A recent interesting post on the The Santa Fe Branch Chili Line group has caused me to make a change to San Pedro. Included in the post was a valuation map and numerous photographs of the area now. I am going to remove the water tank and cistern from left side of the layout in favor of the reservoir, pump house and water tank. The valuation map below provides the layout of the tank area. This will now become the left side of the San Pedro model. I will keep the small one panel trestle as well to complete the edge of the layout as before.
The original NCR/PRR/PC line from Baltimore to York passed through the village of Bentley Springs, Maryland, which is right down the road from our house. Bentley Springs at one time had a freight station, good-sized station for the size of the village, a water bottling plant, and a 40 room hotel. The rails also bridged Beetree Run three times in the distance of perhaps two football fields. If you go about another half a football field south of Bentley road, then you have the fourth bridge in the area. South of this fourth bridge , the right of way bridges the Little a Falls of the Gunpowder twice within a hall mile. While walking or riding a bike on the NCR hike and bike trail, you can see all these bridges. If you prefer a stream side view, it is possible, just be sure to bring a good pair of water shoes. If you would like to see some vintage photographs of Bentley Springs, Maryland, visit Bruce Cubbin’s website. He has some great photographs of the original station.
I have always liked how Beetree Run and the Little Falls meander back and forth under the right of way. In designing Beckleysville, I want to incorporate a meandering stream causing multiple small bridges. A completely plausible possibility for “Beckleysville” with the many small meandering streams that would be common in the northern area of Baltimore county.
Northern most bridge in Bentley SpringsThe bar underneathWider view of north bridgeStation bridge, north abutment and lower retaining wallStream side shot of the bridge at the stationCloseup of the north abutment of the Station Bridge
