KC: Jerry Britton's PRR Eastern Region

The main line entering Harrisburg consists of four tracks. Tracks 1 and 2 are the passenger main line tracks out of Philadelphia. Tracks 3 & 4 are the freight main line tracks which deviated from the passenger main at Lancaster, went through Columbia, and rejoined the main line right-of-way at ROY (Royalton) just outside of Middletown, Pa.

At STATE interlocking in Harrisburg there is a full interlock as the line enters the passenger station area after passing an industrial area which includes numerous warehouses, the PRR freight warehouse, and the Railway Express Agency.

The Cumberland Valley Branch arrives from the west and enters the passenger station.

Prototype STATE Interlocking Diagram

Prototype 1" = 200' Valuation Map of Entire Station Area

The Model

The four track main line enters Harrisburg at a location just west of Paxton Street. (The scene is set out 8" from the wall to allow for Middle Division to occupy the space above and behind it.)

All rail facilities from this location west to HARRIS tower are modeled in exact scale, based on available valuation maps (1" = 200') and station blueprints (1" = 40'). These facilities include the Harrisburg Passenger Station, the Railway Express Agency depot, and the extensive PRR freight facility.

The Cumberland Valley Branch, carrying Northern Central Branch passenger traffic via LEMO to the west, enters the station area within the STATE interlocking plant.

Photos

Needed: Photos of REA and freight areas, particularly buildings, from all angles.

Published Photos

Only thumbnails of published photos are provided, as a guide, so as to protect the rights of the publisher or photographer.

Viewed from north, shows Harrisburg Storage Company, switchwork, 1963. Hudson to Horseshoe, p. 74.

View south from Mulberry Street Bridge, during flood, 1936. Shows coal power plant. Floods of 1936-1937, p. 81.

East side of freight station, during flood, 1936. Shows coal power plant. Floods of 1936-1937, p. 82.

Railway Express Agency building during flood of 1936. Triumph II, p. 222.

Freight station that was to become the Railway Express Agency building, 1918. Triumph II, p. 225.

New freight station under construction. Triumph II, p. 225.

The station sees extensive car switching opportunities as well as locomotive operations. Electric locomotives are removed from trains as Harrisburg is the western terminus of electrified territory. Diesels and steam locomotives take over for the continued trip westward.

The freight mains pass a trailing point interchange with the Reading Company.

The Model

All station tracks are modeled in exact scale with no deviations. Catenary and trainsheds will be included. The station building will be a removable addition to the layout. It will be removed to allow more aisle space for open houses a large operating sessions.

The trailing point interchange with the Reading Company is included. The connection leads behind the backdrop and reconnects with the westbound freight main at the top of the helix, providing an active interchange route.

The backdrop will include a facade of the Reading Company station, which still existed as of 1954, as well as the Harrisburg Patriot-News building which had just been built.

Photos

1959 photo of GG-1 #4911 just east of the station. That's the Cumberland Valley station in the background.

GG-1 in five-stripe livery west of the station. That's the newly constructed post office in the background left.

Published Photos

Only thumbnails of published photos are provided, as a guide, so as to protect the rights of the publisher or photographer.

Background shows buildings next to station. Pennsy Steam Years, Vol.1, p.47. Same photo appears in Pennsy Steam Years, Vol.2, p.61.

Under Mulberry Street Bridge, looking south. Shows gas tank, color, 1956.Pennsy Diesel Years, Vol.2, p. 39.

Reading interchange signal at station, color, 1948. Reading station clearly visible. Pennsy Diesel Years, Vol.4, p. 11.

Front of station with buses and taxis, color, 1961. Shows Cumberland Valley station. Pennsy Diesel Years, Vol.4, p. 10.

Waiting room of station with buses and taxis, color, 1963. Pennsy Diesel Years, Vol.4, p. 10.

Overhead of south end of station, probably taken from Mulberry Street bridge, color, 1952. Shows Railway Express Agency reefers. Pennsy Diesel Years, Vol.5, p. 57.

North end of station, shows outbuilding, color, 1969. Pennsy Diesel Years, Vol.5, p. 57.

View of station from Reading interchange track, color, 1948. Pennsy Diesel Years, Vol.6, p. 98.

Good color shot of south end of station, with glimpse of Cumberland Valley Station to left. Trackside North of Washington, p. 79.

Stationmaster's Office. Appears to be on first platform, west end of station. Triumph II, p. 220.

Assistant Yardmaster's Office. Location unknown. Triumph II, p. 220.

North side of station showing cars in coach yard, 1940's. Triumph II, p. 221.

The passenger tracks converge back into two mains as they pass HARRIS Tower. They come parallel to the two freight mains once again. The loco ready tracks and coach yards develop alongside.

Prototype HARRIS Interlocking Diagram

The Model

Photos

Published Photos

Only thumbnails of published photos are provided, as a guide, so as to protect the rights of the publisher or photographer.

Harrisburg Locomotive Facility

The Harrisburg Locomotive Facility will not be modeled per se. There is not enough space to do so accurately. However, there may be some locomotive facility west of HARRIS tower that may incorporate the "flavor" of the prototype facility.