Does anybody know anything about this layout and where I can find more pictures of it? http://www.greatesthobby.com/wgh/objects/pdf/wgh_section1.pdf Cheers David
The tower and building appears to be a model of the New Haven station at Waterbury, CT. However, I have no clue as to the individual in the photo. A Google search of Waterbury Model Train (or similar) might turn up something. Also, WGH management might respond to an e-mail. MR did a feature on a model of the Waterbury area in the past year or so. Though I believe the featured layout covered a larger area than that shown in this photo.
Yes, that does look like David Popp's layout. MR has a copy of his layout on their site, but you have to be a subscriber to see it. I quickly did a search and found this site: Layouts of the rich and famous - David Popps Naugatuck Valley Railroad | The Rip Track E.
That is David Popp's layout featured in a few of the Kalambach books and in MR. http://riptrack.net/node/253
“UNOFFICIAL” tour of the Naugatuck Valley model railroad Here is where you can find more pictures of the Naugatuck Valley if you can get back issues of Model Railroader and other Kalmbach publications. I have been so fascinated by David Popp’s layout in April 06 MR that I just had to explore it more. As it turns out, one can do just that by “re-purposing” Popp’s Step-by-Step column. I did just that from my boxes of Model Railroader fover the past few years and assembled this “tour”. SYSTEM MAP showing prototype area with modeled lines Feb05 p.40 For orientation, I am following the map directions along the modeled line, and listing scenes from “north” to “south”, Hancock Bridge- Waterbury- Prospect Hill- Beacon. With the exception of Hancock Bridge, “north” is to the left from the point of view of an operator in the aisle, and “south” is right. Using these directions, I describe various structures, mini-scenes, etc as in the “north” of “south” end of a town. HANCOCK BRIDGE JDH Metals Foundtry Feb05 p.41 WATERBURY Waterbury yard aerial view, showing 2-track freight house diverging to upper right and car cleanout platform. Jan05 p.36 Bank Street Jct. view towards Waterbury Model Railroader Oct06 p.108 “SOUTH” WATERBURY (for identification, this is what I am calling the back side of the main Waterbury depot scene, before the track goes under the underpass and around the corner to Prospect Hill) Mainline with Quincy Smith and Grivno in background Dec05 p.48 Quincy Smith Pin Company Aug05 p.38 Grivno Coal low relief building Feb05 p.41 PROSPECT HILL A&P warehouse with NH roof sign Jan05 p.53; Feb05 p.41 New England Brass Button Company Sept.05 p.40,41 (note: this industry was shown as built in the “aisle” of the layout, but April06 layout tour shows layout benchwork extended out to take in this industry, and some background structures relocated.) Homes, residential scene Nov05 p.40 Polsgrove Fuel- wide shot of entire industry May05 p.40 closeup of coal delivery trestle Jan05 p.53 café just south of Polsgrove Apr05 p.36 BEACON Wide shot over end of Beacon “peninsula” July05 p.36 Connecticut Trim Co. (with corner of depot and passenger platform visible) Jan05 p.52 Highway grade crossing over 2 track mainline, just north of Beacon depot, Apr05 p.37 Beacon Depot area, wide shot, Feb05 p.40 Highway grade crossing over 2 industry spurs, behind Beacon depot, Apr05 p.38 Downtown business district Jan05 p.54 Highway south of Beacon near church, Jan05 p.54 Some weeks ago, I compiled a list of scenes on David Popp’s Naugatuck Valley Railroad from “Step-by-Step” articles in 2005 Model Railroader. I intended to go back and do the same for 2004, but I had a May 1st graduate history paper deadline, and then a deadline to spruce up and photograph my layout for MR’s Small Layout Contest. For the required technical information, I wanted to see how the magazine filled in “layout heights” in its technical boxes for layouts that sit on whatever table is handy and don’t have any regular height. While I was doing that, I leafed through my 2004 Model Railroader issues and compiled the following additional list on scenes on the Naugatuck Valley. (from north to south on the layout) PROSPECT HILL Goat farm on a hilltop above town of Prospect Hill, looking down from “back” of layout I call this “Hilltop Farm” although Popp did not give it any name in the photo. MR June 2004 p.45 Cut at south end of Prospect Hill area where track goes directly from a cut with a retaining wall onto a deck bridge over the Naugatuck River. MR March 2004 p,53 Low angle from just above the river looking up at the same scene. MR June 2004 p.42 NAUGATUCK RIVER in gorge between Prospect Hill and Beacon General view of end of peninsula MR April 2004, p.46 Close view on water in this scene MR July 2004 p.40 BEACON Crossing at north end of Beacon MR December 2004 p.54 North end of Beacon station area MR March 2004 p.52 South end of Beacon business district with road leading south MR August 2004 p.43 Hanson Piano Company just south of Beacon MR September 2004 p.44 south end of Naugatuck Valley Model Railroader Aug06 p.36 Since the south end of the railroad appeared first in MR articles, I would guess that end was sceniced and presentation first, before the Waterbury scene with its yard trackage and its impressive station building. Naugatuck Valley backdated in 1947 steam Great Model Railroads 2008 p.94 station/ poassenger scene Model Railroader Jun08. p.54 Naugatuck Valley Waterberg car clean-out siding Model Railroader Aug07. p.38 Naugatuck Valley- Waterbury Industrial District expansion, “4 weeks to a bigger layout” Part 1 benchwork Model Railroader Sept 08. p.38 part 2 Model Railroader Oct08. p.48 part 3 Model Railroader Nov08 p.56 pt 4, buildings Model Railroader Dec08. p.72
