Begun in the Fall of 1985, the Current layout represents the Bald Eagle Valley and the old Bald Eagle Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad. This line is operated by two railroads:
PENNRAIL as a system runs from Buffalo, NY to Cumberland and Hagerstown, MD via Lock Haven, PA, Tyrone, Altoona (to C.), Harrisburg and Williamsport (to H.). Pennrail recently acquired Maryrail, a Cumberland-Baltimore (Ex WM) Entity, but ICC action reduced this acquisition to only trackage rights from Cumberland-Hagerstown and interchange with Norfolk Southern. (Talk about a complicated system.. )
There have also been a few attempts, the most recent two years ago, to have the UP&E swallow PENNRAIL, unfortunately, they have all failed. Somewhere among all of this, there lies the State College and Western Railway. No one knows when this short line sprang up, but it is reported to be the "Route of the Limping Lion". It is rumored to own about 150 feet of track, one GP40 (high hood) and one boxcar, though it has yet to be confirmed. Paint is reported to be similar to the Safety Green and White of UP&E Caboose #4566.
Modeled on layout 4, more or less, are the towns of Milesburg, Vail, Lock Haven, Mill Hall, Avis, McElhatten and Bellefonte. These towns lie along the historic Bald Eagle Branch of the former Pennsylvania Railroad. The Branch has been in operation since before the Second American War for Independence, and is operated by the Nittany and Bald Eagle today. The Club theoretically runs over the old Bellefonte Central (now abandoned) to State College; although it is a westward running line, the railroad is the University Park and Eastern. Pennrail is a Susquehanna-wannabe Regional Line, with Seperate Divisions linked by Trackage rights, similar to the New York, Susquehanna and Western, but transplanted westward.
How is this done? Pennrail owns the Buffalo-Keating, PA portion of the ex PRR Buffalo-Harrisburg line. Pennrail also owns from McElhatten to Williamsport via Avis on ex-NYC trackage. Pennrail owns the ex-PRR Bald Eagle Branch, Lock Haven to Tyrone, and lines south of Hollidaysburg to Cumberland (Ex-PRR).
These owned segments are connected by trackage rights on Conrail: Tyrone to Altoona; Altoona-Hollidaysburg; Lock Haven-Keating; Lock Haven-McElhatten.
Ingrained with the PENNRAIL System in the little known line of FredRail. FredRail was created sometime during the ERA of past President Frederick V. Monsimer. There is evidence of FR motive power in pictures (See Photo Ops/Layout4). Still with us is FR 18539774, a 40 foot steel box car. Stemming out of FredRail is FRLX, a leasing corporation discovered with in 1995. Apparently, it tried to stay covert, but in its attempt to fund NissaRail, it was exposed.
"PENNRAIL is not happy. It never was. PENNRAIL takes its bankruptcy seriously. We will not make one penny before its time" -- Grafitti under fourth layout
Other grafitti reported to have been seen are things such as "PENNRAIL MUST DIE" and "UP&E FOREVER" Hum.. Might these have been written by the UP&E Revolutionaries of 1993? "On this spot lies the blood of two brave souls who dared counter PENNRAIL. Like all opposition, they were immediately crushed. Now they lie as Martyrs, ever forwarding the silent rebellion."
Along with this system is the Nittany Central, Joe Alexander's Line, in which PENNRAIL claims a 51% ownership. This has been much debated through the ICC and Congress and even the Supreme Courts of the US and PA. At last update, PENNRAIL was winning. For more detail, see Mixed Consist / Thoughts and Oddities.
PENNRAIL is always power short, run-through power can always be seen. There are some units that look like run through power that are actually Pennrail units that have not been repainted... (e.g. Chessie GP35s)