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.
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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