Research (and the unexpected results thereof)

As you may (or may not) have noticed, building the Allegheny Eastern has involved quite a bit of research. I don't necessarily study all this stuff to make the All East more realistic, that is a serendipitous side effect of the research. I do look into specific item directly related to the model railroad, but for the most part I delve into things in general. Sometimes it seems too general. I collect information anywhere I can find it, the Internet, books, advertisements, maps, photos and even matchbook covers. I try to look into every little clue I dig up in all this gathered info. Sometimes I find things I never suspected (or expected).

Several come to mind...
Pennsylvania Railroad's V1 Turbine...
This gem took a while to discover. I first found clues to its existence in patent drawings although I had no idea what they were at the time...

Carleton Steins' 1944 Patent 

It also appeared in Pennsy's own publicity...

PRR "Triplex" Announcement

V1 Appears as a Phantom

As well as other publications...

Popular Science June, 1945: C&O M1, PRR V1

Some other references I have located are at SteamLocomotive.com and Google books. The beast never left the drawing boards, dieselization kicked it in the head before it became a reality. C&O's experience with the ill fated M1 probably didn't help much.

Streamline trains became popular with the introduction of Burlington's "Pioneer Zephyr" and Union Pacific's "M10000". Many of the concepts used by these trains were laid down in 1900 by a fellow named Frederick Upham Adams when he designed his "Windsplitter". More than just an idea, the train actually operated on the Baltimore & Ohio. The train even had full diaphragms in an era of narrow vestibules. Oddly enough it was pulled by a conventional 4-4-0. Notice the tailcar in the photo!

Adam's Windsplitter" 1900

A complete set of patent drawings in available here and here.

The "Windsplitter" is not the earliest reference to streamlining. In 1865 S.R. Calthrop applied for this patent...

Calthrop's 1865 Patent....

...For a Streamlined Train

Burlington's Pioneer Zephyr was not the first "streamliner" to be constructed of stainless...

Budd Stainless Railcar: Popular Mechanix May, 1932

I've even tracked government documents like these that describe the Glen White area at Horseshoe Curve...

Mine Report

Health Report

Somewhere I have a copy of a mine report that actually describes the railroad, its switchbacks, and other tidbits.

I hope this gives you an idea of the numerous sources that can provide details about the railroad you are modeling. It ain't always easy, and sometimes it takes a while for the next clue to appear. I consider it fun, but then again, I'm kinda eccentric.

Regards,
Frank Musick
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer

Allegheny Eastern Railroad