Back to the PRR Buffalo Line

[randgust]

Looking in the WNYP book - they have a published passenger schedule on the Buffalo line (1967) that shows two Buffalo-Washington trains per day - 574/575 "Southern Express / Northern Express", and 570/571 "Baltimore Day Express / Buffalo Day Express". 

Buffalo to Washington on the Northern/Southern still had a 10/6 sleeper, but the diner only ran Harrisburg-Baltimore-Washington.

Book has shots of DOUBLEHEADED M1's at East Aurora; shot of M1 6800 at Keating Summit; 6835 at Buffalo on the "Washington & Philadelphia Express" (1952), 6491 on the "Dominon Express" at Buffalo, so you're safe on that one.

[Dave V]

Druther for the layout:

1.  HIGHLY portable
2.  10' x 10' or smaller
3.  Code 55
4.  Provision for continuous running
5.  Visible staging, preferably run-through
6.  Includes Sunbury and Kase tower

[rswinnerton]

Dave, you definately should come out in October. All ill say is Ken McCorry. . Also, when you come out for the RailBQ, we can go run up some of the Buffalo line so you can get a look at the south end. Russ

[ns3352]

Dave,

In 1980, the D&H ran a pair of trains, WR-7 and RW-6, down the Buffalo Line (which was actually called "Main Line-Rockville to Buffalo" at the time, though Buffalo Line sounds 100x better!). Those always had neat power.

Mark

[Dave V]

Awesome!!!  So who's gonna help me design a layout? ;D

[Bob Bufkin]

D&H ran those trains into Potomac Yard in Alexandria, VA.  Used to see the power all the time when I worked near there.  Lots of newsprint cars in the consists.

[Bob Bufkin]

Dave:

I scanned a couple pages from the Mar 1957 Official Guide.  Hope there of some help:




Also the New York Central had trackage rights on portions of this line.  Good excuse to run a couple NYC trains (I know - there the enemy of any good PRR fan).

Bob

[Dave V]

Wow, Bob, thanks!

I may have to use my Kato Broadway Limited consist as an occasional detour over the Buffalo Line (major derailment blocking all 4 tracks west of Marysville?).

[asciibaron]

Wow, Bob, thanks!

I may have to use my Kato Broadway Limited consist as an occasional detour over the Buffalo Line (major derailment blocking all 4 tracks west of Marysville?).

i don't think the BL would have gone past Lock Haven , so i take it you are going to model the connection with the Bald Eagle Branch?

[Dave V]

Steve,

Correct in that it went down the Bald Eagle branch.  Much as I'd like to model Lock Haven and part of the BE, I think I'm sticking with H'burg to Norry and that's it.  Maybe a branch to a mine representing the Shamokin line.  Same branch could stand-in for the D&H in 1980.

[randgust]

Dave, do you have "Along the Main Line" (Alexander) in your collection?

And I've collected some color shots of the PRR Erie-Harrisburg (New York) train 580/581 as it ran through here.  Two E-units, baggage, coach, and a sleeper were all that remained at the end (1965).  My father referred to it as "The Rattler".  I rode it myself once before it was discontinued, in second grade.  I have two distinct memories - the smell of the coach, and the guys in the front of the coach passing around a bottle in a paper bag.  As this was a school trip, my teacher was trying very hard to keep us on the other end.  The conductor made a comment that "this is the most people on this train in a long time" (the 20 of us plus the other half a dozen).

Having Bennett Levin's PRR E units up here in 2001 was way cool. Even cooler was the ex-CZ dome car, absolutely the one and only time that a dome was ever used up here!

[Dave V]

Nope, I'll have to add that book to my wish list!

[asciibaron]

Steve,

Correct in that it went down the Bald Eagle branch.  Much as I'd like to model Lock Haven and part of the BE, I think I'm sticking with H'burg to Norry and that's it.  Maybe a branch to a mine representing the Shamokin line.  Same branch could stand-in for the D&H in 1980.

what type of operations do you want?

[Dave V]

I don't know.  I guess lots of run-through with some switching.  Really, that's about as specific as I can be.

I am THE most clueless model railroader that has ever been when it comes to operations.

I have Koester's books on realistic model railroad design and on operations, but still...  Imagine the word "DUH" spliced with a jackass bray.  That's me.

[asciibaron]

I have Koester's books on realistic model railroad design and on operations

right there is your problem.  you need to find some guys locally who are into operations to really get a sense of how it all comes together

also, read these - some of it will be refresher from Sir Tony...

http://www.opsig.org/primer/
http://www.gatewaynmra.org/operate.htm