Model Train Journal

Happy Friday !!

Plan to start ballasting in the next few days.

Running some MPC stuff this week -






Santino really likes to watch the trains -




611 left Spencer this week & made her way back home to Roanoke. I chased her all the way. Still going through the shots, but here's the first one I got to - Seen through a 20MM lens, N&W 611 passes through Forest, VA on the Blue Ridge District as she heads home to Roanoke



NS Dash-9 9563 leads eastbound 20K through Duncannon, PA on the eastern end of the Pittsburgh Line


NS ES44AC 8095 leads 234 through Wabun, VA on the Christiansburg District


A new GE ET44AC and the Erie heritage unit lead Crewe, VA - Bellevue, OH manifest 189 through Montgomery, VA on the Christiansburg District.

When I first saw this picture I would have sworn it was taken in 1950 when the 611 was made. I thought the ESSO station was a real gas station. I had to download the picture to zoom in on the station to see that it is actually an antique shop. The picture is what I would call "postcard" perfect. What a beautiful picture.

Thanks. I knew that Esso sign was there & had wanted to get 611 going by it on previous excursions but I needed clouds based on the time she was running. It worked out this time. Better late than never!

Here are some of my photos of the Panhandle taken this past weekend. The wife and I went on a little ramble to our favorite orchard, Brown's in MacDonald, PA. MacDonald happens to be on the Panhandle. To get to it, you must pass through Cecil, also on the Panhandle. West of MacDonald is Burgettstown, PA.

This is Burgettstown Station.


Here's the map of the Panhandle Trail.


We decided that it just a short jump to Weirton, so we headed there to get some shots of the bridge piers. Here's a shot from the WV side, just south of it on Route 2.


The next 4 photos are of the Steubenville pocket pier. In particular, I needed some guidance on its coloration. Fortunately, being on land (in the sand and gravel yard) it is easily accessible from Ohio Route 7.





Here's a photo of a mid-stream pier. Being more exposed to the sun and the elements, all the mid-stream piers are lighter in color.


Finally, here's a shot of the WV side pocket-pier and the "shorty" pier. The water level was high. Usually the shorty is not immersed in the river. And the wake left around the piers is visible.


George