Black River & Western

[DKS]

Not sure what  to say; it shows up on some historical maps I have, so this is obviously some source of controversy. Either way, it doesn't affect my track plan.

 

[Chris333]

So it looks like there were 3 coal trestles and 2 turntables 

Was just curious, looks like most was gone for the BR&W.

[DKS]

So it looks like there were 3 coal trestles and 2 turntables 

Was just curious, looks like most was gone for the BR&W.

Yep. So, whether it connected or not is only incidental. I wish I could find an image of the trestle just above the BR&W station, to the right of the main. At least my memory of it (circa late 1960s) is verified by this map:



The cyan line is the existing BR&W main; green lines exist but are abandoned and overgrown; pink lines are totally obliterated. There's no trace whatsoever of the foundry; it's now all outlet stores.

This is where the trestle used to be. Hard to believe.



I confess I'd love to model Flemington as it was in the early 1900s, with the 3 coal trestles and 2 turntables...

BTW, thank you @DMetz for this link. Very useful information.

The Sanborn maps show a lot more detail about the industries in the area:  http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/sanborn/hunterdon/flemington.html

Edit: wait until you see what Lambertville used to look like. Belvedere Branch engine shops, just south of the station:



And this offers an idea of what the CNJ owned between Three Bridges and Flemington...



 

[DMetz]

I confess I'd love to model Flemington as it was in the early 1900s, with the 3 coal trestles and 2 turntables...

Three days ago, I never even knew that Flemington, NJ existed.  This has been a nice diversion to research an interesting small town.  The modeling possibilities for the early 1900s are incredible.  There are several industries on both railroads, interchange between the two, and passenger service for both.  A model railroad based on this area could keep a few operators very busy.  The biggest challenge would be kitbashing smaller locomotives from the turn of the century.  Both railroads had unique "looks" for their locomotives at that time.  Another challenge would be keeping the track in good enough shape for small steam locomotives in n scale. 

Edit: wait until you see what Lambertville used to look like. Belvedere Branch engine shops, just south of the station:

Wow, a lot happening there!  If anyone else hasn't found it yet, here are some more handy links:
Lambertville is here:
http://library.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/sanborn/hunterdon/lambertville.html
Its interesting that there was quite a bit of track on the east side of the canal.  Several industries on that side, and it looks like a small yard.  And those duplex houses on the north end of Union street are still there.
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.3755006,-74.9481462,3a,75y,80.7h,84.58t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s5p0pz1M7L75rcj9hxO-u1g!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
All free Sanborn maps for New Jersey:
http://libweb5.princeton.edu/visual_materials/maps/sanborn/sanborn-web.htm
They are arranged by county.  They cut off before about 1930, due to copyright.
But anything after 1930 can be found in many municipal and university libraries.  Some are digital, but most are on microfilm, and can be copied for a small fee.  New Jersey can be found at:
https://www.njstatelib.org/research_library/collections/maps_and_atlases/
But I have found that the heyday of most railroads in small towns is in the 1920s.  After that, the maps are updated by erasing industries and tracks. 

Dan M

[Point353]

Three days ago, I never even knew that Flemington, NJ existed.

You must have never watched any of the old TV game shows on which one of the prizes was often a ladies coat from Flemington Furs.

[OldEastRR]

Edit: wait until you see what Lambertville used to look like. Belvedere Branch engine shops, just south of the station:

Wow, that whole scene looks so European -- those building windows! Then add the canal and it looks like Holland or Germany.

[peteski]

It does look European. The scale track would be an interesting thing to model (even if it was non-functional).

[DKS]

...and passenger service for both.

Actually, Flemington had three passenger stations: PRR, CNJ and LV.

[Chris333]

Dang that turntable pit is like 3" from the rail head and then they shoved a scale track in there too.

[DKS]

Been tinkering with the plan a bit. I've talked myself into winding the clock back a few decades, but not by the same amount everywhere. I'm using modeler's license to mix and match features of the BR&W from different eras to make the layout as interesting as possible. Mostly I messed with the operations and industries to get the most bang for the buck. The biggest change I made was to replace WBM International, a supplier of liquid nitrogen, with Purina Mills and the Delaware Valley Farmers Co-op, which I placed side-by-side. And I went over the top by running opposed sidings for them complete with a diamond. While this is pure fantasy, it saved a lot of layout space and added interest--it all basically fit where WBM used to be. I also reinstated the Belvidere Branch to its Conrail days to supply freight for Purina and the co-op. But I left Ferrellgas intact, so I definitely have some temporal anomalies. Sue me.



Enlargement here: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/images/BRW-4b.jpg

Plus, lots more details on the whys and wherefores here: http://davidksmith.com/modeling/reading-central/rcr-6.htm

[Dave V]

You certainly don't need our permission to have a wide range of eras on your layout!   

More and more I see model railroading as therapy...  You get to modify the world however you see fit to bring you the maximum amount of joy.

[MVW]

You certainly don't need our permission to have a wide range of eras on your layout!   

More and more I see model railroading as therapy...  You get to modify the world however you see fit to bring you the maximum amount of joy.

I think of it as "enhanced reality." 

Jim

[Point353]

Been tinkering with the plan a bit. I've talked myself into winding the clock back a few decades, but not by the same amount everywhere. I'm using modeler's license to mix and match features of the BR&W from different eras to make the layout as interesting as possible. Mostly I messed with the operations and industries to get the most bang for the buck. The biggest change I made was to replace WBM International, a supplier of liquid nitrogen, with Purina Mills and the Delaware Valley Farmers Co-op, which I placed side-by-side. And I went over the top by running opposed sidings for them complete with a diamond. While this is pure fantasy, it saved a lot of layout space and added interest--it all basically fit where WBM used to be. I also reinstated the Belvidere Branch to its Conrail days to supply freight for Purina and the co-op. But I left Ferrellgas intact, so I definitely have some temporal anomalies.

Maybe you've seen articles describing those layouts which are designed to accommodate operating sessions from different eras?
Not only are there completely different sets of locos and rolling stock available for each era, but certain structures (and vehicles) are made removable so that they can be exchanged with era-appropriate models depending upon the particular era being recreated at the given moment.

[DKS]

Maybe you've seen articles describing those layouts which are designed to accommodate operating sessions from different eras?
Not only are there completely different sets of locos and rolling stock available for each era, but certain structures (and vehicles) are made removable so that they can be exchanged with era-appropriate models depending upon the particular era being recreated at the given moment.

Yes, I've read about these. I'm not inclined to go to that amount of trouble, though.

[OldEastRR]

Maybe you've seen articles describing those layouts which are designed to accommodate operating sessions from different eras?
Not only are there completely different sets of locos and rolling stock available for each era, but certain structures (and vehicles) are made removable so that they can be exchanged with era-appropriate models depending upon the particular era being recreated at the given moment.

And another feature can be removable track like industry spurs .... my layout before these last two was a dual era one. Besides the change of cars and locos from '50s to late '70s, and some industries were replaced (one by a bridge approach), my freight house track was "abandoned". I used PCB ties to make a section of C55 rail but with about 1-1.25" tie spacing. Then I laid wooden ties where the spur went, leaving a gap wherever a PCB tie would go once the rails were placed on the ties. Ties were stained and ballasted without the rails in place, the PCB ties painted to match the wooden ones. I left gaps in the ballast where the PCB ties would go.  For the '50s, I set the track onto the ties and used a few track spikes to hold it in place. When I switched to the '70s, I removed the spikes and lifted the skeleton spur rails out. What was left were abandoned rail-less ties.