Harry Herder

Big Dave posted regarding the Rock Valley Lines:

The entire multilevel track was laid with heavy rail (1-1/8 inch) and his own concrete ties. He had a machine shop so he fabbed his own tie trays. Each tray was four I believe, with a piece of bar stock welded in to gauge the track. A hole drilled through the pan provided for each of the 4 screws that held lead anchors to provide the bite for the screws going thru square washers he used to hold the rail down. The washers were for nails that hold cardboard boxes and Gaylords together and have a crimped corner tip to provide a good bite. Reinforcement against cracking was by a single large strip of 3/4 hardware cloth placed in the form before pouring. He had enough forms to get a load out of his cement mixer, and fill all the trays at one shot. I think he did 50 ties at a time, each day he poured. So it mounted up quickly. He used stub switches, too. During maintenance and track changes, he boasted he could remove the track screws without rust, or breakage and reuse the ties wherever he pleased. They never stuck.

The ballasting of this railroad was rather sparse, being mostly sand and mixed clay, treated chemically so as to not grow green things. Pretty areas were more lavish with the stone.

Clint_E3 posted on Chaski.org

His track was the "Train Mountain" 4 decades ago.

That's Tom Patton on the left finishing a boiler inspection with Ken Stananback kneeling next to the locomotive. He used number 476 for the locomotive so I'll assume he modeled a D&RGW K28. This was at Harry Herder's Rock Valley Lines railroad on Riverview north of Kalamazoo. If you are ever at the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Club, walk south of the club building and step into the woods. You can still see where the turntable was.

Sandiapaul posted on Chaski.org:

Another movie my dad took. First part is Harry Herder's track in Kalamazoo, MI. At 9:55 its back to the PVLS. I can be seen running my dad's NYC Pacific. That boiler steamer like crazy, it can be seen popping off a lot. Chan Bleil built the boiler. Look for a couple quick shots of a Raritan. Is this Bill Moorewood's original?

Obituary

From Modeltec, June 1984:

HARRY D. HERDER passed away April 23rd, 1984, after a short illness. He was 77 years old. One of the organizers of the Tri-State Locomotive Club, he held many meets at his Rock Valley track in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Harry was a builder and operator and among his friends were Michigan Central and New York Central roundhouse formen, engineers and road inspectors. He entertained many people, young and old, giving them rides on his Rock Valley Railroad. He always had time to "talk trains" and he will be missed greatly by our Club members and his many railroad friends. Our most sincere condolences are extended to his wife, Connie, and their family. (Tri-State Locomotive Club - James Bolton, Secretary.)

External Links

• 1:8 scale railroad "discovered" in Kentwood, MI., today
• "Concrete Crossties", Chaski.org
• "Home movies, Harry Herder's track and PVLS", Chaski.org