During the 1950s, railroads started eliminating elaborate, multi-color paint schemes on diesels in favor of simplified one-color schemes as a cost-saving measure. The Atlantic & Southern was no different and introduced a simplified scheme in 1957. Howard based the lime-green simplified scheme on the livery worn by Illinois Terminal Railway. diesels. He also kitbashed the cabless B-unit in the photo from a damaged hood unit.
A work train that includes a wrecker and a flatcar with freight car trucks rolls through Butler, Pa.
This trio of Electro-Motive Division passenger diesel locomotives wears the Atlantic & Southern's original diesel paint scheme. The black and green "as-delivered" scheme is a modified version of a Southern Railway design.
A Pittsburgh & Lake Erie passenger train pulls up to the platform of the Butler station. During operating sessions, Howard would run P&LE and Baltimore & Ohio passenger trains to and from hidden staging to add variety to the traffic.
At the engine terminal, shop personnel finish overhauling an EMD SD7 while other workers secure a heavy diesel engine and other equipment to a flatcar. The SD7 is a Proto 2000 model that Howard modified with a Walthers 567 engine kit, scratchbuilt cab interior, and lighting from grain of wheat bulbs.
The transfer yard at Butler is a hub of activity. Howard enjoys building custom loads, including heavy equipment, for his flatcars and other open rolling stock.
An A&S freight rolls past the tower at the yard throat. Howard scratchbuilt the Mobile station and added 1950s-era appropriate automobiles.
The gas plant, blower house, and coke retort are all located in this corner of the layout. The entrance to the electric furnace is visible in the right foreground. As shown in the story in the June 2019 Model Railroader, the Armco Steel Butler Works dominates half the layout.
One signature scene on the Atlantic & Southern is Blast furnace no. 1 at the Armco Butler Works. Howard used fluorescent orange paint and blacklight LEDs to simulate the molten metal. There are also workers in protective suits loading the metal into bottle cars.
Even the wreck train is custom painted in the Atlantic & Southern livery.
Howard Gallagher’s HO scale Atlantic & Southern Railroad fills an 11 x 13-foot spare bedroom with scenes of heavy industry and mainline railroading. Enjoy this gallery of trackside photos of the A&S, including some of Howard’s custom-painted and detailed locomotives and rolling stock.
This layout was also featured in the June 2019 issue of Model Railroader.
All photos were taken by Howard Gallagher
Why do I only see the one photo?
Howard, Fantastic details!! Love the A&S paint schemes. Also really like the strapping details on the flat car loads.
Great paint schemes
Nice gallery! I like the addition of people to add action to his scenes.