Alturas and Lone Pine RR

jhn_plsn Aug 3, 2008

  1. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    I know Witt Towers Passed away some time ago and heard the layout was sectioned off to his friends, but did this actually happen or did it end up in a museum? Anyone know?
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Can't answer your question. But this has me thinking I should dig out old magazines. To look for some of the articles done about Whit, years ago.

    Boxcab E50
     
  3. Glenn Woodle

    Glenn Woodle TrainBoard Member

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    Check the NMRA Museum

    At least parts of the ALP, the V&O & other layouts are supposed to be in Chattanooga at the NMRA headquarters. I'm not sure what kind of space is available to display the layouts. AFAIK the building & library were having some space issues.
     
  4. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    Good to hear some of the ALP may have survived, but that sure was a big move. Brentwood Ca. to Chattanooga. Do you know if the layout is complete or are there only pieces left for display.
     
  5. NYW&B

    NYW&B Guest

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    To the best of my knowledge, only a portion of the ALP survives in storage at Chattanooga and is unlikely to be displayed or rehabbed in the near future. The NMRA's model railroading "museum" is funded by donations only and as such is not doing all that well. I believe that nearly all of its funding to date has come from money it received through Howell Day's estate.

    The museum was a great concept but as the NMRA itself was wanting for money and already was in difficulties supporting its own library, it was really a step beyond their capabilities at the time. There's even been talk of spinning off the library to some other institution.

    Incidentally, long years ago I had the occasion to visit with Witt and exchanging examples of rollingstock, resulting in some of my stuff operating on the ALP in years thereafter (and his on mine).

    CNJ999
     
  6. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    How many cigarettes did he smoke at one time when you met him?
    I was a member of the Orange Coast Model Railroaders located in Garden Grove and we had the pleasure of operating the ALP with Witt at Alturas of coarse and a close friend of his I think his name was Jeff Wilson at Lone Pine. This was around 1994-1995 if I remember correctly, and we were relegated to the mainline cabs, Sonora, and Auburn until we earned the YM posts. I still have a copy of his time table and operating rules. The guys I would go up with are Bryan Hunnell, Dave ??? and a few othe rguys from the club. Some enjoyed just watching and giving us a hard time when we goofed up.
    Witt and the ALP he created will always be a big inspiration to me
     
  7. Cox 1947

    Cox 1947 TrainBoard Member

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    You can find a lot of photos and articles on the ALP in NMRA Bulletin the years that Whitt was editor 60's and 70's...
     
  8. jhn_plsn

    jhn_plsn TrainBoard Supporter

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    Are these available to non-members?
     
  9. Cox 1947

    Cox 1947 TrainBoard Member

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    John you could probaly pick them up at a train show or swap meet I got rid of a bunch when we moved into this small apartment couldn't find any one that wanted them..Jerry
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    This is a practice which I wish could be revived.

    Boxcab E50
     
  11. NYW&B

    NYW&B Guest

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    While perhaps not as permanent as the swap Witt and I did long ago, there are semi-formal programs out there that center around a round-robin monthly swapping of cars with other hobbyists on a national basis. The NMRA runs one, I believe, and we have had a very successful one going on-line in conjunction with Railroad Line Forums for several years.

    In the latter, about a dozen of us (the group's size and members change from year to year) interchange rollingstock once a month, photographing the exchanged models in operation on our layouts and usually creating little associated storylines to go with them, posting the results to a specific dedicated forum thread. The thread is very popular with a broad range of nonparticipating forum members as well, with the current example (Interchange '08)garnering upwards of 11,000 views since it started at the end of February this year.

    Several participants have rather elaborate layouts, so it can be fun see your car rolling through highly scenic landscapes. By the end of the year, all the cars will have completed the circuit and have returned to their owners. Might be worth a try on some other forums as well, providing a reliable program coordinator can be found.

    NYW&B
     
  12. RTD-Andy

    RTD-Andy New Member

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    More on the Alturas & Lone Pine

    Hello All,

    I came across this thread while searching for information on the Alturas & Lone Pine. Some cars and buildings from this railroad were being sold today at an estate sale sponsored by the Glendale Model Railroad club.

    Andy
     
  13. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Andy-

    Welcome to TrainBoard!

    Were these items from his estate? A family member? Or someone unrelated?

    Boxcab E50
     
  14. RTD-Andy

    RTD-Andy New Member

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    Not sure, the people running the sale stated that the items they had came from various estates donated to the club. My dad purchased several buildings that he has since found pictures of in various magazine articles on the ALP.

    Andy
     
  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I seem to recall an article in RMC, circa 1966, which featured the A&LP. Sound familiar to anyone?

    Any chance we can see pictures of those buildings? It would be great fun to view such survivors.

    Boxcab E50
     
  16. Rob Gardner

    Rob Gardner TrainBoard Member

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    The Alturas & Lone Pine was the HO layout of Whit Towers. It was featured in MR back in 1981 or 1982 IIRC. It was a point to point layout that wrapped around the layout room and had a nice bid center section as well. It was set in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

    Rob Gardner
     

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