If you’ve seen my older postings, and visited my web site, you know I was workign on building somewhat of a recreation of the Reading East Penn Branch, although with many compromises, the end result being more of a Reading ‘flavor’ layout than any sort of exact representation. Part of the reason for the deviation was the actual East Penn Branch was quite boring to operate - mostly through trains and not much on-line industry. The existing 8x12 starting section was goign to be a coal mine/breaker area, lots of switching there, the small yard to become a coal marshalling yard. But very little anthracite ran on the East Penn - much more bituminous brought up from the B&O and WM (hence I was building a collection of B&O hoppers. A penninsula down the middle of the room was going to be a portion of the C&F branch, with room for a bunch of industries. I was also starting to lose interest in having everything double-tracked.
With some major life changes coming, I will probably end up in an apartment, with a 10x12 room to build in if I am lucky. A positive outlook on this says I won’t have to accomodate anyone else - I can build what I want and do it all my way. Along those lines, an article in last month’s RMC (I know, bad word here [:D] ) on the LNE’s Bender’s Junction caught my eye. I’m not switching railroads, no way, no how - I have too much invested in Reading power, and I am NEVER giving up my T-1. However, a little research mentioned that at one time the Reading tried to lease the LNE.
So my idea is this. What of they DID lease the LNE? And instead of around 1926, it was done around 1950, AFTER the LNE aquired the RS-2’s, S-2’s, and FA’s? (since I love Alcos). Reading power. Repainted RS-2’s and FA’s (FA’s are eas to fit int he numebring scheme, since the Reading had their own. RS-2’s though…have to work on that. The LNE was single tracked, And there are plenty of online industries no matter where you go. Reading through trains to Maybrook - possible New Haven run-throughs… LOTS of possibility a
All perfectly plausible. The RS-2’s are good because the lease allowed the B&O a stepping stone while they negotiated and purchased the most recently planned modern diesels. The RS-2’s were a gap stop, so to speak.
I get the sense that this has been a trying time for you, all-in-all, Randy, so let me just say that it is good to have you back on your feet and rarin’ to go.
When you enter the realm of “might have been,” you open up a whole world of possibilities. (I could go on to write a book here, but I’ve decided to resist the temptation.)
The key point is, it’s your world, and your dream. If some nitpicker tries to put it, or you, down, issue him a sympathy chit and a key to the weep locker. You are the final authority.
Have fun!
Chuck
Randy,Your idea is not only plausible but, very believable…If you like that idea go fer and good luck.[:D]
Nitpickers, and rivet counters are the reason I did a freelanced railroad. Of course I have a representation of other railroads mostly fallen flags like the Milwaukee, SOO, and WC are running but its my layout my trains and I figure if they dont like how it is they can sit on a smokestack and have a whistle somewhere, they also dont have to run my trains either. Its mine I like it and thats that. Gee I hope I dont get kicked off for that.
Yeah. In a small space like that, I’d go On30 and love every minute of it.
Keep the curves as big as you can. Looks and runs better that way. In hidden areas you might be able to cut the radius a bit.
I just love “What If” speculations because they can lead to some very profound results.
Speculate, if you will, on what the American railroad scene would look like if:
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Santa Fe and Mopac had gotten their merger act together in the 1960s and 1970s. What would American railroading look like with an MPSF??? Poor Uncle John!!! Doomed to sucking hind-tit to somebody, in this instance to Missouri Pacific.
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Milwaukee and Northwestern had done more than talk merger about the same time as Uncle John and Mopac. Northwestern remained a prospective bride for about ten years; Milwaukee - which assumed itself to be the most virile of bridegrooms - eventually pooh-poohed the whole idea and ran off into the sunset of liquidation; Northwestern got itself seduced by the Onion Specific. Such a scenario would almost certainly have led the Rock to the alter in 1980 instead of into extinction.
Think about a Milwaukee and Northwestern Railroad running red and green SD70s across St Paul’s Pass and down the canyon of the St Maries River. Wouldn’t that be Wunnerful!!!Wunnerful!!! -
How about this one??? Instead of Penn Central what about Pennsylvania-Norfolk and Western. And C&O/Chessie and New York Central. That is substantially what happened but who needed Penn Central/Conrail to get there!!!