NE Corridor, modern day Amtrak and Conrail

[Anonymous]

[?] Does anybody have any information about the NE corridor and any information regarding modeling it. I live 2 minutes walking time from Edison Station and am constantly trying to figure out what i should include in my 22x12 HO scale layout. I know it is a very small space but i want to add as much realism, detail and operation to it as possible. Any helpful hints?[?]

[ndbprr]

Tall order!! Kind of like saying give me the history of the world in 25 words or less. there are numerous videos. I'd suggest you join the Cr and Amtrak historical societies. Basically lots of trains. Depends which area you model but Amtrak, regional commuter trains, some freight but less than PRR days.

[nfmisso]

Take a look at this: http://community-2.webtv.net/AcelaTrains/TheAcelaTrain/index.html

And e-mail the site owner.

[Anonymous]

i was wondering, what was Conrail's main industry in the cetral Jersey area. I am modeling a woodchip plant with some Norfolk and Southern rolling stock and motive power, and was wondering if any of the wood chips and paper products make it through central jersey. thanks for all the help, its making my modeling expierence very enjoyable. By the way, nfmisso, thanks for the link, i visited the site and really enjoyed it. If there is any other advice i can get, it'd certainly be very appreciated!

[ndbprr]

Conrails main industry in new Jersey is the same as what the PRR and all others did - delivery of products to New York City. Intermodal and food - fruits, vegetables and other persihables to the markets. High value electronics and nonperishables to the intermodal yards. Probably the best known New Jersey industry is the chemical corridor along the Turnpike. There were a number of refineries at one point. Most paper plants are close to the trees. I doubt many companies send wood chips very far for processing. If you join the CR historical society someone will have access to a guide that lists the industries located along the railroad by milemarker. You would be amazed at the number of industries on any given stretch that could be modeled. Keystone crossings web site has a CT1000 for the entire PRR that would list the industries when the area was the PRR. The area I am modeling in Philadelphia has over 80 companies listed in one mile! They range from mom and pop type to Heinz, Nabisco, Westinghouse and the Sears east coast distribution facility with 40-50 cars per day traffic.

[Anonymous]

was there any wood/paper industry on the line?

[ndbprr]

I don't THINK so. There were probably several printing operations that used paper and box companies that made corrugated but acual paper mills I don't think so but you would need to confirm that with somebody who knows the area better than I. I'll ask on the PRR board in case.

[ndbprr]

OK. This is from an ex-PRR shipping agent who worked New Jersey before retiring and he is very good at remembering:

Riegel Paper had a mill at Riegelwood, NJ,
near Flemington, on the Bel-Del brach. There was a paper mill North of Bristol, PA
(Crane?) on the corridor, but it didn't use trees, it made fine paper from
rags.

[Anonymous]

In my opinion, the NEC in and around NYC is as good as it gets, for prototype and modeling. It's great to see somebody join the few who are interested in the electrified passenger lines around the tri-state area.

Model Memories makes high quality catenary and accessories. You can't get any better catenary, in fact, it's the only North American Catenary you can get! I've seen a number of layouts under wire, and the bridges look like the real thing. Recently, I purchaced enough NH catenary bridges to electrify my layout. I model the NEC as well, but east of new york (on the Metro North mainline). Model Memories made my NH catenary bridges/wire and they are brass of the best quality. You'll want the Pennsy catenary bridges, which look like the real thing. Don't even try to scratchbuild, these are the only ones that will stand up to pans up operation.

As far as locomotives/rolling stock...
Bachmann makes a superb Acela express trainset. Ignore the list price; you can get it cheaper from those pages of MR ads.[;)]

Bachmann is coming out with HHP-8 electrics in the fall of 04. These are strengthening the AEM-7's currently, as the electrics are stretched thin with the new Boston electrification.

Atlas AEM-7's are extremely detailed (I own 3). These are the true workhorses of the NEC. The Amtk roadnames are out of production, but the NJT ALP-44's constantly find their way into Penn

Imperial Hobby Productions is also always releasing NEC-related products, check their website for details

Walthers Amfleets are your best bet for coaches. The bachmanns are crap, however bachmann is coming out with the Acela Regional paint scheme in the fall as well. Hopefully Walthers will follow through.


Wow...

Can't help you with Penn Station though. I don't think anybody on the internet has tried to pull that one off. You probably could do a nice foam model of the Hell Gate Bridge though. The european bridge spans would do nicely for the middle section.

I hope I can be of help!

www.info-4u.com/modelmemories/