I was wondering if anyone modeled the Delaware & Hudson? Especially if someone was modelling it as a “what if?”. Not a plug, but I think Tower 55 really hit a winner with its “what if?” paint schemes. What if the D&H (or other fallen flags) had made it into the 21st century.
I’ve really taken a liking to the D&H and wonder if things had been a little different, what could it be today. CP got it for a steal. If it had stayed independent, with a little cash from the states and feds, what would it look like today? Lightning stripes on an ES44?
I model a free-lance which I like to base on the area I grew up in, and an old stomping ground of the D&H, the Adirondacks of New York. I like to do a slight what if involving a merger of sorts, of the D&H and the NY Central. My favorite time frame is the transition period, not only for the obvious reasons, but this is the time when the “elite” of the city would ride the D&H or the Central to Albany, then get on the D&H to ride up to the mountains and either go to Lake George, Round Lake, Sagamore, etc… in the summer, or Gore mountain, Lake Placid, etc… to ski in the winter.
On a side note, while vacationing back home last year, I rode the tourist train from North Creek to Riparius, NY, which is a small portion of the track that Teddy Roosevelt rode on his way to Buffalo upon learning he was President after McKinley’s death. The station at North Creek had a wonderful HO layout depicting the area during the 30’s and 40’s. There are 2 different tourist rails in that area, the one I rode uses and old D&H GP( I think), and the other uses an old NY Central F unit.
If you pick up books on the Fort Edward, Glens Falls, Lake George and Adirondack regions of New York, you will find some neat old photos of the D&H, primarly steam, and it’s route.
If you are not aware of it. there is a good book about the D & H by Jim Shaughnessy. It is titled, Delaware & Hudson, The Bridge to New England & Canada. It is available for $25 to 35 at amazon.com. This book covers the beginning into the diesel era. I do not model the D & H but I still like to read the book.