MORRISTOWN & ERIE RAILROAD - WESTERN DIVISION

[ACL1504]

Thanks Tom, glad you enjoyed the video, but how can anyone really love bird poo!

Frank / Erieman

Not sure and don't plan on trying it!

Tom

[Erieman]

Greetings everyone, I received a call from a fellow modelrailroader in Tucson. Gordon Geiger had volunteered to build me a rolling mill for my Steel mill complex. He worked in the steel industry for 40 years and was very knowledgeable about the the steel making process. Back in May, He volunteered one for me. It is awnsome.Here three pics of gordons model.

Frank / Erieman

[Erieman]

Interior shot. A little weathering and this baby is awesome.

Frank / Erieman

[ACL1504]

Beautiful model and superior scratch building.

Tom

[sdrees]

Gordon's model looks great.  What a fantastic piece of work.  it will look great on your layout.

Steve

[GPdemayo]

Great friend you have there Frank.....neat addition to the layout. 

[Erieman]

Beautiful model and superior scratch building.

Tom

Good Morning Tom,

I agree with you comments about the rolling mill model. Gordon did a fantastic job. I'll take some pictures with the lights working. Now I just have to do the rest of the buildings in the steel mill complex. Never a slow day on the railroad.

Frank / Erieman

[Erieman]

Great friend you have there Frank.....neat addition to the layout. 

Greg,

I agree. Now if I could only talk him into building the rest of the buildings! Gordon spent five months on the rolling mill and it is beautiful. I just have to put it in the right position to show it off.

Frank / Erieman

[Erieman]

Gordon's model looks great.  What a fantastic piece of work.  it will look great on your layout.

Steve

Top of the morning Steven. You need to go over and see Gordon's layout. I think you will be impressed. He will be having an open house after the November meet. If you want to go over before that, I can give you his phone number. It does look wonderful.

frank / Erieman

[Erieman]

Well, I have finally gotten around to starting design work on the steel mill complex on my layout. Everything in this area has been removed down to the basic benchwork and then added up to the current level of mainline track. I have been moving the rolling mill around that Gordon Geiger built for me. I also have a couple of blast furnace pieces that I have been adding to the mix. The material delivery track is another issue that is being reviewed. After some careful consideration, / I have decided to eliminate the coke oven from the active scene and utilize a backdrop with the coke oven in it. There was just not enough space for everything. The major elements of the complex will be (2) blast furnaces, an open hearth furnace, and the rolling mill. There will also be a couple of ancillary buildings  like a stripper, etc...

The biggest problem that I have to work around is the hidden storage tracks directly behind the steel mill complex. Access to this area is critical as we all know. Over part of the  hidden storage tracks will be the raised area for storing the materials used in the blast furnace. I will be utilizing foam, carved into mounds and covered with different size and color materials and the raised delivery tracks. This will not be removable for obvious reasons.  This leaves about a 6" gap between the base and the bottom of the foam as an access point. Part one solved. The two blast furnaces will be in front of the majority of the hidden staging yard. By making them removable, I should have enough access ( I hope). The open hearth furnace may also have to be removable. All of these details will be mocked up to test out my thoughts. First I will be making some sketches of what I plan to build.

Here are a couple of photos of the area prior to removable of track, buildings, etc...

Frank / Erieman

[Erieman]

Here is a rough photo arrangement of buildings that will occupy the space. I will post a further update later of my sketch (s) of what I envision for this area.

Frank / Erieman

[jbvb]

I know little of steel mills, the last in New England having folded around the time I was born.  But when you get to the point of track arrangements, I'd probably comment on your plan.

[Erieman]

I walked into the train room this morning and was pleasantly surprised by the way the light coming into the building lit up the town of Chester. Thought everyone might enjoy this.

Frank / Erieman

[Erieman]

I know little of steel mills, the last in New England having folded around the time I was born.  But when you get to the point of track arrangements, I'd probably comment on your plan.

James,

Thanks for stopping by. Still in the planning stages, but will post the track arrangement for comments after I figure out how i am going to arrange all the structures.

Frank / Erieman

[S&S RR]

I walked into the train room this morning and was pleasantly surprised by the way the light coming into the building lit up the town of Chester. Thought everyone might enjoy this.

Frank / Erieman

Very nice Frank!