[Date Prev][Date Next] [Chronological] [Thread] [Top]

(erielack) EL Freelance Layouts

My Memories Branch of the EL is another freelance
layout. It takes up one side of a double car garage,
9.5 X 29 feet with a lift out across the garage door
to a 2ft X 11 foot yard on the other wall. My EL
memories are made up of growing up along the Old
Road/P'burg Branch and the Sussex Branch. When I went
to work for the EL I worked the Gladstone Branch and
the B&P. When I was a EWIB auditor on leave of absance
from the EL, I was resposible for the Bloomsburg and
Lural Line/Wyoming Branch customers. So my memories
are more directed to GP-7, C-424 and SW switchers
working roustabouts then the SD-45 powered mainline
freights. 
My layout consits of a big double track oval around
the one side of the garage with 6 hidden stagging
tracks. On this I can run the big six axle power with
its 28 and 30 inch radius curves. I also use it when
the guys come over to run trains to represent the CNJ
running CNJ and LV trains on it, the same as was done
west of Bethlehem. 
The actual Memories Branch begins at its west end at
Bath Yard. Here is the interchange with the
Northampton and Bath and the Lehigh and New England.
The branch then swings across the lift out in front of
the garage door to Moosic where I have a kit bashed
breaker. I plan to add a anthracite grinding plant and
a truck dump in this area next. The line then comes to
Lake Jct where the interchage is located between the
EL and CNJ. From the Lake Jct Yard the 1st and 2nd
Port Brandan Drills operate. The next town is Port
Brandan which is a typical northeastern brick mill
factory town. When list member Greg O said it looked
like Paterson he made my day. Port Brandan has a team
yard and freight house yard that holds 26 40ft cars.
Their is also several industires in this area for the
Roustabouts to serve. 
From Port Brandan the line goes down a short steep
grade to the farm town of Sussex with its creamery,
freight house, feed mill and coal and lumber yard. The
double track is above the the town sort of the way the
cut off is above Andover and Johnsburg. 
From Sussex the line follows a river and comes to the
town of Lime Ridge where Red Star Cement is now being
built. The cement mill will have a coal dump, pack
house and bulk loading tracks once I am done with it. 
For the time being the line ends at a temporary yard
consisting of a roundaround track and 3 stub tracks to
represent the EL mainline connection. 
The benchwork is built from 55 inches for Sussex and
Lime Ridge to 60 inches for Lake Jct, Moosic and Bath.

Once the scenery is done on the top level another
layer of benchwork is framed out 40 inchs above the
floor for the bottom level. 
On this will be a oval, 26" curves, to represent the
Old Road with 6 stagging tracks. The Old Road will
connect with the branch at Portland. From Portland the
branch will climb behind the yard, and will include
the wye and on to Bangor where Flory Milling will be
modeled, Shops and the freight house. The line will
then goes uphill to Pen Argyl Jct where the line will
split going on both sides of a slate quarry. The
mainline will continue on to Lime Ridge. The branch
line I still have not totally made up my mind if I am
going to model Martins Creek or build Port Delaware.
List member Jim Dalburgs modeling of Morris Canal
boats has really rekindeled my interest of the canal.
I used to walk its tow paths when I was a kid. 
That is how my layout now is shaping up. It really was
not orginally planned this way. It was going to be an
Kingston to Maybrook line and just too many old good
memories got in the way. Scenery on the top level is
about two thirds done. Once it is completed then the
track will be extened down the hill to Portland. My
memories of cement mills, coal breakers, brick factory
buildings, dairy farm country and slate quarries all
will have a place on the layout.
Power on the branch has been Atlas H-16-44 and GP-7
units, Atlas C-424 & C-425's, Stewart F3's, and
Life-Like GP-7 units. I just complete the conversion
to DCC last month. What a differance the DCC has made
when the guys have come over for the past two
operating secessions.
Also memories of long ago job names also are used for
the roustabouts on the branch. The call letters for
Lake Jct are BG and the daily train the supplies the
cars for the two roustabouts that work out of Lake Jct
and takes their pulls back is called the BG Haul. The
local that works Sussex is the Sussex Roustabout. The
cement plant is worked by two jobs the Cement Drill
and the Cementor. The Bath Drill takes care of the N&B
and LNE interchange work. All names from long ago that
have all but been forgotten. 
Bob Stafford

	The Erie Lackawanna Mailing List
	Sponsored by the ELH&TS
	http://www.elhts.org

------------------------------

End of EL List Daily V3 #1639
*****************************