PRR/Conrail Juniata Division Engineering Report

[Dave V]

Doug, that really does look awesome!

If NSA does the tower, I my have to try the Paper Creek stuff to do the station.

[chicken45]

Wow Doug. I wish there were more photos floating out there. Your tower is a "hidden gem."

[wazzou]

If NSA does the tower, I my have to try the Paper Creek stuff to do the station.

You'll have to find a stash or use brick from another vendor as I believe Paper Creek is no more.  I loved their Cedar shingles.

[rswinnerton]

I'll be in Huntingdon in a few weeks if you need detail shots of anything on the station or tower.

[dougnelson]

And a couple of shots of the interior with interlocking machine, actual model board, and 1953 PRR calendar.  The interior is admittedly nuts, but when I bring this model to the PRRT&HS meeting, the HO guys have interiors, so I need to keep up:





Doug Nelson

[Dave V]

I'll be in Huntingdon in a few weeks if you need detail shots of anything on the station or tower.

Both if you have the time, thanks!

As for materials, I have plenty of brick sheet...  Just not that nice!  Probably better if I use styrene anyway; I'm known to get the rubbing alcohol and glue mixture everywhere when I "dirt in" a structure.

I remember thinking structures had to be removable for a layout to be portable.  No sir!  Glue the bujeezus out of them and they survive much better than if they're plucked and boxed.

Insane work there Doug.  Waaaay beyond what I plan to do!  I do need me some PRR pipe railings, though...

[Dave V]

So Chris posted this...

And suddenly I'm thinking, what with my deep stash of code 55, that I can make the existing door much more awesome without expanding.  I could even add a Huntingdon vignette on the Spruce Creek side of the layout.

Just spitballin'.  I'm still on convalescent leave from sinus surgery.  I'm still pretty uncomfortable, but I can probably get some minor work done on the Juniata Division as well as some lesson prep for my dynamics class.

[primavw]

Always look forward to updates Dave!

[DKS]

Part of the plan may not be buildable as drawn; see Chris' thread.

[Dave V]

Indeed, but since the real Middle Division didn't have any at-grade crossings like that I wouldn't have used it anyway.

The real take-away I got from Chris' plan is the backdrop down the middle and more "ops-friendly" trackage.

[Chris333]

I'm interested in what you mean by:

more "ops-friendly" trackage

As I will just run it in circles 

But I would like it to look correct.

[Dave V]

I'm interested in what you mean by:As I will just run it in circles 

But I would like it to look correct.

Well, more for my train to do I guess.  I would probably not build exactly as you do, but Lewistown needs a passing siding badly in order to make operating it not seem stupid.

[basementcalling]

Just for fun on a snow day.

For Atlas Code 55 cause you love that so much, Dave.

[Dave V]

Wow, lots of crossings...  I honestly don't think there were any mainline crossing diamonds of any kind on the Middle Division.  That is a neat plan, though!

I was down in the train room earlier doing some fine tuning to some of the scenery and was musing about how much better it would look with code 55.  I know I made a big deal about Unitrack looking like code 80 flex when ballasted--which it does--but it isn't code 55.  I still have some operational issues with my code 80 that really come from the mushy Woodland Scenics trackbed beneath it and the narrowing of points in my Peco switches.  Both would suggest any permanent remedy involves removing the existing track.  If I'm going to end up taking the existing stuff out, I would want to replace it with perfectly groomed cork and code 55 track above that.

Given my recent foray into G I'm not sure I have the financial resources (let alone time) for a full expansion in the near-term, but having sufficient code 55 on hand means all I really need to buy at this point to retrack the JD is cork roadbed.  It might also be time to consider going with a different ballast.  I've used Woodland Scenics for a long time and I'm used to how it works, but it doesn't have the finescale appearance I'd prefer.  I understand sanded grout is the new way to go.

I don't expect to make much progress during the academic year; I'm finding that I work some pretty crazy hours and still have work to bring home.  Moreover it's springtime and my boys are both in baseball (yes, they sometimes practice indoors because spring in the Colorado Rockies is indistinguishable from winter) and Scouts, and that consumes the weekday evenings.

[GimpLizard]

"Moreover it's springtime..."

Wha...? Where? We got a few inches more snow over this past weekend. And it's snowing again now. I'm tired of it. Please, PLEASE, make it go away.