The layout is HO scale and is a basic oval with a staging yard. The layout is built with wall shelving brackes along three walls with a bridge section.
The layout uses a minimum radius of 24" which is looks pretty nice with the smaller steam locos I have. Locomotives for the layout are four 2-8-0 Consolidations for freight, a 4-4-2 Atlantic for passenger service and a 2-6-0 Mogul for mixed. The Consolidations and Mogul are brass imports while the Atlantic is a kitbashed Mantua Atlantic. All are backdated to before 1920. More on these later.
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.
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