Conundrum!

Allegheny Eastern Track Plan Jan 20, 2012

I updated the track plan to reflect all the recent changes though I still have to figure out the track ladders in Altoona Yard. I've been using the printed drawing to sketch some scenery, signal and block locations and other ideas. Doing so has led me to another conundrum.

Gallitzin Sidings

Up until this point the plan was to install a two level helix under Gallitzin so I could raise the entire area six inches. As I was researching scenery details from old topographic maps I learned that there used to be additional sidings in the Gallitzin area. Near as I can tell, they all served coke ovens. This was pretty common way back when. The branches at Kittaning point also served coke ovens as well as mines. I'm not sure I'm going to model the ovens, but I definitely want to include the sidings. One of the sidings was off the eastbound main coming into Gallitzin. This will give me and excuse to fill that extra space that now exists after the re-alignment. Another siding was also off the eastbound main just past the New Portage bridge. This siding was double ended. Two other sidings were on the westbound mains. One directly east of the New Portage connection and the other at the west portal of the Gallitzin bore.

Adding these sidings creates more traffic for the local freights. The siding on the east side of Gallitzin will serve a team track instead of coke ovens so that almost any kind of freight car can be spotted there. The two other siding will actually connect into the Altoona Northern / Glenwhite loop and handle all kinds of traffic, including coke. All of that traffic will be "inferred" since very few, if any, actual industries will be modeled along thos tracks. The double ended siding east of New Portage will be the only track where actual coke ovens will be modeled.

Altoona Northern Connections

Meanwhile back at Altoona research has shown that the Altoona Northern presents more opportunities for switching. Besides the interchange with the Pennsy at Juniata, it appears that the A&M also connected to the Altoona & Logan Valley about 9 blocks west of the PRR interchange. I don't know what the actual situation was but I know what it will be on the Allegheny Eastern. The A&N exchanges freight with the traction line. This means box motors hauling freight cars through  the streets of Altoona. The freight will originate from industries on the the A&N as well as the Pennsylvania. It also means that the A&N exchanges passengers with the A&LV. Trolley passengers bound for Dougherty, Highland Park and Wopsononock can take the A&N.

Altoona & Logan Valley

Extending the Altoona & Logan Valley to East Altoona will require some modification of the engine terminal. Since the workbench sits directly under this area there is a possibility of widening the benchwork at the roundhouse. I want to add a 1 1/2" extension on most of the layout edges because there are too many places where track is right on the edge. The A&LV extension would be part of that revision. I could also lay A&LV tracks towards Hollidaysburg, running them up the length of the yard past Red Bridge.

I made a list of what "branch" generates what traffic and there is a lot of variety. The Altoona Northern will handle passengers, coal loads, freight of all kinds and coke. There will be plenty of empties to return. Glenwhite Coal & Lumber will ship coal, finished lumber, coke, mine supplies and heavy machinery and, of course, more empties. The sidings at Gallitzin will handle coke and general freight of all kinds to the team track. Finally, the Altoona & Logan Valley will handle passengers and local freight.

All of this seems a fair trade for the scenery and "staging" possilbilities of the helix. I can provide scenery below track level by just elevating Horseshoe Curve. In that case the tracks to Gallitzin will actually be downhill. I'm thinking I can pull some magic by creating the illusion that they aren't.

Have to lay some of these ideas out in mock-up and see what it all looks like.