MOUNTAIN SUBDIVISION LAYOUT TOURS November 8, 2014 For any questions or additional information contact the following: Lee Rainey lrainey@susquehannanmra.org 814-404-3968 Forrest Lucas fllucas@atlanticbb.net 814-243-0457 Barry Schmitt bschmitt@susquehannanmra.org 717-877-1810
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INDEX Anthracite Model Railroad Society... 5 Bald Eagle Railroad (Tom Vaughn)... 7 Clinton Central Model Railroad Club... 9 Lehigh & Susquehanna and Pocono & Hudson Railroads (Hudson Model Railroad Club)... 11 Mifflin County Model Railroad Club... 13 NY, S&A s Pittsburgh Division (Todd & Becky Treaster)... 15 Pennsylvania Division of the New York Central and the Reading (John Gromley)... 17 Pennsylvania Railroad, Lancaster Area (Jere Herr)... 19 Pennsylvania Railroad / East Broad Top Railroad & Coal Co. (Lee Rainey)... 21 Shadow Canyon Scenic Railroad (Paul Gagermeier)... 23 Shamokin Valley Lines (Lower Anthracite Model Railroad Club)... 25 University Park & Eastern (Penn State Model Railroad Club)... 27 Page 3
LAYOUT TOUR ETIQUETTE Please note the hours the layouts will be open and schedule your visit within these hours. Don't show up at someone's house 5 minutes before closing time, as a lot of folks have plans of their own. Be considerate of the neighbor's driveways and property. Some layout hosts have specified parking in their layout descriptions. Please leave ALL yours bags, and overcoats in your vehicle. Please respect your host's property, both inside and outside the home. No smoking in the host homes. If the weather is bad, please avoid tracking water, mud, or other messy stuff into the host's home. Most of our layout hosts will have a guest book please take a moment to sign in. We like to see how far some of you have traveled. Make a conscious effort to avoid fragile scenery and models on the layouts. Many layouts have narrow aisles please be considerate of others while viewing or taking pictures this way everyone can enjoy the layouts. If you have a positive comment, make it. If not, please keep it to yourself. Please feel free to ask questions, but remember the layout host needs to talk to other guests too. If you have small children, please make them understand proper layout guest etiquette. Thank your host when you leave as a word of appreciation makes it all worthwhile for all of us. Most of all, have fun! Page 4
ANTHRACITE MODEL RAILROAD SOCIETY LOCATION 1056 Hanover Court, Hazle Township, PA (Hazleton) TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 12:00 PM till 5:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 40.972976N - 75.986006E Special Considerations: Parking in front of club or in lot next to building. Handicap accessible by side door. From I-80 Exit 262: Follow PA-309 south to W 22nd St. Turn right (west) at traffic light and proceed 9 blocks to Hanover Court. A green street sign with white lettering and a Crossbuck are on that corner. Turn right (north) onto Hanover Ct. Club is the white building about 100 yards north on right with red front door. From I-81 Exit 141: Follow PA-424 east to PA-309. Turn left (north) onto PA-309 and proceed north to W 22 nd St. Turn left (west) at traffic light and proceed 9 blocks to Hanover Court. A green sign with white lettering and a Crossbuck are on that corner. Turn right (north) onto Hanover Court. Club is white building about 100 yards north on right with red front door. Layout Details: Design Concept: Freelance with emphasis on local railroads of the past. Scale: HO (both standard and narrow gauge). % Track Completion: 95% % Scenery Completion: 75% Operating System: DCC and DC Layout Description: (www.amrclub.org/) The 1940s, +/ 20 years, custom-designed 2-level layout connected by a 5-1/2 turn dual-track helix is 21 by 54. All visible lower deck and 50% of upper deck track is hand-laid with scratchbuilt code 83 turnouts. Lower level includes models of the Bethlehem Steel Plant, Jim Thorpe, and fictional area Thole Valley. All Jim Thorpe structures are scratch-built. The Lehigh Valley RR and the Central of New Jersey RR are represented. The upper level presents Hazleton, Weatherly, Ashmore, and Eckley with several scratch-built structures. Page 5
For Those Traveling From the North, West, or East For Those Traveling From the South Page 6
BALD EAGLE RAILROAD Tom Vaughn LOCATION 361 Curtin Village Rd. Howard, PA 16841 TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 40.96875N - 77.74021E Special Considerations: The layout is on the second floor of a building behind the house. There are steps to the second floor. Layout Details: Design Concept: Based on a local short line - the Nittany & Bald Eagle Railroad. Scale: S Hi-Rail % Track Completion: 99.9% % Scenery Completion: 50% Operating System: DCC Layout Description: The Bald Eagle Railroad, a branch line between the towns of Tyrone and Lock Haven, has 295 of single-track main line with many industries to accommodate. Traffic is controlled by automated position light signals and train orders. Trains are controlled by Digitrax DCC with both radio and tethered throttles. Operating sessions are scheduled once per month and can accommodate from 1 to 9 total operators. Crews operate two yards, a variety of run-through trains, local freights, and Amtrak passenger service. Page 7
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CLINTON CENTRAL RAILROAD Clinton Central Model Railroad Club LOCATION 15 Logan Ave, Castanea (Lock Haven), PA TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 41.12574N - 77.43198E Special Considerations: The Clinton Central Model Railroad Club is located in the old New York Central Railroad station in Castanea PA, immediately adjacent to Lock Haven PA. The club occupies the entire station with an office, small museum, and library. The HO layout is located in what was the 28 X 40 freight room. There is also a dispatcher office that houses electronics and control panels. The club website is www.ccmrr.org..layout Details: Design Concept: Freelance. Scale: HO % Track Completion: 55% % Scenery Completion: 45% Operating System: NCE DCC Layout Description: The Clinton Central Model Railroad depicts railroading as it appeared in Clinton County during the 1920s to the 1960s, without regard to any specific railroad. The layout is a generic vision of Clinton County PA. Naturally, coal makes up a large component of the layout. Lumber and manufacturing also play a significant part. Mines, coal tipples and load-out facilities, sawmills, yards, brick factories, a rock quarry, and several local small manufacturing plants all portray the historical vision that an observer may have witnessed some place in Clinton County in the mid-20 th century. A double-track mainline loops around the layout, which includes three yards, and three branch lines. There are numerous opportunities for switching of local industries. The layout exceeds 1200 lineal feet of track and utilizes NCE DCC operation. The club is currently working on a signal and detection system that is nearing completion. Most switches operate by Tortoise machines and the control system incorporates macros and accessories for switch control. Page 9
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LEHIGH & SUSQUEHANNA AND POCONO & HUDSON RAILROADS Hudson Model Railroad Club LOCATION 97 Martin Street, Hudson, PA 18705 TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 12:00 PM till 5:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 41.274764N - 75.833418E Special Considerations: Club is on second floor of large white building. Entrance is marked with a blue and yellow HMRRC sign. Unfortunately, stairs are the only means of access to the second floor. Parking is available by the picnic area and to the right by the field. Layout Details: Design Concept: 1940-present, prototype and freelance. Scale: HO % Track Completion: 95% with continuous improvement. % Scenery Completion: 90% with continuous improvement. Operating System: Digitrax DCC, plug-in and wireless throttles. Layout Description: The Hudson Model Railroad Club moved to its current location across from the Delaware and Hudson massive rail yard in 1982. We have a blue print of the yard showing the location of this building. Local D&H freight crews from Binghamton NY have tied down on the siding outside our club. Several of them are fellow model railroaders and have joined us for the evening. Our layout has expanded from 1100 square feet in 1982 to approximately 2000 square feet today. The original layout had about 2100 feet of track. Although current track length has not been measured, we believe it is at least 2500 feet. We also estimate about five miles of wire runs under the layout to operate the railroad from the control tower and branch line yard panel. The railroad is divided into two lines - a double track mainline (the Lehigh & Susquehanna) and the single-track branch line (the Pocono & Hudson). We can operate as many as nine trains simultaneously with train lengths up to 80 cars. The individual members own most locomotives and rolling stock and many are custom painted and detailed. Page 11
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MIFFLIN COUNTY MODEL RAILROAD CLUB LOCATION 3 West Monument Square, Lewistown, PA (Center of City) TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 40.597595400N - 77.574643100E Special Considerations: Handicapped accessible. Recommend below special directions due to extensive one-way city streets: Traveling North on US-322: exit onto Bus US-22 and follow into city. Upon reaching riverfront Victory Park on left turn right onto W Market St. Upon reaching the city square proceed counter-clockwise around square (one-way traffic) to 3 W Monument Square which is on the right just after passing N Main St. The Club positions a large sign on the sidewalk in front of the building. Entry is through the 2 nd door to left of the Courthouse. Traveling South on US-322: exit at and onto East US-522/Logan St. Turn right onto S Walnut St. Turn left onto PA-103/Valley St. Turn right onto E 3rd St. Turn left onto N Main St. At city square turn right and the Club building will be on immediate right. The Club has a large sidewalk sign in front of building. Enter through 2 nd door to left of the Courthouse. Layout Details: Design Concept: There are two layouts to see, one in O and one in HO. Both layouts are a mixture of construction and feature the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Scales O and HO % Track Completion: Both layouts have 90% of track completed. % Scenery Completion: Both layouts have 60% of scenery completed. Operating System: O gauge is both DC and DCC. HO gauge is DCC. Layout Description: The 45 x 65 HO layout is strictly Pennsylvania Railroad with a double-track mainline. Recent additions includes the areas of Tyrone and Mount Union which are towns on the PRR Middle Division west of Lewistown. Members run trains from the steam period to more modern diesel consists. The 24 x 26 O gauge layout is primarily Pennsylvania Railroad. Page 13
For Those Traveling From the North For Those Traveling From the South Page 14
NY, S&A S PITTSBURGH DIVISION Todd & Becky Treaster LOCATION 309 Third Ave, Burnham PA 17009 TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 40.637922N - 77.5636427E Special Considerations: Leave a little extra time for your visit. There are 14,000 cars and locos in display cases throughout the train rooms and 2,900 more on the layout. Layout Details: Design Concept: Cantilever, L girder, and box type around the walls and freestanding. Scale: N % Track Completion: 100%. % Scenery Completion: 80%. Operating System: Analog, walk-around control. Layout Description: The NY, S&A s Pittsburgh Division is depicted from the late 80s to the late 90s, which is mostly Conrail. The layout features a 40-track Enola yard that will hold 3,200, fifty-foot box cars. The mainlines run some 370 feet around the 4 rooms. The city of Pittsburgh is 70% complete and has approximately 400 LEDs that light up the city. There are 4,500 trees that fill the mountains. The layout was started in 2004 and has been featured three times in N Scale Railroading magazine. Approximately 80 display cases allow visitors to see the entire history of N scale. Page 15
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PENNSYLVANIA DIVISION OF THE NEW YORK CENTRAL AND THE READING John Gromley LOCATION 1951 State Route 880, Jersey Shore, PA (See below Directions Caution information) TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 12:00 PM till 5:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 41.13744N - 77.22897E Special Considerations: Park in driveway, or off road on grass if driveway full. Enter house through side door at breezeway and proceed down basement stairs - follow signs. Directions Caution: Some GPS systems consider address is in Rauchtown a rural community. Considerable differences exist between GPS mapping systems map and note on following page are correct. Other Visit Opportunities: John extends an open invitation to visitors contact him at 570-745-3822. Email contact not available. Layout Details: Design Concept: Prototype-based layout built for operations and fills most of ranchhouse basement. Scale: HO % Track Completion: 85% % Scenery Completion: 0% scenery; some structures in place. Operating System: NCE DCC. Host regular operating sessions. Layout Description: Set in the diesel years before the Penn Central merger, and depicts New York Central and The Reading in the Williamsport area. Operations are centered around two large prototype yards Newberry, near Williamsport, and South Avis in Clinton County near Jersey Shore. Both have assigned yard crews. Mainline NYC crews run from Corning NY, which is represented by a substantial visible mainline and staging, to Newberry Yard where designated cars are dropped for interchange with The Reading. Reading crews run to Rutherford Yard near Harrisburg which is also represented by both visible main trackage and staging. Local crews work transfer runs between Newberry and South Avis and also service several local industries. The layout is well known for accurately-tuned motive power and smooth track-work. An expertly designed drop bridge is located over an access aisle and delivers flawless operation. Page 17
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PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD, LANCASTER AREA Jere Herr LOCATION 148 W. Clearview Ave., State College, PA TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 40.81312N - 77.89480E Special Considerations: No on-street parking. Park in the driveway. If driveway is full, park in driveway across the street. Ring doorbell and enter the front door. Layout Details: Design Concept: 1956 PRR in the Lancaster area (with several exceptions). Scale: HO % Track Completion: 100% Scenery Completion: 100% Operating System: DC with MRC Tech 6 controllers. Many sound-equipped locomotives Layout Description: The layout is spread over the entire length of a ranch house basement. It is 54 long and 5 wide at its widest point, in a loop-to-loop design. Because Lancaster is basically flat terrain, the layout is built on ¾ plywood. The focal point is the scratch-built Lancaster station. The entire layout is under catenary except for branch lines and yard areas. GG1s are the mainline power and pantographs ride on the catenary. Diesels do the yard and branch work. Operating sessions take place once a month. Waybills are utilized and traffic is controlled by a tower operator who handles block assignments and signals. Operating sessions emulate 1956 prototype movements in the Lancaster area. Page 19
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PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD - EAST BROAD TOP RAILROAD & COAL CO. Lee Rainey LOCATION 784 Tanager Dr., State College, PA 16803 TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 40.7850998N - 77.898767E Special Considerations: Park in driveway or on street. Follow signs in yard to layout entrance. Layout Details: Design Concept: Around-the-wall permanent layout, plus nine modules of The Sn2 Crew Free-Mo layout. Scale: S, Sn3, Sn2 (scale, not high-rail or tinplate). % Track Completion: PRR/EBT, 30%. Sn2 Crew Modules, 100%. % Scenery Completion: PRR/EBT, 5%. Sn2 Crew Modules, 100%. Operating System: Lenz DCC with Soundtraxx decoders for sound. Layout Description: This stop is two layouts in one! Half of the basement is occupied by a 14 x21 S/Sn3 layout featuring the interchange between the Pennsy Middle Division and the East Broad Top narrow gauge in Mount Union, PA. Heavy PRR steam and first-generation diesels haul mainline freight and passengers through Mount Union (actually, from one staging yard to another), while PRR and EBT yard jobs work the extensive Mount Union trackage. The focus is on replicating the scenes and operations of the real Mount Union in 1954. A large PRR equipment roster is nearly complete, track (mostly hand-laid with turnouts from Fast Tracks jigs) is well underway, and scenery is just starting. On the other side of the basement is an 8 x20 set-up of FreeMo modules that form part of The Sn2 Crew display layout. The modules represent two-foot-gauge railroading in the state of Maine in 1908. Included are the several farming modules that took Second Place in the judging at this year s NMRA National Train Show. Scenery and trackwork are 100% complete on the modules. Page 21
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SHADOW CANYON SCENIC RAILROAD Paul Gagermeier LOCATION 198 Winterset Road, Ebensburg, PA 15931 TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 1:00 PM till 5:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 40.529037N - 78.716974E Special Considerations: The layout is located in a dedicated stand-alone building. Layout Details: Design Concept: Benchwork is box construction with varied elevations. The layout is approximately 26 x36 with walk-throughs. Scale: HO Scale. Track completion: 100% Scenery completion: 100% with thousands of detailed parts, cars, and people. Operating System: Both DCC and Analog DC. Layout Description: The layout features four operating main lines. It is fully sceniced with super-detailing, handbuilt bridges, and a huge quarry mountain area with over 200 rock castings. It includes highly detailed rolling stock and large display cases containing collections of special locomotives, train consists, and an extensive collection of WWII military railroad items. The setting is mostly mid-50 s, with some 60 s and 70 s, and many points of interest. Page 23
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SHAMOKIN VALLEY LINES Lower Anthracite Model Railroad Club LOCATION 210 E. Independence St., Shamokin, PA 17872 TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 10:00 AM till 4:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 40.791951N - 76.553656E Special Considerations: Located in the American Legion Building above the library. Layout Details: Design Concept: The large layout depicts the area of Northumberland, PA during the period from the late 1940s through the mid-1950s. It highlights coal operations which were so vital to the economy of the area at that time. Scales HO % Track Completion: 100%. % Scenery Completion: 100%. Layout Description: The HO scale Shamokin Lines is a 3,000-square foot model railroad that was the subject of a feature article in Model Railroader. The area being modeled begins at the Pennsylvania Railroad yards in Northumberland PA, runs through the city of Sunbury, and then follows the 27-mile-long Shamokin Valley Branch of the PRR. Also modeled are the Reading Railroad tracks that paralleled the PRR (sometimes within a few yards of each other), and the interchange with the Lehigh Valley Railroad in Mt. Carmel. The railroad contains over 1,400 feet of track, 154 turnouts, "scratch-built" models of engines and rolling stock, and hundreds of expertly "scratch-built" models of area landmark buildings. Page 25
For Those Traveling From the North and West For Those Traveling From the South and East Page 26
UNIVERSITY PARK & EASTERN Penn State Model Railroad Club LOCATION Pinchot Hall, Room 10 (basement), University Park, PA 16802 TIMES Saturday, Nov. 8: 9:00 AM till 5:00 PM GPS Coordinates: 40.8057351N - 77.8633441E Special Considerations: Because the layout is located in a residence hall, you need to call us to be escorted in. Our number is 814-867-1361. Visitor parking is available in the East Parking Deck, diagonally across the street from Pinchot Hall see maps on following page. Layout rooms are located one flight of stairs down in the basement of Pinchot Hall. An elevator for handicapped access is available upon request. Layout Details: Design Concept: Freelance roughly depicting Pennsylvania and eastern US across multiple eras, including a steel mill, rolling mill, yard, quarry, a few small towns, and a chocolate factory. Scale: HO (with small, separate G, O, N, and Z layouts). % Track Completion: 85% % Scenery Completion: 85% Operating System: DCC Digitrax with regular and duplex radio throttles. Also running JMRI Panel Pro and WiFi for smartphone and tablet controlled train operations. Dispatcher station running JMRI Panel Pro. Layout Description: The HO layout is in a 60 x 20 room. The route originates at a medium-sized classification yard with steam and diesel servicing and storage facilities. Two lower-level hidden staging yards simulate originating and destination traffic beyond the layout. The double-tracked main is connected into a long loop allowing continuous running. Trackwork is code 100 flex track and code100 Atlas custom line turnouts. Improvements and replacement trackage include some Peco code 83 turnouts as well as handlaid turnouts and specialty trackwork. As turnouts and trackage require upgrading and repairs code 83 rail and custom hand built turnouts from our recently acquired Fast Tracks jigs will be used. Turnouts are powered with slow-motion Tortoise switch motors operated through stationary decoders connected to the LocoNet. Page 27
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