Date/Time
Date(s) - Saturday, February 18, 2023
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location
Bridgeworks Enterprise Center
905 Harrison St., Room 120
Allentown, PA 18103
Categories
On Saturday February 18, 2023, the Philadelphia Division travels up to Allentown to join the Susquehanna Division who will be hosting our next meet. The location is the Bridgeworks Enterprise Center, 905 Harrison Street, Allentown, PA 18103. Maps and directions can be found in The Dispatcher. Doors open at 9:00AM with the morning’s events to begin at 9:30AM.
The program begins with a special business meeting held by the Susquehanna Division in order to install a new superintendent. After that that comes the fun stuff.
Clinic #1: Researching and Designing a Hershey-Inspired Reading Layout by Rob Hinkle
Rob’s clinic will focus on the research and design inspirations that went into planning of his model railroad. A brief overview of the Reading Company—-specifically the Lebanon Valley Line—-followed by discussions on determining where and when to model, using various railroad and non-railroad sources and showing off some railroad paperwork. Rob will delve into the history of Hershey’s Chocolate—the chocolate process, details on raw material shipments, finished products, and how to model everything.
Rob is a long-time model railroader who grew up in Reading territory and has become an avid aficionado of the railroad. He served as the chairman of the division’s 2019 MER convention, whose success was in large part due to his excellent leadership. He has served as a board director and continues to serve as the division’s assistant superintendent.
Clinic #2: “Almost” Resurrecting a Railroad (the LV Barber Quarry Branch) by Scott Unger
The Barber Quarry Branch left the main line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and meandered westward through the City of Allentown serving industries along the way. After the demise of the LV it was abandoned and eventually completely removed with no remaining traces visible.
The presentation will include a brief history of the line and the industries served. There will be an in- depth discussion about the efforts to re-establish rail service on a portion of the branch to serve a 20-acre former metal fabrication facility. Finally an explanation of the future of the site and its return to manufacturing. Should be a treat for those interested in urban railroading.
Scott Unger has been the Executive Director of the Allentown Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) since 2008. Having received a BS in Landscape Architec-ture from West Virginia University, his expertise is in land use planning, site design, construction manage-ment, urban redevelopment, and brownfield reclamation.
Scott is the current president of the MER. He models a portion of the former Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh Railroad during the B&O era (1974 Chessie System) and is working on the second version of that railroad following a move to a new house in 2020. His model railroad will be among those open for visitation after the meet.
Coffee and refreshments will, of course, be available.
The afternoon promises to be a special treat with some model railroads you’ve likely not seen before. Hope you can make it!
