Weekend Update 6/19/22

[Albert in N]

   Steven, what scale is your outdoor layout?  I am guessing either S or O since the track looks too small for G.

[TiogaTracks]

I’m guessing it’s the larger-than-standard cinder blocks I’m building with that make it look small, but that’s G scale track.  Aristocraft made a line of “US-style” track with proper scale ties and tie spacing, so it looks better than the usual LGB track.  Speaking of that “Euro style” track, I’m going to use that on the shortline side of the layout for contrast.

-Steven

[mu26aeh]

Layout funding got a kick in the pants tonight, got a phone call from local fire department I won a $500 gift card to Home Depot.  I can smell the sawdust already

[nkalanaga]

I'd probably leave the blocks natural, as they look more-or-less like rock.

Randgust:  we visited the EBT in the early 80s, and there were quite a few trees in the Mt Union yard then.  Even with the loss of the cars you saw, it's a little surprising just how many have survived, in active service.  I think almost every 3-foot railroad in North America probably has at least one.  I know the Silverwood theme park in Idaho does - they bought it when they were building their railroad.  That was the first "ride" in the park, and we rode it the first summer it ran.  As the only working attraction, the admission was very reasonable, and they had a nice train.  It was all actual restored museum pieces, not special-built theme park trains.

[djconway]

Layout funding got a kick in the pants tonight, got a phone call from local fire department I won a $500 gift card to Home Depot.  I can smell the sawdust already

Sweet.  Enjoy the windfall

[bbunge]

I'd probably leave the blocks natural, as they look more-or-less like rock.

Randgust:  we visited the EBT in the early 80s, and there were quite a few trees in the Mt Union yard then.  Even with the loss of the cars you saw, it's a little surprising just how many have survived, in active service.  I think almost every 3-foot railroad in North America probably has at least one.  I know the Silverwood theme park in Idaho does - they bought it when they were building their railroad.  That was the first "ride" in the park, and we rode it the first summer it ran.  As the only working attraction, the admission was very reasonable, and they had a nice train.  It was all actual restored museum pieces, not special-built theme park trains.

Visited Mt Union this weekend with my 18-year old who has recently become a narrow gauge advocate.  Last time I was there was in 1969 when I was six years old and was armed with a Brownie point and shoot camera.  The difference over time was pretty amazing as I had recently looked over the 4-5 photos I took in 1969 showing many of the buildings, including the gauge conversion crane, still standing and few trees.  It is certainly an amazing place to visit.  My son's face as we climbed over a coal pile only to see a line of hoppers in the trees was pretty priceless!

Bob

[nkalanaga]

Somebody bought the Mt Union portion for a standard gauge switching railroad.  Did you see any sign of that?

I've been wondering if whoever owns it and the EBT could work out a deal to allow EBT trains back to MT Union.  Imagine being able to take Amtrak to the EBT.

[Chris333]

Well they are working towards that way. The wye is being worked on.

[randgust]

These are old shots, but this will give you the idea.

https://oldeastie.com/News/mucrr.html

Up until the pandemic, they were doing hopper car repairs for NS as a contract shop, haven't heard much lately.   It is the home of the only 'new' dual-gauge crossing across US Rt. 522 off of 22, but on either side of the pavement was brush the last time I went over it.   There's a zoned industrial park just south of that crossing but there haven't been any rail customers - yet anyway.

[bbunge]

Somebody bought the Mt Union portion for a standard gauge switching railroad.  Did you see any sign of that?

I've been wondering if whoever owns it and the EBT could work out a deal to allow EBT trains back to MT Union.  Imagine being able to take Amtrak to the EBT.

We didn't see any evidence of standard gauge work at Mt Union, other then there were some trucks parked outside the engine house where the standard gauge 0-6-0 locomotive is stored.  I believe the freight car repair business they expected to start never panned out. 

EBT foundation has put the ROW north to the wye back into service, restoring the traditional post 1956 tourist route to operation.  One of the steamers, superheated #16, has recently passed a hydro and appears to be very close to operation.  This locomotive is one of more powerful in the collection and never operated in the tourist era.

The Foundation has publicly stated their interest, and in what we saw, is in restoring south towards Robertsdale.  After driving the area, following the route and finding track under grass, this is a much better approach then heading north, IMHO.  A few miles south of Orbisona, the route starts several miles of 2+% grades through beautiful forests, pretty small towns with occasional open meadows.  They have conducted engineering surveys of infrastructure, including bridges and two tunnels.  Their track crews have been clearing brush at various points and installing a few ties to allow hand car and speeder operations.  This appears to be part of a strategy to send a message to locals that the route, dormant for 66 years, is still there and could return to operation.  In Pogue, a High School has been built very close to the line.  My 18-year old son commented about how one day Train Nerd Timmy will be asking for a bathroom pass every day just before the train comes through.  Judging from what we saw, it isn't out of the question they are running trains to Pogue and perhaps over the large steel bridge there quite soon.   

Riding behind #16 has she climbs those grades will be one of the great rail experience gems of the East if this comes to pass.

Bob

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Layout funding got a kick in the pants tonight, got a phone call from local fire department I won a $500 gift card to Home Depot.  I can smell the sawdust already

Hell yeah!

That should get you a sheet or two of plywood!

[nkalanaga]

Chris333, Randgust, Bbunge:  Thank you!  The EBT's own plans have been fairly well covered in magazines, but it's good to see that they're actually becoming reality.  And I agree that the line to the south will be quite a ride.

Would the EBT be (legally) able to run revenue freight trains, assuming access to Mt Union, if a customer wanted to locate along them?  Or are they organized strictly as a museum passenger railroad?

Other than the original report, I don't remember seeing anything about the new owners of Mt Union yard.  From your reports, it sounds like nothing much is happening there.

It looks like that "Oldeastie" website isn't much more active than the standard gauge.  The last updates were years ago.