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Updated July 21, 2006
History
Island Valley Railroad
Preamble:
- The “Island Valley Railroad” is a freelance hi-rail O-scale model railroad set in the modern era. Diesel engines, from the 50's through the present, provide the motive power. Road names were selected based on my preference to certain railroads and to what was pleasing to me at the time of order/purchase. Rolling stock is also varied for the same reasons. An Erie Pacific (4-6-2) steam engine (scale), is used to pull streamlined passenger cars, to simulate a rail excursion.
Dedication:
- This layout is dedicated to my father, Anthony Parisi, who provided the spark that ignited the flames of my passion for trains and model railroading.
- An honorable mention goes posthumorously to my friend, Carl Campbell, who after a long illness, passed away in the prime of his life. Carl spent many hours passing on his knowledge of electronics and benchworking to me.
Providing the Spark:
- My interest in model railroading goes back to a very young age. I remember my father setting up our first train set, an American Flyer steam engine with a few cars, a rotary beacon, whistle billboard, and freight station, around the Christmas tree. I enjoyed blowing the whistle and listening to the “choo-choo” sound coming from the American Flyer engine. Over the years, as switches, buildings, and more track was added, it took up too much space under the Christmas tree, so a permanent layout was built in the basement.
I also have fond memories of my father taking me to model railroad open houses, and to see real trains at the B&O, Pennsylvania, and New York Central terminals in Youngstown. Visits to my grandfather, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, always included trips to the Pennsylvania passenger terminal to see the commuter trains, which were pulled by Pennsylvania GG-1's.
The Flames Burn:
- As a teenager I decided that American Flyer was much too expensive for my small allowance and paper route profits, so I ventured into HO. Various HO layouts were set up in the attic bedroom I shared with my two brothers. These HO layouts, along with the American Flyer layout was abandoned for other teenage pursuits (girls and music). For a time there was not an operating layout to be found in our home. The basement became a family room and the trains ended up in boxes stored in the attic.
Upon entering the military I gave my HO trains to my father, who still had an interest in them and planned on setting up a layout again. A tour of military service (20+ years) did not deter my interest in model railroading. Due to lack of space and constant moving, a permanent layout was not feasible. I did manage to accumulate some N-scale trains and set up some track on a piece of plywood. This helped maintain my interest and dreaming about the great layout to be built when I settled down.
In 1989 I retired from the Air Force and purchased the home I grew up in from my father. Upon cleaning out the attic I came across boxes full of old American Flyer trains. This brought back fond memories of my youth with these trains. Heading for the basement with my new found treasure, I soon had an oval of track set up and was ready to run trains. However the engine, due to years of neglect, required a trip to the local hobby shop for repair. Shortly thereafter the sound of “choo-choo” could be heard in the basement. The cost and limited supply of American Flyer trains precluded me from setting up a permanent layout. Instead it would be stored in boxes in the attic until Christmas time, where again it would run around the Christmas tree.
My father had an HO layout set up in the basement of the apartment house he lived in, and when visiting him I would watch him run the trains. When my father moved from the apartment to a house, and due to limited basement space, he decided not to set up his trains, and asked if I would like them. How could I refuse an offer like that.
The Flames Burn Brighter:
- I decided that a 4' by 8' table would be sufficient my first permanent layout in over 20 years. After a year or so I decided to add storage yards below the main layout. I added a lower table and a helix to get from the top to lower level. With continually adding engines and rolling stock the layout soon became too small. Additional basement real estate would be needed. After intense negotiations with the CEO, I was on my way to developing my "Railroad Empire". Expansion soon brought the layout to 12' x 20'. Most of what little free time I had, was spent with wiring, scenery, and putting buildings together. This layout worked well for a few years more.
One Saturday morning, while visiting my local hobby shop, I came across an MTH Premier (O-scale) Santa Fe GP-60 diesel engine with ProtoSound 1. The sounds emitted from this engine was music to my ears. I knew my 6 year old HO empire was soon to be a thing of the past.
The HO layout came down and my inventory of engines, rolling stock, and buildings either sold or given away. While planning my new O-gauge empire I decided the train room (basement) needed a major overhaul. Brick walls were covered with drywall. To handle the additional lighting and requirements of a large O-gauge layout, I had two new 20 ampere electrical circuits installed. New florescent lighting was installed to brighten up the room. The 35 year old carpet was also replaced.
The Flames Burning Out of Control:
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By Bill Parisi