| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| RyanAK |
Posted - 10/24/2018 : 4:33:51 PM
Hey, Gang. Just getting back into the hobby and I’m deep into sorting out some design considerations for a smallish layout. I thought I’d start a post here to see if anyone would like to follow along or contribute. I’m months away from starting any construction, so I think this will be a fun thought exercise in the meantime.
I like early 20th century history, small steamers, small towns, storytelling and Pennsylvania. So... I’ve been exploring some of the short lines, branch lines, and narrow gauge railroads that were prevalent in central PA in the early 1900s. Large parts of the state were pretty remote if not completely isolated at the turn of the century, and there was definitely a ‘frontier’ spirit about. I’d like to capture that history and feeling with this layout. I think the prevailing thought is that the East was all built-up and civilized by 1900...
In the next post, I’ll outline some design considerations.
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| RyanAK |
Posted - 12/23/2019 : 10:34:18 AM
Mike, that’s wonderful that you took some inspiration from my ramblings to incorporate something similar on your layout. And I really like the early LV. If I ever do Dushore as a small layout, I may need to bend your ear for research resources!
Alderson near Harvey’s Lake? Beautiful country there. Interesting history too... an early ice business would be really fantastic to model!
http://harveyslake.org/stories/outletmills/story_alderson.htm
http://harveyslake.org/gtnm/gtnm.htm
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| Michael Hohn |
Posted - 12/22/2019 : 6:55:21 PM
Ryan,
I’m happy to see you intending to pick back up on your project. I enjoyed your posts earlier this year and missed reading more.
I also want to say that your photos and discussion have inspired me to devote the unfinished end of my layout to a rural Pennsylvania town, specifically Alderson, in the midst of the lumber region along a branch of the Lehigh Valley RR. I’ve put down most of the track and have nearly completed the wiring.
Mike |
| RyanAK |
Posted - 12/22/2019 : 1:04:13 PM
Hey, gang. Other than some additional attempts at research on Loganton and Sonestown, I’ve been at a standstill. Come the new year, I’ll have spent over 200 nights in a hotel. It’s got me seriously worn down and when I’m home I spend all of my time with my 3- and 4-year olds. Heck, I only fished 4 days this year!
I think about getting this layout going often. Maybe the new year will bring some free time to dedicate to starting construction. Fingers crossed! |
| robchant |
Posted - 08/08/2019 : 10:19:00 PM
Hey Ryan,
Just found your thread again ... any updates or progress on this?
Take care,
Rob. |
| OK Hogger |
Posted - 02/14/2019 : 5:39:26 PM
I can't take my PC to the Throne Room with me like I can a book.
Andre |
| RyanAK |
Posted - 02/14/2019 : 11:14:27 AM
Always something to learn. I like this hobby because books are still relevant, even as we spend so much time online. |
| Michael Hohn |
Posted - 02/13/2019 : 10:40:34 AM
Ryan,
I picked up a copy of the Tuscarora Valley book twenty years ago from the author at the narrow gauge convention in Valley Forge. I enjoy leafing through it and looking at the photos for inspiration. I also like reading the author’s article on his own layout some years back in RMC.
Mike |
| OK Hogger |
Posted - 02/13/2019 : 10:24:26 AM
... there were so many cool little railroads in central Pennsylvania in the first quarter of the 20th century.
True dat.
I love how Noplace now was Someplace back then.
I even like to go back further than the first quarter of the 20th century... back toward a road's inception and boom that followed.
LOTS of neat elements and inspiration can be found within the eras that TOC19 spans.
Andre |
| RyanAK |
Posted - 02/13/2019 : 09:49:40 AM
Starting in on the Tuscarora Valley book... what a neat prototype! The book is well done and gives a human touch to the history, which I find appropriate for these narrow gauge and short line roads.
Also picked up a great book on the Susquehanna & New York. Man... there were so many cool little railroads in central Pennsylvania in the first quarter of the 20th century. Really wonderful inspiration for small, achievable layouts. I have about another good half-dozen small scenes with high operational interest to add to the list.
Sonestown... Sonestown is turning into a magnificent layout design. Oh! to have the space available to build it some day.....
R |
| RyanAK |
Posted - 01/28/2019 : 12:51:19 PM
Isn't this place great? The engine house turned church isn't something I ever would have stumbled upon. Very cool. And while looking around the interwebs, it looks like there were a lot of neat narrow gauge and short line railroads in the area. I'd bet that when most people hear "Pittsburgh" and "railroad", they aren't thinking inclines or nifty interurban common carriers in steam!
R |
| brian budeit |
Posted - 01/25/2019 : 2:38:28 PM
Dave,
that's exactly the article I was thinking of, good sleuthing on your part.
The Ligonier was a neat short line. Originally 3' gauge, it even had a steam powered rail car for passenger service. Built with the backing of the Mellons, the money influence shows in surviving stations, especially the impressive building in Ligonier. Never dieselized, it closed out service in early 50's in steam. Decent amount of buildings survive, and line is short enough to make an easy one day tour. If you want to go to Idlewild Park, the original narrow gauge station is now in the park.
brian b |
| deemery |
Posted - 01/25/2019 : 2:04:35 PM
Found this: http://www.lvrra.org/liggies/liggie_sep_2012.pdf Thanks, that's a fascinating story of reuse.
dave |
| brian budeit |
Posted - 01/25/2019 : 12:30:46 PM
No photos handy, but if you look up Ligonier Valley Railroad or historical society, there is an on line newsletter that had some nice pictures.
Its not a little two stall wooden house, as most short lines bring to mind. It was a large brick industrial looking building. When the railroad closed down in the early 50's, the building was sold, stripped to the steel frame in places, and rebuilt as a large church and school. Looking at it you would never know, it looks like a late 50's era school building.
There is a storage area in the building with tracks still in the floor, and filled and concreted inspection pits. Supposedly, during rebuilding, anything not wanted was thrown in the pits as fill, and concreted over. Interesting to think what artifacts could be in there.
If you like enginehouses converted to churches, here in Pittsburgh, in the neighborhood of Ingram, is a large church converted from a streetcar barn, again in the 1950's. If you weren't told, you would never know.
brian b |
| deemery |
Posted - 01/25/2019 : 12:00:41 PM
"Engine house turned church" - ooh! Tell us more! Photos?
dave |
| brian budeit |
Posted - 01/24/2019 : 10:08:56 AM
A major benefit of modeling an area close to home is being able to visit the site to be modeled. To me nothing helps get you oriented like taking a RR book, seeking out the areas, and comparing scenes, as Ryan has done. My main reason for modeling the EBT and the Tuscarora Valley. Both are a day trip, granted, a long day. Sometimes you find something totally unexpected. On a recent visit to Ligonier, I found an old machine shop building from the Ligonier Valley, still standing, in use as a home. Knew about the station and engine house turned church, but not the machine shop.
brian b
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