Saturday, August 17, 2013

Employees Timetable, Pittsburgh Division 1940

Just the results of some research on traffic in the 40's. This data is a combination of info from a traffic study and the PRR official employees timetable. Keep in mind that there was a war going on so the traffic is heavy, even though April 28th was a Sunday in 1940. I'm looking for more info circa 1949, but this is the only detailed information I have at this time. I created an Excel spreadsheet so I could arrange the train schedules for both directions chronologically. It shows the times trains passed through Gallitzin and Altoona with an idea of the travel time between the two points for a given train consist. Fully numeric designations are passenger equipment, alpha characters indicate freight. Presents a very clear picture of how trains were moving through Altoona on that Sunday in April, 1940. The schedule does not include helper movements, work trains and other miscellaneous traffic. 

 I've added some reference notes about helper operations, track assignments and speed limits at the end.
. 
Employees Timetable No. 31 April 28, 1940






WESTWARD EASTWARD
Train CE1 Altoona 12:30AM Conemaugh 2:30 AM Train 40 Gallitzin 12:04AM Altoona 12:30AM
Train 68 Gallitzin 12:19AM Altoona 12:45AM
Train 23 Altoona 1:04 AM Gallitzin 1:32 AM
Train 58 Gallitzin 12:04AM Altoona 1:13 AM
Train BS Altoona 1:15 AM Conemaugh 2:25 AM
Train 30 Gallitzin 12:5 AM Altoona 1:24 AM
Train 48 Gallitzin 1:04 AM Altoona 1:30 AM
Train 32 Gallitzin 1:26 AM Altoona 1:54 AM
Train 28 Gallitzin 1:37 AM Altoona 2:03 AM
Train 42 Gallitzin 1:53 AM Altoona 2:19 AM
Train 39 Altoona 2:24 AM Gallitzin 2:53 AM
Train 67 Altoona 2:31 AM Gallitzin 2:58 AM
Train Alcl1 Altoona 3:45 AM Conemaugh 4:55 AM Train 682 Gallitzin 2:10 AM Altoona 2:36 AM
Train 2 Gallitzin 2:19 AM Altoona 2:45 AM
Train 54 Gallitzin 2:30 AM Altoona 2:56 AM
Train 8 Gallitzin 2:45 AM Altoona 3:11 AM
Train 72 Gallitzin 3:01 AM Altoona 3:27 AM
Train 24 Gallitzin 3:19 AM Altoona 3:45 AM
Train 74 Gallitzin 3:26 AM Altoona 3:52 AM
Train 35 Altoona 3:57 AM Gallitzin 4:28 AM
Train Blcl1 Altoona 4:00 AM Conemaugh 5:10 AM
Train 37 Altoona 4:25 AM Gallitzin 4:54 AM
Train Train ED2 Conemaugh 2:15 AM Altoona 4:45 AM
Train Apg1 Altoona 5:00 AM Conemaugh 6:30 AM
Train 61 Altoona 5:05 AM Gallitzin 5:34 AM
Train 1 Altoona 5:30 AM Gallitzin 5:58 AM Train PG6 Conemaugh 2:00 AM Altoona 5:30 AM
Train 51 Altoona 5:37 AM Gallitzin 6:08 AM
Train 79 Altoona 5:45 AM Gallitzin 6:15 AM
Train 661 Altoona 5:50 AM Gallitzin 6:17 AM
Train 11 Altoona 6:06 AM Gallitzin 6:35 AM
Train AVL2 Conemaugh 3:50 AM Altoona 6:25 AM
Train 667 Altoona 6:40 AM Gallitzin 7:08 AM
Train 46 Gallitzin 6:56 AM Altoona 7:22 AM
Train PG2 Conemaugh 5:00 AM Altoona 7:30 AM
Train 637 Altoona 7:00 AM Gallitzin 7:36 AM
Train JC5 Altoona 7:30 AM Conemaugh 9:30 AM
Train WP15 Altoona 8:00 AM Conemaugh 11:00AM Train CMB Conemaugh 5:45 AM Altoona 8:00 AM
Train CMB Conemaugh 5:45 AM Altoona 8:15 AM
Train 612 Gallitzin 8:28 AM Altoona 8:55 AM
Train PG34 Conemaugh 5:30 AM Altoona 9:00 AM
Train 623 Altoona 9:30 AM Gallitzin 9:57 AM
Train PG7 Altoona 10:00AM Conemaugh 1:30 AM Train 18 Gallitzin 9:34 AM Altoona 10:00AM
Train VL2 Conemaugh 7:45 AM Altoona 10:10AM
Train 13 Altoona 10:15AM Gallitzin 10:44 M
Train 652 Gallitzin 10:37AM Altoona 11:03AM
Train NY2 Conemaugh 9:05 AM Altoona 11:30 AM
Train WP16 Conemaugh Altoona 11:45AM
Train FW8 Conemaugh 9:30 AM Altoona 11:45AM
Train 52 Gallitzin 11:24AM Altoona 11:50AM
Train CE2 Conemaugh 9:30 AM Altoona 12:01 PM
Train 52 Gallitzin 12:11 PM Altoona 12:37 PM
Train VC1 Altoona 1:30 PM Conemaugh 3:05 PM
Train PN2 Conemaugh 11:15AM Altoona 2:00 PM
Train PG1 Altoona 2:15 PM Conemaugh 4:10 PM
Train 25 Altoona 2:21 PM Gallitzin 2:47 PM
Train 15 Altoona 2:26 PM Gallitzin 2:54 PM
Train VL7 Altoona 2:30 PM Conemaugh 4:15 PM
Train 22 Gallitzin 2:11 PM Altoona 2:37 PM
Train NL1 Altoona 3:00 PM Conemaugh 4:45 PM
Train 60 Gallitzin 3:14 PM Altoona 3:40 PM
Train WB8 Conemaugh 1:30 PM Altoona 4:00 PM
Train ED4 Conemaugh 1:45 PM Altoona 4:00 PM
Train Train YA4 Conemaugh Altoona 4:45 PM
Train JC3 Altoona 5:00 PM Conemaugh 7:30 PM Train CS8 Conemaugh 2:45 PM Altoona 5:00 PM
Train 75 Altoona 5:46 PM Gallitzin 6:11 PM
Train 21 Altoona 5:50 PM Gallitzin 6:19 PM Train 36 Gallitzin 5:24 PM Altoona 5:50 PM
Train TRS1 Altoona 6:00 PM Conemaugh 8:00 PM Train CE8 Conemaugh 3:45 PM Altoona 6:00 PM
Train PG5 Altoona 7:00 PM Conemaugh 8:00 PM
Train 33 Altoona 7:18 PM Gallitzin 7:44 PM
Train Train PG14 Conemaugh Altoona 7:30 PM
Train Train VL8 Conemaugh 5:45 PM Altoona 7:30 PM
Train Train 66 Gallitzin 7:08 PM Altoona 7:35 PM
Train 5 Altoona 8:04 PM Gallitzin 8:32 PM
Train PG8 Conemaugh 6:00 PM Altoona 8:30 PM
Train 78 Gallitzin 8:09 PM Altoona 8:35 PM
Train LCL2 Conemaugh 7:35 PM Altoona 9:20 PM
Train 49 Altoona 9:33 PM Gallitzin 10:01 PM
Train ED3 Altoona 9:45 PM Conemaugh 11:30 PM
Train 29 Altoona 10:33 PM Gallitzin 10:59 PM
Train 59 Altoona 10:40 PM Gallitzin 11:06 PM
Train 50 Gallitzin 10:18 PM Altoona 10:45 PM
Train 69 Altoona 10:51 PM Gallitzin 11:18 PM
Train 41 Altoona 11:00 PM Gallitzin 11:26 PM
PF1 Altoona 11:00 PM Conemaugh 12:45AM
SW1 Altoona 11:15 PM Conemaugh 1:00 AM
77 Altoona 11:17 PM Gallitzin 11:44 PM
31 Altoona 11:27 PM Gallitzin 11:53 PM
PG3 Altoona 11:30 PM Conemaugh 1:15 AM
Train 38 Gallitzin 11:33 PM Altoona 11:59 PM
Train 76 Gallitzin 11:33 PM Altoona 11:59 PM













Westward helpers on rear will cut off at UN. Helpers pulling ahead will cut off at MO and turn at Cresson.


Track Assignments
BO (ALTO) to GY (SLOPE)

Track 1 Eastward Freight
Track 2 Eastward Passenger
Track 3 Westward Freight
Track 4 Westward Passenger

GY to UN-AR
Track 1 Eastward Freight
Track 2 Eastward Passenger
Track 3 Westward Passenger
Track 4 Westward Freight

Speed Limits
BO (ALTO) to GY (SLOPE)
Track 1 Passenger 35 Freight 35
Track 2 Passenger 45 Freight 35
Track 3 Passenger 70 Freight 45
Track 4 Passenger 70 Freight 40

 GY to MP 244
Track 1 Passenger 30 Freight 30
Track 2 Passenger 40 Freight 30
Track 3 Passenger 70 Freight 45
Track 4 Passenger 40 Freight 40

 MP 244  to UN - AR
Track 1 Passenger 35 Freight 35
Track 2 Passenger 35 Freight 35
Track 3 Passenger 70 Freight 45
Track 4 Passenger 40 Freight 40

Regards,
Frank Musick
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Allegheny Eastern Railroad

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Thursday, August 15, 2013

Status Report

It's been so long since the last entry Blogger forgot who I am. I actually had to login.

The good news is that the Mazda is through emissions and running like a clock. Now she has a sunroof (that doesn't leak) a tach and a new clutch. Now all  I have to do is work on my Ranger. Needs a bumper and some TLC. The bad news is the only thing to happen on the layout is the purchase of yet another Trix K4s. I bought it at a small local show for $15. Also needs TLC...

"New" Trix K4s
The "Kay" Sisters











I have been working on modeling, but not in N scale. I was goofing around on the computer one evening and started, or rather finished, working, on this...
1935 Lincoln Zephyr
It's a digital model for Microsoft Train Simulator. I had almost completed it a few years ago when I lost interest in "MSTS" and started in N scale (oh yeah, there was also that minor issue of the quadruple bypass). For some reason I decided to finish working on it and uploaded it to a train sim site called Elvas Tower That's the Southern Pacific interlocking tower, not "The King". The folks over there are doing some fantastic virtual railroading and I've kept in touch over the years.

I built the 3D model, but the real genius are the guys who provided the textures I used on the model. Dan Palatnik is a 3D artist extrodinaire. His version of the Lincoln looks like this...
Dan Palatnik's 1935 Lincoln Zephyr

Absolutely beautiful isn't it? Check out his other models. They are all of the same caliber. Another artist I work with is Niko Moritz. 

He did the textures for many of the trucks I've built. I used one of his White WH4 cabs on this REA truck...
Bing Crosby selling cigarettes on an REA truck

Anyway, MSTS doesn't have the capability to display such a highly detailed model so I had to tone things down a bit. I found that the reflections and highlights of those high crown body panels caused some odd issues so I dulled them. I also changed the color s to create more variation. Having dozens of the same exact car on your V scale model railroad isn't the ideal. This "repainting" is quite simple to do once you learn how and I created four versions...
A lot of Lincolns

Just in case you're wondering, I haven't given up on the Allegheny Eastern. This 3D modeling is quite a bit of time consuming work. This model was about 95% complete and took very little of my time. I worked on it while waiting for the rain to stop while fixing the car (we've had a monsoon summer). Just something to keep me busy.

Having said that, Let me say I have created a number of 3D models of all sorts of things. I also have a library of digital models built by other artists. It would be pretty awesome to have some of these objects reproduced in N scale. I keep thinking they could be run through a 3D printer but I know that some of the models, mine in particular would have to be redone. These Lincolns, for instance, are very simple shapes...
Lincoln Wireframe

There are no details like window recesses or door handles. All of that is part of the texture used on the model, what gamers call "skins". My creations would need to be "gussied up". A model like Dan's has actual three dimensional form, but is VERY complex. It would probably require some "detuning" before it could be printed in N scale. Of course there is also the consideration that artists like Dan may not want their models printed in 3D.

So let's start with simple shapes like mine. I could refine the model by adding more definition (lots of polygons in the mesh). That would work for the major body lines. The challenge is the small stuff. Details such as hood ornaments, door handles, window recesses, grill louvers, etc would be a lot of work. Would it be worth the effort. How deep is a window recess in N scale? What's the size of a 1:160 door handle? I imagine they are miniscule, to say the least. Would it be better to mimic the original 3D model and add the details with paint or decals? Hmmm...Hadn't thought of decals before.

If I had one or two of these models I might not consider it. I don't. Here's an idea of the number of vehicles I have modeled in 3D. These are just road vehicles...
Digital Vehicles
Lincolns, Fords, Pickups, White, Mack and Studebaker trucks, Fire engines, trash trucks, street sweepers, semi trailers, tow trucks, and old Mack "bull dog" AC's. There are a number of variations of each shape. You can go crazy with paint schemes for these things, especially the trucks.

I won't even get into the Baldwin and Alco cab units I have. All these variations are just stuff I made. If you visit some of the train simulator sites you'll see an endless variety of all kinds of stuff. If only...

Food for thought

Regards,
Frank Musick
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Allegheny Eastern Railroad
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Sunday, July 21, 2013

Distracted

Still dealing with the lack of motivation towards the layout (and this blog). Ticks me off, because the roadbed is down and it would only take a day or so to lay down ballast strip. The track would go pretty quick after that if I put off soldering the joints until the track is down and "settled" for a few days (or whenever I got around to the soldering). As I mentioned before I find myself doing just about anything else, including an overhaul on my pet Mazda Protege. The car is a family heirloom. The odometer read 27000 when my daughter bought it thirteen years ago. Now it has almost 250,000 miles and most of the original parts. Damn things been in at least three accidents. In one it was struck by a tree during a thunderstorm. The tree tried to cross the road as my twin daughters were driving by. I had a deer try to do the same thing. The deer got up and ran away after crumpling the hood and busting up a few lights. I think it also lost a fight with our mailbox.

As always I haven't kept away from trains in general. I frequently check in at Railwire to see what marvels surface there. Those guys always amaze me with their inventiveness and innovation. I also purchased another volume of Triumph. This one is IV, Harrisburg to Altoona (what else) by David W. Messer. Surprisingly reading it did not cause me to go out and tear up the roadbed and try again. Instead, it's full of details I can incorporate into the scenery. There's a very detailed section on Spruce Creek showing the area over decades. The only problem I see with it is the authors claim that Spruce Creek has never had four tracks. I'm pretty sure I have an image (and a map) around here that argues that point. Whether or no, three tracks won't work on the Allegheny Eastern. Sitting at the base of the helix as it does, three tracks would create an absolute nightmare for operations.

There is a detail photo of the construction of a skewed stone bridge, something I'll need for the curved bridge at Forge Curve. There is also information on Forge tower and basically everything else between Spruce Creek and Altoona. Tyrone and the several branches in that area are discussed. There are photos of the various bridges and culverts that carried the Pennsy over the twists of the Juniata river and its tributaries.Makes me wish I had more space. Pretty sure my wife would veto losing the rest of the first floor of our house to the layout.

Most of the info in the book will affect the Altoona portion of the layout. Mr. Messer lists all the interlockings and towers and clarifies quite a few things for me. At one time there were about fifteen towers in the Altoona complex, nine of which handled the mainline traffic. The other six handled the yards and terminal facilities.

One thing (among many) I did not realize was that the westbound recieving yard was on a huge elevated fill. The top of the "hump" was actually level with that yard. Glad I didn't try to model that. As it is I'm wondering if I should skip the "flyunder" I've created at HOMER. Yet the "tunnel" and stone retaining walls in this area seem too interesting to pass up.It will have absolutely nothing to do with operations, just eye candy.

The engine facilities in East Altoona still make me pine for some way to include that full circle roundhouse. That would require about thirty two square feet and there just isn't any way to pull it off. As it is I can barely fit in a "Pennsyesque" engine terminal. At East Altoona each division had its own set of ready tracks, cabin storage and other facilities. Coal was provided (after 1943) by a twelve hundred and fifty ton concrete "wharf" or tower that could service four tracks simultaneously. Yes, that did say 1,250 tons. There were also bypass tracks so motive power could avoid the roundhouse altogether. There was even a second turntable! My feeble attempt to model Altoona in any shape or form seems pretty sad.

Anyway, it's back to getting the Mazda ready for her emissions test. Did I mention I also tried to install a sunroof...It only leaks when it's raining.

Regards,
Frank Musick
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
Allegheny Eastern Railroad



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