Oil wells in PA

Garden Railroading
1

I am looking into modelling an early oil scene from Pennsylvania. Does anyone have plans or information on the wooden oil derriks used there. I will be making the 5 hour treck to the northwest part of the state later this spring, but was hoping to get a head start on my project.

I am hoping to use this as part of a display this coming October.

Thanks

CDise

2

You could try a Google search for “oil well” and find things like

and

and

“good googling”

3

Great Googly Moogly !
What a resource !

I found this:

4

You owe it to yourself to find a copy of George Hilton’s American Narrow Gauge Railroads. He’s got an entire section devoted to the various narrow gauge lines that served the Pennsylvania/Western NY oil fields, with some good photos. My copy is currently packed in a box, as we’re remodeling the office, otherwise I’d give you some specific references.

Later,

K

5

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll keep you posted how this projects proceeds. If when I am done with the project, I have the pieces for a believable scene, I will consider it a success.

Thanks

CDise

6

I tried a search for “Pennsylvania oil wells” which turned up many interesting sites with photos.

Bob

7

Doing a Google search on Titusville, Pa. and Oil City, Pa. lead me to the following web sites.

www.drakewell.org/Replica%20Print.pdf

www3.uakron.edu/ul/subjects/drake-well.html

The first site has a pdf drawing of a wooden oil derrick.

The second site may need to be typed in to get to it, or Google Titusville, Pa 1859 and you will see that web site listed. There is a lot of information at this site.

8

I missed the drake well plans on their site. Thanks for catching that. Dimensional drawing have been hard to find so far.

Thanks

CDise

9

Looks like a very detailed drawing, and a very good “concept plan” begging to be modified to fit almost any GRR!

10

You might look at

http://www.venangoil.com/oilheritagehaer.html

Have fun

11

Try checking out these: http://www.venangoil.com/ http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/oilcreek.aspx They used to have pland for an oil derick in the cift shop at Oil Creek State Park.

12

Also check out: http://pennbradoilmuseum.com/

13

Interesting you mention the Penn-Brad Museum, I’ve been in contact with the curator. A very friendly and knowledgable person. I’ve added a copy of her response.

Speaking of responses, I’ve posted threads on this forum twice and have been very pleased with the helpful feedback.

Thanks All

CDise

Hi Clair

FYI, I am a railroad buff myself from a long time back. The Reading was my first love of the mainliners but the logging railroads are my real heart throb. Guess just simply because my husband is a descendant of Frank Goodyear, who can compete with that?? My family worked for the Goodyears in his holdings over in Potter Co, PA! You cannot seperate oil history from logging history in the timeline of things, look at John D Rockefeller and his dealings with oil and railroad right here in Bradford!?!? My oily roots go to the time of Colonel Drake, my Great Great Grandfather drilling down the road from him less than a year from his discovery well over in Titusville, PA.

I will be more specific in answering your message later, but wanted you to know I got your message and have you in my address book now. This is a great project and we will be very happy to help.

Soon, Sherri L Huston Schulze, Curator, Penn Brad Oil Museum