Earl Benteler's Allegheny Railroad

A while back I purchased a few models on eBay from the collection of John L. Oliver.  Included in these was a hopper car lettered for Earl Benteler's Allegheny Railroad.  Somehow John Oliver had come to possess one of Earl's cars and he had carefully made a cardboard box with a neatly typed label for this car.

Recently I happened upon another Allegheny car; a box car in rough shape, in a lot of assorted Mantua and Revell rolling stock.  While I'll be able to use the other stock (I have rebuilt Mantua gondolas before) it was the box car that prompted the purchase.  I probably have the Varney parts in my spares box to rebuild this car, which is my intention.

This lovely discovery launched a new search for information on Earl F. Benteler.  Previous searching hadn't turned up much.  This time I discovered, sadly, that he had died in 2021.  See his obituary here, and note the comments regarding his modeling:

https://www.willigfuneralcremationservices.com/obituary/Earl-Benteler

On a happier note I discovered his most recent model railroad efforts, having added to the Allegheny name to create the "Greenock, Allegheny and Hell Bent Railroad".  See photos here:

https://www.keystonedivision.org/photo_page_folder/gahb.html

And to answer the mystery of how John Oliver ended up with one of Earl Benteler's hoppers, see this ad from Model Railroader magazine, October 1963.  It'd be neat to know if Earl still had a "Pan Handle Rusty Route" car of John's in his collection.  Note the word "Greenock" in the listing:

And finally, here's Earl (wearing the hat) sharing a bittersweet moment with one of the greats, then-editor of MR, Linn Wescott, in February 1966.

I believe strongly that it is up to us today to honor the craftsmanship and passion of the previous generation of modelers, keeping that spirit alive by showcasing their work and, as we are able, to tell their stories.  I never met Earl or John, but as a fellow modeler I feel a connection - even tenuously - to them through these models and the snippets of history available in print.  Hopefully my efforts will inspire others to do the same with similar "fallen flags" and the men who built them.

Now how this box car ended up in Longview, Washington, where I once lived for a few years...that's another mystery.  It may have something to do with one of Milt Moore's Gibraltar hoppers I found at a train show across the river in Rainier, Oregon...but that's a story for another time.  I leave you with this image of the two Allegheny cars now reunited.

"Family Reunion"

Found out about Flynn

A few posts back Russ Bellinis and I were chatting in the comments about Bill Flynn.  Russ's suggestion to check one of Bob Chaparro's SoCal groups was right on.  A quick search of the messages on the Model Railroads of Southern Calif group produced this post from January 23, 2006:

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of longtime PRR
modeler Bill Flynn of Tustin, California. Bill passed away on
January 21 due to complications from several cancer surgeries.
Arrangements are being coordinated by Saddleback Mortuary.

Bill's Southwest Subdivision/PRR was a showpiece model railroad with
its four-track mainline, detailed scenery and many scratchbuilt
structures. This railroad first started in Bill's two-car garage.
As we all do, Bill came to the conclusion he needed more space
to "do things right" so he fill-in his seldom used swimming pool and
built a layout room over the former pool site. And he did it right.

Bill also was a strong supporter of the Cajon Division/NMRA and
hosted many open houses for division, region and National
conventions. He was a friendly face at many local meets. He will
be missed.

Bob Chaparro
Moderator

Well said, Bob.  George Sellios has said that really fine modeling is inspiring.  Bill Flynn's railroad inspired me.  Here are some images I took of Bill's pike back in April 2004.

While these two overview shots of an under-construction railroad give a sense of the scope, it is in the smaller scenes and finer details where Bill's talent really came to the fore.  My favorite area was a small town at the end of a branch line on a narrow peninsula.  It inspired Pinto on the previous incarnation of the Ocali Creek back when it was still set in Appalachia, and to a lesser degree influenced design choices I made at Ocala Springs (Pine Branch Park), my current railroad under construction.

I still learn something every time I study these photos.  That, to me, is the mark of a great model railroad scene (and a hallmark of many great Disney attractions).  There's always something to catch your interest and it may not be the same thing each time you look, though it may have been there all along and you just didn't see it before.

Custom Christmas

Here is last year's (2019) Christmas Tree Train, comprised of custom locomotive and cars.  There were also a few N&W and VGN hoppers interspersed, but the ones pictured here are all custom paint jobs done by others.  I have procured these cars over the last dozen years or so, but the locomotive, matching hopper and caboose were an eBay find from last year.  If you have any information about the 'Rimrock Pine & Western', please let me know.

Recent Rescues

I didn't want to go, but I went anyway to the Great Train Expo at Puyallup (that's Pew-AL-up, in case you're wondering).  The main reason I didn't want to go was because I knew I'd spend money.  You see, I'm a sucker for a stray car in need of a good home.  And I don't mean any old car that strikes my fancy, but real basket-cases, in rough shape, in need of some TLC, well, you get the idea.  Somehow I'm drawn to the love that went into building these vintage beauties, and I can't bear the thought of them spending another night in a cardboard tray, being schlepped from show to show and passed over by time and again.

So here are the recent rescues I brought home, in no particular order:

How could anyone say no?  Backup and Push?  Seriously?  Saw this for 5 bucks and didn't think twice.  If anyone out there has any leads as to the origins of the car, PLEASE let me know.  I'd love to find out more.  A cursory internet search yielded nada...  This car is lettered outside my era, and built with AB brakes, but I dare not change it and it will be run for fun occasionally.  Next:

I was surprised to learn there really was a Warrior River Terminal, and pleasantly surprised to learn it was in the South (Alabama).  Someone did a fine job building what appears to be a Silver Streak or Ulrich (early) truss rod box car.  Kadee arch bar trucks and couplers, though one set of trucks had plastic wheels.  A quick swap for a pair of ribbed-back P2K's and this car was pressed into service retrieving a load of lumber from the interchange at Pinto.  It will need some paint touch up, a new brake staff, wheel and stand, and a little chip repair on the roof end.  Next:

This car IS appropriate for my era, with perhaps the exception of the trucks.  A nice double-sheathed boxcar, and I'm guessing here that it is a VERY early Silver Streak kit.  The clues - no cross beams on the underframe, and no gaps in the center sill for them!  Micro Motive trucks - how cool!  Real rubber spring inserts that still have give.  MR ads from the late 40's indicate these were an option with Silver Streak kits.  Here's a closer look:

I will most likely carefully RE-kit this car and then rebuild with a nice pair of Andrews trucks.  Finally, a flat:

Saw this at the show in Chehalis and didn't buy it then.  Same dealer had the same car at Puyallup and I brought home an exquisitely built unlettered flat car.  I'm guessing it is a Labelle kit, as it appears to be wood construction with Tichy or Grandt Line details.  Looks like IHC trucks, but at least they're arch bars.  I plan to finish the brake rigging, (only the cylinder was in place), swap the trucks for Kadee 501's, then add weight - plenty of room between the beams under the floor.  Not sure if this will be a BTLC car or an OCRY car.  Still time to think.

Currently on the workbench is a kitbashed handcar shed that matches the Pinto depot and Freight house, and my own Silver Streak 929-900 Truss rod box car that will become an Ocali Creek car, used in LCL service.

Big update, long overdue.  Thanks for reading, and happy train season!

Galen