I know there are a lot of Pennsy modelers here at trains.com, and I'd like to hear more from you good folks!
I thought for fun, we could start a thread here about challenges/rewards of modeling The Standard Railroad of the World.
By way of intro, I model a fictional segment of the PRR's Middle Division (mostly resembling the Lewistown to Tyrone segment) in N scale. My tiny layout's on a hollow-core door, so I've had to reduce the four-track Broad Way of Commerce to just two.
My layout URL is here: http://kc.pennsyrr.com/layouts/dvollmer/
What are you working on?
My current projects include kitbashing an N scale model of PRR Class M1 4-8-2 #6811 with a 210F75 tender (see this thread): http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1/1290670/ShowPost.aspx#1290670
My other project, on hold, is lettering a Fine N Scale Models' X31A boxcar in Shadow Keystone Phase 1a scheme. I've been "kitbashing" the decals, cutting the dimensional data letter by letter, since no one offers this scheme as pre-made decals. I'm using a Microscale set designed for X26,X28, and X29 variants in SK1a & b.
Hope to hear from other SPFs (if you don't know what SPF stands for, you aren't one!)...!
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
And just because you do doesn't mean you are one.
Hint: It has nothing to do with sunblock.
Andre
I have a soft spot for the Pennsy. My grandfather hired with them. My father with Penn Central. Myself with Conrail.
Although, my primary modeling focus is the Reading and Delaware & Hudson in HO, I do model a short section of a Pennsy branch on my layout. My last PRR project was painting a pair of Atlas GP7s in the pre-PC Keystone scheme.
Nick
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
concretelackey wrote:Gotta question that may show my lack of knowledge on the topic....why is the PRR called THE STANDARD RR OF THE WORLD???
The Pennsy was a leader at the turn of the last centrury for standardizing its locomotive and freight car fleets. For example, the L1s 2-8-2 and K4s 4-6-2 shared the same boiler; combined they represented over 800 of the more than 10,000 steam locomotives the Pennsy would eventually buy or build during its life. The Pennsy also standardized structures, bridges, and even lineside details like PRR pipe-railing fences. This was done under the leadership of Alexander Cassatt.
The PRR was not standardized with, nor set the standard for, any other RR in America (save for the LIRR and other PRR-owned subsidiaries). But in terms of internal standardization, by the 1910's, the PRR had no equal. So the railroad took to calling itself "The Standard Railroad of America." Later it became "..of the World." It was a self-proclaimed designation, but when understood in proper context, probably a deserved one.
While most people believe it was because of internal standardization, my opinion is that it was because they considered themselves to be The Standard by which a railroad should be judged. Several foreign governments more or less copied the PRR's operations and business model when they were looking to create their own national railways in the late 1800s.
As a business, the PRR was very successful. They developed and adopted true cost accounting before most other businesses. For many years, they were the largest corporation in the world. They paid a dividend for over 100 consecutive years, a record that may yet to have been broken.
KL
I am modeling the PRR's Marginal and Oil Street branches in 1961. These were located in Beaver Falls PA and came off the Ft Wayne mainline. The Marginal went north east and interchanged with the P&LE at COLLEGE yard. The Oil Street came off the Marginal and went south east to also connect to the P&LE via a track that ran through the middle of a factory building. The total length of both branches was only around two miles, but in 1945 there were 20 listed industries along the way.
While ideal for a switching layout the problem has been determining what was still shipping by rail in 1961 and which to model to get a good car mix. If I had about 150 feet, I could model the whole shebang in 1/87.1. . .
I'll check in but I am a novice at the PRR.
I'm modeling the Indiana Branch of the PRR and you can see pretty much where I am by checking the link at the bottom of the page. Actually, I'm a little past that now.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
SPF...well since nobody sems to want to divulge the big secret I suppose guesses are in order?
SPF - Serious Penile Fixation?
SPF - Somewhat Pompous Fools?
SPF - Single Professional Female?
SPF - Sun Protection Factor? ...err nope that one was ruled out already.
SPF - Sender Policy Framework?
SPF - Shortest Path First
SPF - Singapore Police Force
SPF - Sender Permitted From
SPF - South Pacific Forum
SPF - Single Point of Failure
SPF - Servicio Penitenciario Federal
SPF - Space Power Facility
SPF - Service Public Fédéral
SPF - Specific Pathogen Free
SPF - Spruce Pine Fir
The list goes on and on...somebody speak up if they see one that applies here ok.
I don't model the Pennsy, in fact, for years I was bugged by the prevalence of Pennsy steam locos (with that - ugh - Belpaire firebox), Pennsy rolling stock, and, even though I had no need for one, Pennsy GG-1s. But then I started to read about prototype railroads, and Pennsy kept popping up. Even that was annoying at first, but I slowly came to an appreciation for the Pennsy and their way of doing things. I have to admit that my first impressions were wrong, and I have become more and more impressed as time goes by. A couple of visits to the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania sealed my fate as a fan of the Pennsy.
So now the Pennsylvania Railroad is represented on my freelanced layout. The old Train Miniature X-29s that I painted for my freelance road were redone as Pennsy cars:
One was even converted into a X-28
And I bought some Red Caboose kits and lettered them for the Pennsy, too:
I've got Bowser hoppers and gondolas in Pennsy paint, and an X-31a, too. There's even a Pennsylvania R50B in amongst my headend equipment:
So, while I still don't model the Pennsy, I do make sure that she's well-represented on my late-'30s era free-lanced layout.
Wayne
In addition to modeling CN and CP circa 1974, I also have my own short line railway in HO scale. It has a roster of eight ex-PRR locomotives, all of which are still in the Brunswick green paint scheme.
Dave Vollmer and doctorwayne,Nice pictures of your PRR hardware!I am freelancing a PRR HO layout myself, the late 40's to mid 50's.Made some significant progress this week.I'll try and post some pictures when I get a few more things done.
Got my freight yard and engine service terminal areaa layed out, and getting ready to drop in my 130 foot Walthers turntable next with machine shopadd on.
Just finished up a Walthers City Station kit for my passenger terminal coming soon.
TheK4KidWorking on the Pennsy
I'm not big on the Pennsy.
OK, OK, ...Dave:
I'll take a guess on "SPF" -- "Slobbering Pennsy Fan?"
OK...Another guess "Standard Pennsy Fan?"
and an another one -- "Smart Pennsy Fan?"
How 'bout -- "Sophisticated Pennsy Fan?"
Give Dave, Give...
This conundrum has me up way too late...!!!
Pennsy
A Model Railroader's Credo: Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
SPF, eh? Seems I've heard that before... or was it SNYCF, or SWMF or maybe a SATSFF. Hmmm.
I suppose I could be a SB&OF. LOL!
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
To us, SPF means "Serious Pennsy Fan."
To everyone else, we're "Slobbering Pennsy Fans."
Hi Dave,
I come from a long line of railroaders, my grandfather worked for PRR and PC, my uncle worked for PC, CR and now NS, and my father just retired from CR/NS a few months ago. I grew up on the Horseshoe Curve road and spent many summer days on those mainline tracks. One of my fondest memories comes from a day when a train load of tanks stopped right above our house( the main line was like 500 yds from my back door) and my dad took my sister and me up the tracks to see them. That was cool. I've even explored the area where that circus train, or was it a passenger train crashed back in Scotch Run back in the 40's. So yeah, I like the Pennsy alright. I'd like to model something about the PRR for my next railroad, this first one is going to start out as a free lance until I get more experience. You're post title got my attention because I would REALLY REALLY like to model the downtown shops with the few industries it still serves, but it's hard to find good aireal photo's of it. Well, there ya go, you want to know something about us PRR fans I hope I didn't let you down.
BTW Dave, I think you're N-Scale work is pretty awsome.
Now that we know what SOB stands for, what are we going to talk about?
...talkin' about what PRR projects you guys are working on!
You know the old saying... If you model North American railroading prior to 1968, you model Pennsy, since 10% of the freight car fleet had PRR keystones on them.
Here's a PRR X31A double-door I built from a Fine N Scale Models resin and brass kit:
Planning on a layout that covers the Mingo Junction area so I can interchange with the NYC, C&O, NKP and B&O. Current PRR projects are Bowser N8 Caboose and assembling my H21 and H43 Hoppers, H33 Covered Hopper, and kitbashing G41 Coil Cars.
Other items of standardization was the E6 Boiler was also used on the H8, H9 and H10 Consolidations and G5 Ten-Wheeler. Although many items on the PRR were standard to themselves they were at odds with other railroads such as the left hand lead on their steam engines versus right hand on most other engines. (Although all the models ever built of PRR steam engines use the right hand lead).
Rick
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Finished my N scale M1 project!
I'm thinking about writing it up for the PRRT&HS The Keystone Modeler.
She runs pretty well now. I'm still not happy with her pulling power; out of the box, the Spectrum 4-8-2 could hardly pull its tender. Four boxcars were enough to put it in full slip on a 15" radius curve (that's not as sharp as you might think in N scale; it's like 28-30" or so in HO, very reasonable). Most N scalers with this loco have been disappointed with its pulling power.
Between fiddling with the bearing blocks and adding additional weight (the Pennsy style boiler allows more room) I can get her to pull 11 boxcars and a cabin (or 18 empty hoppers and a cabin). Quite an improvement, but still nothing compared to the prototype's 4000 horsepower and 64,550 lbs tractive effort...
Dave Vollmer Finished my N scale M1 project! I'm thinking about writing it up for the PRRT&HS The Keystone Modeler. Between fiddling with the bearing blocks and adding additional weight (the Pennsy style boiler allows more room) I can get her to pull 11 boxcars and a cabin (or 18 empty hoppers and a cabin). Quite an improvement, but still nothing compared to the prototype's 4000 horsepower and 64,550 lbs tractive effort...
Nice looking loco, Dave, and a nice job on the conversion work. I think that a write-up would probably be of interest to many Pennsy modellers, and not just in N scale. It's also nice to see others doing loco kitbashing these days and especially seeing people interested in improving loco performance. I kitbashed a Bachmann USRA Light Mountain into a (gasp!) Mohawk for my free-lanced road, basing it on a photo of a NYC Hudson. I also added quite a bit of weight to improve its pulling power. Double apologies for posting a NYC-inspired loco, in HO scale, in your Pennsy thread.
I sadly don't have a layout up as of now, but when I get enough money, I'm thinking of modeling the Horseshoe Curve in HO scale maybe even O gauge hi-rail, which is the main scale I have now. I don't have the finances (I'm 17) the space (my dads office is downstairs) or the time. When I move out, I will probably build a layout reflecting the GREAT PRR. I have been a fan of it since I saw the GG1 at Strasburg, around the age of 6. I am still in awe at that engine.
I guess you can tell from my signature and avatar that I like the PRR, but besides the PRR I like the Reading, CNJ, Lehigh Valley, and the Lehigh and New England.
(Edit: Serious Pennsy Fan)
Hi Dave
Love your work. But too small, needs to be twice that big. LOL
Im workin on a fictional PRR branch that ended up on Cape Cod for some odd reason. Maybe they took over the New Haven earlier than PC did. Or a merger of some sort cause I still have a lot of New Haven power and rolling stock. So far I have three HO modules that apear at local shows with the club. The home layout will have a double track bridge over the canal just like the PRR would do.
Pete P.S. I would call myself a Simple Pennsy Fan. SPF
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Hello to all Pennsy modelers!
I live in Croatia, Europe, and I am building a small HO scale L-shaped layout divided to two segments. I do not have space for anything larger for now, as I am using part of children room for the layout.
Even though I primarily collect middle-european epoch 4/5 models, I am also interested in american transition-time RR's, and PRR freight trains are on top of the list. I am trying to represent fictional PRR branch in mid 50's, when steam was on decline.
As I won't have space on the layout for big number of cars, I am trying to collect few models, but those that are well detailed, and good or very close replica of the prototype.
So, for now I have:- Branchline Blueprint X43 and X44 kits, finished- three Bowser hoppers (I plan to have 10 or 12 car hopper train of GLa and H21 hoppers)- Walthers PRR G25 gondola- for a little non-PRR variety, I have Intermountain ATSF Caswell gondola, PFE 40' reefer, Accurail kit, and Bachmann Cosden 3-dome tankcar
Locos, all PRR: P2K SD9, Spectrum GE 44-tonner, and Spectrum 0-6-0T steam switcher. Also, I have Spectrum 2-8-0 B&O
So, any ideas for good freight cars which goes with my other models are welcome! Thanks!
Forgot to ask, what do you say about those two PRR boxcars (concerning quality and accuracy):
X26 by Intermountain/Tichy:
and,
X37 by Intermountain:
Thommo,
Welcome aboard! Croatia's a long way from Pennsylvania... I have a number of Croatian colleagues at University of Zagreb who collaborate with my lab at North Carolina State University. I also served four months as a NATO peacekeeper in nearby Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1997-98.
Both cars you mention are excellent quality. I'm not in HO, but have Intermountain's N scale version of the X37. I also have the Atlas version of the X26 you show. I do have some Tichy stuff in N and it's top quality.
Accuracy... Only Westerfield makes an exact match to the PRR X26 that I know of. BUT, the Tichy car is close enough that I'd use it anyway (I use the Atlas car with identical, but also inaccurate, bracing). The difference is that the Tichy (and N scale Atlas) designs are based on the USRA single-sheathed boxcar design. The Pennsy used their own design, so the bracing is different. There are other minor differences as well. But again, they're not so big that I'd have a problem with it.
The X37 by Intermountain is almost an exact match to the PRR X37. The only major differences are that the Intermountain boxcar has a raised-panel roof whereas the real PRR X37 had a flat-panel roof. Apparently the floor framing differs a bit as well, but if people are seeing the underside of your boxcars, you need better track!
In summary, both boxcars come pretty close (the X37 is almost a perfect match). I'd use them both. They're good quality cars with excellent detail.