The name Pilar came from my wife (her middle name). The railroad started in 1913, and its main products at that time were logs and lumber which then turned into pulpwood for the paper mills. The PVR served the paper mills in all aspects: pulpwood, woodchips, chemicals, etc. in and loads out. In the present day it serves all sorts of businesses which still includes the paper, log and lumber industries. 

I have never had a specific locale in which the PVR operates. I have always just told visitors and people who ask, where does it look like it is to you? I have usually modeled the midwestern to the New England area to a western feel. The switching layout that I am currently building is based off of three areas in Minneapolis/St. Paul. I have also not figured out if the PVR is a class one railroad or just a big regional. Since I have modeled different locales, I am assuming it is a class one.

My current layout is 17' x 17' with a 5 track 10' long staging that is hidden in my shop. It is a point-to-point layout that interchanges with another class one railroad (I haven't decided which one yet). The Black Granite Railroad (my son's freelance RR) also has trackage rights over a section of the PVR to gain access to staging. The Black Granite (BG) is connected to the PVR. It is 15' x 21' and is a coal hauling railroad based out of West Virginia.

Since my current layout is still under construction, I have included some photos from some of my past layouts. I also included a photo of my logo. Jerry Jackson helped me design this logo. As you can see it includes the railroad's history of logging and lumber in the logo.

The PVR has always had a big fleet of Alco and EMD power in both 4 and 6 axle models. Over the years they have also acquired a few GE's. The PVR has a huge fleet of all kinds of end cab switchers to help out with customer needs. They also have a number of GE 70 tonners that have worked well for urban industrial switching.

The one mainstay the PVR has always had and always will is the caboose. The PVR still uses cabooses on its modern-day trains.