Thank you, Keith, Bob, Steve, and Bill!
Keith, That is good you can settle down for the winter and work on your layout!!
Bob, I guess there is a lot you can do on a layout to make it seem like a lot of activity before you get real scenery started.
Steve, A often see B&LE, now CN, trains in addition to the Cliffs diesel, and the B&P on my side of the Connoquenessing Crick with Pennsylvania Route 8 in the foreground from that old, rather run down shopping center. We live high up on the hill above it, and we frequent Rite Aid, Dollar General, and Ace Hardware. I usually don't get a chance for a good photograph, though.
Bill, I know it is hard to wait on building a layout while you have to prepare a room. You are doing it the right way. Get some basic backdrop on that Masonite before you get to building too much benchwork. I was fussing with backdrop standing on my two-step platform reaching over to get the backdrop secured, and as can be seen in the videos, places on the backdrop still need work.
Yes, Cleveland Cliffs acquired Armco/AK two years ago, I believe. They also got the main plant in Middletown, Ohio. CN acquired the B&LE 5 to 10 years ago I suppose, but it has only been the last couple years that I am seeing their own power instead of the older B&LE engines. They still operate a yard just north of Butler and interchange with the B&P there near the B&P shops easily seen from US 422 and Pennsylvania Rt 68. There is still a lot of railroad action for a town of 13,000. Then they head south to North Bessemer at Unity Junction east of Pittsburgh. If you are on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, you can see the end of the yard there a mile or two east of the Turnpike and Bessemer Allegheny River crossing. I grew up in the rural part of the county along the B&O, but CSX now runs few trains since they bought the P&LE water level route.
Thank you everyone for looking and commenting!!
