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Hello Delta Line fans ... unfortunately many of Delta lines buildings have been lost in time. Fortunately we have Frank Ellison's great articles with wonderful photographs to piece together the once great Delta Lines layout. 4 of the buildings remain from Donaldson. I'm trying to recreate Donaldson ..here is a very preliminary rough placing of 3 of the buildings on the new "Donaldson" . In time hope to fill out the rest of the gaps ...working on Donaldson left of the street crossing. Donaldson as on Delta Lines was a spit between two other sections of the layout ..so no walls ( back drops) and located on a straight The new Donaldson is on a curve (corner) ...so a new original Ellison subdivision ( from somewhere else on Delta Lines) has sprung up behind the O B Long box Co. .. Also the back drops from Ginia may be located by Richmond Barrel down the road . More photos as additional work progresses . Anyone seen the packing plant recently ? Cheers Carey

There has been a new Facebook page started dedicated to Frank Ellison and his Delta Lines ...you are invited to view and join    search under    "Delta Lines Friends"   in Facebook ...for more photos and info   or link here   https://www.facebook.com/groups/2165325890396667/

The new facebook page was started due to the antique technology with the old Yahoo Delta lines  group site  

 

12-4-2018 a12-4-2018 c12-4-2018aerial no coal yard

 

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Enjoyable thread.

As a young lad, I discovered Frank's "Delta Lines" in the Bantam Book "Model Railroading". I was particularly smitten by his meat packing plant w/stock pen, however all of his structures were "wow" material to me at the time. (Still are.) So convincing was the little Bantam book at convincing me how "anybody can do this"... I set out to build one or two of Frank's structures using "card stock".  (I think I recall substituting poster board?)

My results weren't quite as effective as Mr. Ellison's.

Andre

I plan to release as many of Ellison's structures as practical in my Frank Ellison Tribute Series. Hap Hazard is in the final stage of production. I should be boxing up kits starting next week. I will have them available at York. These are all limited editions--let me know if you want to be added to the list.

Last edited by DennisB
Dennis LaGrua posted:

As many people here know; I have recreated most of the original Delta Lines Layout here in NJ.  I'm afraid that after hobbyists like myself pass, there will be little to no model train scratch building work done.

Dennis,

  I probably have seen pictures before of your layout, but not recently. Can you post pictures on here when you have time? I am not on Facebook and have no interest in joining at this point.

Tom 

Last edited by PRR8976

Attached please find other Structures copied from the Infamous "Delta Lines" and sold two weeks ago on Da' Bay...Oblong-boxmod1

A subtile twist to Oblong Box Co....

Oblong-boxmod2Oblong-boxmod3Oblong-boxmod4

NOte: See through freight car loading dock is missing along with the office Extension.

Oblong-boxmod5Donaldson_canning_co1Donaldson_canning_co2Donaldson_canning_co3Donaldson_canning_co4Donaldson_canning_co5Donaldson_canning_co6Donaldson_canning_co7Donaldson_canning_co9jpgDonaldson_canning_co10

NOt sure if this is a Delta Lines structure... looks a bit English but nicely done though!

Small Fact-warhse1Small Fact-warhse2Small Fact-warhse3Small Fact-warhse4Small Fact-warhse5

Warrehouse #1.. again not sure if its a Delta Lines Structure but looks like it.

Warehouse1aWarehouse1bWarehouse1fWarehouse1g

I wonder what this building was on the Delta Lines....

warehouse10warehouse11warehouse12warehouse14warehouse15

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Hello all...the saw tooth building is the "Donaldson Canning Co." .......When Ellison  was writing the articles ...the models were fresh and sometimes not yet finished as it would live on the layout ...  notice the saw tooth is backwards from the photo ... some time since the photo was taken    the little office building on the end, some smoke stacks  have gone roaming ..and the roof reversed in a storm over the 70 + years ....  in time I will do my best to return the Canning Co. back to as it was ...

Original article can be found in Model Builder October 1942 ...was probably reissued/ re-worked  for Toy Trains in the 50's  

 

Cheers Carey 

 

 

canning coroad crossing canning co12-4-2018 a

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Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Well, I looked on Amazon, no dice for books. EBay has only stuff that featured his stuff or some other things. Real difficult to get anything. I wonder why they haven't re-run his book, maybe the rights to it or the publishing company is no more?

If you're talking about Frank Ellison on Model Railroading I recently bought a pristine hardcover copy on the Bay of e. Cheap too, at $22.72 (at auction-I was ready to pay $35). If you watch a copy comes up every now and again. Not always available but given sometime you can buy a copy.

Lew

Great thread, Carey. I am a long time Delta Lines fan. Some one mentioned that it would be amazing to see what Frank would do with a laser cutter, but Frank was a master at creating illusions with less. He was a theatrical designer. I'm not sure he would have needed or wanted more technology.

May I ask about the painted backdrop in your photos? Is that original Delta Lines? It has the forced perspective and style of painting that I would associate with Ellison and the period.

This is a wonderful website which has again brought to life the amazing creative ability of one of the most influential pioneers of our hobby. I have just finished building Dennis Brennan's Hap Hazard structure. It was one of the most challenging and worthwhile challenges ever and has resulted in a really swell building. Have now started on the next structure which was actually the first one Dennis released-Oblong Box Company. Dennis has always been available to call and ask for help as I fumbled through several aspects of the building. Isn't it amazing that about 70 years after Frank created his work of art, it lives once again thanks to Dennis. Have Fun. Larry Sokol

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