Are wooden structures (coaling station, water tower) appropriate when modeling in the 40s-50s?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I am modeling the transition era and am wondering if wooden structures still existed, or had they been replaced by concrete and steel structures by then.

2

Yes, they are. There were a lot of wooden towers left around for years after a complete conversion to diesel in some places, until a changing liability climate and decay made it prudent to remove the old structures before they fell on someone.

3

DEPEND’S

The narrow guage road’s in Colorado kept their’s to the end, and the two reaining operator’s STILL use them.
WOOD deteriate’s over time, and eventual replacement’s were Concrete and Steel.

Depend’s on who, where, - and when…

4

I lived in a large railway town in the 50’s and for sure almost all working buildings were wooden and any additions were also wood, not until a lot of these buildings were torn down were they replaced with concrete and steel.

5

No definately not. Just send them to someone modeling the the 1800’s. Let 's see uh, I model the 1800’s send them to me.

6

Nice try, Space Mouse!!

7

You have to excuse Mr.SpaceMouse. He’ll try and talk you out of the mud off your shoes if you’re not careful…

trainluver1

8

I just received the June issue of Branchline* and there is a picture of CPR’s wooden coal chute at Renfrew in 1961. This is just a couple of years after the end of steam in that area. There are bits missing, and the supply track has been removed, but it obviously was used right up to the bitter end.
(There’s a story that some bright boy in CP’s purchasing department got a real deal on a massive amount of coal in the late 1950s. I heard that CP finally sold the last of the pile about 10 years ago.)
*Canada’s rail news magazine – published by the Bytown Railway Society.

9

Thanks for the real world information

10

Yes, and especially during the World War, when metal was being conserved. Indeed, even new cars built during that time often were “composite” – steel frames and supports but wooden bodies. The War Production Board would not allow anything better.

11

the Rio Grande used wooden coaling stations and water towers right up until the end of steam in 1956. Some of them remained for quite a number of years after, both on the Moffat and Tennessee Pass lines.
Tom[:D]