Welcome to my Blog. The scope of this blog is to record the trials and tribulations of building and maintaining an HO scale layout, the trains and all of the ancillary projects that go with it. In 2017 New York Central subsidiary short line Empire Belt Railroad came into existence. The New York Central / Penn Central and Empire Belt are now the major railroads featured.
New York Central Alcos
NYC RS32 #2040 leads a trio of R32s hauling Train NY-4
Greetings All, What would you say if I said the New York Central System had an EMD GP35 with dynamic brakes? If you asked me that a few months ago I would have said no way based on all the print and internet info I've read. I've since learned different. Check this out; EMD built a GP35 with see thru side panels for the 1964 -1965 World's Fair that was held in Queens NY. When the fair ended this display engine EMDX 1964 and then EMDX 1965 with it's dynamic brakes was sold to the NYC. This engine became NYC 6155 the highest numbered GP35 on the NYC roster. It was later renumbered 2399 in 1966 for the pending NYC-PRR merger. Here's the 2399 at Sandusky Ohio in 1966! Dynamic brakes an all!! Make sure you scroll down!
WHAT!!! A New York Central GP35 had dynamic brakes!!! Get that 2937 out of the purgatory box!! This NYC GP35 #2937 painted in 2010 with a wrong number and dynamic brakes ended up in the purgatory box based on published information that proved to be wrong. The wrong original number was an easy fix. The dynamic brake blister not an easy fix at all on this wide bodied Athearn BB unit so it ended up in the purgatory as more accurately painted and lettered engines joined the fleet. Here it is with it's numbers removed using solvaset and an eraser.
With number boards stripped.
Some styrene panels added to cover nose headlight and missing panel on the side.
The engine was in the purgatory box for so long it was not hardwired which I quickly remedied.
The NYC GP35 is now ready for it's new accurate number
Fresh out of the paint shop the 2399 draws the 1/87th scale N.Y.C.T.L. guys who for years thought NO NYC GP35s had dynamic brakes.
The Penn Central Bi-Annual shows the ex NYC 2399, now PC 2399 as being ex NYC 6155 and assigned to Collinwood. It notes that 2369-2399 have no dynamic brakes. We know better now!
NYC 2399 with a Bachmann Plus PRR dummy GP35 an Athearn BB PC 2327 that I painted in 2012.
The 2399 leads a freight train at Bedford NY. The 2399 would eventually become Conrail 2399. It was retired in 1987 and reported to be scrapped at Holidaysburg that same year.
Seeing is believing and 1/87th scale John B is now a believer!
The newly learned info on the NYC 2399 was something that really made my day. I tried to share the new found info with my wife but got a strange look and a yawn. Maybe it's not that big a deal in the grand scheme of things but it still made me very happy.
Greetings All, A diagram of the layout was recently requested to better follow along with the photos being posted. I thought this was a great idea and here are the diagrams with photos to give everyone an idea of how the N.Y.C.T.L. is situated.
Terminal Yard. Room Dimension: 13'6'' x 14'6''. Original Yard: Shown below right. Originally nine stub ended tracks with the expansion it was reduced to seven stub ended tracks. Tracks 8 and 9 became running tracks to reach the expansion and new engine facility. Engine facility is 9 tracks.
The original Terminal Yard circa 2011. Originally conceived to be a staging yard and place to store trains it has evolved from its humble beginnings to become the heartbeat of the layout.
Terminal Yard in January 2019. Facades attached to shelves with velcro hide the train boxes. Tracks closest to front edge, tracks 8 & 9, run thru to the new extension to the left. Paperwork on fascia is L to R Framed paperwork is yard track capacities. The others are Terminal Yard train schedule, Kings Port Division map for P.C.C.M. blocking purposes and a schedule of NYC M&E Trains.
Terminal Yard Engine Facility is accessed via track 9 thru either #6 switches connected to the wye or a #6 switch behind the shop building. The engine facility is built on a 24'' x 80'' door slab.
Track 9 from the yard leads to the entrances to the Engine Facility. Track 8 splits with a #4 turnout into two tracks that allow access to the T.O.F.C. track and Terminal Warehouse.
Coming out of the original portion of Terminal Yard
Looking towards Bruce Electric Equipment. The NYC caboose is on track 9.
Making the turn at Bruce Electric Equipment.
The undeveloped extension on the left hand side of the room past Bruce Electric. Track 9 is to the left.A large grain elevator is planned for the upper right. To the lower right is an undecided industry. Originally conceived to be the Empire City Power Authority to receive coal shipments from my Hudson Coal. I have started to rethink this as seen by the boxcars below.
A hidden track under the grain elevator allows access to the sidings of the E.C.P.A and Bruce Electric w/o interfering with the grain elevator. The hidden track can also serve as a staging track and a link to various RRs that floated cars into Manhattan by barge. Hopefully by 2020 this will be looking better.
Next we'll take a look at Bedford and Bedford Park. One the left is the mainline into Terminal Yard with Hudson Coal, the Highway Dept and T&R Gravel. In the center is the other industries of Bedford on the 12'' shelf with Main 1 leading to the lower level at the edge. To the right is Bedford Park with the Ford Plant, American Hardware and Bedford Park Yard with All City Storage.
The mainline to Terminal Yard behind Hudson Coal. The mainline shelf into the wall is 9'' wide and Hudson Coal is 16" wide.
The lead into Hudson Coal, the highway dept and T&R Gravel. This wall measures 12'4'' in length. I use the controller on the fascia when working at Hudson Coal.
The 12'' by 34'6'' Bedford shelf. Main 1 leads downgrade to the lower level, Main 2 runs to the Vanderbilt Bridge and the High Line for the upper level to Empire City. Main 3 leads to Bedford Park and the double ended siding allows access to the industrial flats.
The industries on the double ended siding are University Millwork, Berk Enterprises and Hostess / Wonder Bread.
Further along is the Heileman Siding with Heilman Brewery and a TBD industry. Bedford Station is at the edge.
At Bedford Tower with Main 1 continuing downgrade, Main 2 turning past the water tower towards the Vanderbilt bridge and the High Line. Main 3 runs into Bedford Park and the Ford Plant.
A curved switch leads into Bedfork Park and the Ford steel track. The Bedford Park Yard office sits between the tracks.
American Hardware, All City Storage and the small three track Bedford Park Yard with a team track at the front edge. You can see the top of the Vanderbilt Bridge at the bottom of the photo.
Next up is the Empire City peninsula that measures 28' x 5'. The brown shaded areas are the top level and the blue areas are the bottom. The west side is at the left, midtown is to the right in the upper photo. Midtown continues at the left in the bottom photo and the east side is at the right.
The upper level west side. Anchor Cargo (#11) is to the left. The EC Viaduct is at bottom right. Superior Furniture (#2) is top right.
The EC viaduct takes trains over the lower level tracks that go into Empire City Station. Neubaums Coffee & Tea Importers (#4) is behind the B&O boxcars and in front of Superior Furniture(#2). Moore & Company (#5) is to the right of Neubaums.
The view of the west side from North Side Yard.Superior Furniture(#2) center, Hohman Ave Tower (#7) and Reliable Machine Works(#1). The reverse curve is to the left of Superior Furniture with a siding under Superior Furniture to Reliable Machine Works.
North Side Yard and midtown industries Empire Produce(#10), EC Caterpillar(#9), Red Wing Milling(#8) and Prestage Gear(#12).
The east side entrance into North Side Yard and midtown industry Neal's Lumber & Hardware(#17). The switch to east side industries Gervais Pipe & Fitting(#13 & 14) Cargill(#16) is just past Neal's Lumber
Ralph's Grocery Warehouse(#15) shares the siding with Gervais Pipe & Fitting out of photo to the right. The City View Apartments (#18) and the Vanderbilt bridge to the High Line are in the distance. Main 1 passes over the lower level tracks as it continues down to the lower level.
Main 1 running downgrade in front of Ralph's Grocery Warehouse (#15) and passing over the reverse curve coming out of Empire City Station on the other side of the layout.
Now looking at the other side of the layout we see the upper track heading to the west side in the distance. The turnout to the west side reverse curve and industries is just past the signal. Empire City Station is on the bottom level. A pair of circular tracks representing a subway system sits below EC Station.
Looking to the east side the High Line is upper right. The EC station reverse curve is in the center. The track to the lower right leads to the REA and NYC Water Street freight house.
The High Line and the railfan pavilion on the upper level. Ralph's Grocery Warehouse sits behind the private homes. The REA building(# 19) is bottom right. The curved track off the REA siding leads to the freight house.
Last but not least the High Line to the Vanderbilt bridge and Bedford NY. The City View Apartments(#18) tower over the upper and lower levels. The NYC freight house sits under the High Line and the REA (#19) is at the bottom. Bedford Park is across the aisle to the right.
And there it is!
Special thanks to Robert R for initiating this project. I now actually have decent drawings of the layout and measurements.
We'll pick up the action at Bedford Tower with 1/87th scale John B juggling two higher priority trains that need to overtake the Coal Job that is sitting on track 2 between the tower and Terminal Yard.
Conventional wisdom might suggest that the Coal Job proceed up the grade to Terminal Yard first but that's not how we do it out on the 1/87th scale high iron of the N.Y.C.T.L.
First train to proceed will be scheduled Empire Belt train EB-2 with 1/87th scale Senior Engineer Sir Neal at the helm while Alco Joe gives him the business and a roll by inspection from his S-4 switcher.
1/87th scale Sir Neal with EB-2 rolls along on Main 3 towards the Coal Job's caboose sitting on Main 2.
EB-2 with some big six axle power overtakes the Coal Job and heads towards Terminal Yard.
Following right behind EB-2, 1/87th scale Alco Joe with another Ford Extra brings the newest Ford cars to Terminal Yard for nationwide distribution.
With the track now clear the Coal Job heads into Terminal Yard with it's train of loaded coal hoppers.
With the loaded hoppers weighed and spotted and ready for dispatch the Coal Job grabs another group of empty hoppers for delivery to Hudson Coal as the coal cycle continues.
Later that day the Coal Job brings the empties out of Terminal Yard to swap for the now loaded coal hoppers that came in on PC Train URN-4.
The Coal Job starts pulling the loads that will eventually go to the B&O's Genesee Coal Dock at Rochester NY.
With the empties now spotted it's time to head out and pick up the loads sitting on Main 2. The Engineer drops off the brakeman back at his caboose.
The H16-44s are coupled to the loaded hoppers and await clearance to depart once again. When being assigned to the Coal Job it's a good idea to bring plenty of reading materials.
Here's the reason for the wait, 1/87th scale PC Ralph is ready to board the F7A-F7B-F7A lashup that will be pulling PC Train SLX-1 to Selkirk and beyond. Due to union agreements the NYC F7 with its 'agreement' seats must be in the lead until the PRR units get the upgraded seats with armrests.
SLX-1, with 1/87th scale PC Ralph seated comfortably in the 1645, heads towards Selkirk passing the Coal Job waiting on Main 2.
With SLX-1 in the clear the Coal Job once again heads back to Terminal Yard. B.T.W. the H16-44 was Fairbanks-Morse best selling locomotive. The NYC purchased 13, the PRR 10 and the NH 25. The PC corralled them in Chicago where they would be closer to their F-M parts source in Beloit. WI.
The Coal Job brings the loaded hoppers into Terminal Yard and over the weigh in motion scale track.
Over at the engine tracks 1/87th scale Big Mike is making sure the original URN-4 pooled power consist is ready for departure after being fueled and sanded. Big Mike's making sure Wet Willie knows to run the engines thru the wye so that PC 1802 is the lead engine for cab signal reasons.
Much to everyone's surprise 1/87th scale Wet Willie has coupled up the trio of F7s correctly to what will be PC Coal Train URN-5.
Looks like 1/87th scale Alco Joe is still at work as he grabs a caboose for URN-5 and heads out of the engine tracks via the wye.
The caboose is coupled on.
URN-5 departs Terminal Yard
The unit coal train rolls thru Bedford NY behind it's 3 F7As.
Black diamonds as far as the eye can see destined for Rochester via Selkirk and West Mill on the K.P.D. Hey that rhymes!😉
The F7s climb the grade onto the High Line as they approach Empire City. Per an August 1960 Trains Magazine article the B&O had a rating of roughly nine carsto an F7 when dealing with loaded coal hoppers and steep grades so this three engine 20 car train Has power to spare.
Running west thru Empire City, Next Stop Selkirk!!!!
