The Anachronistic Region operating crew (a round-robin group) restarted operating sessions in May 2021 after all members, their spouses, and household members were boosted. The Shepherd Branch hosted five sessions. Restarting operations after 15 months of inactivity required a major effort to clear wheels, track, and dust.
The railroad acquired an AtlasO Gold Edition Alco RS-1 in Great Northern livery from the Reading & Northwestern in exchange for an O Gauge Weaver Baldwin VO-1000 that lacked motors but was equipped with a fully functional TMCC unit. The railroad also included numerous sections of AtlasO O Gauge track, cork roadbed, and assorted pieces of Code 148 rail in the exchange. The Gold Edition locomotive has a QSI sound decoder that functions with both DCC and straight DC.
No additions were made this year, but an excess P&P 40-foot boxcar was included in the swap with the Reading & Northwestern.
The MOW Department has spent much time and effort trying to determine why locomotives derail on one of the right-hand turnouts leading into the Port Shepherd yard. It happens often enough to be a problem, but not every time a locomotive goes through the diverging side of the switch. The turnout happens to be in a difficult position to comfortably access.
No significant improvements or additions were made this year.
Limited operations on the OR&W were undertaken concurrent with the operations on the Shepherd Branch. The use of the Digitrax LocoNet Wifi Interface (LNWI) was very successful, enabling wireless operation of the railroad.
Full-size structures completed during the year:
Two “company houses” built from Keystone Locomotive Works kits acquired nearly 35 years ago.
B&O Freight House scratch-built from styrene using plans from the B&O Standard Plans reprint (see references).
Two-dimensional backdrop buildings were added to Freeland behind the scratch-built stockyard enclosures.
There were no changes to the locomotive roster.
There were no changes to the car roster.
Near the end of 2020, another “dead spot” in the hidden trackage revealed itself. This again necessitated removing the upper deck holding the O gauge loop. Almost accidentally, the MOW crew stumbled on a situation where the misalignment of the roadbed, ties, and a rail gap created a dead spot. Ties were repositioned and a tighter-fitting rail joiner installed. With all working well again, the O gauge deck was reinstalled. No further problems have been experienced with the hidden trackage (knock on wood).
During the year, the following items were declared surplus and sold:
The old P&P Railroad website went dark in March 2021 when the service provider suspended “free” hosting services. The new website is titled “Two Instances of O Scale in DC” and is hosted by the Potomac Division, NMRA. The URL is https://2inoscaledc.potomac-nmra.org/index.html. The Shepherd Branch section is fairly complete. The OR&W section needs a lot of work.
Shepherd Branch management hopes to continue regular operating sessions, complete the backdrop scenery between Twining City and Uniontown, and restore P&P #67, a Weaver 0-6-0 switcher. Management also plans to continue to sell excess, unopened, or incomplete parts and kits. P&P management will focus on adding more scenery and operating accessories to the three-rail display railroad. OR&W management plans to continue regular operating sessions and to add structures and scenery.
Akron Railroad Club B&O Railroad Standard Plans for Maintenance of Way and Construction 1907 (Reprinted 1977)