Need some help building a M.o.W consist using 6-81881/6-81886

Flat car with extra trucks, car with substantial wood for bracing, maybe bunk and dining cars? That is a nice, bright paint job. Also remember that at the work/wreck site the crane would need to be the lead car to reach anything.

Here is a link to Matt's post on the Santa Fe:  https://ogrforum.com/...ly=33106235257566615

2nd shelf. 

Ted- not sure if there is any one prototype for a MOW train. Besides the crane and work caboose, I would expect to see a few gondolas or flat cars. A crew car might be typical as well, especially in remote locations. I saw a LIRR work train the other day that was a pair of flat cars and a Burro crane in the middle.  I caught this one recently too.

I put one together with a pair of gondolas and a Plymouth switcher.

Ted,  I'm fairly sure that other than the cranes, cars in the work train were bashed from what was available in the division/yard.  Give it a try with some el cheapo cars, can't hurt anything.  Photos are of our work train.  Didn't plan on a work train per se, just acquired one car and it seemed like a good idea.   K-Line flat with wheel sets and the K-Line Foreman's car are behind the tender,Weaver cars and bashed and modified cars bring up the rear.  Double door box car was dipped in very diluted latex paint. John in Lansing, ILL

Work train locos? Even back in the day, it was usually any available freight locomotive that could do the job.

The exception was in electrified territory. During the steam era, work trains operating in electrified territory tended to be steam-powered, often oil-fired. As diesels became prevalent, they began to be pulled by diesels.

Good looking set you have there! I just acquired a BN tmcc crane and boom car set. It's one of my favorite things to operate so far in the hobby. My set looks good with a SD40 and a gondola. 

Your set would look great with one of the Daylight scheme SP SD40's Lionel put out in 2015.

Mister_Lee posted:

 

The exception was in electrified territory. During the steam era, work trains operating in electrified territory tended to be steam-powered, often oil-fired.

The Pennsylvania and New Haven had extensive electrified territories, but I don't recall them having any oil-fired steam locomotives...

Rusty