Hello everyone, this happens to be my first ever post to a forum of any type, and I'm new to the whole process. But it sure looks like a great way to share ideas and receive answers to questions one might be having. I have been model railroading for 40 plus years and being born and raised in the anthracite coal region of Pennsylvania, and an interest in it's history, my modeling interest tends to lean in that direction. ( My user name, McCauley Mt. RR, was a small, 6 mile long, coal hauling railroad that existed from 1857 to approx. 1870. It moved coal from the mines to a connection with the Philadelphia & Reading RR for transport.) I'm looking forward to talking to some of you in the future.
Hi and welcome to the forum. This forum is a great place to ask questions, post comments and just to hang out! We are a friendly bunch and we really like it when people post pictures - so feel free to do so.
Your first messages will take a bit of time to go through (they are moderated), but please be patient, that will stop at some point. There are super useful "stickies" at the beginning of the General Discussion section, including one about how to post pictures.
Again, welcome to the forum and looking forward to your contributions. Many of us have a lot of interest in the Pennsylvania area so don't be shy.
Simon
Welcome from someone just South of you. Interesting that will all my reading up on Reading history (now that will confuse non-native English speakers), I never came across your railroad.
Might be interesting to model it as it existed - getting proper equipment in any of the common scales is going to be an interesting project, but then again, probably don't need a dozen locomotives, either. Or are you planning to model as if it still existed, or at least into a more commonly modeled era? Or is it just a name?
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
to the forum. Eventually you will want to show us pictures of your work, which we would love to see. Like understanding DCC, you can't it figure out on your own without reading the instructions.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Welcome to the Forum. My wife is from California, PA, which had coal mines (don't know what kind). An occasional trip back from TX reminds us of the nice countryside (but you can have the snow).
Ask anything you like and someone can help. Or just comment on a thread. If interested in past threads on a subject, note that the "Search the Community" box on the right column does not work very well. Better to google: "site: cs.trains.com (your subject)" and that will usually be helpful.
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
California is down in the soft coal area. Northeast PA is home to the anthracite hard coal regions. Snow? What snow? I am VERY disappointed I didn't get to use my snowblower this year.
rrinker I am VERY disappointed I didn't get to use my snowblower this year.
"I don't think that's true, Tim"
Welcome McCauley
With 40 years of model railroading under your belt, It's probably a safe bet you will be sharing some things with us as well.
TF
Hello McCauley Mt. RR!
Welcome to the forums!!!
Congratulations on getting involved with the forums, and on making your first post!!
Personally I really enjoy spending time in the forums. It has become an important part of my day, and I have learned a tremendous amount from others here. It's also rewarding to help answer questions whenever I can.
We look forward to seeing what you have accomplished!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I am glad you are here... looking forward to hearing about your modeling.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Great to have another anthracite road modeler on board!
My father was raised in Carbondale. No surprise my gig is a freelanced hard coal carrier in the pre-WW1-ish era.
Camelbacks rule! Diesels drool!
Jim
Thanks everyone who responed to my post. Sorry it took so long to get back. Great to hear from folks interested in anthracite modeling. To answer Randy's question about on how I plan on modeling the McCauley Mt. RR, I'm planning on modeling it as if it survived into the 1930's to 1950's and that it had evolved from just a coal company railroad into a larger tranportation system. Also Randy, some info on the McCauley Mt., It linked up with the Philadelphia & Reading on what would become known as the Catawissa Branch between Mainville and Shumans.
Jim, I'm a bit of a Pennsy fan, but I do like camelbacks.
McCauley Mt. RR Jim, I'm a bit of a Pennsy fan, but I do like camelbacks.
A tidbit from our family stories - a visitor to Carbondale noted his surprise at seeing a camelback loco, and the local resident replied "Is there another kind?"
Yeah, camelbacks can be... as they say... an acquired taste!