This is my first post to my first blog so if I screw something up #1, I'm sorry and #2 give me a head's up and I will try not to do it again.
I model the Middletown and Unionville Railroad during the middle 1930's to the middle 1940's. The prototype M&U has a long and very interesting history beginning in 1867 as a broad gauge branch of the Erie Railroad, then as a standard gauge connection between the New York Midland (O&W) Railroad and the New Jersey Midland (S&W), then leased to the S&W, then as an independent shortline that is still in operation today.
I try to model the line as accurately as I can within the limits of my available space, and my abilities. This is my 3rd or 4th M&U layout and I learned from the others that I have what I like to call "ADHD modeling syndrome". This is where I will start something and continue it until something else sparks my interest then I will work on that and so on. This left a layout that was, for me, very unappealing. Nothing was complete after years of work I found it unapealing and not enjoyable, dust and spider webs ruled. I tore it down and started from scratch...complete scratch, I removed walls added several dedicated electric curcuits, sheetrocked the walls and ceiling (the layout is in a basement) and epoxied the cement floor. The expanded room was needed for an expanded layout, working one town while my caboose was still in the last one was an illusion breaker. The new layout would be double decked with a gradual grade to lift it up to two decks. I also eliminated any duck-unders, I found removing layers of skin from my back to be another unenjoyable aspect of the other layout. I went with a drop down by the entry way. I was intrigued by the concept of layout design elements (LDE) which would mesh with each of the five towns on my layout. So I am building each of the 5 towns as an LDE on a "benchwork" of foam insulation with a 1X2 frame. The whole thing is hung off the wall on heavy duty adjustable shelf brackets. The whole system has worked out extremely well for me and if I ever need to move the whole layout can come with me.
The first LDE I finished was the town of Slate Hill which is 6 years old and I have zero issues with the lightweight construction. The layout photo's are not magazine quality, I just banged some out with a little hand held digital camera, but you will get the idea.
The photo above is from the M&NJRHS of M&U RR #6 going westbound at Slate Hill crossing Route 6 in 1940 on a caboose hop. M&U #6 was originally NYO&W #24 and was the most handsome engine owned by the M&U RR.
The photo below is from my Slate Hill LDE. The buildings are all scratch built from styrene with interiors and lights. The station plans were in Model Railroad Craftsman, the house I just did from photo's and it was compressed to fit the location. The model #6 is a Bachmann 4-4-0 with DCC and sound. I modified it some to match the prototype a bit closer but I'm no rivit counter. The caboose #51 (which is actually facing the wrong way, sorry) started out as a Walthers 4 window caboose that I added the freight door to.
The photo below is from the same house with the scene on the front porch more prominent. I wanted to "liven it up a bit" and remembered the Norman Rockwell painting of the young Marine home on leave showing the gang at the local garage a souviner Japanese battle flag. I took some artistic licence and moved the scene to this front porch to show the joyous temporary return of this Marine to his loved ones (note the blue star on the service banner in the window on the front door). By this time this house had been renovated into at least 3 apartments (actually my Uncle's family would rent one out in later years).
After looking at this picture I think I can do something better for those white flowers in front of the porch.
The layout starts in Middletown NY, where the M&U RR connected with the Erie and the O&W railroads. The M&U had a small yard here with engine facilities that it shared with the Erie RR. I have all my track down in the configuration that it would have been in the mid 1930's to mid 1940's. I have scenery and some details complete but this is where I focus my energies now.
The photo above is of M&U RR Brill Car #55 sometime between 1935-1940. The railroad had a contract with the Middletown School District to bring high school students to Middletown from the other 4 towns along the line. The car had just returned to Middletown from one of these runs and is being turned on the M&U's turn table in "DG" yard.
The photo below is my M-55 on the turntable in DG yard. The M-55 model is a brass import that I'm planning on upgrading with DCC, sound and NWSL Stanton Drive. I would like to have room for some interior details which would be displayed through all that glass. The turntable was also scratch built with a 1/4 inch phone jack pivot so it is removable. The model, like the prototype, are "armstrong" powered. I am working on the scenery from the back of this section to the front. I am struggling with the tiny clearance between the O&W mainline and the backdrop which is a quarter of an inch. With so many photo's taken in this yard the hill, trees and homes in the background seem like a "must have". A photo backdrop made from period shots might be the way to go, but I don't know how to do that and the only shots I have are black and white. The houses now are completely covered by trees...a chalange.
The photo above is M&U #6 returning to DG yard with Erie 6000 series milkcars. It is passing the M&U's coal tipple located between Washington St. and Houston Ave. The tracks in the foreground are the O&W's mainline, the Erie main were on the other side of the tipple and down the hill.
The photo above is my compressed version of this scene. The O&W main are out of frame to the left and due to space I had to start the "farm track" siding at Washington St. which is under the rear of the caboose. The M&U shared a crossing flagman with the O&W because their main lines were so close at this location. Washington St. was also where the M&U would drop off and pick up high school kids before a new school was built much farther from the railroad and this traffic stopped.
The photo below is a random shot at Lime Kiln Road, east of Slate Hill. I wanted to add some interest and anchor the era by adding the Works Progress Administration crew working on the ditches.
I will be taking some more shots around the layout, maybe some more "general layout" photo's and a few more specific shots with some later equipment.
Thank You.
J.A. Smith Pres. & GM
