Prototypes Someone Else Should Model

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The LNE was made to be modeled!  A wonderfully classy paint scheme on a 100% Alco diesel fleet.  And in the steam days, they bought a few PRR L1s 2-8-2s, Belpaire firebox and all!  You could totally use the GHQ kit on the Kato Mike in N scale for that.  The big bridge at Lehigh Gap is begging to be modeled.  Plus it had both an understandable and manageable operating scheme and reasonable traffic levels.  And lastly, all that interchange traffic with the Anthracite roads.

Man, maybe I should model the LNE...

And don't forget the train set curve at West Catty:

From: http://www.thehopkinthomasproject.com/TheHopkinThomasProject/CoalFireIronSteel/Appendices/CatasauquaIndustryResidences/CatasauquaIndustries/Railroads/YurkoArticle.htm

[Dave V]

If this thread has taught me anything (and it has), it's that we probably all have multiple "roads not taken" and it really highlights how difficult it is to choose one.  It also underscores the appeal of freelancing or "proto-lancing" as a means to incorporate our favorite features from the multiple prototypes we enjoy.

I didn't include the Florida East Coast Railway's Overseas Extension to Key West because I know it was done at least once in HO (it was featured in Model Railroader many years ago).  But as I thought about it, I was reminded that our very own @MTLJoe was working on an N scale version.  Hey Joe, any update shots you can share?  But yeah, the FEC to Key West is just such a cool and unique engineering feat it screams "model me!"  And yet, it had very little online traffic sources through the keys, the roadbed was almost all bridges that would have to be replicated over and over, and the entire thing would involve a body of water terminating into the backdrop.  So maybe not.  But it was a really cool railroad anyway.

@wm3798 , I know you're going to end up modeling the M&PA.  The question is, will it be HO or will it be O scale 2-rail?   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh man, more L&NE hotness:

[wm3798]

@wm3798 , I know you're going to end up modeling the M&PA.  The question is, will it be HO or will it be O scale 2-rail?   

That will depend on where I end up enjoying my retirement years (which at this point will never happen)

If we land a nice place in the woods with a basement or a workshop area, I might consider shifting to a larger scale, but that's probably not likely.  Given the desire for a long run with lots of "negative space" N could still be a viable option.  Plus, being a cheapskate, I would be able to get something up and running pretty quickly given the enormous volume of salvaged track and turnouts I have on hand.

But then again, c55 rail might still be a bit heavy if I model the M&P..... in O scale!!

Lee

[cjm413]

Galena IL to Dubuque IA in the 1960s-1970s:

1) CBQ -> BN
2) IC -> ICG
3) CGW -> CNW (I'd change history with this one)
4) MILW
5) Amtrak Blackhawk

Prototype Modeler published a track plan for the ICG Iowa Division that I recall covered Wallace Yard in Freeport to the tunnel portal just west of East Cabin in East Dubuque. 

This trackplan would not include MILW in Dubuque, IA, but it could be expanded east to cover the MILW in Freeport.   CNW's ex-G&CU line to Freeport (which was also east of Wallace Yard) outlived the former CGW trackage rights over CB&Q and IC by a few years, but you'd still need to change history to either postpone the line being abandoned (1972, IIRC) or push up the start date of the Black Hawk (1974) for them to co-exist.

Unless you are hell-bent on including the Amtrak Black Hawk, pushing the timeframe back before Amtrak (and ICG) would allow for passenger service on both the IC and CB&Q/BN.   Off the top of my head, MILW passenger service on the Racine and Southwestern through Freeport lasted until the mid 1960's.

[CRL]

The Clifton Branch of the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) meets most of the requirements mentioned in previous posts. Here’s a video & article about the branch line. Steep grades, especially if you also model the Morenci Mine railroad that interchanges with the AZER, short tunnels, bridges, multiple small interchange yards & even some mainline operations on the UP between Lordsburg, NM & Bowie, AZ. Much of the trackage follows old narrow-gauge roadbed so very twisty & model rail-roady looking. This is what I’ll be modeling on a “protolance” basis… as much as space permits.

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http://railfan.com/arizona-eastern-railway/

[Ed Kapuscinski]

The Clifton Branch of the Arizona Eastern Railway (AZER) meets most of the requirements mentioned in previous posts. Here’s a video & article about the branch line. Steep grades, especially if you also model the Morenci Mine railroad that interchanges with the AZER, short tunnels, bridges, multiple small interchange yards & even some mainline operations on the UP between Lordsburg, NM & Bowie, AZ. Much of the trackage follows old narrow-gauge roadbed so very twisty & model rail-roady looking. This is what I’ll be modeling on a “protolance” basis… as much as space permits.

/>
http://railfan.com/arizona-eastern-railway/

I remember you talking about your layout when I saw that video. I think I actually muttered "oh, I get it now!" when as I was watching.

[CRL]

It’s an intense operation. Gondolas loaded with copper concentrate & tank / boxcar empties are brought down from the mine by the industrial railroad to Clifton Yard. Go back a few years and copper ingots were being shipped from the smelter. AZER local picks up & transports short consists upgrade to South Yard at the top of the grade where it interchanges with AZER road engines which transports longer consists down to Guthrie, through the Gila River Valley to Duncan then cross country to Lordsburg Yard on the UP. Inbound trains have loaded tank cars.

Lots of interchange style switching. Very little to no individual car switching on the Clifton Branch, but the Globe Branch has some of that, plus another large copper mine interchange in Miami, AZ. Lots of operational options depending on the time period if you want to get that deep in the weeds.

The industrial railroad to the Morenci mine has fun things like a runaway track part way up grade and a derailer at the bottom of the grade that can be modeled using a working PECO derailer that has to be thrown before the train can enter Clifton Yard.

[PiperguyUMD]

WM State Line branch, Cumberland to Bedford (steam era)

Got pics? Looking for a scene with a small industry - preferably a coal mine - to fill a single 48"x18" module.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Got pics? Looking for a scene with a small industry - preferably a coal mine - to fill a single 48"x18" module.

No coal mine, but a sand pit: https://wmwestsub.us/statelinebranch/statelinesandmine.htm

[mstl 246]

Been a fan of the L&NE for awhile, just haven't found a proto spot that would fit nicely in the space I have. The recent Atlas releases haven't been helping my layout ADHD either.

If people haven't heard yet, one of the clinics at the upcoming free online RPM covers a L&NE layout based on the Catasauqua branch.

http://speedwitchmedia.com/product/hindsight-20-20-9-0-registration/

Nat

[cv_acr]

It’s an intense operation. Gondolas loaded with copper concentrate & tank / boxcar empties are brought down from the mine by the industrial railroad to Clifton Yard. Go back a few years and copper ingots were being shipped from the smelter. AZER local picks up & transports short consists upgrade to South Yard at the top of the grade where it interchanges with AZER road engines which transports longer consists down to Guthrie, through the Gila River Valley to Duncan then cross country to Lordsburg Yard on the UP. Inbound trains have loaded tank cars.

They got some of those neat modern SP 40' boxcars for that copper ingot and/or anode service too.

Interesting kitbashing opportunities for a proto layout.

[wm3798]

Got pics? Looking for a scene with a small industry - preferably a coal mine - to fill a single 48"x18" module.

There was a pretty substantial stone quarry near Corriganville, just past the old iron bridge that crossed the west end of the Narrows.  That small module would quickly morph into a whole set to do the Narrows, the GC&C, the C&P, the State Line branch, and the B&O...  You don't have room for it!



The yellow line is the State Line branch, coming off the WM on the west side of Wills Creek.  The red was the Cumberland and Pennsylvania, which took an alternate path to Frostburg via a bunch of switch backs (WM took the long way around via Cash Valley and Helmstetters)  Somehow the George's Creek and Cumberland figured into it, although I can't recall off the top of my head. 

Anyhow, the WMRHS Magazine Blue Mountain Express did an excellent milepost by milepost photo essay from the junction up to the PA line, with numerous photos of the quarry operation.  If I can dig it out of the rubble that is my desk right now, I'll pass along the issue date so you can order one, if you don't already get it.

Lee

[Rossford Yard]

I may have missed it in my quick glossing over of this thread, but I believe terminal lines - KCT, IHB, Toledo Terminal, etc. are great candidates. I agree you need switching and a variety of road names, and these give you that.  I have done pretty generic versions of KCT and IHB. 

My IHB layout (the IHB of Texas, profiled in the Layout Engineering section years ago) did a pretty good representation of Blue Island junction, and I also think certain junctions, rather than stretches of mainline could be great modeling topics.  Besides Blue Island, I know local modelers here in DFW who would love to model Saginaw, TX, another narrow angle junction that could be accurately represented.  Tower 55 in Ft. Worth has been done somewhere (I think up in OK) but at 90 degrees, would require quite a bit of room to do justice. 

The big KCT junctions on either west or east end of the KCT would also be mammoth, by the time you figured out how to loop tracks to staging yards to supply the necessary traffic.  Even then, it would be a "railfan" layout, where seeing train after train go by the tower would be the prime attraction.

Saw in my MR newsletter today, D Kruse's Rochelle Junction based layout.  How could I forget that narrow crossing as a model focus?

[wm3798]

Found them.  Spring and summer editions 2012.
Two part article teaching the line


I'll be giving this a fresh read!  Les than 4 miles in length, 2 major quarries, PRR mixed trains pulled by a Trix B6, a junction yard sorting cars for the B&O, PRR, and WM...  what's not to love?