Real Train Scenes on Model Railroads

I got the idea of a trackside railfan campsite on my last layout after visiting Horseshoe Curve, PA and the train watching park at Deshler, Ohio.

Although I never saw a real life scene like that in the photo below because 10 wheeler steamers and The Put were before my time, I have seen photos of real 10 Wheelers and the Yorktown Heights train station on The Put.

How's this?

Not exactly the same, but close.

George

@G3750 posted:

How's this?

Not exactly the same, but close.

George

Very nice, George. I particularly like your backdrop, hillside along the right of way and the gradual, gentle curvature of the track.

IMO, perfect scale models are wonderful, but not essential. What matters most is that you're happy with it. You will also find others who will admire your layout scene. When that happens, it will be the Icing on the Cake for you.

I have had the good fortune to have had that experiece with my models that are far from being perfect. Arnold

Very nice thread Arnold!  Somehow I knew this thread was started by you even before clicking on it thread yesterday.

Although this model bridge is a loose replica of the original, as it lacks many of the finer details of the prototype ... I have included it on my layout.  This model is of the Bollman Truss Bridge, a B&O bridge, located only a few blocks from my home in Savage, Maryland.  The original was of unique design and patented by Wendall Bollman.  During the mid 19th century, the B&O used approximately 100 of these bridges throughout it's system.  The prototype shown here, was relocated to Savage in the 1880s, as it originally was installed at another location on the B&O.  Me and my dog Barney walk across the prototype most days of the week.  

Although the model scene does not parallel the prototype scene I show the comparisons here because the prototype inspired the modeled scene.  

As it sits today only a few blocks from my home.  Each span is 80 ft. in length and carried the B&O RR Patuxent Branch across the Little Patuxent River to access a cotton mill which is still standing, having been converted to shops, art galleries, and resturaunts.

My interpretatin of a New Haven heavyweight baggage car in an unknown yard  John

@trumpettrain posted:

Very nice thread Arnold!  Somehow I knew this thread was started by you even before clicking on it thread yesterday.

Although this model bridge is a loose replica of the original, as it lacks many of the finer details of the prototype ... I have included it on my layout.  This model is of the Bollman Truss Bridge, a B&O bridge, located only a few blocks from my home in Savage, Maryland.  The original was of unique design and patented by Wendall Bollman.  During the mid 19th century, the B&O used approximately 100 of these bridges throughout it's system.  The prototype shown here, was relocated to Savage in the 1880s, as it originally was installed at another location on the B&O.  Me and my dog Barney walk across the prototype most days of the week.  

Although the model scene does not parallel the prototype scene I show the comparisons here because the prototype inspired the modeled scene.  

As it sits today only a few blocks from my home.  Each span is 80 ft. in length and carried the B&O RR Patuxent Branch across the Little Patuxent River to access a cotton mill which is still standing, having been converted to shops, art galleries, and resturaunts.

Thank you, Patrick!

I share your passion for the B&O RR, which many of us know is one of the 1st (maybe the very 1st) RR in the USA.

Patrick, you do a marvelous job of shooting photos and videos of your B&O trains and structures and scenery reminiscent of the B&O.

My fondness for the B&O RR started when my father bought me this Lionel B&O 44 ton center cab diesel switcher from Telly's Hardware Store in downtown Mt Vernon, NY when I was 11 years old:

I love its blue and yellow livery and the look of it. Arnold

@rattler21 posted:

My interpretatin of a New Haven heavyweight baggage car in an unknown yard  John

Very nice, Rattler21!

I was watching our tanker train one time it was going my guess 30 MPH. A boy about 10 was standing on one of the cars end platform, he looked scared.

Inspired by Frank Delano, Library of Congress, public domain.

Pete

Great scenes, guys! I think to the extent possible, we all try to emulate live-action and real situations. It's in-grained!

As for my humble beginnings, I am endeavoring to model Vermont action, particularly logs and quarry. I spent 8 days working in Brattleboro in June and July, where I believe New England Central interchanges with Pan AM. The gondolas are full of granite and marble tailings, taken to various places in Maine (or other ??) for seawalls and the like. I never did see the Pan AM engines. I would see cars go by my hotel, get dropped at siding, and disappear overnight.

I'm sorely lacking in buildings, backdrops, trees, etc. They will come in time, but for the purpose of this thread, I am dazzled and encouraged by what I see others do! My 9YO grandson will be all too happy to provide the graffiti, but I'm not ready for that yet. Locos are still too new and pretty!

All my rocks are real VT rocks, too. Each car has a scale weight of 80-100,000#.

Best regards to all!

Bob K

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Very nice, George. I particularly like your backdrop, hillside along the right of way and the gradual, gentle curvature of the track.

IMO, perfect scale models are wonderful, but not essential. What matters most is that you're happy with it. You will also find others who will admire your layout scene. When that happens, it will be the Icing on the Cake for you.

I have had the good fortune to have had that experiece with my models that are far from being perfect. Arnold

Yeah that’s spectacular!

NY Central RS3 passenger train along The Put in 1949 (the engine is an MTH Proto 3):

This scene was inspired by a photo used to advertise a prototype oriented magazine by another publisher:

Rusty