I have an image in my mind that I think was saved from an old image I recall seeing long ago. It is (was) of a cobblestone street running along the waterfront of old town Baltimore. The tracks were embedded in the cobblestone, and they serviced several warehouses that jutted out into the water along the waterfront. One or so of those 'warehouses' resembled the Walthers Municipal Pier kit.
Those infamous B&O docksiders locos could be found working these wharf side tracks.
I searched the internet for about an hour the other day trying to find that image thats in my mind,...could not find it? Would anyone on the forum know of such an old time image?
Just perhaps it was another city. or just some other modelers creation, but it made an impression on me I can't seem to forget. I wonder if I saw in on the walls of that Baltimore model layout that existed for years in downtown Balt (the one that had to recently move) ??
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
Check MR maybe as far back as the mid 70s for articles on the Saverna Park club that modeled that scene or try an internet search for the club itself. It got quite a bit of press
Could it be this one?
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
The building is at 1714 Thames St in an area known as Fells Point in Baltimore. In recent times in was known as the Recreational Pier (not sure why) and is now the Sagamore Penderson Baltimore, a hotel and shops, partly owned by the guy that founded Under Armor.
The street is cobblestone but docksiders were before my memory.
Pintrest has a surprising number of pictures from various sources
Someone else models the Baltimore harbor area in this forum, I don't remember who, though.
There is a Baltimore Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society on facebook. I didn't see a picture like you remember, but I'm sure they have a great many more pictures than they post.
That Baltimore club was the Baltimore Society of Model Engineers. They have relocated outside of downtown. http://www.modelengineers.com/contact.html
No Railroad content to follow. Sagamore Farms was a thoroughbred horse farm in Baltimore County, once owned by the Vanderbilts. Kevin Plank bought it. He also owns a distillery that produces Sagamore Rye Whiskey, which is quite good, but pricey.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
railandsailI searched the internet for about an hour the other day trying to find that image thats in my mind,...could not find it? Would anyone on the forum know of such an old time image?
Try this site for similar photos from New York
http://www.trainweb.org/bedt/IndustrialLocos.html
------------------------------------------
Pratt St in Baltimore
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Tinplate Toddler Could it be this one?
Someone was asking about modeling chains on a switcher. There are chains on that loco. According to Wiki, used to put freight cars out of even tighter places.
That is the News American Builiding on Baltimore Street probably deliverying rolls of newsprint.
For more old time photos of trains, city views and more, Aubrey Bodine was a prolific Sunpaper photographer and you can search his site:
https://aaubreybodine.com/gallery/category.asp
That is very much the scene I tried to loosely capture for my carfloat terminal. I used real girder rail from Proto 87, and their matching cobblestone plastic sheets. For motive power I have a Bachmann 0-6-0 tank engine, which I renamed for the Westport Terminal Railway in honor of one of our departed forum members, Wolfgang Dudler.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
One of the replacement "Docksiders":
BnO_Mule by Edmund, on Flickr
Below was in 1980 at Thames and S. Broadway in Fells Point:
CR_mule by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
Ed, you need to add pix of the early and late PRR versions of those tractors: the early versions steered with a vertical ship's wheel.
As I recall B&O tried small diesel switchers, perhaps with longer cables to the traction motors, but went to the tractors instead.
OvermodEd, you need to add pix of the early and late PRR versions of those tractors: the early versions steered with a vertical ship's wheel.
Fascinating machines, indeed.
I'll present a link to this informative page for those interested:
http://prr.railfan.net/RubberTiredSwitchers.html
Thank you, Ed
The Severna Park Model Railroad Club has a section of Fells Point in Baltimore faithfully modeled. It was cover in the December 1975 issue of Model Railroader.
There was at one time a fair amount of in street industrial trackage in Baltimore, particularly all around the inner harbor.
Sheldon
gmpullman Overmod Ed, you need to add pix of the early and late PRR versions of those tractors: the early versions steered with a vertical ship's wheel. Fascinating machines, indeed. I'll present a link to this informative page for those interested: http://prr.railfan.net/RubberTiredSwitchers.html Thank you, Ed
Overmod
Fascinating reference link. I had seen a few photos of these rubber tired switchers when I was searching earlier,...BUT nothing like that huge collection of photos. Thank you very much !!
gmpullmanFascinating machines, indeed.
Wow ! guess! That is a great link Ed.
I wonder if any rooky drivers got in trouble trying to do a quick steering maneuver around an automobile that suddenly got in the way.
Mike.
My You Tube
ATLANTIC CENTRAL The Severna Park Model Railroad Club has a section of Fells Point in Baltimore faithfully modeled. It was cover in the December 1975 issue of Model Railroader. There was at one time a fair amount of in street industrial trackage in Baltimore, particularly all around the inner harbor. Sheldon
Here is a link to that issue's cover,....but I wonder how to find the other photos that were likely displayed inside that issue.
I just looked at it. The problem for me is when I go to look something up in a past issue, I end up spending 1/2 hour looking through the issue.
Not many pictures of track work, docks and such, mostly just excellent tight urban modeling, I think the little switcher and ice box on the cover is shown spotting a car, there's a steam engine and train carefully moving through the tight area, and a gon spotted at an industry.
The article focuses on the tight urban area, and there is a picture of the more "modern" version of the tractors Ed linked to.
You might get a better look if you search for the clubs layout, and a track plan.
I visited their Facebook page, but to tell the truth I have trouble naviagating that 'site'...FACEBOOK
If you have access to the archives, you can read the whole issue.....
Or my case I can go down to the train room and pull it off the shelf....
There is more info and a track plan of the layout in the June 73 issue.
They have changed some stuff over the years, but that part of the layout is still the same last I was there, or talked to anyone about it.
If you are in the Batimore area on a Thursday night, it is worth the drive.
Big Boy in Fells Point....YIKES
Fells Point is fun to switch. Remember when that Big Boy 4-8-8-4 went there by mistake?
No longer near Balt,....moved from Annapolis, Md down to St Augustine, Fl via Thailand
I likely have that magazine or a cut-out of it, BUT finding it would be a BIG effort.
Brian, see if this works.
https://mrarchive.mrr.trains.com/mrr/jun-1973/flipbook/34/
https://mrarchive.mrr.trains.com/mrr/jun-1973/flipbook/36/
Those were references to a Jun73 issue. Supposely I would be looking for Dec73.
railandsail Those were references to a Jun73 issue. Supposely I would be looking for Dec73.
June 1973, and December 1975, I know, I was there for the photo shoots, I was a member there at that time.
Not Baltimore, but rather Halifax, NS. Somewhat akin to what my imagination was recalling.
railandsail Here is a link to that issue's cover,....but I wonder how to find the other photos that were likely displayed inside that issue.
I am lucky enough to have two copies of that issue, and the photos are incredible. eBay would be my suggestion if you don't have access to the MR Archives.
Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale
EDIT: Links removed by me
Thanks Mike,
Those images didn't ring a bell for me.
But here is a possiblity,...
On that very first link of the 3 maps that this gentleman provided, I zoomed in and seem to have detected an area that might just be the one I spoke of in my opening statement. But I would need to see more detail of that area to determine that. https://collections.digitalmaryland.org/digital/collection/mcmc/id/21
In the Canton area,....along Boston St as you approach its intersection with Clinton St there appears to be a number of curved tracks off Boston St into piers along the waterfront? ....that area right next to the 90 degree waterfront corner??
Did I describe that correctly?
Wonder how we find a photo of that bit of tracks?
Not Baltimore, but Philly on the PRR:
Great views of street-running, Delaware Avenue, circa 1961 and the perils of same:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kheelcenter/albums/72157663707114067/page1
Note a few "oopses" with derailed cars and road traffic.
PRR_Cabview-Philly-DelawareAve by Edmund, on Flickr
PRR_Philly-1961-DelawareAv by Edmund, on Flickr
Clinton and Boston St is the Canton neighborhood, where the rotary coal pier was.
The Severna Park Club scene is Fells Point, 15 or so blocks away, and represents pretty accurately the intersection of Thames St, Fell St, and S Ann St as it was about 60-70 years ago.
Have no idea where to find photos of that area from the past.
This structure at Fells Point is the closest I can find to that municipal pier I recall in Baltimore,...but looks quite different now as a hotel.
Prior to this remodeling job I believe this building more closely resembled the Walthers kit.
Fells Point area of Baltimore
Not Baltimore, but maybe these links might provide some inspiration http://prr.railfan.net/RubberTiredSwitchers.html
Not Baltimore, but maybe these links might provide some inspiration
WOW, I found that a whole lot of the photos on that site were referencing Fells Point area of Baltimore, ....not the specific ones I seem to recall, but quite a collection.
And yes those rubber tired switchers are quite interesting.
double headed 'Docksiders'
How about these two little brutes...
https://youtu.be/pdO5dSONcU0