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In the '40s and '50s I was living on the fifth floor of an apartment in Queens NY within eyesite and earshot of the elevated portion of the I.R.T. subway that is a 4-track main with both local and express tracks w/ stations approx every 8-10 streets (we called them blocks). Some of the stations were local only stops and the express trains really ripped through those stops. Shortly after tunneling under the East River from Manhattan the trains would emerge into the 'aboveground ' on a fairly steep grade and cross most of Queens going underground just short of Flushing-the end of the line. I remember very tight curves and switches as well as complicated trackage-crossovers, etc. The tracks ran near the sites of the N.Y. World's Fair and Shea Stadium. But what I most remember was the proximity to PRR's Sunnyside Yards and the massive Subway shops & storage tracks closer to Flushing in Corona. believe there was an overpass of the Long Island RR at approx. 72nd St. in Jackson Heights but the mind is fuzzy on that point. The trains ran every few minutes and were incredibly noisy. One could incorporate hidden staging tracks at each end of a layout design (no need for reverse loops) and model the entire system that was 'aboveground' This line is still in operation and the 4 track main is still in use. Now if you could even include a bit of the Sunnyside Yard too. . .The Long Island City area was fairly industralized back then; and probably still is. . . (Haven't been back there in years,) Proto 1000 cars may actually be modeled after the I.R.T. cars in use for several decades but I haven't seen them up close. There were similar 'aboveground' portions of the NYC subway system in Brooklyn and I think in upper Manhattan and the Bronx. At one time there were elevated subways all over the NYC area, esp in Manhattan, but they were removed 50 or more years ago. They used really ancient equipment, not at all like the Proto 1000 models, along 2nd and 3rd avenue in Manhattan-remember not enjoying the couple of rides on the 3rd Ave. El-dirty, dark,and horrible rattan seats. The Proto 1000 cars appear to be much newer than those ever used on those long since defunct elevated lines. Also, keep in mind that not all of the NYC subway equipment was interchangeable throughout the system due to width of cars dictated by station platform clearances. I'd suggest you contact Trainworld since they are right in NYC area or Life-Like for prototype information. Two books I can recommend are - "Building the Independent Subway" by Frederick A. Kramer (Quadrant Press) and "The Brooklyn Elevated " by James C. Greller & Edward B. Watson (N. J. International) - both very well illustrated and informative re: equipment, operations, stations, construction and plenty of period photos. I'm sure there are other similar publications. Suggest you get good at resin casting if you intend to model all that above -street supporting steel work! Another option would be to just have a sound recording of the subway and 'model' only the underground portion of the system! Hope you proceed with your 'subway' layout.
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