Waldenburg Midland

[KriegslokBR52]

Greetings. Since i've made some progress on my new layout after starting it last year, i might as well join the others in posting some progress. The name of my railroad has to do with my childhood growing up in Lower Silesia part of Poland. Before the WW II, Lower Silesia was part of Germany and one of my favorite places to go through by train was the city of Wałbrzych. Wałbrzych before the war, being German was named Waldenburg. It's an industrial city in the middle of the mountanous region and the primary industry there were numerous coal mines. As a child growing up about 80 kilometers away in small town, going by train through the city was the best part of the journey to Polish capital of Warsaw (Warszawa). Usually by the time overnight train was getting into Waldenburg, it was getting dark and right before stoping at the cities main station "Wałbrzych Główny" (Waldenburg Main), i was treated to a beautiful view of half circle roundhouse full of all three locomotive types; steam, diesel and electric. Those who followed recent news most likely heard of so called Nazi "gold train" supposedly hidden in near by embankments, not far from one of Europes largest castles: Zamek Książ, yep, that was in Wałbrzych near the eastern most station in the city; Wałbrzych Szczawienko. There were a total of four stations in the city and recently a fifth one was added. After leaving Waldenburg Main the train slowly crept around numerous curves through the city and i was treated to spectacular views of working coal mines, with steam locomotives doing much work in making up coal trains. There was also huge coke making facility where one could see fires near the huge working ovens, and at dark it was just awesome and a little mysterious. Stories of war and supposed secret Nazi bases and castles added to the attractions and being a child it was easy to dream. This picture i've got from the internet several years ago was taken at the second Wałbrzych station coming from the west: Wałbrzych Fabryczny (Waldenburg Fabric);

This is german war locomotive (Kriegslocomotive) class BR 52, Polish designation Ty2. To the left of it is a huge coal mine which sadly was torn down in about 2002-2003. There is no date, but these are very images i saw while growing up in Poland. Picture was most likely taken during 1970s-80s. Here is my representation of that locomotive:

Its a Liliput which i'm slowly converting to the Polish look. The second part of the layout title "Midland" suggests American modeling and it seems like a good combination. Layout is simple enough, loop of single track mainline with secondary line making an "8" in the middle. Since i have steam in my blood, the american equipment will be mostly american steam, with a few electrics to spice things up. Today was a working on the railroad day and hopefully i will tie the figure "8" secondary up and get it running.

This bottom track is part of secondary and going under bridges is the lowest point on the railroad.

The closer bridge is an entrance from secondary line into engine house area. The huge bridge behind is the secondary coming into the station.

Last view is the overall engine house area with near line being the secondary and small bridge leading directly into locomotive servicing area. The steam locomotive in the back is standing at the station on the mainline track ready to leave the station.

 

[Bruette]

Wow, a great background story and the makings of a great layout!

Thanks for sharing.

 

[Topherisme]

Thanks for posting, great read, great build!

 

[migalyto]

This is going to be fun to watch!

 

[Sirfoldalot]

NICE Work!

 

[BigGRacing]

This is going to be fantastic! Great story and pics, thank you for sharing!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

A lot of fine tunning the track on the secondary line. Had a lot of derailments at first and had to eliminate rough trackwork step by step. One of through trains was this Lehigh and New England freight:

 

[KriegslokBR52]

 

[BigGRacing]

Layout is looking fantastic!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Today work on the layout and taking care of issues with trains stalling at the main yard throat. Yesterday i bought two powered Atlas switch machines at a train show. Today i've installed them where needed
:

I have also put three ground throws in front of transformers since that is very easy to reach and i'm following the KISS principle. The film is before ground throws were installed, but right after Atlas switch machines were in on the secondary track.
After brunch it was time to tackle the twin bridges scene. Few weeks ago i purchased another short bridge to add to the one going into enginehouse area.

I made this a combination bridge, just like many i saw in this country and after putting in a middle pillar it was time to secure everything in place

The heavy tools are keeping the bridge under pressure so the bridge abutment will dry undreneath the bridge.

Here just after filling in the missing track piece and connecting it to the switch.

I have already tested that approach track.

The curved switch from left hand bridge is the start of the actual furure enginehouse area.

After the bridge instalation play time and some mainline action with two steamers:

Ground throws are convenient at the main line switches since they are right in front of the transformers.

After fiddling with switches at this spot for many days, there are practically no derailments, except if i forget to allign a switch and the locomotive goes against the points. So this is finally trouble free area.

 

[Old 97]

Love it!!!!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Yesterday evening i was able to do some more trackwork and i have fourth track in the yard.

Tested it today and all works fine. On the second picture there is a switch for a fifth one, which will in effect be a siding. Need to get few more flex track pieces to do this one:

On both number 3 and four track i can fit 20 car trains, good enough.

On the last pick there is a curved switch coming off number 5 track switch. Two ideas in my head; one a coal mine spur since i like hoppers and coal mines, or a separate electric engine inspection pit, as not to intrude on steam operations. More to come...

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Testing number 4 and 5 track:

A pair of E44 rectifiers doing the honors.

The pair worked flawlesly on both tracks and through the switches.

Before i hooked up the rectifiers, a 4-8-2 was the first to test the tracks and switches:

 

[Rico]

Cool, just catching up!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

One thing which is absolutely fascinating for me on American continent, are the many different electric locomotive types. Too bad the electric traction never gained wide spread acceptance, because some of the most handsome electric locomotives were designed in the US. My specialty here is the former Pennsylvania Railroad electric zone and some of my absolute favorites are Conrail painted E33 and E44 classes. Both classes are not very well known even to many die hard American fans, as their scope of operation was limited and sadly it did not last long. Conrail was created on april fools day in 1976 and because it was formed from several northeastern railroads, it inherited a whole rainbow of colorlull diesels and electric locomotives. Most of the electric locomotives came from bankrupt Penn Central. The E33 and E44 electrics came from Penn Central, as did the famous GG1. Early in 1981 electric freight operations were "permanently suspended" as it was described in one of my Conrail books. So we're talking not even a decade of Conrail "Dress Blues" painted electrics. Well over 20 years ago while in the armed forces i have built model of E33, using plans i found in "Shoreliner" magazine:

The 4606 is an E33. Trailing it is the E44 number 4427, two of which i build several years later.

To my knowledge all 10 Conrail E33s were repainted in full Conrail scheme just before being put into storage during summer of 1980. On the other hand many E44s were retired wearing very dirty black from Penn Central years, maybe even close to half of 66 built were never repainted. I did not get to see those electrics run with my eyes. In 1981 i wasn't in the country and i was about 7 years old. Eight E44s ended up in Port Elizabeth on New Jersey Transit in 1982/83, as part of Conrail being relinguished of commuter operations, but being reguired to provide motive power for the fledging commuter network. The E44 was purely a freight machine, so it did not have heating capability for passenger coaches. NJT therefore made a trade with Amtrak for several of their E60 electrics, much more suited for passenger trains. Those eight E44s ended up at Wilmington electric shops, where they were prepared for freight service on Amtraks ballast trains...well they never turned a wheel in that service. In early 1990s it was decided to scrap those eight units, but six of them received Amtrak silver and black MoW scheme. I found out about their impending fate from "Railfan Railroad" magazine. At the same time "Friends of the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania" started a drive to save one of the rectifiers. Amtrak was receptive to the idea and eventually the last E44 number 4465 ended up in the museum in Strasburg. After getting a beautifull Pennsy paint job in Altoona, it resides inside museums shed for us to see it:

Having a job and my own money, i was able to make a few pilgrimages to Wilmington and snap several shots of those Amtrak painted E44s under wires:

These are pictures of pictures as at that time every one was taking normal photographs. The huge hole behind the cab of ex 501 is where the main transformer was. All eight units had their transformers removed in preparation for a trip to the scrap yard. Date for those photos is september 4, 1992. And a little action on Waldenburg Midland showing what those rectifiers might have looked like doing what they were build for: