After several decades of Appalachian modeling in the late 40’s, I have begun reworking My Pike to Erie operations also in the late 40s from Port Jervis, NY to points west. Reason for note…I know no other Erie modelers and I’d like to make contact.
I grew up on the Erie mainline, witnessed and photographed steam right up to 1953, and do not have a clue why I did not continue years back as an Erie modeler. The toys I’m playing with now are great, but I have never seen the prototypes. I also witnessed much NYC, Lackawanna, and PRR…also Maine Central…but I have to go with what I remember best.
Howard, I model the Erie in part because of its proximity to the B&O and PRR here in WNY. I also volunteer at the Salamanca Rail Museum, and we work with the EL historical society on various projects. While I may not be able to help you on the modeling issues, you’re on a much higher plateau with your great modeling skills, I may be of assistance with prototype photos blueprints, TT information, etc. Also, let me refer you to the EL yahoo group where many members of the ELHS chat back and forth on prototype and modeling info. I use the ELHS to get various Erie models like Dunmore cabooses and Stillwell coaches through their gift shop. We also have all of the Erie employees magazines from 1905 to 1963 here with a lot of great photos and articles which may help you. Good luck with your project, I’m sure it will be as exceptional as your other outstanding work!
You are correct about MTH and Key doing the triplex, but it was LMB who did the first verision in early 60’s. The triplex, although neat in appearance and operation is a bit too early for my theme based from 1946 to around 1953. I’ve picked up several of the new K-5’s from PSC which are just about the finest brass models to date. I have all versions of the Berkshires…S-1 to S-4. I have located several R class 2-10-2’s, and converted Sunset Frisco 1000 class Pacifics to K-1’s and K-4’s. I used the small SP vandy tenders and built extended coal boards to cover oil fillers. These are almost dead on accurate, and far better than NPP’s 1984 K-1, although I would not mind acquiring a few of these in addition to their N-1’s and G-15’s. Older NWSL DM&IR mikes make nice N-1’s, but after much body work. The end result is certainly worth it. I hope to publish a photo story next year on the revised pike and how the conversions were done.
NJCB along with OMI did decent L-1’s (0-8-8-0’s), but again a bit too early for my theme.
At age 74, I finally fully retired and having a ball playing with the electric trains. The train shows will continue as they are fun.
Hi: I was also raised on the ERIE main line. I live in Susquehanna PA. Susquehanna used to be a railroading town. There was a large Passenger Coach repair shop there, and I had three older brothers that worked in the “shops”. At the station there was a Restaurant owned by the Union News Company and my mother worked and was the manager of the restaurant. I don’t remember much about the trains, I was only 13 or 14 years old.
Some of the things I remember was that the freight trains (going EAST) used to have TWO steam engines on the front and TWO more on the rear of the trains.
Two miles to the west was the area where the Locos would be loaded with water and Coal in the Tenders, so when the trains were coming past the station they would be trying to pick up speed to go over “SUMMIT HILL” about 1 1/2 miles of it.
I think there were 4 or 5 (don’t remember for sure) Passenger Trains in both directions every day except on the week-ends. I do remember during the summer months, my older brother and his friends would catch a train, around 2pm and go to Binghamton NY, and go shopping and/or a movie and catch another train back to Susquehanna in late afternoon (around 5 or 5:30)
This was back in the 40’s. I graduated from school in 1952, and joined the Navy in 1953. around the same time the RR was switching to Diesels, and I missed the total switch over. Also they were closing the shops, which had been converted to repairing Freight Cars, and then the shops were closed, and my brothers (all three) were Transferred to other locations. Two of them went to Meadville, PA and the other one to Binghamton NY.
During this time period, the Erie and DL&W merged.
When I got out of the NAVY, my Mother and Father had moved
Don’t know how far west of Port Jervis you plan to model, but some good photos of the Corning, NY area can be found here http://paultup.el.wny.org/new/sch17.jpg
In Corning the Erie interchanged with the NYC and DL&W.
I grew up along the Delaware Division of the Erie/Erie Lackawanna during the 50’s and 60’s between Hancock and Port Jervis. My hockey coach at the time was on the operator’s extra list for them. He would take me to work and I was able to get a first-hand look at train operations in places like Endicott, Owego and the Binghamton yards (actually in two of the towers there!). I sure loved those times!
I actually model the Erie Lackawanna, or I should say a free-lanced railroad (right now) that interchanges cars with the Erie Lackawanna. I have plenty of Erie Lackawanna motive power and rolling stock. I am still looking for locomotives with the Erie livery, as I want to have a few of those in my roster as well. I sure wish I had photographed much of what I saw back then. The only information I have now is from photographs in books and online, which can be quite extensive. You can feel free to contact me if you like.
Fair question…After lengthy foray into narrow gauge territory a few years ago, I was completely inspired to rip out entire layout and enter On3. 2850 square feet would have worked well in this scale…but not my 7’ ceiling and my age which is now 74. I gave it considerable thought, and almost had my wife convinced into selling our home and building a house with a 10’-11’ basement ceiling. My narrow gauge concept included very high mountains. I thought about HOn3, but viewing standard HO is now becoming a bit of a chore…but still doable. I love change…just about everything on the pike has undergone change at one time or many.
Now, since I remember Eire well, here is the new change. I loved building the layout, but I found that playing with toys I had never seen prototypes for, or had any kind of a relationship with just did not do much for me…otherwise bringing the layout to near completion was almost anti-climatic.
Erie was a no-brainer as I had an uncle who ran a K-1 and treated me to may rides from 1946-1950. Then I had a second uncle who ran a K-4 on the PRR/Rdg Seashore lines. I rode with Uncle Ed, once and seeing the speedometer hit three digiits scared the hell out of me and my dad who was along for the trip. I talk much about this in my second book…“A Nice Jewish Boy From Jersey”.
