~ Andy
Although not on such a grand scale, Charlie and I were very happy to complete our two-track Conrail mainline on Tuesday evening, October 4, 2016! I started designing the layout with Bob Dengler and Tom Gaus in 2003 and we started construction in 2006, so it has been a long time coming. I credit Charlie with keeping the project moving forward on weekends and evenings when I'd rather have relaxed with a magazine or newspaper. ~ Andy Here Charlie drives the "golden spike" (okay, it was just a track nail painted gold) in the eastbound track as Conrail SD40-2 #6366 waits to make the first entire loop around the layout. This loco was lightly weathered, tuned and had sound and DCC added by our friend Mike Garber from Midlothian, VA, so it was very appropriate that this would be the first loco to make the complete run. The final spike was driven in front of what will be Westinghouse Airbrake (now Wabtec) in Wilmerding. I hope George Westinghouse is looking down and smiling! Here is a photo of the "new" room where the tracks met. This room will represent the Turtle Creek Valley, starting with Braddock on the left and finishing with Trafford on the right. This picture was taken about four weeks ago, just after the backdrop painting was complete. With the main line connected, a complete run around the layout takes 14-1/2 minutes at normal operating speed. We have worked really hard this summer to get the mainline completed for our NMRA open house on October 16, 2016 and we are so glad we made it, We've not taken time to update the web site since mid-July, so now that the open house is behind us, watch for some catching up and updates on our Progress and Blog pages. Thanks for your patience.
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We were pleased to again co-host the NMRA MCR Division 2 meeting today with Bob Prehoda at the Norwin Library. Thanks to all who stopped by our layout before or after the meeting. Here are a few pictures. Two other very nice entries; the one on the left by Alden McBee and on the right by Marge Meehan. Both Alden and Marge are frequent winners of the monthly contests with their excellent entries. Everything was ready at Pittsburgh Mainline for our visitors. The layout tour sign was in the yard, the Conrail flag unfurled, refreshments set out and the guest towels in the bathroom. Bob Prehoda, also a North Huntingdon resident, is always very gracious to open his layout for visitors during the October NMRA meeting which he co-hosts with us. Unfortunately, as a result we rarely get to visit or photograph his layout since we are open at the same time. However, please click on the link below for a video tour of his magnificent finished layout, the Huntingdon Northern. Credit: TrainsOnBrains Youtube Channel |
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