Description: This freelanced layout, named the Poco Valley, depicts the northeast, running from Boston, MA, through New York State, to the fictional town of Jefferson Jct., PA., with a branch line running from Hillside Jct. to Hillside. The Poco Valley interchanges with the Boston & Maine in Boston, the Delaware & Hudson in Klingertown, the Erie Lackawanna in Hillside Jct., and the New York Central in Jefferson Jct. In addition, a wholly owned subsidiary, the Hillside Street Railway, interchanges with the PV in Hillside and serves several industries in Hillside and Coopersburg. Passenger service is highlighted by the Crescendo, an overnight train running between Boston/Montreal and Chicago, which runs on NYC trackage rights west of Jefferson Jct. In addition, the railroad operates several other coach, mail, express, and commuter trains. Freight service is provided by both local and through trains, as well as D&H trains running on trackage rights between Klingertown and Nelson City. Although cement, paper, and coal make up the principle traffic, lumber, food, and farm products are also revenue producers. The layout covers a space approximately 25’ x 22’ including aisles. The railroad is operated by a crew of 5 using NCE DCC, and has been in operation for 30 years.
Scenic highlights include the Rockville Trestle with its nut and bolt individual castings, and the Scottsdale Cement plant reminiscent of the plant at Howe Caverns that the host switched when he worked for the D&H. There’s even a model of the underground caverns.
The layout is featured in Model Railroader January 1991, Railroad Model Craftsmen October 1980, and the NMRA magazine.
Access: Entry into the house is via the side door, and then down a flight of stairs to basement. Entry into the layout is walk-in, with some narrow aisles.
