AMHERST BELT LINES
	HO Modular Railroad

a special interest group of the Amherst Railway Society, Inc.

The follwing identifications and descriptions were supplied by Alan Rice and the individual module owners. Module owners who have more complete information, please request a module history questionnaire from webmaster@amherstrail.org

The photographs by webmaster, and ABEL member Joe Kurland, were made using available light, time exposures with the camera on a tripod and with the lens stopped down to f22 for maximum depth of field. Photos were scanned at 600 ppi and cropped with Photoshop. The tonal range was expanded using the levels adjustment, and sharpened with the unsharp mask filter. Photos were downsampled to 72 ppi and exported as high or maximum image quality jpg files for the web.

The photos are fairly large files. Please be patient while they load.

1. "ABEL freight with secondhand BN power on the point swings into the curve at Amherst Station"

An EMD unit drifts East through the middle of Amherst, MA at the intersection of Route 116 and the old Western Mass RR. The tracks are now a bike path, and the area is now the location of the Amherst Farmer's Supply. Amherst Junction, 1920's to 1950's built and owned by Doug Lowing. Immediate background module is Salem's Lot by Karl Johnson.

2. "'What the hell was that?!!'

Something whizzes through Musconetcong Tunnel and over the bridge in Center City" Musconetcong Tunnel built/owned by Doug Scott. Center City built and owned by Bruce Erickson. Both Doug and Bruce are members of the Cape Cod modular group.

3. "A stack train emerges from Musconetcong Tunnel headed west through Center City"

Same scene as above but using stop motion photography. (Rather than using a fast shutter speed, the photographer asked the engineer to stop the train.)

4."East end of the hump at Dry Hill"

Dry Hill Yard built and owned by the Dry Hill Model Railroad Club. Longest single module set built of 6' modules for a total length of 116 feet.

5."The hump switcher rests at the top of the hill while a stack train awaits departure orders."

Dry Hill Yard built and owned by the Dry Hill Model Railroad Club. Longest single module set built of 6' modules for a total length of 116 feet.

6."The engine terminal at Dry Hill Yard."

Dry Hill Yard built and owned by the Dry Hill Model Railroad Club. Longest single module set built of 6' modules for a total length of 116 feet.

7."A little 0-4-0 camelback sits in the clear at Hog Island"

Hog Island module built and owned by Justin Maguire of Rhode Island. Trust me on the wheel arrangement of the camelback!

8."The wharf at Hog Island"

Hog Island module built and owned by Justin Maguire of Rhode Island. Trust me on the wheel arrangement of the camelback!

9."The 'T' speeds by on the high-line at Pine Ridge"

Well, not really, since the high line is only 8' long. But the web viewers don't have to know that! Module is Pine Ridge owned by the Amherst Railway Society, Inc., recently refurbished by the Dry Hill Model Railroad Club. MBTA equipment is the work of Joe Albano, Sr.

10. "The townsfolk of Salem's Lot have erected a monument to THEIR favorite super hero in front of the town hall."

Leased power from the Soo Lines/Wisconsin Central lead a freight through town. Salem's Lot module built and owned by Karl Johnson. Soo Line F's belong to Sudro Brown.

11. "Amherst Junction, 1920's to 1950's"

A pair of Belt Line E units rumble past 3 boxcars on the team track and one on the station siding. A replica of the old Western Mass RR station will be built where the platform is now. Excellent scenery By Doug M. Lowing and Josh Lowing. Faulty wiring by dad, Doug E. Lowing.

12."The local shoves a cut into Roy's Paper for loading as dusk settles in."

Module, Roy's, built and owned by Mark Britton. All equipment visible in the photo are Mark's, too!

13. "A local switcher works the sidings at Johnsonville"

Module, Johnsonville, built and owned by Phil Johnson. Features a grain elevator/mill to the left of the photo and two freight houses.

14. "A freight with CSX power on the point rumbles through Nissitisit Terminal."

Module built and owned by Dave Gale from the Pepperell Siding Model Railroad Club. CSX power likely to be the work of Gary Munsey, Wes Warner or Dana Bock.

15. "A trio of freshly loaded center beams sit on the siding at Cormier's Mill awaiting the next local through town."

Module, Cormier's Mill, built and owned by Mike Cormier. Module is 12' long and features a 2' x 4' extension at the rear for the sawmill. Mike is a member of the Nashua Valley Railroad Association.