I want to do an Elevated / Subway Layout in HO guage (similar to Brooklyn, NY) and would like to know if anyone has done this so I can get some advice.
Hi - you probably should post your question in one of the “Model Railroader” forums, that way you’ll be able to tap into the knowledge and expereience of more modelers. I know that there have been both New York and Chicago “L” cars of various vintages (from wood-steel cars through contemporary cars) available in HO scale in the past, though I can’t say what’s out there being produced today. If you wanted to go with a larger scale, MTH does a lot of New York and Chicago cars, again of many vintages from R-1s through current day stuff. MTH is about to issue their CTA 6201-6470 type cars 1954, St. Louis Car Company) and from what I’ve heard from those that saw the prototypes, it should be a very good model. Hope that helps somewhat, Art
A supplier of HO Elevated/Subway/Trolley/Commuter equipment is http://ihphobby.tripod.com/
Some articles from Model Railroader:
Born to raise L’s - techniques for building El’s
Model Railroader, October 1984 page 109
Triborough Rapid Transit Co., giant el interurban
Model Railroader, October 1978 page 116
Modeling elevated rapid transit lines
Model Railroader, October 1978 page 106
Farewell to the old el - lots of details on building an el
Model Railroader, April 1976 page 64
A web site titled “Modeling the New York City Subway” is available at http://www.monmouth.com/~patv/railroad.html
Another good resource on the web (New York City Model Transit Association):
http://mysite.verizon.net/sctransit/nycmta.htm
Hope this helps a little bit.
Paul F.
Art, Iappreciate your replay. I recently purchased 2 sets of PROTO 100 Subway Cars. The “REDBIRD” and a green set. I have been working with Ogauge and feel I have done as much as I want with that guage. Most of what I have is 027 from back in the early fifties. It also take up a lot of room. I was born in Brooklyn and live in Ohio and thought it would be neat to replacate a section of elevated trains, possibly even some subway. This is why I was looking for someone that may have experience with elevated HO tracks. I think I will take your advice. Thanks Bob
Can’t say about elevated structures - I rode the old Westchester Avenue Line every school day a half-century ago, but I’ve never been seriously tempted to model it.
For a current operating model subway, check in with Mister Beasley. He can usually be found at the Beer Barn over on the Model Ralroader General Discussion forum.
Chuck
No elevated, but I have a subway on my layout.
Cool !
The Chicago Transportation Museum has a detailed subway system on their three million dollar layout. Being from Brooklyn and having rode the IRT and IND lines I bought a set of P-1000 redbirds and later the green P-1000 subway cars. I did build an elevated line and station using dowels and strip wood that I painted in a green color. I glued and tacked Atlas code 83 track directly to the stripwood. It operated fine and looked real good. It was not museum quality but it did draw many compliments. I purchased the dowels and strip wood at Home Depot. Hope this helps.