the end of 1954. The introduction of Flexi-Vans in 1957 really put an end to the Pacemakers, as these intermodal vehicles were aimed at the same LCL traffic that the Pacemakers had carried. The Pacemaker boxcars were repainted freight car brown and faded into the Central fleet.
Harry R. Adkins
December 2015
The original Pacemaker freight service consisted of LCL merchandise trains NB-1 and BN-2 between New York City and Buffalo. Inaugurated in July 1946, these trains were run as solid consists of 70 specially-equipped red-and-gray Pacemaker cars.
Steam power was originally used west of Harmon, N.Y., with electric and tri-power locomotives doing the job on the electrified New York City terminal lines. By May 1948, the Pacemakers were dieselized outside the electrified territory. West of Buffalo, the cars could move in other symbol freights, although in August 1949 the schedule of westbound NB-1 was extended to Collinwood (Cleveland.) Meanwhile symbols BB-1 and BB-2 had been added as Pacemaker trains between Boston and Buffalo in April 1949.
The Pacemakers were successful, but became less of a premier service when the New York Central instituted its system-wide Early Bird merchandise service at the end of 1954. The introduction of Flexi-Vans in 1957 really put an end to the Pacemakers, as these intermodal vehicles were aimed at the same LCL traffic that the Pacemakers had carried. The Pacemaker boxcars were repainted freight car brown and faded into the Central fleet.
Harry R. Adkins
December 2015
