AC&Y - Ohio's Road of Service

[SAH]

Bryan is correct.  The frame base is 0.040" styrene.  The "underframe" detail is a plastic part offered by MT.  You can use IM underframe details too.  Detailing the bottom of freight cars is not very important to me, hence my comment "the detail is nice but not necessary".  The underbelly of the 50' single sheathed cars is nothing more than a styrene strip shaped to look like a whale belly centerbeam.

Years ago, before I understood that only the unwashed lowered MT box cars  I filed and hacked and hacked and filed the metal frame to a Monon 40' XM, finally getting the right balance between correct body mounted coupler height and ride height.  I was very happy with the appearance of the model but said "screw this" and decided some day I'd figure out how to use styrene and alternative weight to get to the same place.  That day arrived last week.  Using the computerized x-y cutter to score the frame base will eliminate the tedium of measuring drilling locations, a big plus given my poor eyesight.

Moving day is next week.  All the modeling tools are either over at the house already or packed and ready to go.  So we move on. . . . .

Steve

[SAH]

Despite the rough handling by the "professional" movers, the Brittain Yard ladder survived the move with no apparent damage.  I haven't run anything yet obviously but it all looks to be in good shape.  The extra wrapping and crating precautions paid off!!!  After seeing some of the modules stacked upside down wedged in the load I was expecting the worst.  More sections to unwrap as they are needed so the worst may yet come to pass.


Here's then underbelly.  One switch linkage came loose but it's only a paperclip so no big deal.  I'll check all the connections as I replace some of the terminal blocks.  I bought the cheapest available the first go round and that's what I got quality wise.  You'd think I'd have learned by now.


I've decided to sacrifice some layout length and devote a generous amount of floor space to make a comfortable model building environment.  The General Tire build reminded me how much I enjoyed model building.  The extra space should encourage more of it.

The Spur 4 Goodyear section was always a giant compromise and a poor one at that.  I have a new plan that does the role Goodyear played in the AC&Y operations justice.  The photo shows some track removal in progress.  More as things play out.  It will take some time to get to that point I'm afraid.

[SAH]

The latest version of my AC&Y begins to take shape.  Here is Phase 1.  There are three "official" phases:  Phase 1 - Top level with Brittian Yard, SPur 4 and the Mogadore Valley Industrial District.  Phase 2 adds a middle level and Phase 3 the bottom level.  Phase 1 to a running state is a pretty good play if you're making bets.   You're on your own with plays on Phase 2 and 3.


Not very satisfying if you like detailed track plans but it shows the general thoughts regarding placement and such.  Curves will be broader where ever possible of course.  I've already modified the Spur 4 layout somewhat because I forgot to include the General Tire building in the computer plan.  Hard to believe but true.  Here's Brittain in place and doing some 1:1 planning with the General Tire section.  Looking forward to some fun times ahead.

[SAH]

The second incarnation of Spur 4 is under way.  Adding to the General Tire section to fit the structure.


The Brittain engine service section has a piece added to mate with the General Tire section.  They fit together pretty well considering Brittain was up in the air before the General section got it's addition.  Almost like I knew what I was doing.


The Brittain extension ties it together and makes it work.  The function of the routes matches the plan.  The actual layout of the tracks does not, but it should all work fine.  I was happy to discover the scenic sight lines leaving Brittain and entering General are much improved over the Greensboro layout.


Ready to extend the track to Standard/Harwick and on to Goodyear.  A new curve connecting the two will be built and the existing sections modified somewhat but I expected that going in.   Thanks for your interest.

[SAH]

I needed to uncrate the Spencer section so I could figure out where the stud wall for the balance of Spur 4 would fall.  It is the first section with scenery to be unpacked.  After seeing the section upside down on the van and in storage I was expecting most of the scenic material to be in the bottom of the crate.  I was pleasantly surprised.  This section is now 18 years old.  Hard to believe.

[SAH]

Test fitting the new curve between General Tire and the Standard Mold / Harwick section.  I always assume the curved sections of the layout in one space will need to be redone for the next, so no big deal.  I cut back the depth of Standard/Harwick, losing the back 1/4 of the section, which had nothing on it anyway.  That leaves a 30" people space between the section.  Good enough to work one level but no way will someone be able to work the next level down at the same time.  I can live with that.  You can also see the massive chop job I did to the Goodyear section.  More later as I add another Goodyear section or two.  If the plan I've sketched works out it will be a great ops job.  Steve

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Is there a place for this on the layout?

It IS iconic Akron, after all.

https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Faller-N-222410-GZ-20a-Blimp-Airship-Kit-Goodyear/

[SAH]

Cool.  I was going to add a blimp image to the backdrop somewhere.  The old air dock at the original Akron Municipal Airport is not far from Goodyear Plant 2.  When I'm out on data gathering field trips I always stop for custard at Strickland's (a local custard maker icon) and can see the air dock hanger in the distance.  At 14" long it's a bit large for the layout itself, but perhaps above the layout near the entry as a kind of a locale setter.  Nice catch.  Thanks for the tip.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You got it man.

I saw it and immediately thought of you.

[LKOrailroad]

Speaking of Akron icons, or at least an icon to AC&Y crews, was the New Era restaurant located directly adjacent to Spur 4 where it crossed Massillon road. It was a favorite lunch spot for AC&Y crews working the rubber shops and ABB interchange. In the 60s is was not the least bit uncommon to see a FM idling just west of the grade crossing (under the I-76 bridge) while the guys were eating lunch at the New Era. My wife's mother worked there for many years and knew well many of the railroaders.

The New Era has since been completely rebuilt. The "new" New Era building is a completely different footprint from the original. During your time frame the New Era was an L shaped building with the space inside the L a parking lot. One leg of the L abutted Massillon road while the other leg abutted Spur 4. It is easy to understand why it was a crew favorite. The food was excellent.

If you model the I-76 bridge make sure to take a chunk of concrete out of the southmost support pillar. It is where I wrecked my first car!

[Chris333]

When I was a kid I saw something similar in Hubbard Ohio. This tiny blue building was a hamburger joint and the Conrail crews would stop right next to it to eat:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1655217,-80.5690325,3a,60y,258.24h,82.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL592Q0W-3GEr9Az5z7SLAQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[davefoxx]

When I was a kid I saw something similar in Hubbard Ohio. This tiny blue building was a hamburger joint and the Conrail crews would stop right next to it to eat:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1655217,-80.5690325,3a,60y,258.24h,82.81t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sL592Q0W-3GEr9Az5z7SLAQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

And, while they're there, they can Repair that Glass!!, donate their clothes and shoes, and vote Newell for the Board of Education. 

DFF

[SAH]

Thanks for the info about The New Era.  Massillon Rd would fall in the hidden zone so I'll not include it.  The way I've mirrored General Tire makes it tough to model what is (was) there in the proper order.  The current setup allows the East Market St. crossing on the diesel shop section and may allow a portion of Elmwood Ave on the General Tire section.  I'll look for your handiwork on the bridge support pillar the next time in pass through.

[LKOrailroad]

A few more tidbits for you. Ah, the memories.

The section of Englewood Ave between General St and Massillon Rd was not there in 1964. At least not as a road. It was removed during the expressway construction. Same with Englewood Ave between Massillon Rd and Fulmer Ave. A General Tire employee parking lot occupied the space butting up against Spur 4 and extending south on the west side of Massillon Rd to the Little Cuyahoga river. The parking lot had a tall chain link fence around it although there were several cuts in the fence. It was our shortcut from near Spade Ave over to General St. There were makeshift plank bridges down in the weeds across the storm drain and the immensely polluted Little Cuyahoga river that we used to access the backside of the parking lot.

Another AC&Y feature that may fit into your modeled area and one that only locals would know of (never have seen it on a map) was a disused short siding on the north side of Spur 4 immediately west of the New Era. It was real short, perhaps only long enough for a couple 40' cars. It laid parallel to Spur 4. In the 60s the switch had long since been removed but the siding rails were still there, rusty covered in weeds and slowly sinking ever deeper into the mud. It appeared to have served what was by then an abandoned, dilapidated, old building that was falling in upon itself. I have no idea what business was once there.

You might also want to include the 2nd bridge across the Little Cuyahoga. It was just east of Massillon Rd. A clone of the ACY SHOPS bridge at the yard minus the vehicle side. It simply said ACY, no SHOPS.
 
My handiwork is long gone. Last time I was through there I noticed the bridge has been completely rebuilt. Much wider now than it used to be.

[SAH]

The track chart below (last revised date is 1959) shows a couple of sidings East and West of Massilon Rd.  I've also seen a photo of a siding near General used to unload steel for the expressway construction.  I've not been able to figure the location however.  Including an abandoned siding might be worth considering if the space turns into a dead zone.


Most of the photos I have of General prior to the expressway construction are from the same angle.  Somewhere I found a map or photo showing a row of industrial buildings along Elmwood Ave., one of them multiple stories and in a position from which all the photos were likely taken.  I've no idea what else was on Elmwood.  There were some houses at one point.  I gather from your comments Alan that you grew up in he area.  On Spade Ave. perhaps?

I've fit the connector between General and Standard/Harwick into place.  The curve between the sections will be generous but I'll have some dead space between the fascia and the track.  Since the Little Cuyahoga wandered all over the area I think I'll include it in the foreground, letting it pass beneath the tracks to the back of the module.  Maybe include a model of a spray pond adjacent to the river like Goodyear had.  Do you remember the spray ponds Alan?