1st Quarter 2019 Volume 9 Number 1 Table of Contents NYC West Shore River Division On the Cover of This Issue By David Howarth 38 NYC Shines at Chicagoland RPM By Bob Chapman 50 And Now for Something Completely Different – 2 By Will Tajibnapis 53 Making a Terrace Featuring Timplate David Howarth, NYCSHS member in Australia Stations, Walkover and Shares his sixth article on his NYC West Shore Waiting Platforms By Bob Shaw 64 River Division O-scale layout. Page 38. NY & Hudson Valley Railroad in HO-Scale -2 By Vinny DeRobertis 73 NYCSHS Members Models A Pipe Leak Leads to Scenery Work & More Water 86 By Brian Marotta From the Cab 5 Extra Board 7 NYCSHS Models 84 What’s New 17 NYCSHS RPO 27 Observation Car 98 Victor Hands shares his models along with several other NYCSHS members in this new feature. Page 84. NYCentral Modeler The NYCentral Modeler focuses on providing information about modeling of the railroad in all scales. This issue features articles, photos, and reviews of NYC-related models and layouts. The objective of the publication is to help members improve their ability to model the New York Central and promote modeling interests. Contact us about doing an article for us. mailto:[email protected] NYCentral Modeler 1st Quarter 2019 2 New York Central System Historical Society The New York Central System Central Headlight, the official Historical Society (NYCSHS) was publication of the NYCSHS. The organized in March 1970 by the Central Headlight is only available combined efforts of several to members, and each issue former employees of the New contains a wealth of information Board of Directors Nick Ariemma, J. Epperson, J. York Central Railroad. The each quarter. From steam to diesel P. Burgess, T.R. Gerbracht, NYCSHS is chartered as a non- (and electric), from freight to S.H. Lustig, D.T. Mackay, R.C. profit corporation under the laws passenger, from branchline to Schiring, D. Staplin, R.L. of the state of Ohio. The vision of mainline, the Central Headlight Stoving, J.C. Suhs, M.K. the NYCSHS is to be the covers them all. Our Annual Vescelus, N.F. Widdifield preferred source of information Meetings focus on the Directors Emeriti: and products related to the New preservation of New York Central J.P. Quinlivan (Founder) York Central System. The mission railroad history with informative D. Simonaitis, R.J. Barrett of the NYCSHS is to perpetuate speakers, presentations, and tours. the legacy of the New York The Society also has many NYC Editor: Noel Widdifield Central System by acquiring and reference books and drawings Associate Editor: Bob Shaw preserving its history, traditions, available for purchase. Member- Engineering Dept.: Manuel documents, and artifacts; and by ship is open to all; so don't delay; Duran-Duran Harmon Files: Larry Faulkner disseminating accurate inform- join today! www.nycshs.net O-Gauge Model Railroading: ation and products consistent Bob Shaw Or you may download a member- Early Car Shop: Kyle Coble with good stewardship. ship form at: Layout Drawing Artist: Frank Knight Your membership gets you four https://nycshs.org/nycshs- issues of the popularly acclaimed membership/ The NYCSHS Modelers Committee We have a NYCSHS Modelers Committee that now has 14 members. We meet on the phone about once a month to strategize about what to do to support NYC modeling for our members. The members of the committee are Dave Staplin, (Chair), Brian Marotta, Jeff English, Dave Mackay, Paul Pickard, Lawrence Faulkner, Manuel Duran-Duran, Kyle Coble, Dan Seligmann, Seth Lakin, Larry Grant, Ralph Schiring, Noel Widdifield, and Rich Stoving. We have released over 300 models at up to 20% off MSRP to our members and have sold more than 3,200 models and taken pre-orders for many more. We have offered several HO-scale, N-scale, and O-scale models and are in the process of finding more HO-, N-, S-, and even O–scale models to be released in coming months. Watch our website and Collinwood Shop online store for more information. Website: NYCSHS.org and Collinwood Shop: NYCSHS.net We have released many new NYC models over the last four years, but if you have some ideas for us, contact us at [email protected] NYCentral Modeler 1st Quarter 2019 3 Greetings from the NYCSHS President Dave Mackay, NYCSHS President It’s been an interesting month, as it never seems to amaze me the depth of interest in various facets of New York Central nomenclature. This month has been NYC Oval herald month. It started with a discussion of what the Society has in way of an oval that could be used for maintenance of way equipment, and then researching the Painting and Lettering CD to see what might be applicable. Then there was a fellow who was making a master to cast the NYC oval, and needed font examples to finish up the pattern. I offered to assist, but I needed to know which version of the oval he was looking for. That is a puzzling question for a lot of folks, as the assumption is that they are all the same, and I can tell you from my past research, there are quite a few variations of the oval. The oldest in the Society CD is a 1909 New York Central “Lines” version, ending with a 1956 freight car example, which appears to be the last version before the short lived 1957 “Script” herald, followed by the “Cigar Band” becoming the new look on the railroad. There are fourteen different versions in these files, from versions for advertising brochures, rugs, stock cars, and hoppers to Diesel nameplates and electric locomotives. Most are proportioned to the same ratio, 1.5 to 1, but not all. There are also subtle differences in the font over the years, with the 1956 version being a major simplification. These are all being reviewed by the Modeling Committee to see about producing the correct size decal for use on the nose of NYC F units, as none currently exist. Having a “standard” to use to adapt to other equipment is also one of the goals. It is a fascinating trip through history to see the evolution of the trademark oval, which we all recognize immediately as the symbol of our favorite railroad, even if the one you recognize as the standard isn’t the one that comes to my mind as the best representative of the railroad. We all have favorites, and that’s how it should be. The NYCSHS website has info about the NYC Logos at: https://nycshs.org/nycs-research- information/ We call these “Stand-in” models, as they are close to New York Central prototypes, have the flavor of the NYC, but are not true representations of particular prototypes. Overall, the perception is of the New York Central, hence they stand-in for NYC equipment. NYCentral Modeler 1st Quarter 2019 4 From the Cab The NYCentral Modeler This publication of the NYCSHS is for the purpose of providing NYCS modeling information. It is a With the beginning of another new year I hope to get publication by the NYCSHS Modeling Committee – going again on my HO-scale railroad that I started over - all rights reserved. It may be reproduced for two years ago. personal use only. It is not for sale. I am sure many of you also make New Year’s We encourage articles and photos submitted for resolutions to do more modeling, but like me the carry publication. Materials submitted are considered to through doesn’t always happen. be gratis and no reimbursement will be made to the author(s) or the photographer(s) or his/her Hopefully, this year we will all spend a little more time representative(s). The Society reserves the right to modeling the NYCS and as we do, we will also reject, for any reason, any material submitted. remember to take good photos of our projects as they unfold and then share them with us in articles. Or just We need articles for scales in addition to HO. We send us the photos of your finished model. have published articles in Z-, S-, N-, HO-, O-, 1/29-, and 1/32-scales. We do need articles in all scales, This issue again provides an excellent showcase for the but want more non-HO articles. variety of modeling taking place within our Please contact the editor for submission information membership. It also showcases some of the diverse and guidelines. We have a style guide to be used ways that model railroading happens. Just look at all of for articles and will send it to any aspiring author. the ways we model and don’t forget to share your Photos should be submitted at not less than 640 x modeling with us with an article or photos. 480 pixels and in JPG, TIFF or PDF format. Statements and opinions made are those of the Send us an email today and tell us you will share your authors and don’t necessarily represent those of the modeling with us. You can also call me at 703-407-3059 Society. to find out more or to express interest. We hope to hear from you. We make every effort to ensure all information is technically correct, but do not guarantee it for Check out our website to see some of the volunteer accuracy. All articles and photos should be sent to: opportunities to help us. We do need some additional [email protected] volunteers to keep the Society rolling along. If you want to help, just send us an email or make a call to We really want to hear what you think volunteer.