Finally, I have some pictures of my model railroad! Eric Hansmann took them last year. He is a member of the Mon Valley Model railroad club and is very knowledgeable about area railroads. He wrote an article about the the FM&P for Model Railroad Planning a few years ago. Interestingly, much of his design and my layout’s design were done before we had met. The pictures are on the clubs website at:
Since the photos were taken, I have added considerable detailing and more painting on the backdrop. The old football stadium is the next to be painted in. The actual railroad is now a bike trail through Morgantown and many of the buildings are still standing. My philosophy has been to find kits that resemble the buildings, modify them when possible and go on. Later, I will go back and build more accurate models. The layout itself is different in that it is a true shelf using heavy-duty shelving components and surplus hollow core doors bolted together. A layer of foam allows changing the topography. My biggest mistake so far was not wiring the frogs to control the polarity. [:(!] Using the points to control the frog, even with Peco turnouts doesn’t work! Don’t do it!! I am now trying to figure how to do this with ballasted turnouts, but I may switch to non-power routing turnouts. Anyone with any easy ideas about how to fix this problem let me know.
Let me know what you think of the layout so far. I bought a new camera so I may post some more pictures later. - Nevin
Sorry about this folks, Thanks to the wonders of Adelphia slow speed internet I appear to have posted twice. The thing crashed and I had to retype it thinking that the original was lost and then I see it has been posted. ARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!! - Nevin
Nevin–REALLY impressive! I especially like your trackwork and those buildings. Is that bridge from Central Valley? That’s a GREAT shot of the sharknose coming through it. Let’s see some more photos, okay?
Tom
Tom: That bridge is a kitbash of a Walthers double track bridge and a Central Valley bridge. It was the quickest way to get a bridge that resembles the one crossing Deckers Creek. - Nevin
Thanks for the comments. Since those photos were taken I’ve painted a whole bunch of buildings and houses on the backdrop. The football stadium and the Hotel Morgan are now part of the landscape. I’ll take some new photos when I get a chance and post those. - Nevin