Fun one to do:
Hrm… i wonder how much a railroad would sell off ‘just a cab’ for…
add in the cost of transport, a concrete slab, a lot of weather proofing calking and an A/C unit and I think it would make a great layout room… or at least a great conversation peice!
There was an article in MR many, many years ago where a modeler made a replica of an F-7 cab in his basement. He acquired a lot of real gear from a cab, and used it to operate his layout from. Neat but really expensive and space consuming!
You actually entered the railroad world thru the vestibule door of a full size replica of a lounge/sleeper that included the lounge and a roomette for his overnite guests! All the fixtures and fittings were all originals. There was also an endless loop soundtrack to lull you to sleep. If I remember right it was in a Mainline Modeler issue from the mid '80s. The loco cab was done up in the KCS scheme. I believe the cab was real as it had to be lowered into the basement by crane before the rest of the house was built! The lounge /sleeper was built in place.
Oct 1990 - I was reading it, just last night.
He obtained the thing at a junk yard that caters to RR companies.
Once the railroad is up and running I intend to make a forced perspective tower for the North Philadelphia towerman to work from. The desk (app. 18"x24") for his sheets will have side and front walls as well as a roof. The idea is to make his perspective of passing trains as close to the real thing as possible.