The Laurel Line Revisited

L

LWVRR

Banned
I thought I'd share some new screenshots from the Laurel Line project. I've updated the project from TS2009 to TS2012 and at this point there's still a long way to go from being finished.

Let's get to it...


Frieght motor at the Cemetery St Crossing in the Minooka section of Scranton


This shot was a few minutes earlier at the Kane St. crossing in front of the General Electric plant.


In this night shot, trolley #31 is stopped at the Moosic station. In the background the Jermyn coal breaker building can be seen.


This is a shot from the DL&W tracks in Scranton looking down on the Laurel Line's Scranton Yard. The track to the left is the main line that passes the carshops and powerhouse. The tracks to the right are of the old main line, now part of the Dunmore Branch.


Trolley #36 approaching the Scranton Station. The area known as Ridge Row is to the left.


This area located in South Scranton is called Connell Junction. The track to the right is the old main line that was used in the Laurel Line's early years before the Crown Avenue Tunnel was built. The newer line to the tunnel is on the left. This was the only section of the railroad that was at level grade.

More in a bit.
 
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Ok, here is part 2...


In the southern end of the Scranton Yard is the carshops and powerhouse. Here we see a freight motor getting ready to enter the single tracked tunnel up ahead.


Another shot of the Scranton Yard. Here we see a DL&W steam locomotive passing underneath the Spruce Street bridge. It's here to drop off some coal hoppers for the Laurel Line.


Here is a scenic shot around the area of Rocky Glen Lake.


This is a picture of the Laurel Line Scranton Station. At both ends of the line in Scranton & Wilkes-Barre the track was looped at the stations.


A rainy day at Rocky Glen park. The buildings in this area still have to be made and placed... but I got the rides in.


One of the few areas done in the southern section of the railroad. Just outside of the Wilkes-Barre city limits is the Lehigh Valley Coal Company's Dorrance Breaker. Today, there are some remains of this building still standing. The complex's fanhouse can still be seen with in all the shrubs and trees. The tracks at this location are long gone.
 
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Here's 6 more...


This area is know as Virginia or Little Virgina. The picture show the entrance of the Minooka industrial branch line. The freight motor would first pull onto the switchback spur and then precede up the mountain side into the Minooka section. This rail line is still active today.


In the Minooka section, this is the Davis Street crossing. New industrial building are being made for this section of the layout. All of the Laurel Line's serviced industries in the Minooka section will be represented on the layout.


In the South Scranton section, about a half mile from the Tunnel we see a southbound feight motor moving towards Connell Junction. On the hill side above the Laurel Line is the Erie & Wyoming Railroad. This railroad paralleled the Laurel Line from Rocky Glen to South Scranton.


This is one of my favorite shots. This is car #31 passing over Roaring Brook Creek at the far southern end of the Scranton yard. The bridge above is the Harrison Avenue Viaduct that is still in use today. Beside the Minooka Branch this is the only other area to be single tracked on the Laurel Line. Every where else was double tracked.


Car #37 sits infront of the Plains Station. This area was originally known as Hancock. Why they changed the name to Plains is unknown to me...the town of Plains sits on a big hill, go figure! All the stations and flagstop buildings were made by Jananton.


Here is another shot of the wilderness area between Scranton and Rocky Glen. The creek beside the rail line is Stafford Creek. The creek itself is much smaller then shown here. I made it bigger for scenic reasons. Also, this was the flattest area of the line...the trolleys would zoom through this section at a blistering 40mph.
 
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Some nice screenshots Scott, lets throw some more in the mix. ;)


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Approaching Maple Street via the old line.

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Arrival at Connell junction where old meets new.

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Crossing the viaduct at Avoca.

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Freewheeling the street crossing at South Avoca because of gap in the third rail.

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As above from another perspective.

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Waiting for green at Pittston Station.

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Passing the Dorrance Breaker on the outskirts of Wilkes-Barre.

Greetings from nighttime Amsterdam,

Jan
 
Yet, some more...


Looking across the Scranton yard at the Scranton freight depot.

Here is another shot of the Scranton station. In the background is (was) the DL&W locomotive shops. Down the road I hope to add a real model of that building.


We're back to the Minooka branch line and the newest building to be added to the layout...the General Electric building by Jananton.


Car #31 passing the Laurel Line carshops (right) and the powerhouse (left).


Here we have a Laurel Line freight motor on the Minooka Branch next to Cemetery Street...Can you figure out why they it's called Cemetery Street?
 
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This is still one of the most impressive routes I've seen! I haven't forgotten about those hoppers you asked me for a while back, I just haven't built that style yet.
 
And some more...


This shows the trackwork at the Laurel Line carshop.


Here is another shot of the carshop and powerhouse. The dark building in the middle is a coal storage shed. The track that is right of the powerhouse is where the ash is loaded.


Speaking of ash, here we see car #31 passing a ash dump. The Laurel Line had several ash dump sites along it's line, but this location is the only dump location I can confirm at this time. You could never get away with dumping ash in today's world!


Scranton Station in night mode.


This shows the Laurel Line tracks that was right next to the Million Dollar Rollercoaster at Rocky Glen Park. This rollercoaster stood until 1957/58. At one time, in the early years the only access to Rocky Glen Park was through the Laurel Line.


Another one of my favorite locations on the map. This shot is taken on the Avoca Viaduct, Laurel Line's biggest bridge. The bridge model was done by bendorsey.
 
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Ok, here is the last of the current screenshots.


Another shot of the wilderness area between Scranton and Rocky Glen. I added sounds through this section of bird cicadas and even frogs so you can get that "I'm in the middle of nowhere feeling".


Here is another shot of the Virginia stop. Very few folks got on or off here...mostly hikers. The area was untented to be an industrial area but it never materialized.


Here is a daytime shot of the Avoca Viaduct. The bridge crossed over the Lehigh Valley and Delaware & Hudson railroads. The smaller bridge next to the viaduct is the Heidleburg Bridge which is still there today. Heidleburg was the name of the coal breaker in the background. The Avoca Viaduct itself was taken down between 1965 to 1968. For some reason the middle section of the viaduct stood alone until 1968. The bridge embankment are being taken out as we speak for new road constuction in the area.


Just north of Pittston is the Butler Coal Breaker. The breaker is shown in the background. The building in the front is a coal loading facility for the Laurel Line. Today this area is a Big K-Mart.


This is the Pittston Station, it's about the halfway point on the Laurel Line. The second building in the picture is the Pittston Depot. The Depot still stands today as an office. The station is long gone. The area behind the station and depot was used for a public pool which now sits unused due to lack of funds...no suprise there!


Lastly, we have some freight maneuvers on the Laurel Line. The Laurel Line had three freight motors 401, 402 and 403. Someday I'll get to adding the running numbers to these units.

Next up:Working on a new industry on the Minooka Branch.
 
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prre6 said:
Nice route LWVRR! Can't wait for the release! Any idea when that will be?

Fred
Click to expand...

Hi Fred, In reality the layout is about half done. I still have the southern half to go. However, it might be possible to release the layout and continue with updates. I'll have to give some thought on that. I guess it all boils down to how many people have interest in it...and if I can get more content creators working on it.
 
Very Good Indeed!

Concept, execution and screen shots all excellent! If anything could get me to update to TS2010 (to include buying a PC upgrade), this layout would be it.
 
Here is the latest...hot off the presses!
On the Minooka branch line there are 4 industries. This is #2 of 4 Harris Hub, Bed & Spring Company. Can you guess what they produce? That's right...Beds! Well, and bedroom furniture. This is another Jananton creation.


Freight motor crossing Davis Street. The building in view is Harris Hub.


The view of the loading area at Harris Hub.


A boxcar being dropped off at the loading doors. Somebody should really clean up those drums that are just sitting around!


Here is the view of the back of the building.


There lots of room for more trailers...if someone wants to make them. hint hint.
 
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The new Trane Inc building is open for business on the Laurel Line. The first freight is being delivered.


The trucks are coming in too.


Since the building sits at a different level then the tracks, a switchback was built for easy access.


Here is another shot of the Trane loading area.
 
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