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I have long been interested in the RF&P. My first attempts were in 1987, but I was well too young to persue it as I do now. I actively began to model the RF&P in HO scale in 1993. It was easy, as I didn't have to supply the layout, being a member of the Penn State Model Railroad Club. It started by painting two modern RF&P diesels, GP-40 #123 and GP-40-2 #147 in late 1993. In 1994, I aquired the IHC/Rivarossi smoothside passenger cars painted for the RF&P, as well as the matching E8 diesels. 1994 also brought the painting of GP-40-2 #144 and SW-1500 #91, as well as the purchase of a brass caboose made by Overland Models/J.P. Models, a 1950s era car. While at home during the summer of 1994, I was busy photographing around Alexandria on the former RF&P mainline, catching what was left of the former blue and gray. In 1995, I created the beginnings of these RF&P pages, with them jumping from site to site before finding this permanent home in May of 1997. 1996 was largely dead, with the major projects being to add details to my existing models. During the summer, I obtained the parts to construct two ex-Southern high-hood diesels. Unfortunately, these are still raw parts, as the 1996-1997 school year left no time for much modelling. 1997 found increased interest in Rail Photography, and once again, in restoring the RF&P web pages I had lost in August 1996. These pages have already surpassed the old ones, and are rapidly becoming a useful resource to railfans and modelers alike. I will probably sell my previous efforts (123, 144, 147) once I start some more. There is much in the world of modelling that I have learned over the last few years, and there are several details I would like on my existing painted locos, but there are just too many to bother ruining the nice paint jobs. If nothing else, I need to find the two horns forward for the long hoods of 123, 144 & 147, as well as the OMI 9007 horn used on the cab of 144 for the other two. Also, I have yet to put the train control equipment on 144 & 147 (Is on 123 & 91), and to enclose the Athearn pilot around the coupler pockets. Looking to acquire a few Athearn GP35 powered chassis san shells. (RPP makes the non-dynamic GP35 shell, but athearn's brake is molded on, unlike the 38 & 40.) Summer of 1997 found the acquisition of OMI's recent release of wide-vision RF&P cabooses 901-903, painted in blue. It looks sweet. In December of 1997, I acquired an older Atlas attempt at RF&P GP40 #125. The gray's about the only good thing on this Atlas-- the blue is more like Rock Island blue, and the darn thing has a dynamic brake. Time to write them... I bought one of the Proto 2000 E8As from the first run, then 3 of the GP7s when they came out, to renumber the 2nd 104 into a 101, but now I think I will have it repainted into the late 70s scheme with the white frame stripes, to match 2 GP40-2s and a 91 painted for that era that I acquired in 2001. I spent most of 2000 and 2001 converting my original power to DCC, and buying the base system for Digitrax, the same system that the Prince William Club uses on their modular layout. In 2002, Atlas atoned for their error of the earlier run, and did the RF&P GP40s with non-dynamic in both HO and N. All told I bought 6 of them, 3 #124s, one #122, and 2 unnumbered. I still have not renumbered the unnumbered ones, but they are addressed as odd numbers, to be 121 and 127. I plan to at least renumber, and perhaps even repaint to an earlier scheme, the extra two #124s. 2003 saw me get my first steam, when Bachmann Spectrum decided to do a 4-8-2, the 517. Had to get sound with it, and it was well worth it. 2003 also saw Proto 2000's run doing E8A/B combos, and I picked up one pair (didn't order in time to get both). Another aquisition was a pair of GP40-2s and an SW1500 painted in the late scheme with the gold herald, and a custom painted Kato GP35 as #131. 2004 saw me break down and buy one of Overland's 1999-2000 statesman run, factory painted for the 617, the John Marshall. I came to the conclusion that I could not have just one steam engine for an operating session. And it was a hell of a deal. It looks marvelous, and runs well. Now the fun part of trying to figure out how to convert it to DCC... The manufacturers leave no rest for the weary, having already placed my orders for Atlas' S2 run, Intermountian's boxcar run, and Walthers bulkhead flat run. I've learned the hard way that you have to order when they announce, or you might not get them! I've often considered forming a historical society dedicated to the RF&P, These pages are a contribution toward that end. Thanks for visiting the RF&P pages. Hope you enjoyed your stay! Contents:
Stations
Ashland
Thanks to Herb Insley for his assistance-- the scale drawings were done by him, and published in the January 1970 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman.
This is the dry run for the Alexandria station, which is next :)
Note: #s 144, 123, 91, 147 and 126 now have their own pages.
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The first mock-up of the Ashland station is now done, as this photo shows. A card-board
mock up to scale, with wall sections with window/door holes cut, is in the works.
