Hi
I’m looking for a NYC system map of the mid 50’s. I’m building a new PRR layout but I want an area that will allow me to have the occasional NYC trains. I’m looking at Pennsy Lake region and specifically the Cleveland / Youngstown / Astabula area. Can anyone direct me to a website?
Thanks in advance guys.
Cheers
Barry [8D]
Sorry… ASHtabula
Barry,
It’s too bad that you aren’t in Buffalo, NY this weekend. The New York Central System Historical Society (NYCSHS) is having their annual meeting/convention. I’m sure they would have some copies there. I couldn’t go this year because of committments.
Anyhow, try this link: NYC System Map (1954) It’s not the most legible but you can use the zoom feature (left mouse button) to see the details better.
Hope that helps…
Tom
Hi Tom
Fantastic! That’s exactly what I was looking for!
Sounds great going to the NYCSHS in Buffalo, but unfortunately I live in the UK. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been to the States loads of times on business and on vacation tho. I think I’ve made it to around 20 states (including Delaware). But since retiring my business travelling days are few and far between. My trips also mean have some really good friends in the US.
Thanks again! This will help me to finalise plan.
Cheers
Barry [8D]
The nearest I have is a 1958 Official Guide. Any help?
Hi leighant
Thanks for that. I’ve got the map from Tom which is exactly right as I wanted to be able to overlay it on my map of PRR so I can work out the overlap in the triangle of Youngstown, Cleveland and Ashtabula OH.
I was looking for the towns at stops in the triangle so I can finalise my layout plan. I have two levels with a big staging freight yard at Youngstown (maybe) on the lower level that feeds the upper level. On the top level I have another yard on one side and I want a port (Cleveland or Ashtabula) on the other so I can street run and drop off and pick up freight as a local.
The reason I’m overlaying NYC onto PRR is that the layout is primarily PRR but I want to inerchange with NYC. The yard on the top level will be run by a freelance road called Hilary Interchange who will make up and break out trains for PRR and NYC.
Any information you have that will help me with my design would be great.
Cheers
Barry [8D]
Barry,
I don’t know if this would fit into your layout scheme or not. Ashtabula has a wonderful “balloon” track that you can see from the road. They call it a balloon track because it is shaped just like a balloon - i.e. the track circles around and comes back onto itself.
It’s in this area where the coal from WV (West Virginia) is dropped off for the ships heading norther to MI (Michigan) and the iron ore from Michigan is dropped off for shipment to the steel mills in OH & PA (Pennsylvania).
A long train of coal hoppers is slowly (automatically?) pulled around the balloon track. Each hopper stops over a coal chute, where it dumps it’s load. As coal is being dumped into the coal chute, a conveyor system takes the coal from there and sends it over to an area where it’s loaded in a ship heading north.
It’s pretty fascinating to see. From the road you can watch the whole process in action. Unfortunately, modeling something like that might eat up some real estate on a layout.
Tom
Hi Tom
That sounds really good. Believe it or not I wanted a regular coal drag that would turn up, the engine(s) would then be turned and pick up the empties to be taken back. Meanwhile the local would take over the train and deliver it to the lake dock.
My double decker at the top level will have a yard on one side and a dock on the other. I am VERY limited on space but it all fits in nicely with my scheme of things. Can you point me to any historical pictures of the area that might help? As you may appreciate, I’m in the UK and so can’t just jump in my car and go take photos!
Thanks again Tom for such excellent help.
Cheers
Barry [8D]
Barry,
Can’t guarantee anything but I’ll see what I can do. [:)]
Tom
Try to Google - Ashtabula, Ohio ports. They have a Cleveland Press (old Cleveland Ohio newspaper) collection of photos. Within this collection are port photos all along the Lake Erie shoreline from Toledo, Ohio to Conneaut, Ohio.
You can try different cities and reference trains within the city named. You might pick up some photos that way too.
I am located just outside your 3 city triangle you plan on modeling. I am about 10 miles from Andover, Ohio. Looking at the NYC 1954 map I see a lot of track that has been torn up since then.
If you are looking for railroad stations in your area of interest. This site may help you out http://www.west2k.com/ohio.htm
From the April 1954 Official Railway Equipment Register listing for the Pennsylvania Railroad (p.101), here is a list of points in Ohio where the PRR interchanged with NYC:
Alliance
Ashtabu;a
Bellevue
Bremen
Bucyrus
Centerburg
Cleveland
Columbus
Crooksburg
East Columbus
Heath
Junction City
Minerva
New Lexington
Sandusky
Toledo (Stanley)
Youngstown
Hi Leighant
Great stuff. I’m now homing in on Youngstown and Ashtabula. I’m wading thru and gathering photos from the internet of both places. There’s a great bascule bridge at Ashtabula and I have now have photos of coal and ore drags, tracks and industry along the Mahoning and much more. I’m also pulling together pictures of Youngstown. It’s all starting to look right.
Thank you and Tom and everyone else.
Great help!!!
Cheers
Barry [8D]
Barry,
If you haven’t already, you might also try Google Earth for some overhead views. I was able to zoom in and see the balloon track in Ashtabula. You could make out the two conveyors and a few of the hoppers on the balloon track.
Tom
Hi Tom
Haven’t tried Googel Earth yet but will do. I have found a couple of photos already of the balloon which really does take up some real estate!
Thanks again!
Cheers
Barry
