| I never intended
to model the Reading Company's Bethlehem Branch. I originally desired to
model a portion of the Shamokin Division around Tamaqua and work the Lehigh
& New England in to the picture. As I worked on finishing the room,
I developed various plans to incorporate my desires. Sadly, many of these
plans were of the proverbial ten pounds of sugar in a five pound bag variety.
As I worked
on the plans and room, I continued to buy equipment and other items to
use on the future empire. It was during these conquests that I discovered
the two excellent hobby shops in Lansdale PA. Every visit to the shops
meant a brief stop at at the former Reading station to see what was up.
This led to an increased desire to learn more about this piece of railroad.
It was also about this time I began meeting people who lived in other towns
along the branch. Visits to them always meant a trip out to explore a segment
of the branch.
Finally, I
threw in the towel on the Shamokin Division plans and decided to see what
I could do for a Bethlehem Branch based model railroad. The Bethlehem Branch
had most of the things that had attracted me originally to the Shamokin
Division (symbol freights, passenger service, coal drags, tunnels and varied
topography) as well as a few added bonuses (RDC's, interesting loads originating
at Bethlehem Steel and more varied local freight service).
So, without
any further ramblings from me, let's step inside and take a look at my
HO scale Bethlehem Branch.
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