Welcome to the new frontpage! The old format was starting to get a bit unweildy, so to speed loading and reduce bandwidth for our repeat visitors the background page and pictures have been moved to their own page.

The AV story from the very beginning
A semi-fictional Timeline for the railroad 
MORE 2010 layout pictures
Spring 2011 pictures
The Allegheny Valley on the Road
AV-the movie


Some articles for newbies on general modeling and building
Why do I call it the AV 'Skonkworks', plus modeling links 
The large scale gauge/scale mess (mostly) simplified
Getting Big Trains on a Small Budget 
Choosing a Theme for your layout 
A general US timeline to help you set your pike's history
Tools and tips for beginning builders
MORE tips for model railroad builders
Fast and easy weathering 
Little things bring a layout to life
Photographing Model Railroads
Replacing the axle gear on a Bachmann 2-8-0


Image essays to help you with projects
Stuff from here and there and my own files
1850s locomotive design
Inside frame narrow gauge 2-8-0 locomotives
Frick portable sawmill
Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Mines

Some other AV project pages you might also find interesting:
The AV's motive power and rolling stock
Building #6 'Old Reliable' - A LGB bash
1860's 2-2-0 #2 'Shamrock'
Building #5, an Aristo/Bachmann 2-8-0 bash
A unique narrow guage 2-4-4-2 Mallet #8 build
2-6-0 #12 build
2-8-0 #15 Heavy power arrives on the AV
Critters, Dinkies and Goats - small engine projects
A Business Car for the AV

Buildings and Scenery projects
Modeling the B&O passenger station at Evans City, Pa.
Building a Wainwright's Shop
Scratchbuilding an Appalachian Coal Mine
A fast 'n easy boilerhouse build
A Sawmill. a Flour City, and homemade logging stuff
What can you do with a diecast panel truck? Lots!
Vintage construction equipment builds
The station at Promise - a Christmas Story
Building a South Penn Oil style field pumping station
What happened to all the AV build logs on Smokstak?


Chasing a Fallen Flag - Exploring along the REAL Allegheny Valley RR
Part I - Ford City to Kittanning
Part II - Garvers Ferry/Butler Junction to Ford City
Part III - Franklin and Oil City
Part IV - Emlenton and Foxburg

If you have enjoyed your journey on the Allegheny Valley, won't you please sign my guest book?


These pages hosted courtesy of the-Ashpit.com, a web board for broad minded narrow gauge enthusiasts
the-ashpit.com