Contact: Greg Johnson.
The Allegheny Terminal (AT) Railroad is set in the industrial area of Pittsburgh, predominantly along the Monongahela River. The era modeled is 1968, with its still strong Pennsylvania RR influence as well as an increasing number of Penn Central (PC) "worms". However the 1968 era is not set in stone, and I may actually backdate it to 1966 to include more shorter cars and more PRR motive power. The layout is really two railroads: The primary road is The Allegheny Terminal (AT), a Montour/Union RR emulation, headquartered at McKeesport (Southport Yard); The secondary road is a portion of the PC ex-PRR Monongahela Secondary, which weaves through the layout.
The AT serves the sprawling (24 lineal feet) Pittsburgh Steel Co. mill at Homestead and then heads into the coal bearing hills where two mines, a coal preparation plant and a North American Refractories Co. brick plant are served. Another large industry on the layout is the Mesta Manufacturing Co., which for many decades was the largest manufacturer of steel mill equipment.
Visible interchange (staging) yards for the B&O & P&LE are also modeled. The B&O will operate two run-through freights via trackage rights, as well as generate daily interchange traffic. The P&LE yard will provide interchange traffic, including the hot metal trains that will service the under construction BOF at Homestead.
The PC utilizes a short segment of trackage rights on the AT from McKeesport to a point just east of Mesta, where it returns to its own right-of-way. The PC then parallels the AT through Mesta and Homestead before heading to Pittsburgh and points east via a double track helix down to lower level staging. The modeled portion of the PC includes three controlled sidings and two major crossings between its east and west staging yards. The AT operates one major yard - Southport (in McKeesport), which it shares with the PC, and two minor yards- Steel & Mesta. The single track line also has four passing sidings for meeting traffic.
Primary traffic on the layout includes fabricated steel products, coal and manufactured goods. The AT will operate 3 or 4 switch jobs at a time, while the PC will have one or two operators running interchange freights plus a few through freight runs. B&O and P&LE interchange runs will be operated as well. A commuter passenger run is also planned.
The Allegheny Terminal is built primarily utilizing 2" foam sub-roadbed. Scenery is about 20% complete. All the main trackwork is in place and the helix and lower level staging tracks are under construction. The layout is designed for operation by 4-6 operators. Railcommand command control is used to operate the layout.
| Vital Statistics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Room size | 22' x 33' | |
| Locale | Pittsburgh | |
| Era | 1968 | |
| RR's modeled | PRR, PC, B&O & P&LE | |
| Minimum radius | 30" on mainline, 28" on branch | |
| Minimum turnout size | #6 on mainlines, #4's in steel mill | |
| Turnouts & trackage | Atlas code 83, Shinohara code 83 & Peco code 70 | |
| Grade | 1/2% on mainline, 2% on branch and helix | |
| Staging | (PC/PRR) two six track staging yards | |
| Interchange Yards | B&O- five track (45 cars), P&LE- five track (100 cars) | |
| Control system | RailCommand by CVP products | |
| History | Layout begun in January, 1995 | |
| Inspiration | Montour & Union Railroads in the Pittsburgh area; PRR Monongahela Branch; PC in Pennsylvania & Ohio; P&LE in Pittsburgh | |
This is a scene of some of the urban industries in McKeesport served by the Allegheny Terminal.
This the Champion Coal Mine, located at the end of the branch. It has a capacity of (20) 100 ton hopper cars. The connection to the B&O interchange yard is on the upper level behind the mine.
Mesta Manufacturing Co. covers an area 15" x 11' on the layout. The Plexiglas building cores are in place awaiting corrugated siding, roofs and additional detailing.
This is a view of some of the industrial area in McKeesport served by the Allegheny Terminal. The PC train in the foreground is on the connection between the Allegheny Terminal and the (PRR/PC) Monongahela Secondary track.
A PRR ES15m switches cars on the lead at Southport Yard. A group of PC and PRR engines idle on the service tracks in the background.
Pittsburgh Steel's Homestead mill is in the background next to tracks of "Steel" yard. The PC/PRR Monongahela Secondary track is in the foreground.
Copyright 1996 - 2008
Last modified: November 23 2007.
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