Join us as we grab our camera and head out for a railfan trip along the Reading as modeled by Jerry Strangarity!
- Along the Line_1
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We begin our railfan trip along Jerry's Reading layout near Schuylkill Haven. Camera in hand, we sneak past the dilapidated garage across the tracks from Rohrbacher's Farm. It would be easier to simply cross the wooden overpass, but where's the fun in that?
From this first photo, the level of detail in Jerry's modeling is apparent - from the missing boards in the garage building, to the individual roof shingles, his structures have a very high level of realistic detail. The same can be said for the scenery in general - the foliage has a realistic "light and airy" look.
- Along the Line_2
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As we head back to our car to drive further south in the hopes of finding more trains to photograph, we pause to snap a photo of the "Mail Pouch" sign on on Rohrbacher's barn. The farmer has taken a break from feeding his animals, and has decided to take a little walk over the wooden bridge, maybe to stop and have a cold one with the boys over at the manufacturing plant. He pauses, and looks down the tracks, waiting for the next train to roll by...
In this view we can see the individual board-by-board construction of the wooden bridge, and the bolt casting details on the sides. The barn is a CC Crow kit, and has all the interior timbers included. The Mail Pouch sign is a decal, while Jerry obtained the Pennsylvania Dutch hex signs (a signature detail for Reading-territory barns) from the internet. The roof repairs are a great detailing touch!
- Along the Line_3
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As we take up our positions trackside, the slow, deliberate chuff of a steam locomotive becomes louder and more insistent. A T-1 hauling a long freight slowly pulls into view under the wooden overpass. The head brakeman alights from the cab to line the switch for a setout at Skiff Manufacturing, out of view to the right, while a young couple on the porch swing up at the farmhouse barely notices the day's freight action. Again, this photo showcases the high level of detail on Jerry's layout, from the intricate woodwork of the farmhouse, barn and overpass to the trees and groundcover. Jerry has also included small lineside details such as the bridge railings, and the Reading-prototype concrete railracks in the foreground.
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The calm of our summer afternoon is interrupted by a shrill whistle and the rapid staccato of steam exhaust, as an L7sb ten-wheeler speeds by on the opposite main with a passenger run.
The L7sb 4-6-0 is a Custom Brass locomotive, and the baggage car is a Bethlehem Car Works kit.
- Along the Line_5
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As the passenger train steams towards its next stop, the brakeman manning the
switch pauses to give the engineer a friendly wave and checks the train for
hotboxes as it rolls by.
In this view, we get a closer look at the timber
overpass. Jerry scratchbuilt this bridge from wood, and it is representative of
the many wooden bridges seen throughout rural parts of Pennsylvania.
- Along the Line_6
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One of our companions on this railfan trip stayed a little further down the tracks, and was able to grab this shot of the L7sb Ten-Wheeler as it hauled the passenger run past Rohrbacher's Farm.
Although this is a great shot of the finely detailed Custom Brass camelback, there's a lot more to see in this photo - the rusting roof detail on the garage, the peeling posters on the wall, and the worn-out farm implements all combine to give the impression of the hardscrabble way of life of the coal regions and rural PA.
- Along the Line_7
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We follow the passenger train down the tracks as it passes, and we can see old Mrs. Rohrbacher hard at work fighting the never-ending battle against the soot that lands on her back porch. She gives us a wary look and warns us to stay off the tracks, or we'll end up as mincemeat!
This close up shot of the scratchbuilt farmhouse shows how details make the difference between an ordinary and a great scene. Shades in the windows, individually peeling shingles, the weathered standing seam roof, and the arrangement of benches, chairs, barrels, etc. on the back porch all combine to tell a story in the viewer's imagination.
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Looking closer up at the farmhouse, the young couple on the swing is oblivious to our presence on this clear summer day, they're content to sit on the swing, while Mrs. Rohrbacher sweeps the back porch of the always troublesome coal dust from passing trains, and Mr. Rohrbacher tends to the animals out back.
This is simply a beautiful structure model. The model is built from wood, and uses Tichy window castings, following an article by Rob Corriston in an old issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. The shingles on the roof are a nice contrast to the standing seam roofing over the front and rear porch. The weathering on the walls is very realistic, and the wooden porch contrasts well
with the stone foundation. Even the front door shows signs of age and exposure.
- Along the Line_9
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As we're passing time at the coal yard, the sound of steam exhaust and the screech of brake shoes catches our ears. A quick crane of the neck up to the highline shows the cause - I-10 #2041 headed up the highline with a string of empties bound for the Locust Summit breaker is stopped at the Hall "banjo" signal. The I-10 end-cab consolidations were the last of the Reading's 2-8-0s, and several of them were used to construct the road's 30 4-8-4 T1 locomotives. The Hall "banjo" signal in the background was scratchbuilt - Jerry fabricated molds and cast them.
Did You Know?
Downloads
A variety of Reading Company operations related documents, etc. that may be of use in your modeling efforts.
A variety of Reading Company operations paperwork, such as train orders, clearance forms, etc. that will help you operate your Reading layout in a prototypical manner.
Public Timetables, Employe Timetables, and Rulebooks that provide much useful operational information.
Signs, billboards, and other FREE goodies for your use. We ask only that you help spread the word about The Reading Modeler!