Weekend Photo Fun 7-7-23-??

Last week, I posted photos of the modification I made to my ABBA set of PRR five stripe sharks. This week, I’m posting the mid 1950’s coal hopper train they were pulling that was set up by my son Steven. He is a true fanatic for prototypically accurate train consists, so he carefully selected PRR hoppers to create a prototypically accurate coal drag accurate for that era. So this week, I’ll show you a photo of every type of hopper on the train from a railfan perspective.

First, here is the lead engine on the shark consist pulling out of Altoona past Rose tower on its way to Harrisburg:

Standing in the same spot a few minutes later, we see a circle Keystone GLA, a shadow keystone H21, and a shadow keystone GLA:

Walking down the tracks a bit, we come across a shadow keystone H35:

Next, we jump in the car, and head east on US 22 and eventually catch up with the train at Jacks Narrows were we see a now rare wooden steel frame hopper from the WWII era in the circle Keystone scheme along with a circle Keystone H21:

Racing further east, we catch the Sharks hauling the train past Mifflin tower:

The last place we catch the train is at Port Royal. It’s been hard keeping up with it and at this point, all we see of it are the last few cars with a shadow keystone N5 caboose bringing up the rear:

And just for those of you who want to see all the hoppers in the train, here ‘ya go…31 of them in all:

FYI, the GLA’s are by Lionel, the H21’s and steel frame wooden side hopper are from Atlas, and the H35’s are Weaver models. The caboose is a Lionel as are the sharks.

Now if anyone is still reading my post at this point, I have a question for you guys. Do you all like reading this stuff about the layout and trains that I write up, or would you rather just look at the pictures?

Anyhow, that’s it for this week. Gotta go work on the barn I’m building near Spruce Creek.  With the layout now over 90% complete after almost 26 years, the push is on to finish it up! So long…

Here's something a little different. Last weekend I had the chance to attend the opening dates of former forum member NY's Coastal Tour. I could have sworn I spotted a ZW transformer on stage. Sure enough, Neil brought some Lionel on tour. Midshow, he ran what looked like a postwar Alco passenger set around one section of his stage. Here's a shot of the ZW during the breakdown:

While it wasn't as large of a setup as the H.O.R.D.E tour, everyone got a kick out of it. There was a lot of chatter in the audience about the trains. A few weeks prior, he mentioned on Zoom that he is spending a lot of time cleaning track for his new outdoor layout. Hopefully, we'll see a full layout feature soon!

A 2022 Christmas Layout

front left corner

walt

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

FYI, the GLA’s are by Lionel, the H21’s and steel frame wooden side hopper are from Atlas, and the H35’s are Weaver models. The caboose is a Lionel as are the sharks.

Now if anyone is still reading my post at this point, I have a question for you guys. Do you all like reading this stuff about the layout and trains that I write up, or would you rather just look at the pictures?

Anyhow, that’s it for this week. Gotta go work on the barn I’m building near Spruce Creek.  With the layout now over 90% complete after almost 26 years, the push is on to finish it up! So long…

Neal,

Your photos are always a treat and very well done. I think the descriptions you added this week is a nice touch.  It definitely makes it more interesting, especially in a case like this, when Steven took special care to assemble this train. I also appreciate you sharing the manufacturers which you normally do anyways. Looking forward to seeing your barn. I'm sure it will be great.

Dave

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Last week, I posted photos of the modification I made to my ABBA set of PRR five stripe sharks. This week, I’m posting the mid 1950’s coal hopper train they were pulling that was set up by my son Steven. He is a true fanatic for prototypically accurate train consists, so he carefully selected PRR hoppers to create a prototypically accurate coal drag accurate for that era. So this week, I’ll show you a photo of every type of hopper on the train from a railfan perspective.

First, here is the lead engine on the shark consist pulling out of Altoona past Rose tower on its way to Harrisburg:

Standing in the same spot a few minutes later, we see a circle Keystone GLA, a shadow keystone H21, and a shadow keystone GLA:

Walking down the tracks a bit, we come across a shadow keystone H35:

Next, we jump in the car, and head east on US 22 and eventually catch up with the train at Jacks Narrows were we see a now rare wooden steel frame hopper from the WWII era in the circle Keystone scheme along with a circle Keystone H21:

Racing further east, we catch the Sharks hauling the train past Mifflin tower:

The last place we catch the train is at Port Royal. It’s been hard keeping up with it and at this point, all we see of it are the last few cars with a shadow keystone N5 caboose bringing up the rear:

And just for those of you who want to see all the hoppers in the train, here ‘ya go…31 of them in all:

FYI, the GLA’s are by Lionel, the H21’s and steel frame wooden side hopper are from Atlas, and the H35’s are Weaver models. The caboose is a Lionel as are the sharks.

Now if anyone is still reading my post at this point, I have a question for you guys. Do you all like reading this stuff about the layout and trains that I write up, or would you rather just look at the pictures?

Anyhow, that’s it for this week. Gotta go work on the barn I’m building near Spruce Creek.  With the layout now over 90% complete after almost 26 years, the push is on to finish it up! So long…

I for one enjoy the info.  Its just enough to know whats going on without being too boring!

Layout tour Thursday, June 29th. We 1st traveled to the Plattsburgh NY area, coming so close to the Canadian border, you could see the Custom Houses. The 1st layouts were in the basement of a former radio station. It was 1st ands AM station; then, an FM station. Then, where the owner retired, he just continued on the layouts he had in the basement.

Have a great and safe weekend, folks!

Peter

I finally got all the little end steps installed on all my new GGD Chessie cars. These are held on by incredibly tiny screws (metric size M1). A real challenge for aging eye

Ken

Going back to Burlington, after crossing back into Vermont, we visited an outdoor railroad. Look on map about a 1/2" below the "b" in Plattsburgh. We were looking west across the lake fron South Hero Island.

Here is where I get into my "history-nerd" roots. While at the layout, I took the following picture. We are looking at the island that I mentioned above. That's Valcour Island. In the summer of 1776, Benedict Arnold  was in the area recovering from his wound the previous winter at the failed seige of Quebec. Knowing that the British were going to invade New York and capture Albany, he created a rag-tag fleet of ships that fought and lost the naval battle of Valcour Island (in the bay on the other side of the island). Though defeated, the battle forced the British to abandon their plans (it was already mid-October). They retreated and did not attempt invasion again until 1777.....which ended in the American victory at Saratoga.

Going back to the map and looking at the island again and turning/lookin north a few miles, in the little bay under the word 'Plattsburgh",  is the site of the Naval Battle of Lake Champlain which occurred in September 1814.....where Commodore Thomas MacDonough defeated the British fleet attempting to invade New York in the War of 1812.

Have a great weekend!

Peter

Layout Tour, June 30th. For the 1st layout, we passed through Essex Jct to a mountainous area. In Essex Jct, we passed a wye that looked like a Ross O54 wye....

This was a great HiRail layout.....

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Peter

Then back to Essex Jct for two layouts......this one was whimsical and pure fun!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Peter

This week's video.

Scott Smith

This last one was a late PreWar and PostWar boys' dream!

Girls set.....LOOK.....the rare Dummy A for the Marine Corps Alco set! The Great Northern EP-5 set from 1960 on the top left!

Late PostWar GG1 sets and late PostWar AB F3 sets!

Every accessory you ever wanted!

Late 40s sets!

Late 50s and some mid 60s sets!

Mostly early 50s sets here.....

B&M Geep set......Santa Fe Alco passenger.....

A few 1958 sets.....

It was breathtaking......

Peter

Thanks Scott for getting us started this weekend!   I like your passenger cars that you won from Cabin Fever Auctions!   I hope everyone had a safe and fun July 4!   Best wishes for a wonderful weekend to all!!

Here are my photos of the fun kind for this fine weekend.  A quick look around my layout.  

It's 1950 and a new Studebaker is being unloaded at the team track.

The southeast corner of the layout features Mt. Randolph, Lake Christopher, a Bollman bridge, and the elevated trolly line tunnel portal which I made out of stones collected from a nearby river. Mt. Randolph towers upward just inches from the ceiling of my train room.  Upon entering the train room from the northeast corner, Mount Randolph, is the focal point, captivating the eyes and is the source of " WOW!!!" exclaimed by most visitors.  

In Lower Patsburg we find a downtown that is always bustling.  Downtown is host to Engine Co. 5,  Our Lady of Locomotion Church, a replica of one of my favorite Baltimore seafood restaurants, Berthas, which. on a sad note, has recently closed after serving great food for decades ... but the good news is ... Berthas lives on in Patsburg.! Of course Clark Kent is always standing near the phone booth  waiting to change into his Superman uniform upon a call from Lois Lane or Jimmy Olsen.   Guido Monteeko sells his famous hot dogs at his umbrella covered hot dog stand and Winkie Wheeler sells newspapers and magazines to  folks  walking  to the nearby commuter rail station ( not show ).  Folks love the throat soothing ice cream and ice cream sundaes sold at Jahns!   There's Ernie Grecco running ... late for the train again!   A couple of raccoons raid the trash can as a dog "waters" a fire hydrant.

A few more from that collection.....

Some military sets and other PostWar classics.....The 746 set from 58 and the D&RG F3 set from 57.

Alco sets....New Haven from 58 and B&M from 59.....

Late 50s FM and EP-5 sets.....

A better picture of the Alaska set from 59......Look at those Budd cars!

The Navy Alco set and the Jesey Central passneger set......The Burlingtom mixed passenger set from 58 and I believe the Wabash Geep set is 58, also......

The End......hope you enjoyed the pics.

Peter

Neal, by all means keep the stories and description. Reading your posts and looking at the pictures I feel like I’m reading a Morning Sun book which are some of my favorites.

Love the second to last pic. of the tail end of the train passing through town. While the right of way is on level ground. The town. Not so much. Just like real life.

@PRRMiddleDivision poste

Now if anyone is still reading my post at this point, I have a question for you guys. Do you all like reading this stuff about the layout and trains that I write up, or would you rather just look at the pictures?

Neal - by all means keep writing!  I enjoy the knowledge you share and I learn a lot from your posts.    I certainly love your exquisite photos and your back stories provide greater context which deepens  the visual dimension.  Thanks for all you share and give to our community!  

Another shipment of fresh Gulf shrimp headed out to restaurants across the Southeast.

Neal Jeter

T

F

This was when the store was all MTH.

My wife and I were returning from a hike this morning (shortened due to heat/humidity) and while driving by a local stone quarry in La Plata Md we saw this:

First special edition engine I have seen in person.

ADDED: Video of engine sounds

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Last week, I posted photos of the modification I made to my ABBA set of PRR five stripe sharks. This week, I’m posting the mid 1950’s coal hopper train they were pulling that was set up by my son Steven. He is a true fanatic for prototypically accurate train consists, so he carefully selected PRR hoppers to create a prototypically accurate coal drag accurate for that era. So this week, I’ll show you a photo of every type of hopper on the train from a railfan perspective.

First, here is the lead engine on the shark consist pulling out of Altoona past Rose tower on its way to Harrisburg:

Standing in the same spot a few minutes later, we see a circle Keystone GLA, a shadow keystone H21, and a shadow keystone GLA:

Walking down the tracks a bit, we come across a shadow keystone H35:

Next, we jump in the car, and head east on US 22 and eventually catch up with the train at Jacks Narrows were we see a now rare wooden steel frame hopper from the WWII era in the circle Keystone scheme along with a circle Keystone H21:

Racing further east, we catch the Sharks hauling the train past Mifflin tower:

The last place we catch the train is at Port Royal. It’s been hard keeping up with it and at this point, all we see of it are the last few cars with a shadow keystone N5 caboose bringing up the rear:

And just for those of you who want to see all the hoppers in the train, here ‘ya go…31 of them in all:

FYI, the GLA’s are by Lionel, the H21’s and steel frame wooden side hopper are from Atlas, and the H35’s are Weaver models. The caboose is a Lionel as are the sharks.

Now if anyone is still reading my post at this point, I have a question for you guys. Do you all like reading this stuff about the layout and trains that I write up, or would you rather just look at the pictures?

Anyhow, that’s it for this week. Gotta go work on the barn I’m building near Spruce Creek.  With the layout now over 90% complete after almost 26 years, the push is on to finish it up! So long…

No don't stop the history / background, it's awesome.  Every post I learn much I never know about the PRR or PC, huge thank you! Jim

This little machine shop is just about done and I’m hoping to install it on the layout this weekend. First pic is just a color test using my layout lighting. This helps me to see what I need to go back and do some touch up on. I used both of my 3D printers on this project for a bunch of the interior and exterior details. The LED lighting fixtures are homebrewed SMD LEDs soldered to 32AWG magnet wire.

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Now if anyone is still reading my post at this point, I have a question for you guys. Do you all like reading this stuff about the layout and trains that I write up, or would you rather just look at the pictures?

Neal……I love it all!!!

Peter

The Lehigh Valley Railroad rides the rails again

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Now if anyone is still reading my post at this point, I have a question for you guys. Do you all like reading this stuff about the layout and trains that I write up, or would you rather just look at the pictures?

Anyhow, that’s it for this week. Gotta go work on the barn I’m building near Spruce Creek.  With the layout now over 90% complete after almost 26 years, the push is on to finish it up! So long…

Neal;

Personally, one of my pet peeves is pictures without some textual context. Please keep up with the explanations of what you post - although I am not a rivet counter, to me, the historical/prototypical aspects of your posts are well worth reading!!!

@kanawha posted:

I finally got all the little end steps installed on all my new GGD Chessie cars. These are held on by incredibly tiny screws (metric size M1). A real challenge for aging eye

Ken

Beautiful train, Ken. Based on the relative size of the steps, I don’t think young eyes would have an easy job attaching them!!!

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Last week, I posted photos of the modification I made to my ABBA set of PRR five stripe sharks. This week, I’m posting the mid 1950’s coal hopper train they were pulling that was set up by my son Steven. He is a true fanatic for prototypically accurate train consists, so he carefully selected PRR hoppers to create a prototypically accurate coal drag accurate for that era. So this week, I’ll show you a photo of every type of hopper on the train from a railfan perspective.

First, here is the lead engine on the shark consist pulling out of Altoona past Rose tower on its way to Harrisburg:

Standing in the same spot a few minutes later, we see a circle Keystone GLA, a shadow keystone H21, and a shadow keystone GLA:

Walking down the tracks a bit, we come across a shadow keystone H35:

Next, we jump in the car, and head east on US 22 and eventually catch up with the train at Jacks Narrows were we see a now rare wooden steel frame hopper from the WWII era in the circle Keystone scheme along with a circle Keystone H21:

Racing further east, we catch the Sharks hauling the train past Mifflin tower:

The last place we catch the train is at Port Royal. It’s been hard keeping up with it and at this point, all we see of it are the last few cars with a shadow keystone N5 caboose bringing up the rear:

And just for those of you who want to see all the hoppers in the train, here ‘ya go…31 of them in all:

FYI, the GLA’s are by Lionel, the H21’s and steel frame wooden side hopper are from Atlas, and the H35’s are Weaver models. The caboose is a Lionel as are the sharks.

Now if anyone is still reading my post at this point, I have a question for you guys. Do you all like reading this stuff about the layout and trains that I write up, or would you rather just look at the pictures?

Anyhow, that’s it for this week. Gotta go work on the barn I’m building near Spruce Creek.  With the layout now over 90% complete after almost 26 years, the push is on to finish it up! So long…

Neal, I for one enjoy reading all the commentary and seeing your version of The Middle Division. You certainly have captured the look and feel of central Pennsylvania.

Hey Norm,

The realism & attention to detail, in your machine shop is unmatched, truly amazing! It'll be another fine addition to your railroad. You are an inspiration.

Joe

Thanks Joe! This old Stone Mill Models kit had its challenges. I wanted to fit more details in it but it’s pretty small. Today I hope to grind out a spot for it in the landscape.

Norm,

Will there be a YouTube video on this project?

Dave

@Craignor posted:

Agree, Craig.

Peter

@PRRMiddleDivision posted:

Last week, I posted photos of the modification I made to my ABBA set of PRR five stripe sharks. This week, I’m posting the mid 1950’s coal hopper train they were pulling that was set up by my son Steven. He is a true fanatic for prototypically accurate train consists, so he carefully selected PRR hoppers to create a prototypically accurate coal drag accurate for that era. So this week, I’ll show you a photo of every type of hopper on the train from a railfan perspective.

Am I the only one here who noticed the PRR hairpin style railings protecting the stairwell???

Such an awesome accent to the room!

I remember Neal discussing those handrails in his thread.

Since I popped in this thread to check it out, I thought I'd add to it. Great photos and videos in here by the way!

Peter, wow, what a collection!!!

Patrick, as always great photos and scenes of Patsburg!

Scott, those tinplate's sure are pretty!

This afternoon in the woods in Paradise, CA, Lance McDoohan the engineer and Oscar Russell the conductor wave there arms and yell at the beast on the tracks, and it just won't move. All this after standing on the horn and ringing the bell profusely on that SW-8. Lance says to Oscar, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, fresh BBQ steak tonight"?

Weathering rolling stock has begun and it's fun! Here's some snapshots I took after my first attempts.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

Weathering rolling stock has begun and it's fun! Here's some snapshots I took after my first attempts.

Dave

Dave……you are a pro!

Peter

Dave, “first attempts”, looks like you’ve been doing it for a long time. Excellent job!

Gene

Thanks  Peter and Gene!

Dave