The Old Main Line Subdivision:: "Friendly Fridays... Bottoms up, literally!"

Friday, May 22, 2015

"Friendly Fridays... Bottoms up, literally!"

A recent Garden State Division meet was held in my old stomping grounds back in New York. I was anxious to have lunch at one of my old haunts, a favorite place for my high school group to gather during our summers home from college. I promised some of the GSDers an excellent neighborhood tavern with cold pitchers of beer, juicy cheeseburgers and gooey pizza. Yes sir, got your four basic food groups right there.

But, OMG! The Road House had been renovated... went downright upscale with seared mahi-mahi tuna, broccoli rabe and Tiramisu. Tiramisu? I doubt that would have been a big seller forty years ago to bunch of frat boys. Regardless, it was ultimately about friendly company, and Bruce DeYoung, Chuck Diljack, Marc Moritz and I had a great time. Good modeling buddies and lots of laughs.

This photo was sent to my mates after an enjoyable lunch. I toasted their company, but the photo has nothing to do with our drinks. Look closely to see the trauma I experienced, unbeknownst to them, throughout the entire meal. I quietly snapped this ongoing pose while 'checking messages' on my iPhone.

Apparently part of the renovation included the installation of a gas-fueled fireplace for ambience. On this particular day, the system required the charms of a full-fledged, card-carrying plumber who contributed in his own way to my overall dining experience... a room with a view, so to speak. Since he was only in my line of sight, I spared the others and suffered in silence while longing for the good old days before Tiramisu and anything drizzled in balsamic reduction.

Have a great holiday weekend everyone. Cheers and happy dining!

-30-

BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY...

Unfortunately union rules specifically prohibit the inclusion of this feature on holiday weekends. We apologize for the inconvenience.

2 comments:

Chuck DMay 23, 2015 at 4:04 AM
I'm glad I wasn't facing the fireplace. Sheesh.
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Jim FawcettMay 28, 2015 at 1:52 PM
I bet... weren't you pretty focused on the bar area where the waitresses were congregated?
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Long Story Short: Circa 1960...

Running from Baltimore to Point of Rocks, through the wooded hills of the Patapsco River valley and the undulating Monocacy River plain, this 130 year old B&O sub-division was struggling to survive. The historic 65 mile OML, once a bustling double-track operation, had been reduced to single track. It relied on diminishing business from local mills and building materials suppliers. Sporadic through-traffic hauled coal, iron ore and quarried stone from points west over the serpentine route.

Passenger operation had been discontinued in 1949 and the long-rumored 'merger' with the C&O created paralyzing uncertainty. It was this inevitable partnership in 1963, combined with increasing reliance on the B&O's Washington and Metropolitan branches that made the 'Old Main' irrelevant to most. But ultimately it would be the 1972 devastation of the Patapsco River valley from Tropical Storm Agnes that would most clearly define the line's modest future.

So join us for this bumpy and irreverent ride and please share your thoughts, questions and comments with everyone. Thanks.

Layout at a Glance...

Name: Old Main Line Subdivision
Scale: HO (1:87.1)
Size: 15' x 21' plus 2' x 18' staging
Prototype: Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Locale: Northeast Maryland
Period: March 1960
Style: Walk-in single-deck around walls w/ peninsula
Mainline Run: 90'
Minimum Radius: 30" main; 27" spurs; 24" staging
Minimum Turnout: #6 main; #5 staging
Maximum Grade: 1% main; 2% spurs
Staging: (2) 4-track stub ended yards
Benchwork: Open grid 1" x 3" clear pine
Track Height: 50" - 53"
Aisle Width: 30" - 44"
Roadbed: Midwest Products cork on 1" Gatorboard
Track: ME code 83 main/spurs/staging
Scenery: Carved rigid foam and ground goop
Backdrop: Painted sheetrock and .040 styrene
Control: NCE Digital Command Control (DCC)

The Backstory...

Like most model railroaders, my introduction came at Christmas when I was about five years old with the traditional starter set. I was hooked, especially a couple of years later when every present from Santa was a Bachman Plasticville kit. The basement ping pong table became my 'set up.'

Unlike many modelers, my dad was not a train guy... something about working two jobs to support his family. But he and my mom did indulge me in driving to club layouts and riding trains whenever we could. Trips to my grandparents in Maryland put me over the moon as I knew we'd pass the Baltimore yards.

But as is often the case, college, career, family and the time-draining reality of coaching youth soccer and allegedly competing as a bicycle racer took me away from the hobby.

Fast forward many more years than I care to acknowledge and it's time to re-create some of my childhood memories in a new basement, minus the ping pong table... and the 'set up' shall henceforth be only referred to as 'the layout.'

A Comment on 'Comments'...

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The objective of my uncomfortably-public endeavor is for the thoughtful presentation of ideas, opinions and activities related to model railroading to like-minded hobbyists.

But more importantly, the goal is for the healthy exchange with readers through their feedback to that which has been presented via constructive criticism, opposing viewpoints and/or supplemental information for the topic at hand... and of course a little kidding around is mandatory.

So please don't be shy. I do not enjoy talking to myself, nor am I in need of the proverbial 'attaboy.' But in the interest of learning, it is for everyone's benefit that there is dialog surrounding each post. All comments will be 'moderated,' and then acknowledged with a timely reply and a dry wit.

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Best bet is to use this notification as a timely convenience, but please check the actual blog for a complete array of features, announcements and listings. As always, thanks for your interest.

Photo Attribution...

The b/w photos on this sidebar were published in the B&O Historical Society's magazine, The Sentinel, Vol. 14 No. 1, in January 1992. They ran in an article entitled, "The Old Main Line Way Freight." Written as a day in the life of the railroad in 1952, the following excerpt beautifully captures the line's spirit during simpler times:

"Ride the 'Capitol Limited' if you want speed and efficiency! Ride the 'way freight' if you desire a folksy trip through some of the prettiest countryside in the East; land steeped in history half forgotten. You'll get a close-up view of what a multi-million dollar railroad means even to the smallest community. There, you'll see a big business looking after the small fellow."

The photos were made available to the Society by member John R. King, Jr. who got a collection of B&O negatives from the late Leonard Rice.