EVRR Feedback

The future EVRR control panel

Much to my surprise I’ve gotten considerable offline feedback on the Elizabeth Valley RR video. There seems to be some interest in that little layout. Given the complexity of the track plan the question was raised again about whether it actually ran. Even though I’ve never seen a picture of a control panel for it I think it did run. I recall this passage from a long letter E. L. Moore wrote to Andy Anderson on 3 December 1965 where ELM hints that it did run:

“Again this fall I decided maybe I’d get rid of that 4x6 Elizabeth Valley. I turn on the lights [JDL: I assume he means the room lights, but maybe he means the layout lights], pull back the dusty plastic cover, then for no good reason at all clean up the tracks and give her a try. Once a year, I do this. Nostalgia gets me, and I decide not to bother to sell it.”

It’s just a hint, but a strong one. 

Way back when I decided that even though I didn’t know what the EVRR’s control panel looked like I’d nevertheless keep in the Moorian spirit and build a control panel based on the foundation he used for his Enskale &Hoentee RR: a Tampa Nugget cigar box! With the cigar box found I looked around the workshop and dug up the DPDT and SPDT switches I had stashed away for this project. However, they now strike me as too big and I’m going to replace them with miniature ones. I also need to figure out how to connect the wiring bundle from the control box to the layout so everything can be easily disconnected for transport.

Anyway it’s nice to see some interest in bringing this layout to life.

E. L. Moore's little layout stand

1" = 1' model of the stand for E. L. Moore's EHRR

Paul pointed out the layout stand bares a resemblance to the stand E. L. Moore built for his Enskale Hoentee RR. I had forgotten about the EHRR stand, but I did have a couple of photos of the model Mr. Moore made of it. They can be found in this post, and over on the left for convenience. These days I think the stand would be a nice piece of conversational furniture in the same vein as Bill Baron's mid-century coffee table layout. These sorts of tables could possibly make model railroading a little more convivial. Hmmm, but first it needs some wheels :-)

An E. L. Moore E&H locomotive identified

An eagle-eyed reader kindly commented on the identity of a locomotive from E. L. Moore's E&H fleet that had left me stumped.

Based on his hint I did a bit of digging and I think it's Minitrains product 168-5011, 0-4-0 Baldwin steam loco 410C. Back in E. L. Moore's day I believe these were marketed by AHM. 

Now I need to find one whose price won't give me heart failure :-) It could be quite nice having it run on the Loonar Module.

A tunnel portal by E. L. Moore

This photo was among those in the E. L. Moore collection. For the longest time I wasn't sure what it was, so I refrained from posting it. But, while looking for photos of EVRR tunnel portals last night, I stumbled across this image from a larger Enskale & Hoentee RR photo that helped me put 2 and 2 together.

While the two don't exactly match, it suggests the upper image is of a newly constructed tunnel portal. I don't know the scale as there was nothing in the photo to compare it to. Could be HO, could be N.

Was E. L. Moore's Enskale & Hoentee RR inspired by the Gleish Valley RR?

[Track plan of E. L. Moore's Enskale & Hoentee RR from the Oct. '68 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman.]

For years I'd been clinging to a little clipped out photograph showing an HO pike on a card table; just a loop the loop affair with scenery but no switches. I dug this out and did a little doodling and came up with what we have here.

E. L. Moore explains the origins of his Enskale & Hoentee layout in the Oct. '68 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman.

... I read back to those formerly ignored articles and Trade Topics, sent off for about every catalog in the country (one box filled with N scale catalogs now) worked up a track plan that had lain dormant for years with only now and then passing thought...

E. L. Moore explains in a letter to Bill Rau the inspiration for his Enskale & Hoentee.

I warn you now before we go any further, there's wild speculation ahead. You can turn back and I won't hold it against you :-)

[Track plan for P. D. Hancock's Gleish Valley Railroad that appeared in his article Cubbyhole Railroading in the Mar. '53 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman.]

Look carefully at that track plan for The Gleish Valley Railroad. It looks the same as the one used by E. L. Moore for his Enskale & Hoentee RR. 

Now, the Gleish is a layout in 2 mm scale, measuring 24" x 36", isn't HO, and does make use of switches. So, on the face of it, its specs contradict E. L. Moore's stated inspiration for his layout. And Mr. Moore would have had to adjust the plan a bit to get it to fit on his 30" x 30" base. Although he did use N-scale, which is pretty close to 2 mm. And both layouts are set in mountainous terrain and both feature a lake in the centre. All are curious similarities.

Even given E. L. Moore's statement on inspiration, cast your thoughts back to The Great Dilly Manufacturing Controversy. E. L. Moore claimed in print that plans for Dilly Manufacturing / 8-Ball Loco Works were owned and developed by a certain person, but it turned out to be otherwise. He could get attributions wrong now-and-then because he used clippings from reference materials and not the full sources. So, there might have been a similar attribution problem over the 15 year gap between the two layouts. 

Would E. L. Moore even have read Mr. Hancock's article? We'll never know for sure, but in the introductory paragraphs to the Enskale & Hoentee story, Mr. Moore states he got started in HO scale railroading 15 years earlier, which would be 1953, the same year the Gleish plan was published. When model railroaders get started, they often read everything they can get their hands on, which in those days would be the magazines, so it's a possibility that E. L. Moore at least had a glance at the Gleish Valley.

Or, maybe both are based on that mysterious HO scale card table layout E. L. Moore mentioned? Maybe there is an ur-progenitor layout waiting to be discovered.

Or, maybe it's all just coincidence because a lot of 1950's and 1960's vintage model railroads did share a lot attributes - loop-the-loop, short tunnels through mountains, central lakes, etc.  Given the laws of chance, there was bound to be the appearance of unrelated duplicate layouts. 

All that aside, The Gleish Valley Railroad is a gem in its own right. It follows British railway practice and uses English style buildings and rolling stock even though the scenery is very reminiscent of the Rocky Mountains. Everything is scratch built including all track work and the loco. Its modelling and construction standards are very high, and it wouldn't look out-of-place in today's world.

E. L. Moore on constructing the Enskale Hoentee RR

Maybe you remember that E. L. Moore created a little stir when it became known that he was building a small N-scale layout, The Enskale Hoentee RR, for Hal Carstens' Railroad Model Craftsman. One almost outcome was Model Railroader offered him an opportunity to write an 'N-scale Primer', something much like their popular HO Primer, but he turned it down. The Enskale Hoentee construction story appeared in the Oct, Nov and Dec 1968 issues of RMC, and that was sort of that for E. L. Moore's dip into N-scale. 

But, Mr. Moore did give his friend Bill Rau, an associate editor at MR, a look behind the scenes in this letter about life during the early phases of layout construction. The photos didn't accompany the letter, I found them in E.L. Moore's files., but they seem to go together.

To Bill Rau, Associate Editor of Model Railroader, after answering his brief card with a brief card of my own. Wanted first look at my N scale offering if not committed to Railroad Model Craftsman, which it is.

28 January '68

Hi ya . . .

Dunno why sometimes I have to answer letters so quickly. And then a little later think I'd like to have said more. For me, I was rushed this morning. Not actually, but I got up a little early, about seven (three hours too early), took a couple of pictures of a model to go with an article, writ the article, or rather finished it up, having got out two drafts of it yesterday, and writ a couple of short notes. For me, that's a day's work anytime.

[A model of the layout stand built from balsa to a scale of 1" = 1']

Hadda take time out, Velvet hops up on the back of my chair and plumps her paws on my shoulders and wants some attention. Sometimes I think she hates to hear me type because that's when she interrupts.

Evening now, chicken stew and dumplings downed, half a cup of coffee drank and the paper looked over and the rest of the coffee down the drain. Whatta tough life I lead ! Gotta develop a couple of films soon and tomorrow night print a couple of pictures -- hate to set up things for just a couple, but kinda said I'd have the article off by the first and just got around to beginning it yesterday. Gotta be in the mood, lad, gotta be in the mood. 

[A grid of vertical sticks were used to hold up the track roadbed.]

All those literary mags tell you to hell with moods you gotta sit down and type every day so many hours. And I say the hell with them I'll do it my way. Anyway I'm not working toward a Nobel prize or Asquith cup, and what I don't do today leaves something for tomorrow or the day after or manana. Never have worked toward a deadline, but once in a while I do say I'll have something ready by maybe the first of the month if I happen to feel like it.

[There's a lake in the middle of the layout. Here it is under construction.]

Kinda wound up in this N scale. As I sez, Carstens made a suggestion and I kinda ignored it for a while, then all at once it sorta hit me and I got out of bed in the night to look up some stuff -- from then on I read back to those formerly ignored articles and Trade Topics, sent off for about every catalog in the country (one box filled with N scale catalogs now) worked up a track plan that had lain dormant for years with only now and then passing thought, planned a stand and built it of balsa to the scale of one inch equals a foot (looks better than the stand itself which I've just completed, on account maybe the little one has a drawer which I haven't got around to making for the beeg one). 

[The finished lake installed between the mountains.]

But I never would have tackled a railroad of any size -- actually this won't be much, just a loop-de-loop with a couple of sidings, just something to have fun with, and dependent largely on the scenery for effects, which is maybe why I wanted to build it.

[The lake fed a waterfall that spilled over the side of the layout.]

Unlike friend Crosby who patronizes his home hobby dealer, I'm a close man with a dollar and I'm shopping around. Fact is, there isn't a hobby shop here worth the name. A friend of a friend (I've met  him once) has a good shop, so I understand, in Raleigh. I loaned him quite a few of my models to use as display, built a water tank for him, and ordered some stuff from him. But loyalty just goes so far -- I ordered some paints back in early December and got them middle of January -- he just didn't have them in stock. True, I didn't really need them. I like to order stuff far enough ahead so's to have it when I do need it. And I can't really complain -- he also returned my uncashed check. 

But you can't build a railroad thataway. So what I'm ordering through him is something I don't need in the near future. From a fella up in Pittsburgh with only a box number I got my track (Atlas) and switches and foam roadbed and all like that at about  25% discount -- and he came through nicely -- from AHM comes stuff, no discount, but cheaper than I could order from some houses since postage is paid. Today comes a sheet from a concern with discount prices on some other items. TAB comes across with DPDT toggle switches and wire at a good price. From Northeastern will come about ten bucks worth of lumber, brick, etc., with always some extra thrown in although I've never asked for any favours. 

[Heading away from the waterfall and into town.]

But then I come from the country, you know, Ward and Sears were big stuff and I still ruther order even shoes and unnerwear and typewriter ribbons than to go to town and buy them. Just a quirk in my nature, maybe. Besides I love to beat the state out of sales tax, which of course you can't do with Sears or Wards but can with all other sources.

[When shot at eye-level the layout seems bigger than it actually is. Those two mountains, which seem fake and toy-like from a 'normal' viewing angle, appear to be like the edge of a vast overlapping range when viewed at eye-level.]

And Woolworth's ran Atlas freight cars, cabooses, and AHM stuff, Atlas at 25% off. I didn't hesitate.

 [The other end of town.]

We had some nasty weather, ice and sleet, and soon as it cleared away I ordered some strips and Upson board and day after it was delivered another two, three inches of snow. I didn't mind being snowbound. Why should I? Stay home and get paid for it. What could be nicer. But I didn't think a bit of sawing and drilling and driving of screws could be so tiring. No power tools of course and didn't want and for such a small project. Crosby says he's going to cut his stuff out in the garage so as to make no dust. Hell with that ! I had 14' strips to cut up, put one end across the arms of upholstered chair (well I did put a newspaper under 'em) and tother end on kitchen ladder stool as saw horse and went to work. No little woman to tell me nay. Hell, I've got more cat hair lying around than I'll ever have sawdust. Only way you can get cat hair off sofa is use a brass suede brush. And if one color doesn't show the other will as I've got both black and white haired cats. But no more li'l ones. Spaying took care of that.

Just about forgot how to wire a railroad, even a teensy one, so hadda read up. I'm real dopey on electricity anyway. Flex track, of course, then came remote switches instead of manual ones on account of these latter not yet being released or didn't have them -- with insulated frogs, I guess, it looks like, new to me, but I think I'll kinda like 'em at that. Remote is a joke on the Enskale & Hoentee when you can reach all over it like a boarder at the supper table.

[Leaving town and back into the mountains.]

Well here we are end of page and end of gab -- gotta go develop film. My writing lies like hell -- sounds like I was an up and doer -- which I ain't, thank heavens, by golly. I'm really a sluggard.

signed ELM

P S Carstens send me some slippered pages from GEMS OF AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE the other day, Gems. Prototype donnickers, jakes, willies -- with a lot of smooth but sparkling gab with each. Next day came out a headline in our local evening paper SMITHVILLE GIVEN DEADLINE TO BUILD PRIVIES, which I clipped and sent him. Long live the privy -- it ain't dead yet!

E. L. Moore: The almost household name in N-scale model railroading

Little did I realize when I posted that tongue-in-cheek cover I cooked up for a non-existent ‘70s paperback on N-scale model railroading by E. L. Moore that I wasn’t too far off. It turns out that in September ’68, Mr. David P. Morgan of Kalmbach Publishing wrote to E. L. Moore and asked if he’d consider writing an N scale primer for them. Mr. Moore declined and the rest is non-history. 

September 10, 1968

Mr. E. L. Moore

525 Oakland Ave., Apt. 3

Charlotte, North Carolina

We have a publishing proposal for you, Mr. Moore, and it is this: Are you in a position to author a beginner’s N scale model railroad book for Kalmbach of approximately the same size and format as the enclosed HO RAILROAD THAT GROWS and HO PRIMER, with delivery by May 31, 1969?

In our view, the expanding N scale market will inevitably introduce many newcomers to model railroading; and therefore it recommends itself to a soft-cover book exclusively devoted to the subject. Such a volume would not only introduce the novice to the pecularities [sic] of N scale itself but also the wider world of model railroading, per se -- just as the above-mentioned and enclosed HO books have done. Now, we cannot presently afford staff personnel for such an assignment. In our search for a free-lance author, your name was recommended by Andy Anderson, who purchased a considerable amount of copy from you during his MODEL TRAINS editorship days. Andy believes that your readable, step-by-step style would be what we need to communicate model railroading and N scale to the rank beginner -- not to mention your other qualifications in the field of photography and other illustrations.

If this is a project which would interest you, please write me at your earliest convenience. A self-addressed stamped envelop is enclosed.

Cordially,

signed David P. Morgan

Books Publisher

David P. Morgan/s1

enclosure.

[This book never existed, but I couldn't resist slapping a cover together!]

Sept 13, 1968

Mr. David P. Morgan,

Kalmbach Publishing Company,

1027 N. Seventh Street,

Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Thanks for the opportunity to author a beginner’s N scale railroad book as outlined in your September 10th letter; but after looking over the HO Primer I don’t really feel that I qualify for the task. I have a woeful lack of electrical knowledge, and this as you know comprises a large share of any discussion on trains in general.

My forte is building models and scenery. Andy Anderson apparently forgets that he once asked me to do an article on elementary electricity for beginners, and I had to refuse him on the same grounds. Recently, I completed a small N scale railroad at Carsten’s suggestion and which will presently come out in RMC, but while the wiring on this was elementary, nothing complicated, and much the same as I had done on a previous HO pike, I still had to consult a primer on wiring to refresh what little knowledge I possessed.

Another thing: I like doing just what I feel like doing, and just when I feel like doing it. I abhor assignments, guidelines, schedules and deadlines. So I generally work as I damn well please and on what, within my limitations, I feel I can do well.

So thanks again for the offer, but I suggest you look for a better qualified author . . . and nowhere within the range of my acquaintances can I think of one I could recommend.

Cordially,

signed E L Moore

E. L. Moore

525 Oakland Ave., Apt 3

Charlotte, N. C.

The N scale railroad he’s referring to is his Enskale and Hoentee that appeared as a 3-part construction article in the October, November and December ’68 issues of Railroad Model Craftsman. It was a little, 30” x 30” layout that incorporated N, HOn2 1/2 and TT scales. Also, it was a beginner layout, but an unusual one that had E. L. Moore’s unique style all over it. It was not in the mold of the more generic material found in HO Primer or HO Railroad that Grows. The Enskale and Hoentee had a straightforward, uncomplicated trackplan, but for Mr. Moore, it was a little tricky to wire. So, building a model railroad that simulated typical railroad business, which is a common layout configuration, would be troublesome for him. The Enskale and Hoentee was for meant for simple, pleasant fun.

But, imagine if E. L. Moore had built on his Enskale and Hoentee experience and had been given free reign by either Kalmbach or Carstens to build a beginner’s N scale layout for book publication. Not something generic, but full of what made E. L. Moore, E. L. Moore. Consider this: Mr. Moore submitted the Enskale and Hoentee manuscript to RMC on 28 April 1968, and then on 23 May 1968, sent this follow-up to Hal Carstens (months before he was sent the offer by Kalmbach),

May 23, 1968

H. H. Carstens, Editor,

Railroad Model Craftsman,

Ramsey, N. J.

A little hind sight tells me I should have broadened the scope of that train article -- I should have challenged readers to build a size with a track plan that suited them, using the techniques and construction methods described.

You could even have Bill Schopp show a few track variations, in say 30” x 40” or maybe 36” x 48” but still retaining some of the scenic features of the pike I built. Holding rigidly to the 30” by 30” size will limit interest.

Enjoying loafing and reading.

signed E L Moore

E. L. Moore

525 Oakland Ave., Apt 3

Charlotte, N. C.

Denis Dunning tells me he saw you gadding about recently.

Possibly some incentive might be offered readers for most interesting N scale track plan (including scenery) within limit of, say 36” x 48”  . . . . . 

An E. L. Moore, Bill Schopp collaboration might have been interesting, and maybe even highly influential. We’ll never know. Mr. Schopp, aka The Layout Doctor, was a master of all things layout oriented, and even planted the seed of the idea with Mr. Moore for the rather off-the-wall projects that eventually became the Molasses Mine and A Garbage Train or...the Mudville Flats Extra, so they were simpatico on some level (more on this in a future post). 

It turned out that the Enskale and Hoentee was quite popular. In a letter E. L. Moore wrote to Hal Carstens on 28 October 1968, he mentions that it was a draw at the North Hills Hobby Shop in Raleigh, North Carolina,

Enskale thing makes a nice showing -- hobby dealer up Raleigh way (Jim Collier) has it on display as I probably told you before. Kinda cashing in on it ....

Later, in another letter to Hal Carstens dated 28 November 1968, Mr. Moore notes,

The little N-scale road is past history now, but I hope it did you some good and stirred a little interest up . . .  it was fun building it but allee samee I’m glad it was small and not a major project. On account of I like more leisure and less work ... 

So, maybe even with a collaborator, the definitive E. L. Moore spin on N-scale model railroading would not have come to pass - well, one that required a lot of work would not have come to pass :-)