PRR/Conrail Juniata Division Engineering Report

[Dave V]

Chris,

The house is just an Atlas Kim's Classic American...



I bought the kit so I could paint it white.

[Dave V]

Okay, so since I didn't have room to model the Summerdale Diner (next to the Quality Inn and across from the Enola hump), I still feel as if I should pay homage to it.

So here's the next best thing:



Sorry for the blur; that's iPhone for ya.  I plan to remove the base and plant it into the sloping terrain along the road.

[wm3798]

If you extend the other way to Duncannon, you'll need to include the Harrisburg Dairies store...  Mmmmm. Ice cream!


We need to file a complaint though, NS has let the ROW grow over with trees and underbrush.  You used to be able to watch trains while licking the peanut butter ripple from your fingers...

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Just put the bug in Bruce's ear...

[chuck geiger]

After a friend blew chunks all over the table, we were forced to find a new "after hours" spot.  So I suggested Summerdale although I had never actually been there.  I figured a diner is a diner.

Yes, and no... The food was above diner standards - nice big portions, relatively tasty (and I had only had 3 beers - so yes, taste would be an issue) and superbionical broccoli (that ++it was the size of my head).  The food didn't take long either.  4 Stars on the food.

However, the service... they should be ashamed.  Our waiter greeted us by asking "what do you want?"... followed by my drink being empty for my entire meal with no server to be found.  When I finally did find him, he was busy grabbing the guy at the next table's unit.  I'm not even exagerating.

I was with 2 guys, and when 1 of them offered to pay I tried to offer my card to pay for mine... The guy at the register looked at me like I had a di** on my forehead.

Although, bitching about the service did make nice conversation

[Dave V]

Chuck, I read that review too...!  Service is usually good, although one night with Ed K and Bill Lewis we waited a VERY long time on my cheesesteak...  The food OTOH is always awesome!

Gotta love how they take the location to heart...  The Summerdale Diner is decorated with old Pennsy company calendars and Grif Teller paintings.  And outside you hear the squeals of wheel flanges in retarders on the hump.  Pure Pennsy heaven.

[chuck geiger]

I saw it once, lived in Pittsburgh in the late 70's....

[wm3798]

I can't believe I've never been there.  We used to go to the diner up around Cove.  I think it was where CP Sheetz is now.  I remember there being gravy.  Lots and lots of Gravy.

Lee

[Iain]

Is that the Sheetz that Sean peed on?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Is that the Sheetz that Sean peed on?

Nope, that was Cresson.

The Diner at Cove was actually further along than the Sheetz.

It's funny, that stretch of highway seems really short while in hot pursuit, but seems SOOO LONG when you're stuck behind granny going 5 under...

[Iain]

It's funny, that stretch of highway seems really short while in hot pursuit, but seems SOOO LONG when you're stuck behind granny going 5 under...

That's true of any good driving road.

[wm3798]

It's funny, that stretch of highway seems really short while in hot pursuit, but seems SOOO LONG when you're stuck behind granny going 5 under...

That's true of any good driving road.

Even if you're not a good driver.... ;D

[Dave V]

Is that the Sheetz that Sean peed on?

Nope, that was Cresson.

The Diner at Cove was actually further along than the Sheetz.

It's funny, that stretch of highway seems really short while in hot pursuit, but seems SOOO LONG when you're stuck behind granny going 5 under...

Not when Sean's driving!!!  School busses, Grannies, kids...  No problem!  Soiled pants are part of the "ambience" of pursuit!

[Iain]

It's funny, that stretch of highway seems really short while in hot pursuit, but seems SOOO LONG when you're stuck behind granny going 5 under...

That's true of any good driving road.

Even if you're not a good driver.... ;D

It's not my fault people keep running into me.

[Dave V]

I've made less progress on the Enola Yard extension than I'd hoped, but nonetheless, I'm still thinking about the future of the N Scale Juniata Division.  Until very recently the plan was to relay the code 80 track on the main door with code 55, with a plan to make the layout look more like the real Lewistown than my current fictional Lewisport.

However, the waffles have been flying lately...

What is unsatisfactory about what I'm doing now and continuing to model the Middle Division?  Well, for starters, let's be frank; I've never REALLY modeled the Middle Division.

1.  Obviously a 2-track main versus 4-track (PRR) or 2-track with extended CP sidings (CR)....  Inadequate trackage.
2.  Traffic levels - No way I can simulate either PRR or CR ops on the old Middle Division any time soon even in a scaled-down sense.
3.  Ops - Other than a few industries, there's not much either on the prototype or my fantasy Juniata Division in terms of on-line customers worthy of challenging ops.  Granted, the Burnham branch and Lewistown DO offer a lot (including the steel mill), but it's being done by a number of folks including Jerry Britton.  I would still feel compelled to try to capture part of the main, though, and the traffic volume is still an issue.

Some time ago, maybe even years, Jerry Britton had suggested the York Haven/NCRR line between York and Harrisburg as a very suitable prototype for me.  The more I think about it, the more I think he's right.  Because...

1.  This line was mostly 2-track throughout its history, to include my 1980 CR era.
2.  It had passenger ops in 1956 (PRR).
3.  It has LOTS of online switching and interchange opportunities.
4.  Scenery is interesting; rolling hills, creeks, mountain backdrop.
5.  It includes Enola, which I've already mostly built.
6.  It connects with Ed's layout!
7.  There were enough coal and TOFC trains that I can still use my current roster of stuff for both eras (except maybe the Broadway Limited ;D).
8.  There was wire from Wago Jct to Enola for my GG1!
9.  Lastly, traffic levels were high enough to be exciting yet could be manageable from a modeling perspective...  or at least could be scaled down without completely losing the character of the line.

Okay, so what does that mean for now?  Not much.  I've got a reduced hobby budget at the moment while we're paying off a family vacation for Christmas, so even if Atlas code 55 flex were available, I'd not be in a good position to do anything about the main door.  I need to focus on finishing Enola and expanding my Conrail roster.

However, my mind is now developing a concept for a door-based modular layout for the York Haven line, including my Enola Yard section and scenes from Emigsville and/or Mount Wolf...  and perhaps eventually York.  Again, I have 6 years or so before I’m eligible to retire from the Air Force, but a modular layout would make things easier.  My plan now is to do only minimal improvements to the main door layout and to start amassing structures appropriate for the York Haven line.  There’s a paper mill, some very interesting feedmills and concrete loading facilities, factories, etc.

Probably by my next assignment I’ll have a better idea how the closing chapters of my Air Force career will play out, at which time I may request help from the operations experts here to help me design a layout with realistic operations…  I must confess, I am clueless when it comes either to ops or layout design for effective ops.  This in spite of owning Tony Koester’s books…