The scene is not meant to model the prototype. If it were, there wouldn't be any visible cork. It's a fanciful illustration of what it would look like if our model railroads were built by the little people inhabiting it, using hobby materials.
Also, it's not a scene on the MR&T. As the editorial on page 8 states, it's a diorama, purpose-built for this cover shoot.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Well, as there is no crane on the work train, this could be a light maintenance crew, re-shoring up the track, i. e. re-driving spikes, tightening lag screws, making sure all the fish plates are in position, as well as other chores, such as trimming back the brush along the right of way. About the heaviest work that crews like this might do is replacing the occasional bad tie or short segment of rail. Some of my friends in high school would work on such crews for summer jobs along the EL.
I don't remember the year, or what month it was, but a similar scene on track work was on the cover, and it looks like the same curve / place on the MR&T that this was staged.
The prior scene looked a little more believable. Not picking on anything, as, from the forum questions, it seems articles on track and turnouts was appropriate.
Just my thoughts.
Mike.
My You Tube
The railroad is restoring a line that had been abandoned. Probably abandoned under Conrail in the '80s, who then salvaged the rail and the good ties (the line had been rehabilitied by EL in the mid-70s with federal grants, so the infrastructure was pretty decent). They then sold the rights to "mine" the ballast to an outside company (like they did with the Lackawanna cutoff). Some old ties were left after these operations, and those were tossed to the side of the former right-of-way. Everything will be cleaned up when the new railroad's contractors finish rebuilding.Alas, Cody didn't have enought time to model NIMBY and trail advocate protestors...
Well it just sticks out somehow.
I mean the track might look like that if they were extending the line, but then there would be no ties on the side nor would thier ve a signal pole.
Well, replacing ties? Yes, but... why remove the ballast, and if they did remove it where is the pile of ballast.
But, replacing ties? those ties are all in A-1 perfect condition. But if replacing them, some would be missing, and others pulled halfway out.
Upgrading a branch line? Well, again whre are the piles of used ballast and pulled ties?
Look at the pole.. One cross beam is canted, ergo the line is at least as old as that. The ties do not bear out a line that old?
I mean, it is fine work, and looks great. LION does not make work that neatly. But the logic of the picture just does not seem to hold it together.
ROAR
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