hi everyone, i’m trying to find maps of the prr from anywhere inbetween phili and down through delaware. I can’t find anything. I’m building my first layout but its not big at all just 2, 4x8 tables connected into an L. I’m not really trying to completely replecating anything to a perfect detail, but just want some refrence material for ideas for some of the locations I want, like in and around phili and wilmington.
Thanks
Wow.
You’ve picked probably the heaviest density rail line in the US to model. That whole route is all 4 track- electrified main. All GG-1, P-5’s, very little steam or diesel until the later year. the real line had a passenger train of some ilk about every 20" from 6 am to 9 pm, more during rush hour.
Might I suggest that you start with a less dense secondary line ran the than that, the Delmarva line, the Trenton cutoff, the Chester branch, the Schuylkill Secondary.
Dave H.
well i’m not going to be doing an acurate representation, more of a freelanced railroad with some real locations
I will look in to it though
If I was interested in industrial switching I would model a ficticious branch through Eddystone and Chester (actually based on tthe RDG or B&O). Lots of heavy industry, double track if you want it, lift bridges, etc.
If I was interestesd in running through freights, I would model a bypass from Wilmington by Chester towards Norristown to connect with the Trenton Cutoff. Not as much industry, but lots of freights going by.
If you were interested in Passenger service I would do the Norristown line (Schylkill Secondary, the Octararo line or the West Chester branch. You could have lots of commuter trains with little headend business. No name trains, but then your layout isn’t that big.
Dave H.
i would like to note that my timeline is around 1955.
I also was wondering about subways around that timeframe for a little subway sideprogect i have in my head
The two subways in Phillie would have been the Market St Elevated (above ground) and a trolley line(on the surface) in the 1950’s. The Media branch ran under 32nd St through Phillie. The Broad St line would have ben a subway but didn’t go under the PRR.
By the way, back to your original question.
Check out terraserver.microsoft.com. It will give satellite photos or topographic maps of pretty much the whole country. Start at Phillie and use the arrow buttons on the edges of the windo to scroll down the railroad. Toggle between the photo and topo maps to see where you are and what it looks like.
Dave H.
cool, thanks.
any idea where i could find any of the subway train models?
prr67, I would suggest the book Triumph VI Maryland Division. The Triumph series of books are about the Pennsylvania Railroad, they cover different parts of the PRR system. The VI book covers that part of the line with pictures of most of the stations and maps of the interlockings, it also has pictures of various industries along the line. This book would be a gold mine of information for you with the pictures and history to the present day.
oh thanks, I definatly have to get that.
any idea where I can get it?
PRR67…
You might try SPV’s Comprehensive Railroad Atlas of North America - Northeast Edition by Mike Walker.
It’s a must for any rail-fanning or modeling in the NY, NJ, PA, Del, & MD areas.
They have ‘blow-up’ maps containing line drawings showing those lines in the Philadelphia-Wilmigton areas that you’re interested in.
It doesn’t have minute detail like sidings and so forth, but since you are ‘free-lancing’ or as I say ‘compressing,’ you might investigate this.
It’s available at a good LHS, Steamtown, Strasburg or any good bookstore having RR stuff.
HTH
Happy Railroading.
Mark
thanks, i’ll have to try and find that one too
prr67, Here are a couple links to places that might have it online to purchase.
http://www.ronsbooks.com/
for Ron’s Books.com go to store and then to search at the top of the page and type Triumph VI.
http://merchandise.pennsyrr.com/
for Merchandise Service go to category and scroll down to books, and for keyword search type in Triumph VI.
Or if you have a good hobby shop near you with a large book selection they may have it. I get mine at Mitchells in Wilmington Deleware.
darn i know where mitchels is, used to live in wilmington, then middletown, but now i live in georgia, anyway thanks i will have to get those to books
65 dollars!!! for one book, i don’t have 65 dollars!!! i’ll have to just get the spv book because i do not have anywhere near $65 to buy 1 book. but thanks for trying, maby when i get some more money i can buy it.
Maps of the area during the Penn Central era are available from the PC website: http://pc.smellycat.com/maps/index.html
These are a little late for your era, but I don’t think the lines changed all that much.
cool, thanks to everyone for all of the help once again