Here are some shots of the code 55 turnout using the Central Valley Models (CVT) #6 turnout ties. The trackwork was a BK Enterprise #6 LH turnout that I removed the PVC ties and reworked the rail to be a #6 RH.
In this closer shot of the point rails you can see that I had to add some shim to the point rail spacer bar.
Here is the frog with the insulated gaps cut.
In this under the layout shot, the closer Blue Point controller is for the code 55 turnout. The turnout is too close to the edge of the layout for the controller to work in the normal function, so turned it around and rigged up a simple system using a popsickle stick and a wood dowel spacer. The turnout has not been wired yet, but it functions great. Everything rolls through very smoothly.
Here is the depot I've built for my version of Hanover. You'll recognize it as the Walthers Golden Valley Depot which I painted in Pennsy colors. It will be placed on a curved platform of brick pavers. I created the layout of the platform to match the curve of the track as well as the paver pattern in Adobe Illustrator. Then I opened that file in Photoshop and added weathering. It is still very much in the working stages but I believe the end results will be nice.
Here are some images of locomotives that I currently have.
This is the first HO locomotive that I purchased as an adult. It is a Olympia (Gem) 2-6-0 Mogul that came factory painted but I repainted it as the lettering on the tender was not straight. I believe it was manufactured in the early 1970's and still has the original open frame motor. It runs beautifully. As I transition into DCC, I will repower with a can motor.
Here is a Sunset H9 2-8-0 that was marketed as the "Prestige Series". I purchased it around 1990 and the sticker on the box is listed as $139. I backdated the loco to prior to 1920 with the new pilot, headlight, marker lights as well as a few other things. The major change came by swapping the tender for a MDC/Roundhouse Pennsy tender that I detailed. I added a lot weight to this one and it will pull everything that I have.
Here are a couple more Sunset 2-8-0 locos. The top is an H6sb that I've started the backdating process. The lower loco is an H9/10 that I've yet to work on.
This little loco is an Empire Midland H3 2-8-0 from the late 1880's period. I thought it would be great for local freight traffic, switching and work trains. When I purchased it, it would not run at all. I remotored about 10 years ago with a new can motor and gearbox from NWSL. It runs pretty well, but has a lot of grinding noise in the gearbox. Also, whoever had it before me must have run the heck out of it because the holes for the driver rods are very worn and thin. I need to put some time into this one someday...
This last locomotive is a E3 4-4-2 for passenger service. It was a kitbash project that started out as a Mantua Kit, but I made quite a few changes. One thing that realy glared at me on the original model was the boiler was way too high. I did considerable cutting a grinding to bring it down as much as I could. I replaced the open frame motor with a can motor and flywheel and that prevented me from bringing the boiler down as much as I'd like but I think it still looks pretty good. Many details were added including the new pilot, headlight, reverse bar just to name a few. I also rebuilt the top of the cylinders out of styrene. The tender is another MDC/Roundhouse tender that has been detailed including a water scoop below. It runs very smoothly and quietly.
It needs a little more weathering, but I want it to appear as a clean locomotive.
Most of the track work on the main portion of the layout is in. This photo shows some of trackwork in the town. The large building in the background with the single track siding will eventually become The Hanover Shoe Company. The track on the ramp on the left will be a coaling ramp. I've been scratch building a coaling trestle based on plans in the book "Trackside on the Pennsylvania - Volume 1" by Jeff Scherb. There is a kit by American Model Buildings that appears to be based on the same plans.
In the dark area at the bottom, you can see the wood knob used to control the turnout just above it. This is the code 55 turnout built onto a Central Valley turnout tie strip. I've yet to wire this section of the track, but everything rolls through very smoothly. The turnout with the brown ties just above the code 55 is a Micro Engineering code 70 turnout. I started getting lazy about building the turnouts when I had trouble getting the Central Valley ones at my local hobby shop.
Below is a shot of yours truly working on the code 55 turnout. I'm six feet tall so this gives you an idea of how high the layout is.
Here is a shot looking at the station. The two engines are brass imports by Sunset. In the foreground is an H9 (still waiting to be backdated). The other engine is an H6 sporting a new gas headlight. The station is a Walthers Golden Valley Depot kit painted to Pennsy colors. It's not even close to the actual station at Hanover, but it works for me. As I mention in my opening remarks, I'm not trying to be literal. The curved platform is styrene with a paver design I created on the computer. It still needs work, but gives an idea of how things will look.
Once I was able to complete the basic loop, my daughter wanted to get involved. Here she is using her arm like a tunnel while a passenger train rolls by.
The track work is handlaid using the Central Valley track system. The mainline is code 70 and the sidings are code 55. The ties are in strips that are fastened to the roadbed and then the rail is glued to the ties. The tie strips are pre-guaged to hold the rail with a high level of tie plates and spikes cast into the strip. The tie plates also have indentations that aid in drilling holes if you want to use spikes. I used the spikes at rail joints. The turnouts can be purchased as kits, in code 70 or code 83 or as individual components. I used the kits and have been very pleased with them. They are not throw together kits but I find them easier than the PC strip and solder method. It's just my preference. I have one turnout in the siding area and since it is code 55, I had to build that one myself. I'm using the Blue Point Turnout Conroller.
The basic structure, above the shelf brackets is 1/4" plywood. Above that is 3" of blue insulation foam (1" foam on top of 2" foam board).
Roadbed is from Woodland Scenics glued to the blue foam. The backdrop was created with sheet styrene purchased from a local plastics company. It comes in 4' x 8' sheets and I had them pre-cut it to fit the space between the plywood and the upper brackets. I had to notch them to clear the upper shelf brackets.
Background
Over time, I have realized that nearly all my interests are based upon aesthetics, be it a steam locomotive, a Colt 1851 Navy revolver or a painting by famed artist, John Singer Sargent. I find that I am more interested in building models and running trains than I am in the operation of a railroad. Some years ago I read an article in MR about building a layout like a stage play, where the layout is the stage and the trains are the actors. This concept struck home with me so I decided to build a layout based around a single town with operation, so-to-speak, being the passing of the various trains (characters) through the location. A staging yard would be included to “stage” the action.
My interest in the Pennsylvania Railroad coupled with a strong interest in U.S. History, I looked for a location that would provide a mix of historical context and artistry with an early 20th century setting. I settled on Gettysburg, PA. I concluded that in the early part of the last century, there would be visiting Civil War veterans to this area and if set in the mid teens, there would be the beginnings of heavier traffic due to the expanding war in Europe. The rolling bucolic countryside would provide the artistic setting. Then I discovered that the PRR didn’t go through Gettysburg. What??!! Gettysburg is in Pennsylvania and the PRR didn’t go there? That’s like visiting San Antonio and not stopping by the Alamo. The Western Maryland ran through Gettysburg. The PRR crossed the WM just to the east of Gettysburg in Hanover, so to salvage my idea, I would model this location. I convinced myself that most people traveling to Gettysburg would come down the PRR and transfer to WM. Again, I rationalized (in my mind) most freight would be on the PRR, through Hanover, with some interchange with WM – cars going west towards Gettysburg and east towards wherever the WM goes. Along the way, I discovered the Hanover Shoe Co. (a huge shoe factory at the time) and Hanover Pretzel Company (later Snyders of Hanover – still in business today). I selected the Hanover Shoe Co. to be a part of my layout and may include the Hanover Pretzel Co. later if I have time and space.
I am not modeling specific scenes or structures of Hanover, but rather more of an impressionist view of the locale, trying to capture the flavor and feel of the town and vacinity. Models will look as though they come from that time and place. Locomotives, freight and passenger cars as well as cabin cars are correct for the era as much as possible with the locomotives and cabin cars being Pennsy prototypes correct used during the mid teens. That said, I am not counting rivets - again the impressionist point of view.
