Marty, thank you for a great

Marty, thank you for a great article about your passion the CV. I am glad this e-magazine also has a prototype modeling column to build prototype modeling. Thank you and I look forward to your next column 

The CVHS in the 21st century

I read the article with great interest, as I model the CV as well, and was a member of the CVHS. 

I say was a member, as it's simply too hard to communicate with the organization from my new geographical location and situation. The group only accepts paper mail, and I found that my renewals (which I handled in person at train shows) almost always ran late, even when paying with cash.

Suffice to say that if they communicated via email, and took and electronic form of payment paypal, I'd still be a member.

I don't mean to chastise the CVHS - just the opposite, their publication, The Ambassador, is top notch - but it was very frustrating to interact with them.

I'd suggest that historical societies need to strongly consider their communication tool sets and look to simplifying lines of communication when possible. A big challenge for any volunteer organization, but one that has the potential to pay off with increased membership.

CV - Italy Yard

I lived in St Albans from 1955-61 within 2 blocks of the main CV HQs and train barn, service and machine shop facilities, and the huge Italy Yard. The CV-CN facility was bustling 24/7 and employed generations of families until the CV 's long decline. Today there is very little left of the old operation that is used although the Italy Yard is still quite active. I'd like to model this area in either HO or N,  but except for a few photos and fuzzy Google satellite overheads I wonder if anyone has a good track plan or even a company plan for the yard.

Chuck Kershner, Clinton, NY

Glad you're finding something of interest

 It's been somewhat of a struggle to come up with something that goes beyond "gluing fiddley bits to the bottom of freight cars" (which I love to do, but is well served elsewhere) - 

Since my home layout is the early (re) building stage there's only so far we can take benchwork discussions. That said, you'll be seeing quite a bit of my layout in the coming months since I'm hoping it will serve as a springboard for topics for Getting Real. 

I'd love to hear what people would like to see in a prototype modeling column - keeping in mind stuff on the latest GE SD20045-64 or whatever is far outside my comfort zone . . . 

Marty

I'm not going to comment on the CVRHS

 in detail - except to say as its founder I have a soft spot in my heart for it. Therefore, any comments I make would have to be taken with a grain of salt. 

I will say there are some steps underway to re-work the web site - the problem remains finding someone who has both the (1) motivation and (2) skill set to do it. But progress is being made. 

Track diagrams of Italy Yard

 have been published over the years. Do you have a specific era you're interested in seeing? 

Marty

Track diagrams of Italy Yard

Thanks Marty for your swift response. I am aware from living in St Albans of the period from the mid-50s until I left in 1961. During that time, there was still plenty of steam hauling freight and passenger consists with some diesel (as I remember). I recall Es or Fs with some passenger trains and some type of diesel for switching, but essentially a lot of big steam. The most prominent building of course was the Victorian CVR station and office building, with it towe at either end, and the large train shed. Today there is only the one tower and part of the office building standing and the shed was removed long ago. A single track crosses Lake Street when, as a kid in the time frame I mentioned, there must have been at least a dozen, mainly providing connections between the various facilities that worked on engines and cars. I want to model the yard west of Elm Street and the turntable-roundhouse area north of the HQ office, with the Richmond interchange between the roundhouse and Italy. I guess I could free hand a layout but it would be nice to have something more prototypical, if possible.

Chuck Kershner, chuck-kershner@hotmail.com

CVRHS article in MRH

 Marty,

That was a pleasant surprise to find a quote from me in your article! You did a great job here describing the CVRHS convention. I've enjoyed everyone I've attended. Will try to photograph the Swanton VT track diagrams I have and get them to you. At one time there was a GT yard there as well with roundhouse, ice house, bunk house, coal bunker and a good sized yard. You'll see it in the photos.

One of the B&M single window coaches I purchased is becoming B&M 4626 with the help of another modeling friend.

Bob Moeller

Track diagrams of Italy Yard

"...have been published over the years." Had hoped you or others might have directed me to where these plans appeared, but have seen nothing. As I said earlier, my experience with CVR dates to the 1950s and early 1960s (Left St. Albans in 1961 for university and did not return to live or even witness the demise of what was once a large and extremely busy service/repair operation and classification yard - Italy). Guess fuzzy Google Earth images will have to do. Still enjoyed reading about the CVR.

They've been published in the CVRHS Ambassador

 and the Bob Jone's books (Volume 2) has some track diagrams of Italy Yard. 

Also, Scott Whitney sells CD sets that include track diagrams of virtually the entire railroad:

http://home.comcast.net/~nmro/profiles.htm

Sorry, didn't realize you hadn't located them. 

Historical Societies

So what do yoy do when the historical society for your prototype has gone belly up? That's the situaton I find myself in since the historical society that deal with the New York Connecting Railroad has apparently disappeared from the face of the earth leaving no hints as to where they have gone or who now deals with this railroad.

I've already tried to find if the historiacl societies that handle the Pennsylvania Railroad that built it and teh New Haven that ran it have anything on the New York Connecting Railroad and they have nothing I can find.

I have found some things on-line showing photos of a walking tour along the tracks that happened back in 2004 but nothing since then.

Irv

eBay as a Research Tool

I set AC&Y as a keyword in eBay serach alert. Over the past year it has returned many results such as timetables, track orders, etc. I do not buy the items but do collect the images on the auction. The information on the items has revealed some aspects of actual AC&Y operation.

When I got frustrated by the lack of information on the CV

 I started the CV Historical Society. There had been (failed) attempts made at starting a CV Historical society but we've been going strong for 25 years. The Champlain Valley Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society was a great source for information, and early members, of the CV. Although they weren't necessarily modelers, they were still knowledgeable about the railroad and I actively "recruited" some of those guys to help early on. 

For the NY Connecting I'd also suggest you check with the local NRHS Chapter - they may have some information on where you could find other people interested in that railroad. 

I'm not a member, but have

I'm not a member, but have considered joining three, Conrail, Soo Line, and Santa Fe... Each has it's purpose, but none aid me in my current plans. Besides, current plans are easy enough, I just drive to Cajon Pass, and watch the trains!

Anyways, the Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society holds conventions. I emailed Joe about setting up a booth there, but never got an answer. This dang publication schedule is bogging him down!

Josh

CV - Italy Yard

Marty,

Thanks for your guidance. I found my Vol 2 of Bob Jones's CV series and sure enough there is the complete diagram of the St Albans layout on pages 136-37. I had forgotten how large the entire facility was when I lived there - and amazed at how little is actually left today. But the diagram instantly gave me a mental/visual flashback to a by-gone era when trains rumbled down those many tracks 24 hours a day. Now I cam proceed with creating a small piece of yesteryear from that giant CV facility, circa 1950s-60s.

Chuck Kershner, Clinton, NY