Gallery

The Tuscarora Railroad in its initial phase. The railroad occupies a 10' x 20' space behind our house that used to be a barren gravel bed with nothing but the tree. Future plans call for this small loop to be removed, and a much larger loop to run around the perimeter of the back yard.

The Tuscarora Railroad is set in south central Pennsylvania, so the vegetation chosen to fill out the railroad had to look dense and lush, in order to convey the look of the region. This is easier said than done in the dry Colorado climate. As this was designed to be a somewhat temporary railroad venture, little attention was paid to the names of the plants along the line. They were by and large purchased at the local Super WallyWorld down the street, so there's nothing obscure or bizarre.

McVitty Tannery

The McVitty tannery is owned and operated by Samuel McVitty. The tannery takes in the raw livestock hides, and turns them into usable leather. One of the primary chemicals for this process is tannic acid, which is largely derived from tree bark, primarily hemlock bark. Such stands of hemlock are prevalent in the region, making south central Pennsylvania one of the primary providers of tanned hides to the leather industry.

The raw hides arrived from farms across Pennsylvania via the East Broad Top's interchange with the Pennsy at Mt. Union. These hides were loaded into box cars and transported to the tanneries along the line, including the operations here at Shade Gap. Tanned hides are likewise shipped out in box cars via the same interchange with the PRR at Mt. Union.

At the height of their operations, the tanneries along the East Broad Top region processed over 1,000 tons of animal hides annually.

The hemlock bark used in the tanning process was harvested during the spring and summer months, and transported to the tanneries on flat cars and in otherwise unused stock cars. The bark was usually stacked and left to season for a year or so before being crushed and leached out for the tannic acid.

Rural Farm Life

The TRR ran through a mostly agricultural district, so barns were perhaps the most common structure seen along the line. While agricultural products account for a relatively small portion of the railroad revenue, the local farm couldn't operate without the benefit of the railroad's ability to deliver goods to the local stores. The railroad shops are also frequented by farmers wishing to get a plow repaired.

Some of the local farmers, however, are known for their elusiveness. While their agricultural skills are reputed to be among the most developed, they seldom show up at the local co-op meetings. They prefer to keep to themselves, tilling the land using only hand tools, but growing what most believe to be monsterous fruits and vegetables.

TRR #3 leads a short freight along the line, headed towards Shade Gap, where the flat car will be loaded again with a fresh supply of tanbark.

The brakeman releases the brakes on the caboose as another day passes along the Tuscarora Railroad.