Summer modelling slowdowns for many of us are well underway as we escape to the great outdoors and sunshine, while others get going on the layout as they retreat to the great indoors to escape the heat. Then again it is Winter South of the Equator and the fire is going and modelling is well underway.
This month we are going to have some chit-chat and hopefully plenty of photos on “The Fallen”. Fallen flags yes, but to add to the mix, fallen railroad equipment and places. Equipment that has been abandon, repurposed and /or saved in whole or in part from the scrapper even if it is from a still active railroad. Towns and industry can be included, in fact anywhere steel wheels rolled on steel ribbons once upon a time but no longer.
Good morning all and happy July! I’ve definitely not had any time for modeling the last month or two, as I’m getting married this month. It’s finally here
I’m liking the diner theme for the month. Should be interesting, although could be a bit sad as well. This is a once upon a time shot from the tiny town I grew up in. Main track is still there, but the depot was long gone when I was a kid.
Today, in my current town about ten miles west, is the still standing but abandoned station. I know it was in operation during the 1940’s, but I’ve seen no newer photos of it in use.
About 1942:
I had an opportunity to go through it a few years ago. The interior was basically gutted downstairs, but it’s history was evident. Inside the bay window, the phone connection board was still there with labels for buildings that are long gone (Roundhouse, yard office, etc.). There was evidence that it had been converted to a locker room at one point in time as what had been the main ticketing and lobby area of the depot had plumbing remnants of toilets and showers. In what would have been two waiting rooms, evidence of homeless people being in there at some point. In the attic, there was paperwork of shipments from the 1980’s - scale tickets, lading, etc. All of it in poor condition. In what would have been the baggage or parcel section of the station there was still an old freight cart with small steel wheels and a builders plate from, IIRC, the 1930’s.
@mdmasc91 It will be a relief when the day has passed and all the work and stress getting there will be worth it.
Good morning, diners. Chloe, I’ll have my usual, please.
We’re having another nice day here, but these days with milder temps are coming to a close. Tomorrow we start back with the more normal 90s and maybe a few 100s – typical July weather. As the farmers start to irrigate, the humidity will go sky high, making it feel like New Orleans on the plains.
Last night the neighborhood sounded like a war was being waged. The fireworks will continue for the next week. I enjoy them – it reminds me of the days as a boy when we couldn’t wait to blow things up with the firecrackers.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific RR used to come through my state, and some of the old stations are still here. This one is now a bank in Lincoln, Nebraska:
Thanks for posting again, John. Love those repurposed stations that demonstrate an apprciation of heritage by retaining the outer appearance. And a baggage cart, no less!
And then, there’s the Aerortrain. This may deserve its own thread, even on the Classic Trains forum, but I’ll ask it here: Does anyone have a passing knowledge of how long these things ran on any particular road? I remember seeing them for what couldn’t have been for more than a year on the NYC line between Detroit and Chicago. Were they merely demos that no line really picked up? Seems to me they would have been like a ride in a Crosley as the cars had distictively less volume than the ones that were normal in the mid 50s. (Yeah, yeah, I could google . . .)
Thanks for the move and the hot toddy, Batman. The weather has either been frosty then cold but clear days, or not quite so cold but damp or raining which I think feels colder.
Thoughts and best wishes to all that need them. Kia Kaha.
Cheers, the Bear.
PS. And for someone who likes the *South Shore Line.
I would have assumed that since Americans call the person running the locomotive an engineer; Australians would call someone in the locomotive cab a driver; same as in England. Learn something every day.
Thanks, Bear. The string added information not included in the Wiki article. When I first saw an Aerotrain go by as a lad, I thought it was cool. But for an 11-year old, cool was anything that was different. Didn’t have to be either classy or functional. About the same time, the US had a few of the three-wheeler Messerchmitt cars on the road. Tandem two-seaters complete with bubble canopy. I thought they were cool, too.
I grew up: with age came the lure of conventionality. Seems to have come as standard equipment.
Thank you for moving the Diner and coming-up with a great theme, Batman.
And thank you for the poster, Bear.
As Water_Level_Route remarked, the theme might also be a bit sad too.
In the States, Railroads are closed, mostly through harsh economics, but in the UK our Railways were decimated due to unnecessary Nationalisation, corrupt and fraudulent Politicians and decisions made by know-nowt Civil Servants and British Railways Managers.
I’m sorry to bang-on about this, but I get angry and very upset when I think of some of these unjustified Railway closures, one particular along the North Yorkshire coast that was described as Dr. Beeching’s most cruelest.
For me, that particular railway was my earliest memory and love of Railways.
So, I think I will sit this month out - for the moment at least.
Paul.
Good morning from the West Coast where I have knocked of 8.6kms in the sunshine.
Well they are never truly gone as long as we remember them. We can and do remember them through conversations about them or as some do by modelling them. If we don’t talk about them, look at old photos and articles and/or model them, then they will truly be forgotten. Nothing is forever, we move on and the memories will stay.
For me it is the PGE/BCR. Pacific Great Eastern/ British Columbia Railroads. Having traveled throughout British Columbia a lot growing up and having the opportunity to ride the rails North the memories will never leave.
CN now holds a 1000 year lease on the old BCR rail bed and what’s left of the old BCRs equipment can be seen all over North America now.
Travel around the Province and there are lot’s of things to remind us of days gone by. Memories are better than nothing. My sister and I still talk about taking the PGE.
Repurposed equipment can trigger images of better days.
Hi Batman, thankyou for your reply.
I didn’t mean to sound like a killjoy - probably just needed to get it off my chest.
It will be good to see photos of repurposed Stations, since I like the American styles very much.
I like the photo enclosed, a steel stockyard, possibly for a local Engineering Co. - that’s a great use for old Boxcars.
Paul.
Good afternoon, diners. Getting closer to five o’clock, so I’ll have an ice cold beer, Flo.
Congratulations! Prepare for a different but happy lifestyle change! Always apologize, even when you’re not wrong.
Mike, I think you might get the prize for one of the shortest diner posts!
We are baby-sitting a daughter’s dog. Our dog, Cookie, is not happy with a big dog in the house getting some of our attention. I guess she’ll get used to it.
For a little different photo for this month’s diner, how about the fallen flag Rock Island logo used for the ‘R’ in my favorite model railroad hobby store? The store is in the little town of Deshler, NE, which had the Rock Island come through it. The tracks are no longer there, but you can tell by the way the town is laid out that the railroad came right through the middle.
Owned by David and Debby, Debby’s father was the Rock Island Depot agent in this small town.
Have a great day, everyone. I’m already getting depressed. This is Wednesday, which means tomorrow is cutting-the-lawn-day. Flo, I’ll have another beer, please.
Hey John, even though I’m in Oregon I’m tempted to make you an offer: I’ll mow your lawn if you’ll take me up to Deshler for a day. . . Everything assumes there’s only minor expenses involved, whether air fares or at Spring Creek. They’d likely be about the same for each!
You should make it here this weekend. Spring Creek sponsors a model railroad show. Even though the town has fewer than 800 people, the store will have a pretty good crowd at their fairgrounds. I’m busy this entire week and weekend, but I’m still going to try to make.
Believe me, I hate lawn work enough I would be tempted to pay your air fare just to have you cut the grass.
Pretty amazing line up of vendors for a small town miles from any major highway:
Around the Layout Podcast – Represented by Ray Arnott Azatrax – Represented by John Parsons Broadway Limited Imports – Represented by Ken Silvestri Colorado Model Railroad Museum – Greeley Colorado – Represented by Michelle Kempema & Jennifer Howell Dubkir Media – Represented by Kirk Orndorff Galloping Goose Historical Society – Represented by Rodney Guggenheim Golden Spike Tower – North Platte Nebraska – Represented by Bruce Mendenhall Intermountain – Represented by Kirk Orndorff and Chris Palomarez Iowa Scaled Engineering – Represented by Michael Petersen and Nathan Holmes Jeff Nichols Custom Building & Weathering – Represented by Jeff Nichols John’s Trees – Represented by John Runnells Kato – Represented by Richard Boone Ken Neufeld’s S Scale Collection – Represented by Rhett Neufeld Microengineering – Represented by Nix Trains – Represented by Nick Santo Scale Signs – Represented by Tom Garza Scale Trains – Represented by Marlen Brown Soundtraxx – Represented by George Bogatiuk Train Boxes Plus – Represented by David Gold Value Trains – Represented by Derick Samson White River Productions – Represented by Tony Cook Yelton Models – Represented by Dan Notley
Absolutely great blurb, John. A significant contribution to their weekend; you da man!
Potential travellers take note of pertinent info from the link above regarding local services. I suspect the local grocer(s) will get some extra business. Couple of sodas, package of lunch meat and a loaf of bread . . . good to go!
