Model Railroading on the Cheap

   The lower end of Middleburg passing track is called Wallbridge due to its proximity to the steel truss bridge over the concrete walled entrance to the tunnel through the rock cliffs. This might be the most scenic area on the whole layout. It is a favorite spot for photographs as it is right out front and is the first thing a visitor sees when entering the train room. Here one can photograph trains on three levels of track. This end of the passing siding is where Middleburg Freight station is located, because there is just no space at the other end.  The spur track for the freight station here is long enough for 2 cars, perhaps a boxcar and a tanker, which doesn’t require much more than a hose for supporting scenery.

   Wallbridge, with its tiny little building for the exchange of paperwork, is where my interchange track is located for traffic that leaves the Y&H railroad. It is a good place for a visitor to fiddle his train onto my tracks. This track runs along the rock cliff toward the left before splitting into 2 hidden interchange tracks that extend under Hillton Junction all the way to the far wall. They are completely hidden from view, hold about 12 cars each, and can be used for train storage if desired. I imagine that cars here represent traffic to or from the east or west. This is where the most notable deviation from the original tack plan occurs. My interchange track is on the opposite side of the table and there are two interchange tracks (seen disappearing into the left end of the front track in the next photo).  This way it fits my room better, and allows the layout to be jammed against 3 walls. If I would ever build a car float option of interchange traffic it would be by way of a left spur from this track. Years later I made a two story station from home printed card stock paper for this location as an experiment- you can see it on page 1.

   The far left end of the fiddle interchange track splits into two 12 car hidden tracks. I use one for eastbound traffic and the other for westbound off railroad cars. Another option is to use these tracks as loads and empties hopper car operation. Or to hide an entire passenger train. This is often a favorite spot for photographers to catch mainline trains.

   Operation here is right out front and easy to reach with the walk along throttles. Here is where we work the lower end of Middleburg with the freight station track. The Interchange traffic goes to the left.  Here we see a few unusual freight cars. The refrigerator car is West India Fruit and Steamship Line from Florida. The lower boxcar shows the earlier paint scheme of the Akron Canton & Youngstown Railroad.  Most modelers have the later yellow painted AC&Y boxcar. On the upper level is the long gone Gulf Mobile and Ohio and an Erie flat car made by Revell about 1956.  The steam engine is by IHC with a few modifications. It is pulling an Athearn heavy-duty 4-truck flatcar loaded with bulldozers that liked to derail. I fixed that by using 6 wheel buckeye trucks and no span bolster.