How to Fit Miles of Railroad Tracks in less than 500SF
Published 10:24 pm Monday, October 14, 2019
Larry Morton, president of the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club will return to Saluda Train Tales on October 18 to describe how he used all the tricks of model railroading to fit miles of trackwork and scenery into very confined space and make it look convincing. Saluda Train Tales will bring you the story of how the diorama was built.
“I am honored to return to the Depot to present again at Saluda Train Tales. As the representative of the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club that spearheaded the building of the Z-scale diorama of the Saluda Grade that is on exhibit in the Depot, I continue to be impressed at the progress that has been made to turn the Depot into a railroad museum, that is drawing historians and train enthusiasts from all over the state.
“The Saluda Grade deserves this recognition because it is well known among railroad fans across the country and it is the steepest mainline railroad grade in the USA where 27 men were killed by runaway trains in the early days of its existence. The financial and engineering struggles make for some very interesting stories which have led to several books and magazine articles over the years. The towns of Tryon and Saluda would not exist if it hadn’t been for the railroad coming through the area. Today, it sits dormant, but the entire track is still in place,” says Larry.
As a young lad, Larry was fascinated with toy trains and then model railroads. When Larry retired in 2002, he discovered the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club in Hendersonville and was hooked. Through this club he became involved in the project in the Heritage Museum in Hendersonville and designed and managed the construction of the “Coming of the Railroad” project that opened about five years ago in the Henderson County Courthouse on Main Street in Hendersonville.
Saluda Train Tales is a free monthly event to educate the community of the importance of Saluda’s railroad history and the Saluda Grade. These events are at the Saluda Historic Depot, 32 W Main Street, Saluda, NC 28773 and start at 7:00 p.m. Saluda Train Tales is sponsored exclusively by the Polk County Community Foundation.
Submitted by Cathy Jackson / Photo by Vince Verricchio