Carbon Limestone Co.

[Chris333]

I just realized something I didn't catch before. The road that crosses between the crusher and the quarry is called "state line road" I zoomed out and yep it's the state line. So the quarry side of the layout is OH and the crusher is in PA.   


I built up the base with 3 stacked layers of foam and added 3" to the length so it is now 12x27"  The vertical distance is hard to plan on flat paper so a few small details will be left out.

[timgill]

This is such a cool little micro. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

Being a dyed-in-the-wool N scaler interested by narrow gauge, I'd like to see some of your Nn3 loco builds too.

[Chris333]

As far as my Nn3 fleet goes.

This loco if built from a Toma Model Works kit:

I added a few details to make it look more American.

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Then I scratchbuilt these 23ton boxcabs:

https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/Nn323TBoxcabs

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And another Toma kit that was side tanked, changed to saddle:

https://picasaweb.google.com/ErieChris333/Nn3040Porter

And the lastest one is a 14 ton Plymouth:

[timgill]

Very cool. Too bad there's nothing in stock on the Nn3 section of Toma's website...I've been eyeballing some of their kits for a while now in both Nn3 and HOn30.

Looking forward to seeing your layout progress.

[timwatson]

You know Chris I tried to find those Toma kits and they were sold completely out. They've been out for awhile. Any idea on how often they come into stock?

[Chris333]

I have no idea if they ever get re-ran. He had a body kit for a 0-6-0 chassis as well and I haven't seen that again. Guess you snooze you loose

[timwatson]

Yes the world of n scale is exactly like that. A bunch of snoozing losers. 

I have no idea if they ever get re-ran. He had a body kit for a 0-6-0 chassis as well and I haven't seen that again. Guess you snooze you loose

[C855B]

I have no idea if they ever get re-ran. He had a body kit for a 0-6-0 chassis as well and I haven't seen that again. Guess you snooze you loose

If it was based on a Märklin 0-6-0, I think the core hasn't been available for long time.

[Chris333]

  sigh.   Just got a book with some more info. "Ghost Rails IX state line legends" by Wayne A Cole.

I got a lot more info on Carbon Limestone, most of it in the 1960-70's when anyone could walk up to the office and get a ride on the train!  Also found out that just to the East of the quarry was another operation with a narrow gauge railroad and crusher,  Pittsburgh Limestone, that owned both steam and diesels. Then to the South of the quarry was Bessemer Limestone with another 38" railroad, they were the largest purchaser of Heisler locomotives with 9 38" gauge and 3 standard gauge    I believe the Bessemer plant is still operating, but all of the railroads are gone. I can't believe this much narrow gauge action went on just miles from me, but by the time they last ran a train in 1984 I was only 10 years old.

I'm gonna stick with Carbon Limestone, but I might have to make the layout  longer to fit a couple more details in that I now have photos of...

[C855B]

... I got a lot more info on Carbon Limestone, most of it in the 1960-70's when anyone could walk up to the office and get a ride on the train! ...

Incredible. Exactly opposite of what we had during that period, nearby in Monolith (Tehachapi area) with the 3'-gauge cement quarry line. They would call the sheriff if you were standing on the nearby highway with a camera, heaven help you if you trespassed on the access road. Consequently, for an area of so much intense railfan interest, documentation and photos of the narrow gauge operation are scarcer than hen's teeth.

[Chris333]

Yep, most of the new photos in the book are right from the cab of the locomotives moving through the quarry.

[Chris333]

REVISE 

I had the trackwork running and then I got the book... So earlier today I extended the layout another 6" to 12x33". I cut the trackwork and spliced in a new piece of hardboard:



Then later at work I was doodling on a piece of paper, that is where it started, I need even more room. So I'm completely starting over! I will still use the crusher I started, but will build a new base and build all new track work. This time 12x48"

The main reason for this being the state line road. The railroad ducked under it and crossed over it and the book had a nice photo of the bridge over the road complete with "THE CARBON LIMESTONE COMPANY" down the side girders. I wanted to model this without it being cramped. On the other side I will use the extra length to add their carshop to the enginehouse/garage area. Last length revise.

In other news I drew the artwork to have PPD etch me some 25T Whitcomb parts:

[VonRyan]

Digging the fact that you are being as faithful to the prototype as possible.
Also digging the Whitcomb etches.

I'll put in the next bag of popcorn.

[Philip H]

What mechanism are you thinking of for the Whitcomb?

[Scottl]

Research twice, cut once.