It's time for WEEKEND PHOTO FUN!!
This past week I went to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. The museum reopened yesterday. During the Covid thing a new resident entered the museum. A racoon has been wreaking havoc for about three months.
He has broken a lot of trees and has developed a taste for plastic people. I spent a couple of days over there cleaning up the mess. I also changed at the Frozen to a SpongeBob theme
Let's see your pictures.
Scott Smith
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This week, I have something a little different, and something very special to me. If you’ve looked at the pictures I post of my layout, you probably know it know that it portrays the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad in central Pennsylvania along the Juniata River. Most of the layout models very rural areas of the commonwealth. Here are some photos of the layout:
While I’ll never recall the exact date for sure, it was 45 years ago in early June of 1975 just after my freshman year of college that I first ventured out to this area. I did not go to see trains, but having a strong interest in highway engineering since I was a young child, I traveled to the area to see a long stretch of new expressway (US 22/322) under construction that I saw on a highway map.
I was totally unprepared for what I would see that day. It wasn’t the highway that got my attention. It was the scenery. I thought it was the most beautiful place that I had ever seen in my life. With time, I would learn that the Juniata River Valley was the route of the mainline of the Pennsylvania Railroad across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was that scenery that prompted me to recreate the Middle Division on my layout. And to the best of my recollection, every year since then, I have traveled out there to see both the trains and the scenery.
What follows are about a half dozen pictures of a world most of you probably have never seen. They are just a few of hundreds that I took last year on my annual “Ride Down the Juniata.” Most are of the farmland in the region. Please forgive me as only one has a train, but hopefully when you look at them, you will understand what motivated me to model the Middle Division:
So at a time of so much turmoil in our nation and our world, I walk into my basement, escape from all of those troubles, and suddenly I’m back in 1975 when I first laid my eyes on what to me will always be the most beautiful place on earth.
Next week, I hope to bring you some photos of my initial railfanning in the early days of what was by then Conrail, and how I have tried to recreate it on my layout. Until then, stay healthy!
For this fine weekend:
Oh G .... A Grand Exit
The raccoon on top of his world. Hopefully this was not the raccoon that did damage at the VMT! 
Early morning start in the summer haze. 
The rural line. 
Rounding the bend. 
The milk train
Be well everyone! Have a wonderful and safe weekend!
New York Central & Hudson River Railroad S-2 electric motor #3207 is a Lionel product. New York Central extended vision Pacemaker caboose #23037 is an MTH Premier model. This locomotive sounds like a trolley car when it’s running. Stopped in front of my model of the station in Phillips, Maine, built from a kit by Banta Modelworks.
MELGAR
Great pics, everyone.......nothing new because I’ve been swamped at work......I did get some great birthday presents last weekend....
Have a great weekend folks, and be safe.
Peter
Years ago, I emailed Andre Garcia at River Leaf Models about making the Texas Tavern. For those of you who don't know, the Texas Tavern is the Roanoke (Va) Millionare's Club. They seat 1000 diners, 10 at a time.
It has been too-too long since I ate there. When you're in Roanoke, you need to treat yourself to a Cheesy Western and a "Bowl-with". The last time I was there at 2:00AM (besides myself) there was a Priest, a Policeman, a Pimp, and a Prostitute.
I retired a couple of years ago and finally got around to building my kit. The base and interior were not part of the original kit. There are a few artistic licenses taken. I still need to light it. A Walthers HO Roof Detail kit provided the A/C and stacks on the roof. This is going to occupy a very special place on my layout.
The Homies are standing by to serve you!
A 2019 Christmas Layout memory 
I continue this week with another image of the zoo/nature park. Hard to tell in this closeup but those are 2 monkeys. Then there's an overall view for perspective.
= walt
their sort of hidden in at the top:
Happy Friday!
@PRRMiddleDivision posted:
This week, I have something a little different, and something very special to me. If you’ve looked at the pictures I post of my layout, you probably know it know that it portrays the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad in central Pennsylvania along the Juniata River. Most of the layout models very rural areas of the commonwealth. Here are some photos of the layout:
While I’ll never recall the exact date for sure, it was 45 years ago in early June of 1975 just after my freshman year of college that I first ventured out to this area. I did not go to see trains, but having a strong interest in highway engineering since I was a young child, I traveled to the area to see a long stretch of new expressway (US 22/322) under construction that I saw on a highway map.
I was totally unprepared for what I would see that day. It wasn’t the highway that got my attention. It was the scenery. I thought it was the most beautiful place that I had ever seen in my life. With time, I would learn that the Juniata River Valley was the route of the mainline of the Pennsylvania Railroad across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was that scenery that prompted me to recreate the Middle Division on my layout. And to the best of my recollection, every year since then, I have traveled out there to see both the trains and the scenery.
What follows are about a half dozen pictures of a world most of you probably have never seen. They are just a few of hundreds that I took last year on my annual “Ride Down the Juniata.” Most are of the farmland in the region. Please forgive me as only one has a train, but hopefully when you look at them, you will understand what motivated me to model the Middle Division:
So at a time of so much turmoil in our nation and our world, I walk into my basement, escape from all of those troubles, and suddenly I’m back in 1975 when I first laid my eyes on what to me will always be the most beautiful place on earth.
Next week, I hope to bring you some photos of my initial railfanning in the early days of what was by then Conrail, and how I have tried to recreate it on my layout. Until then, stay healthy!
Neal,
Great story. My interest in trains also took off from visiting Pennsylvania. I have only been through central PA once or twice but it was only in passing. Most of my time was in Western Pennsylvania in the Pittsburgh area. Everywhere you looked there was a train. I have always believed Pennsylvania to be the Mecca of railroad activity and a strong area for the hobby as well. Your pictures are gorgeous and your modeling concept reflects them well. It's not to often that you see an O Scale layout with much countryside but this actually makes your layout very convincing and a joy to see when you post. I hope to see it in person one day.
Dave
@PRRMiddleDivision posted:
This week, I have something a little different, and something very special to me. If you’ve looked at the pictures I post of my layout, you probably know it know that it portrays the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad in central Pennsylvania along the Juniata River. Most of the layout models very rural areas of the commonwealth. Here are some photos of the layout:
While I’ll never recall the exact date for sure, it was 45 years ago in early June of 1975 just after my freshman year of college that I first ventured out to this area. I did not go to see trains, but having a strong interest in highway engineering since I was a young child, I traveled to the area to see a long stretch of new expressway (US 22/322) under construction that I saw on a highway map.
I was totally unprepared for what I would see that day. It wasn’t the highway that got my attention. It was the scenery. I thought it was the most beautiful place that I had ever seen in my life. With time, I would learn that the Juniata River Valley was the route of the mainline of the Pennsylvania Railroad across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was that scenery that prompted me to recreate the Middle Division on my layout. And to the best of my recollection, every year since then, I have traveled out there to see both the trains and the scenery.
What follows are about a half dozen pictures of a world most of you probably have never seen. They are just a few of hundreds that I took last year on my annual “Ride Down the Juniata.” Most are of the farmland in the region. Please forgive me as only one has a train, but hopefully when you look at them, you will understand what motivated me to model the Middle Division:
So at a time of so much turmoil in our nation and our world, I walk into my basement, escape from all of those troubles, and suddenly I’m back in 1975 when I first laid my eyes on what to me will always be the most beautiful place on earth.
Next week, I hope to bring you some photos of my initial railfanning in the early days of what was by then Conrail, and how I have tried to recreate it on my layout. Until then, stay healthy!
I know I always say this, but as someone who has been going out there for 20+ years & is probably one of my top 5 places to visit/wish to live, your work really does capture it very well. I can look at any pic of your layout & know exactly what & where you are trying to model. Great job!
Lots of duplicate photos again. Don't the uninformed know how to post a comment without using them over again? 
Dave,
Thanks for your comments. I actually live in suburban Pittsburgh. Strictly speaking, I can't say I NEVER was in that area before 1975. When I was a kid, we used to take family vacations and would travel east on the PA Turnpike. The Turnpike does traverse the middle section of the Path Valley, but about 35 miles south of where the valley ends at Port Royal along the Juniata River. But just cutting across it on the Turnpike is not the same as traversing the length of one of those valleys. More than any other picture, this image which I posted above...
...gives you an idea of the feeling of tranquility and "splendid isolation" in the area traversed by the PRR. Look at that mountain ridge that just stretches unbroken for miles and miles and that road with not another vehicle in sight. This is what inspired me and it's that kind of geology that the Pennsy had to contend with as it wended its way across the commonwealth. The other thing I do on the layout is cluster my structures tightly together in small towns, and leave nothing but farmland and woodlands in between to give it a rural feel.
And Christopher, thanks for you comments as well. it's very gratifying to hear someone familiar with the Middle Division look at the layout and say they can recognize the area i'm modeling. BTW, your layout is very nice.
Neal,
My parents live in Walnut off of Route 35, just outside of Port Royal and my sister is in Port Royal so I been through the area many times. Beautiful country out there. Your modeling captures the flavor of that area amazingly. I enjoy the model photos and the real scenery photos as well. Thanks for taking me on another visit.
Finished a bit of mountain work this week.
Neal, Great pics!! Ya making me homesick!! I used to motorcycle all over the state and that area is one of the best! The sight of old barns,cornfields, and a rolling country highway just makes me smile! Thanks so much!! 
@PRRMiddleDivision posted:
This week, I have something a little different, and something very special to me . . .
While I’ll never recall the exact date for sure, it was 45 years ago in early June of 1975 just after my freshman year of college that I first ventured out to this area. . . I was totally unprepared for what I would see that day. It wasn’t the highway that got my attention. It was the scenery. I thought it was the most beautiful place that I had ever seen in my life . . . It was that scenery that prompted me to recreate the Middle Division on my layout. And to the best of my recollection, every year since then, I have traveled out there to see both the trains and the scenery.
What follows are about a half dozen pictures of a world most of you probably have never seen . . . hopefully when you look at them, you will understand what motivated me to model the Middle Division:
So at a time of so much turmoil in our nation and our world, I walk into my basement, escape from all of those troubles, and suddenly I’m back in 1975 when I first laid my eyes on what to me will always be the most beautiful place on earth.
Thanks for posting this, Neal. If I had known about this place, I would have visited it myself. Since I grew up in the far southwest corner of the country, I missed this. It's nice to see it through your eyes.
We are thinking of taking a fall, 2020, drive to Pennsylvania and New York, and I will figure out a way to drive that 2-lane.
The new RailKing Wisconsin Central high-cube box car.
This first image shows the digital camera lightening the colors.
This looks more like what I can see with unaided eyes.
Andrew
Falcon Service
Another busy night on the waterfront.
Two photos at the North Pole.
The old log cabin.
@Gilly@N&W posted:Years ago, I emailed Andre Garcia at River Leaf Models about making the Texas Tavern. For those of you who don't know, the Texas Tavern is the Roanoke (Va) Millionare's Club. They seat 1000 diners, 10 at a time.
It has been too-too long since I ate there. When you're in Roanoke, you need to treat yourself to a Cheesy Western and a "Bowl-with". The last time I was there at 2:00AM (besides myself) there was a Priest, a Policeman, a Pimp, and a Prostitute.
I retired a couple of years ago and finally got around to building my kit. The base and interior were not part of the original kit. There are a few artistic licenses taken. I still need to light it. A Walthers HO Roof Detail kit provided the A/C and stacks on the roof. This is going to occupy a very special place on my layout.
The Homies are standing by to serve you!
Beautiful job on the diner! Don't forget to add a cigarette vending machine to the interior. I saw the diner a few years ago when I visited Roanoke to ride the N & W 611 steam engine.
ALERT!!!!!
STOP REPOSTING PICTURES FROM A POST YOUR RESPONDING TO!!!
IT'S ANNOYING!!..............
Dave
Neal living in that part of PA (State College area) I surly appreciate and understand why you feel that way. This area ai gorgeous. I fell in love with the first time visited the area bank in 2003.
Just found an Artista vending machine on eBay. Also, I had forgotten the green shelf under the window. For some reason, my memory of my last 2:00AM visit are just a little fuzzy....
Happy Flag Day!
Peter
Thanks for all of the nice comments about my photos this week. This wasn't really my usual post, so I kinda wondered what kind of reaction I would get, if any.
NJCJoe, you mentioned Route 35. Well, here ya go...
And this church may be in Walnut. If not, it is certainly up near the upper end of the Valley near Mifflin and the Middle Division...
Tom and RIT, thank you for your comments as well. I'll finish up next week, but mostly train photos, not just farmland and rural shots.
Remember when this thread would be up to 4 pages by now.
Marty,
It is that time of year when people are outside more even if just in their backyards and this thread is harder to find now under photos. I bet if we looked at the web metrics, most go directly to o27 and traditional forum.
@MartyE posted:Remember when this thread would be up to 4 pages by now.
Marty, I thought the same thing. Its particularly slow this week. I guess it's just reflective of the overall shrinkage of our hobby, but I kind of think moving it off of the regular forum onto photo albums instead did not help.
I’ll join in on the Flag Day festivities too guys...
@MartyE posted:Remember when this thread would be up to 4 pages by now.
I think it being off the main page is a big reason
I wish it had occurred to me earlier that it was Flag Day. Here is a another shot from that area that I model in central Pennsylvania:
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