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In a selectively compressed way I model the exchange of traffic between The PRR and the Huntingdon & Broad Top Mountain railroad at Huntingdon, PA.  The freight exchange was largely loaded coal hoppers coming out of small mines on the west face of Broadtop Mountain. The narrow gauge East Broad Top  served mines on the east face of the same mountain.   Perhaps the more interesting exchange was for a Supplee milk car handed off to a  daily 3 car H&BT train running between Huntingdon and Bedford, PA.   The train lasted until 1954 when the H&BT was abandoned due to a decline in coal traffic.  

On my layout the Huntingdon scene is only about 20" deep but packs in some interesting operation in a narrow aisle.

Layout view-Huntingdon aisle from above

  On the right side of the aisle is my representation of Osceola Mills, PA on the PRR's Tyrone & Clearfield Branch - that story is for another time.

Layout view-Huntingdon aisle

In the morning PRR local #623 brings 2 empty Supplee cars in to Huntingdon from Philadelphia. The milk cars are obstructed from view at the rear of the train.

PRR train #623

Switching was done by a PRR H9 2-8-0 assigned to Huntingdon.   One milk tank car goes to the Supplee creamery in Huntingdon.PRR Huntingdon - Supplee creamoryH&BT train #2 departing Huntingdon

  The other is hauled 52 miles down to a Supplee creamery in Bedford, PA. by H&BT train #2  (When the photos were taken I hadn't finished work on #37 and the brass ex-PRR BM62 RPO.  The plan is to complete the work during the COVID19 movement restrictions.  When done I'll post pictures of the train.)

With the 6k gallon tanks in each car loaded the process is reversed later that afternoon. 

H&BT train #3 arriving Huntingdon

  The PRR H9 collects the loaded milk cars from the H&BT station siding and the local cremory.

IMG_0901PRR H9s moving Supplee empty to H&BT

Eastbound is PRR mail and express train #96 hauled by 3 E7's. 

PRR train #96-1

The H9 tacks the 2 loaded milk cars on the rear of 96's express service cabin car. 

PRR train #96 -2 with Supplee cars attached

 

When we run the scenario in an operating sessions we’ll use 3 crews -  one for H&BT 2-8-0 #37 and its train, one for the H9 switcher, and one for #96's E7 A-B-A.

Gets a little crowed in the asile for social distancing 

 

 

 

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Images (9)
  • Layout view-Huntingdon aisle
  • Layout view-Huntingdon aisle from above
  • PRR train #623
  • PRR Huntingdon - Supplee creamory
  • H&BT train #2 departing Huntingdon
  • IMG_0901PRR H9s moving Supplee empty to H&BT
  • H&BT train #3 arriving Huntingdon
  • PRR train #96 -2 with Supplee cars attached
  • PRR train #96-1
Last edited by Keystoned Ed
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Thank you Malcolm - coming from you the compliment takes on added meaning.  The Huntingdon photos show the need to complete the street scene facades.  A very nice thing about this hobby is that there is no limit to the things we can work on.  When I complete work on H&BT train #2 I'll do a post  giving full credit to masters such as yourself who helped create it.

Last edited by Keystoned Ed

Matt Hurst and I were scheduled to present a talk at the now cancelled May 15, 2020 PRRT&HS annual meeting on PRR milk trains.   Matt was to cover prototype equipment, operations, and facilities.  I was to follow with a talk about modeling PRR/H&BT Huntingdon operations in O scale.   Since H&BT train #2 ran the last 7 miles to Bedford on PRR tracks I was hoping they might bend the rules and allow a non-Pennsy train to be displayed in the model room.    Matt and I plan to offer to do the talk at the 2021 meeting.

Unfortunately Rudy I never got to see the roundhouse in Saxton - however I've looked at quite a few photos of it.  I think one of the reasons I decided to incorporate a very small piece of the H&BT on my layout is that I like the contrast between the heavy standardization characteristic of the PRR and the hand me down nature of the H&BT short line.  After studying some additional pictures of the H&BT one of the things I need to do is to "plant" more weeds in the track - it looks too well maintained.  I should add that former H&BT #38, a Baldwin twin to #37, still exists on the Everett Railroad and there are hopes it will steam again some day.  

Last edited by Keystoned Ed

Superb modeling! This is especially interesting for me since I grew up in Central PA. Have been through Huntington many times and even rode the East Broad Top narrow gauge back in the 1960s. And about two hours by car to the west, my grandfather in Brookville had many friends employed at the locomotive works and we got some personal tours. I still remember climbing on a Pittsburgh and Shawmut SW-9 inside one of the shop buildings.

Simon - The K4s 5492 is a re-detailed/re-motored Precision Scale model.  The PRR H9 is by Key.  H&BT #37 was scratch built by Frank Miller and further detailed by yours truly.  The E7's are Sunset 3rd Rail models.  The train consists are a mix of brass, plastic, and aluminum models from PSC, NJCB, Oriental, P-Company, Overland, Kohs, Weaver, AtlasO, Lionel, and Golden Gate Depot.  The H&BT combine was scratch built by Brother Love Malcolm Byrd .  My approach to modelling starts with learning about prototype practices in the region I'm modelling and then shaping my roster of equipment to come reasonably close to what I see in historic photos and videos.  

Ed,

I see no reason you cannot display your H&BT train in the PRRT&HS model room. As long as the subject is reasonably related to the PRR it should be fine.

A few years ago I brought a Reading Co. G3 with two P70 non-air conditioned coaches to represent the PRSL's Hammonton local and that was perfectly legitimate

It would make a very interesting display and directly related to, your presentation.

Go for it.

Buzz

 

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