PRR/Conrail Juniata Division Engineering Report

[Dave V]

Glad to see you've found some inspiration again, its nice to see fresh shots from the Juniata Div.

Excited to see how things will eventually evolve, I did quite like some aspects of the plans that were tossed around a few years ago.

That photo at SPRUCE is actually a few years old.  The videos I've been posted are relatively new, to wit:

All of the awesome ideas that were tossed around in this thread have contributed in some way to whatever I do in the future.

[Rich_S]

There were so many minor PRR branches... all so modelable!

Lee

Got to give some love to the Western side of the state, how about the Chartiers Branch? It ran between Carnegie and Washington, PA, the crews worked out of Scully yard, which was located between McKees Rocks and Crafton / Ingram. Or you could also go with one of the smaller branches off the Chartiers Branch, the B&M (Bridgeville and McDonald) Branch.

[Dave V]

Got to give some love to the Western side of the state, how about the Chartiers Branch? It ran between Carnegie and Washington, PA, the crews worked out of Scully yard, which was located between McKees Rocks and Crafton / Ingram. Or you could also go with one of the smaller branches off the Chartiers Branch, the B&M (Bridgeville and McDonald) Branch.

Been done:

http://chartiers.50webs.com/

But I'm not looking for a new prototype.  Again, I'm sticking with the Middle Division and possibly points east.

[Dave V]

This is pretty much what I envision, except in N scale:

Yes, Neal is doing 3-rail O, but overall I really think he's captured the look and feel of the Middle Division.  I'm also intrigued by his concept of having the layout move forward in time/era the farther west you go, from 1930-era Pennsy at Enola all the way to Conrail/NS transition at the other end.

It's in every way a roundy-round railfan layout...which is exactly what I want.

[Rich_S]

Yes, Neal is doing 3-rail O,

Dave, I saw a video from  Bob Bartizek who also models the PRR in 3 rail O gauge. Bob's reason for 3 rail is, the big Pennsy steam power available in 3 rail 0 gauge, will negotiate a tighter radius than their 2 rail O scale counter parts. In a nut shell, more layout in the space available. 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Been done:

http://chartiers.50webs.com/

But I'm not looking for a new prototype.  Again, I'm sticking with the Middle Division and possibly points east.

Whoa, we need to go recruit that guy!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This is pretty much what I envision, except in N scale:


Yes, Neal is doing 3-rail O, but overall I really think he's captured the look and feel of the Middle Division.  I'm also intrigued by his concept of having the layout move forward in time/era the farther west you go, from 1930-era Pennsy at Enola all the way to Conrail/NS transition at the other end.

It's in every way a roundy-round railfan layout...which is exactly what I want.

It's funny. Josh sent me that video this morning and my first thought was "that right there is the model for you and Dr. V".

And it's also almost exactly what I drew up in my sketch of the JD 2.0. Neal's layout was in my mind as I did it.

[Dave V]

Whoa, we need to go recruit that guy!

I'm not sure he's still around, actually.

[Dave V]

It's funny. Josh sent me that video this morning and my first thought was "that right there is the model for you and Dr. V".

And it's also almost exactly what I drew up in my sketch of the JD 2.0. Neal's layout was in my mind as I did it.

Pretty much!



Seriously, that's exactly what I need...  A fistful of staging and a nice long run.

I've been tempted to do a no-sh!t roundhouse and turntable now that I have so much sexy steam, but they're space hogs (and they're expensive!).

EDIT:  Given that the M1 is over 10" long (LOL) I'm not sure if I can even get it onto a turntable...!

[Missaberoad]

Wow, that would mean the M1 is almost as long as a Big boy! It would depend on the wheelbase whether or not it fits on the Walthers turntable. If the wheelbase is longer then 9 3/4" then it would be a no go. 

If you go that route you could always have some dummy stalls cut off by the backdrop (or the aisle for an interesting photo angle)

I like that plan, it definitely screams PRR to this prairie boy, and being a Railfan's layout your idea of a progressive era would be easy to accomplish.

The only thing I would want to add to the conversation is when the time comes don't let saving the current JD become a detriment.
Not saying you shouldn't try to incorporate it, but if it becomes a situation where the new layout will be better off without it be prepared for that.
 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Also, when it comes to saving the JD... what IS the JD?

Is it the benchwork?

The foam?

The buildings?

The track?

#DeepThoughts

[Dave V]

I've been considering the JD to be finished scenes.

[Lemosteam]

I've been considering the JD to be finished scenes.

Vignettes? 

[amato1969]

There were so many minor PRR branches... all so modelable!

#WilkesBarreBranch

[MichaelWinicki]

Dave, maybe build a new layout recreating scenes from the current layout but with updated scenic materials & track.  Certainly could reuse the structures.