Doing more Canton Layout planning

[sizemore]

Where is NightShift?

The S.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

What do you think "F" is?

[sirenwerks]

No... you have to do Boston Street.  Calling it Canton and not doing Boston St. is like building a church without an altar.

Or living in Upper Fells Point.

Where's the GM plant?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

No GM plant. Its's too big to fit (TWSS), 86' cars will dwarf the layout and they're not so hot on 15" radius curves.

[sirenwerks]

Are you doing the old can plant on Boston or the new one? How about the low-rise chem plant across from Bayview? I think it's technically on the Canton, but it's a manageably sized industry. http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qjdy888mmwnw&lvl=18&dir=0&sty=b

BB

[John]

Are you doing the old can plant on Boston or the new one? How about the low-rise chem plant across from Bayview? I think it's technically on the Canton, but it's a manageably sized industry. http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qjdy888mmwnw&lvl=18&dir=0&sty=b

BB

those two boxcars look to be stranded

[davefoxx]

those two boxcars look to be stranded

I'm not so sure, John.  The track those boxcars are sitting on is still connected (but difficult to see in the pavement and under the clutter) to the rails to the outside world.  Also, depending on the Bing view, the boxcars will disappear.

Dave

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Are you doing the old can plant on Boston or the new one? How about the low-rise chem plant across from Bayview? I think it's technically on the Canton, but it's a manageably sized industry. http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=qjdy888mmwnw&lvl=18&dir=0&sty=b

BB

I'd do the one on Boston if I were doing it. I like the look of that chemical plant. I hadn't noticed that before. I think that may be the model for the one at "B". Possibly.

[GonzoCRFan]

I'm not so sure, John.  The track those boxcars are sitting on is still connected (but difficult to see in the pavement and under the clutter) to the rails to the outside world.  Also, depending on the Bing view, the boxcars will disappear.

They're also in that same general location on a regular basis...perhaps they're reacher-cars for switching that plant?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Interesting, I hadn't noticed that. Those could also be the mythical "PC Boxcars" that were seen back there.

I think I'm going to reach out to my local Canton RR expert to see what he knows about it.

[Ken G Price]

I went to Google maps and the plant is abandoned, but those two box cars are still on the rails.
Just next to the main line switch.

[sirenwerks]

I went to Google maps and the plant is abandoned

No that's the way most of Baltimore looks regularly.

Seriously, I haven't been out to Bayview in a bit (knock on wood) but the plant looked pretty healthy last time. Not sure about the boxcars, but the covered hoppers moved in and out regularly. BTW Ed, if you go out there, do it on a Tuesday. Michael's is nearby. Doesn't look like much from the outside or even the inside (reminds me of Haussner's without the art or Burke's) but they have a most excellent prime rib special Tuesdays.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

    The plant you're referring to is the Porcelain Enamel Manufacturing Co or Pemco. The plant still stands but is closed and is slated for demolition according to MdDOE websites. Get your photos now!  It made glass frit which is used for coating appliances and such. The inbound loads included sand from  Nitro WV via Conrail.  I have Canton Railroad switchlists which show this.
     An old school friend of mine was the last plant manager and he told me they moved to the south because of high labor cost , I think the Pemco website shows North Carolina. The plant stands across Eastern Ave. from Hopkins Bayview.
    I've included a photo of the model which I have underway on my layout of the plant, much work remains!
   
    Also the boxcars you're seeing in the aerial shots were Canton boxcars that have a story all their own. The stories I've heard were that the they loaned or leased them to Pemco. and when the railroad called for them,  Pemco claimed they were the owner of the cars and would not return them!  When the plant closed, the railroad pulled the cars and the last I saw them they were on the hill track behind the plant, which is visible from I95. They have not been moved in many years and if not already, will probably be scrapped.

Directly from the man who knows more about The Canton than anyone else I've ever met (and a very talented modeler too).

And damn, I'm gonna have to check that place out.

[GonzoCRFan]

Interesting, I hadn't noticed that. Those could also be the mythical "PC Boxcars" that were seen back there.

They "were", until one day Russ pulled onto the shoulder and I jumped out to investigate...no PC, definitely lettered CTN...

[sirenwerks]

Closed? I guess it's been longer than I remember since I've been out Eastern Ave. Let me know if you're going for photos Ed, especially if it's on a Tuesday.