Chessie and Conrail 1979

[unittrain]

I figured I will start posting on my recreation of the Chessie and Conrail operations in 1979 around Kent Ohio I started this project in 1989 and finally started to actually build a layout in 2008  my modeling in the early days consisted of measuring and drafting up prototype structures from the area in AutoCad.  There is a lot of interesting railroad history in the Kent Ohio area alot of which can be seen through the photography of Roger Durfee whos photos are present on CRHS and others. So stay tuned and I will update progress, some of which is already done except I need to take photos!

[Dave V]

Awesome subject matter... You have my attention!

[Philip H]

Oh Cr@p - now you've gone and dnoe it.  Lee will loos a gasket what with all the Chessie Kitty photos that are now about to inundate us. 

Seriously, looking forward to seeing your progress.  Those building drawings sound like they deserves a whole other thread - and perhaps a publicly available web archive.

 

[davefoxx]

unittrain,

I'm looking forward to seeing your 1979-era layout develop.  For those of us born in the 1970s and who matured in the 1980s, this is railroading that we grew up with, and, in my case, miss terribly.  For example, Dave V., Ed K., and I are all modeling the 1980s.  So, unfortunately for Lee, that means we have to run Chessie rolling stock, if we want to be accurate.  I'm modeling the Seaboard System in 1983-86, which is just before the CSX merger between Seaboard and Chessie.  A lot of Chessie stuff was appearing down south before the merger, including locomotives and cabooses!  I've got a B30-7 in Chessie (C&O), a C&O caboose or two, and I just bought a Chessie (WM- I know, Lee, it's blasphemy) covered hopper from ExactRail (I know, Ed, it's blasphemy).

Remember, pictures...  or it didn't happen.

DFF

[Chris333]

I'm wondering what was left in Kent in 1979 to measure?

Although out of your era there is new book out about the Erie in Kent:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Railroad-Town-Kent-and-the-Erie-Railroad-/250737497635?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item3a611e9623
http://www.mckaybricker.com/Railroad%20Town%20Kent%20and%20the%20Erie%20Railroad.htm

[unittrain]

I'm wondering what was left in Kent in 1979 to measure?

Although out of your era there is new book out about the Erie in Kent:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Railroad-Town-Kent-and-the-Erie-Railroad-/250737497635?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item3a611e9623
http://www.mckaybricker.com/Railroad%20Town%20Kent%20and%20the%20Erie%20Railroad.htm

There was a few old B&O structures http://www.flickr.com/photos/fan-t/5215353635/ of course this was in better shape when I measured and drew it up they recently tore it down I also did some drawings of some old Erie yard structures a couple light towers and a water tower base that was left standing amongst the know wooded area that used to be a large yard. There is still some remains of what used to be a round house. The light towers are now gone. I also drew up RN tower and Rave tower which were in Ravenna RN being on the B&O and Rave was former Pennsy both towers are gone now, however there is one tower left in BradyLake which is located where the Erie crossed the Pennsy Cleveland pittsburg line there was a small NYC line that used the pennsy tracks up to this point and then switched off onto its own track this line was the LE&P. The rest of what I have drawings for are bridges. Here is a picture that shows where the LE&P joined the pennsy http://thecrhs.org/image/view/5173/_original  I got drawings of the Bridge shown in the distance thats where the LE&P crossed the pennsy after switching off pennsy tracks and climbing the grade on the right. So there were some relics most of which are now gone.

[wm3798]

What is this Chessie of which you spake?  Perhaps an enthusiast of Chess?

I just don't get it!

Lee

[unittrain]

Ok long time since last post  a lot of progress is being made on scratch built structures I have a B&O freight station under construction and have nearly finished a track side shed I also have a few bridges under construction, for the bridges I'm working in brass each span is 300 + feet (another reason I chose N over HO!!) I got all the track done except for some spur lines and almost all the ballasting is done. I got some trackside brush in place using poly fiber and fine ground foam and Scenery Express leaves. I plan on getting the super tree armatures for trees next. As far as ground cover goes I'm using real dirt and ground leaves. I also am going to try the un-sanded grout for some scenes. I got cell phone pictures that I will post.

[LIRR]

Photos my good man, we need photos......

[casmmr]

Did I miss the scale?  What scale are you doing this is?  What size area?  Thanks.

[unittrain]

Did I miss the scale?  What scale are you doing this is?  What size area?  Thanks.

It's N and the area is 14'x 23' it is a double track main. I'm modeling run through freight operations, I will also have a switching operation by modeling a Pennsy/NYC jointly owned single track line that switches off the main it was called the LE&P (Lake Erie & Pittsburg) it was abandoned by PC in 68 but part of it was used to deliver cars to a sand and gravel company and also some Tank Cars that went  to another company. So this will add to operations. I will have pics soon. Mean while here are a few pictures of this area I' modeling on the proto the double track line is the Conrail, I'm building a model of the truss bridge in the one pic I'll post pictures of my progress on it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fan-t/sets/72157632783867251/detail/

[unittrain]

Pictures coming soon stay tuned, got new modules under construction and some scratchbuilt structures to share.

[davefoxx]

The suspense is killing us.  You've got a two-year teaser going.   

DFF

[unittrain]

Some progress shots with more to come these are of truss bridge scene where an early 1900's collaboration between Pennsylvania railroad and NYC produced a railroad known as the le&p in the scene I'm modeling it crossed the conrails former Pennsylvania railroad main at Bradylake ohio, these are mock up progress shots mainly of west end abutment and partially done scenery much more to go yet.