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Dave Frary The Pennsy Middle Division in HO Scale railroad

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 1:22 AM

He moved.

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  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 7:49 PM

Finished and it was a good read!  Jimmy was in a devastating motorcycle accident and Scotty rebuilt the layout for him.

That was over 10 years and and doesn't tell the story of why the layout was recently sold.  However none of us are getting younger, so it's not hard to imagine a reason.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 3:21 PM

I haven't made it past the 4th paragraph but it looks like a good read:

"The HO scale Pennsy Middle Division Layout was built by Frary in six sections so it could be moved easily by two adults. I read that in the January 1993 issue of Model Railroader magazine, but here I am trying to move it, and I’m taking exception to the article.
"Each section weighs at least 100 pounds, and none of the sections have handles, or anything else for that matter to grab onto. The razor-sharp tips of screws stick out of the layout frame, and the fascia board extends to allow for no real place to grip the pine underneath."

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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  • From: Loudonville, NY
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Posted by Benjamin Maggi on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 3:04 PM

Here is some information about restoration of the layout once Jimmy bought it: http://scottymason.com/pennsy/index.htm

Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/

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  • From: Fruita, CO
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Posted by slammin on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 9:01 AM

Ebay listing was ended early this morning because "item is no longer available". Has this great layout found a new home? If so I hope either buyer or seller will document the move and post it here.

  • Member since
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  • From: west coast
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Posted by rrebell on Thursday, August 18, 2016 3:26 PM

Also the price is negotible and there are about $15,000.00 or more it FSM and other kits built by some of the best, seen some FSM built-ups go for close to $1000.00.

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  • From: Fruita, CO
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Posted by slammin on Thursday, August 18, 2016 2:12 PM

While the price tag may seem high, but don't forget the many custom layout builders charge that kind of price, and they seem to stay in business. Moving the layout and re-assembling it would not be for the faint of heart! Keep in mind that Allen McCelland was unable to sell his home with the V&O and appartently no one offered to purchase and move it. I dare say there are few more famous model railroads.

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Posted by Choops on Thursday, August 18, 2016 7:54 AM

from flipping thru the articles the origonal layout was designed to be taken apart.  He has some interesting ideas where the joints are.  However it would still be a large task to carefully pack up all the structures for moving.

Steve 

Modeling Union Pacific between Cheyenne and Laramie in 1957 (roughly)
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Posted by Steven S on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 3:55 PM

BigDaddy
Seems mind boggling to buy it and move it

Yeah, they might have more luck just salvaging the structures and selling those. 

 

Steve S

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
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Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 7:59 AM

Seems mind boggling to buy it and move it

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
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Posted by rrebell on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 11:12 PM

Cool, lost track of Jimmy after he sold his forum.

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Posted by ae3859 on Tuesday, August 16, 2016 12:53 PM

This layout is still for sale.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/The-Pennsy-Middle-Division-Model-Railroad-Layout-in-HO-Scale-by-Dave-Frary-/201646161736?hash=item2ef30c3f48:g:sowAAOSwsTxXiR6p

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  • From: west coast
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Posted by rrebell on Thursday, April 5, 2012 11:58 AM

The layout is alive and well, and as said, expanded. It is also now covered with craftsman type structures. Jimmy, the owner, owns a number of craftsman kit manufactures and the layout shows off these and that of his friends, many of which are also manufactures. Dave still on occasion works on the layout and they sometimes set up a web cam for work sessions.

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Posted by jack308gtsi on Thursday, April 5, 2012 10:43 AM

Interesting info. Thanks to all.

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  • From: Reading, PA
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Posted by rrinker on Thursday, April 5, 2012 7:23 AM

 Was that Denigan or the previous owner, who I recall seeing an article about and who had several of the old MR project layouts? As I recall it was a nicely done up display area, and the layouts were all in good shape. Or maybe someone completely different.

                       --Randy


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
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Posted by J.Rob on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 9:36 PM

I also remember reading about the layout in either MR or MRH the online magazine. There was a fairly recent (for me that's last 5 years) layout visit. The owner has had a lot of help putting the layout back together and expanding it. He seems to be quite happy with it.

  • Member since
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  • From: Big Blackfoot River
  • 2,788 posts
Posted by Geared Steam on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 6:05 PM

Jim Denigan owns and has added to it over the years. Jimmys website is here. It was a basket case when he bought it from someone in Florida. Him, Scott Mason, Dave Frary and Doug Foscale have brought it back to life.

http://www.railroadkits.com/store/

FOS and Jimmy recently produced a DVD on the layout, it's pretty good IMHO

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
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  • From: US
  • 49 posts
Posted by pomperaugrr on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 2:19 PM

I think that it was owned by a private modeler, Jim Dennigan (sp?) for awhile.  I believe that he may have since sold it.

Eric

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • 60 posts
Dave Frary The Pennsy Middle Division in HO Scale railroad
Posted by jack308gtsi on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 2:02 PM

In 1996 Dave Frary buildt this railraod. They did a book on it. What happened to it. Did Model railroader raffle it off or what?

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