Old train layout

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

My family is turning an old building next to a rail-to-trails into a bed n’breakfast. I would like to build a model layout of what the old rail lines use to look like before it was turned into a trail.

The area is the Altoona/Holidayburgh area. I have checked with the Altoon Railroaders museum and they do not have any old train maps.

Where could I an old train map of the area?

Thanks
Chris

2

Hi Chris
I haven’t found any maps yet, but I did find two websites you may enjoy looking at. They contain neat photos of the Altoona area and have some good modeling ideas you may want to incorporate.

Try http://pages.prodigy.com/altoona archives/rlrdg.htm

Or htp://prr.railfan.net/photos/Altoona

I’ll keep loking for maps though. They gotta be out there somewhere!!
Matt

3

You might try your county property appraisers office they may have old maps that show the railroad also try the property tax collectors office. WWW.terraserver.microsoft.com may show it on an old aerial map, there are other web sites that may help try WWW.google.com enter the name of the railroad in the search box and you may find some info. Hope this helps, good luck
Beeline

4

Two possible places to look may be Pennsylvania Rail Road Historical societies.(I think there are more than one). Also U.S. Geographical Survey maps may be useful.

Hope that helps…I’ll think about it for you.
I used to live in Johnstown,very close to those areas and may be able to come up with something substantial.

Matt

5

Chris,
Have you checked the local library for United States Geological Survey (USGS) maps?
The 7-1/2 second series maps show a wealth of detail, buildings, topographic lines, and a fair amount of railroad detail. A Web site you might want to check out would be kc.pennsyrr.com. They have photos, maps, etc. and a link to the Pennsylvania Railroad Historical and Technical Society. Most likely, it was PRR tracks that went by your property.
Eric W, Doylestown, Pa.

6

Chris,
Here is a neat site for you to check out that features trackage for the Horseshoe Curve/Altoona/Cresson,Pa. area that includes dimensions and grades etc. some of it scaled down for HO use.
http://home.att.net/~Berliner-Ultrasonics/hshucurv.html
Matt